Word Whistles
Word of the Week 9.18
So back when i upgraded this blog, I started a little language section called “Word Woche” or “Word of the Week” My goal was to look at interesting words in other languages and provide some definition. Only problem: not everyone knows every language 🙂
(wait, I know that)
So as a result, I decided to change my thoughts on Word Woche. Instead of being translations of words, I am going to set this up as a mini-translation of Bible verses with some minor thoughts by yours truly. Now–this also goes along with my new mantra about translating the Bible and healthy living for next year. It gives me a place to dump my thoughts in the hopes it motivate someone.
So…. until the week of October 1st, here is a little teaser from one of my papers from the class on Amos 5:8-10. The following is my own personal translation (paper completed 6/2014)
8 He who made Pleiades and Orion — he who changed deep darkness to morning and darkened day to night. The one who called to the waters of the sea and poured them onto the face of the earth–YHWH is His Name! 9It is he who flashes devastation upon the strong so that violence comes upon the fortress. 10They hate him who judges fairly and they abhor he who speaks blamelessly.
… and commentary:
Yahweh’s Power and Authority (8-10)
Verses 8-10 present the description of Yahweh almost in contrast to the previous verses about Israel’s failed worship. Unlike Israel-who will die based on their idol worship, Yahweh is presented as the Almighty Creator and sustainer Power of Life. The imagery focuses on creation images, walking through day and night, stars (Orion and Pleiades), through the creation of land and water and eventually destructions over those who are not just and fair (a reference back to v7). It is very consistent with hymn language and the structure leading up to “YHWH is His Name! is at the center of the descriptions.(1) There is also a dispute over whether verse 9 was even originally part of the oracle as most of the references to God are in a cosmic sense, not in a violent, destructive nature.(2) Despite this fact, many of the translations have this verse and it appears to reinforce ideas already found present in Amos’ message.
The references to the “fortress” and the “gate” are to the economic and judicial structure of the town. Both of these fixtures were the location of the town meetings and politics. So to present hating justice and righteous in the place of where justice and righteousness are administered is a drastic contrast to the purpose the gate and fortress served in the community. “Therefore to hate the advocate of right and abhor those who speak ‘the whole truth’ is tantamount to personal opposition to the essence of the system.”(3) Again, Israel is being accused of practices religious traditions in opposition to God’s law and covenant.
NOTES
1. Andersen & Freedman, Amos: A new translation and introduction with commentary, 486-7
2. Ibid., 241
3. Mays, Amos: A Commentary, 93
Bibliography
Andersen, Francis I. & Freedman, David N. Amos: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. (Anchor Bible 24A, New York: Doubleday, 1989)
Mays, James L. Amos: A Commentary (Philadelphia, The Westminster Press, 1969)
Word Woche 11.10
Word Woche is BACK! Again, I apologize for the delay in my posts. Sometimes schoolwork gets the best of you. Honestly, just this quarter alone has given me enough blog material to overload anyone’s brain. Ethics and World Religions really get your noodle cooking.
Anyways, I thought I would teach everyone a Hindu word this week since we are studying the history & theological concepts in Hinduism this week. Now, everyone knows karma. What action you do has an affect. Well, another word is
It is the term used to describe the liberation to samsara and karma. It is the primary goal of any Hindu. Reaching liberation and the union with the Ultimate Reality, the One (yes its not, really–its Vishnu, who can be in any form, in any concept…let’s just say its very confusing sometimes…)
It’s similar (and yet completely different) from the concept of grace and liberation from sin/bondage through the knowledge of Christ in Christianity. Just thoroughly interesting.
Word Woche 9.29
This Monday (tomorrow) is the beginning of the fall quarter at school. I am so glad to be going back. I love learning!… however, this quarter I decided in order to keep up my language skills, I am auditing Greek. Ironically, last Tuesday a class started at church in our CALL (Christian Academy for Life-Long Learners) that referred to many Greek words affiliated with the indescribable “powers and principalities.” So I thought–what better than to look at this word for the word of the week! So with no further adieu…
ἐξουσία
It means power, dominion or authority over something. It is used multiple times in matthew referring to God’s power as it comes through Jesus Christ. Many times it just refers to “power over something” or control. The basic root is “exesti”… Break down the word even further and it is “ek” or “out of” and “eimi” or the “to be, being” in a state of power. It is privileged power…authority. Rulership.
God holds this power. And gives Jesus this same power to heal the sick and raise the dead. It almost sounds likes “existence.” Which is to say something living. The word gives me more strength in the Living God has authority and that Jesus has the authority to take care of it all. Kind of nice–when you think about it.
Word Woche 9.22
As many of you know, I am learning German. In the last lesson I was learning the different names for different countries. For the most part–German works like other languages. England sounds like England, France is “Frankreich” and French “Französisch.” Things look like their english cognate. However, Germany is NOT translated “germane” or something similar. So this week’s word is:
meaning “German.” Deutschland being the official name of the country.
It was interesting to learn that the world for Germany has an interesting history. My BYU online professor mentioned it comes from the Old German word diut-isk, roughly “folk-ish. Another etymology website showed the connection with the word “Dutch” and this statement: Old High German duit-isc, corresponding to Old English þeodisc “belonging to the people (website here ) It’s interesting to hear German call themselves “one of us” or just differentiate between us and them. As simple as that. Either you’re part of the people here or part of the people elsewhere. Not kidding. Per my lesson plan/professor: The opposite term was an ancestor of welsch, meaning specifically the Celtic peoples, but generally anyone who was foreign, or “not one of us.”
Word Woche 9.15
Last week my husband made a good point about language learning and the lack of true language taught in school. We were both able to name several people who took years of classes or even majored in a language yet when they arrived in the country of that language, they understood almost nothing. Doesn’t matter if its a country drastically different from English-speaking countries or not– they still feel like they wasted their time studying a language formally.
So out of this conversation, we came across the word “kewl” in the English language. A slang word used to represent something extremely interesting, popular or just, well, plain “KEWL.” It was formed out of the texting generation that adopted more of a phonetic and short-handed speech so that one could understand emotions without having to pick up the phone. In fact, I used it for several months–i am still ashamed
What interested me that the German word for the weather being cool (a.k.a. sweater weather) is spelled as such:
KÜHL
And has almost the same pronunciation as the English slang word used above for a completely different meaning. I have found no research to support this hypothesis, but I wonder if slang comes from a combination of a new need in a language (a.k.a shorthanded comments or insults meant to effectively and verbal stab a person) as well as modifications from another language. For example, the word “spanglish” is a slang term meant to refer to Spanish with heavier English tons or words that are most english with a spanish accent or pronunciation.
well, that’s all my friends for this week’s Word Woche. COMING SOON!: more greek, cause I’ll be starting Greek on October 1st 🙂
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