An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Gender Wars

(Proverbs 6:22 KJV)  When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

I have three notes in this verse about literal meaning.  You see the word “it” (they NASB) used three times.  Literally it is “she.”  My usual complaint is that translators take “he” and change it to “they” or take “son” and change it to “child.”  Here they do the opposite.  The cause is a problem that does not occur in English.  In English nouns do not have gender.  In most languages nouns are either masculine, feminine or neuter.  Hebrew seems to be this way.  We are referring here to verse 20 where it mentions both “commandment” (4687)  and “law” (teaching NASB) (8451).  Both of these nouns are feminine.  It would be appropriate to refer to them as “she.”

What Solomon is trying to get across is the way in which the words of God can become a part of your inner self.  The intimacy continues in the next verse,
(Proverbs 6:23 KJV)  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
There are tremendous resources available to us it we will get to know them.  If you have scurvy, what good is fresh fruit if all you do is look at it and acknowledge you have it?  What good is chicken soup for you cold it you never eat any?

So?  Let the commandments, teachings, laws and reproofs of God get up and personal with you.  He wants to be a part of your everyday life not just a book on a shelf. 

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