Category: Biblical Hebrew
Word to Word
We are all familiar with the use of allusions, parallels and comparisons scattered throughout Scripture. We are even aware that there are times when the Bible quotes itself. It is an instance of the latter that serves as this issue’s revealing study of Biblical Hebrew, as we compare the similarities and differences between two chapters in the book of Isaiah.
Indeed, when certain verses from these chapters are put side by side, we discover a type of dialogue between the two—the presentation of a problem in chapter 64 to which a solution is revealed in chapter 53.
Parched Ground Brings Forth Life
Isaiah 64:10 reads: "Your holy cities have become wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation." The prophet mourns the physical and spiritual future destruction of Jerusalem and Zion, and indeed throughout this chapter acts as a (prophetic) mouthpiece for the people’s cries. This verse focuses on wilderness and desolation; in fact the word Zion itself comes from a root word meaning "parched," presumably because water has always been scarce in the area. Turning to Isaiah 53:2a, we see that this parched ground (tzia from the same root as tzion—Zion) brings forth Life. "For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground." Contrary to natural laws, this verse tells us that it is out of (spiritually) parched ground that the Messiah has sprung forth.
Affliction Beyond Measure
Isaiah 64:12 reads: "Wilt Thou restrain Thyself at these things, O LORD? Wilt Thou keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?" Here the cry expresses the condition of the people themselves. They are conscious of their affliction, which they view as being "beyond measure." However, the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:4, "…our griefs Himself bore, and our sorrows He car...
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© 2009 First Fruits of Zion. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share this material with your friends for further personal study. However, This material may not be republished, in print, electronically, or any other form without our prior permission.
Adapted from
Bikurei Tziyon #64
.
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