Jesus' Language

[nebula]

a fellow named alexandria?

when did this happen? aren't the gospels written in greek. and weren't they written "shortly" after Jesus' resurrection? if Jesus didn't speak greek, why did His disciples write in it? or did they?

Alexander the Great conquered the region, putting it all under the power and influence of Greece. During that time, Greek became the universal language. It stayed that way even after the Romans conquered the Greek's territories.

Paul's letters were probably written in Greek.

John and Matthew and Peter may have originally written in Aramaic and then their letters translated into Greek.

[Slepsog4]

It is possible that Jesus knew 4 languages:

1. Hebrew for the Temple service

2. Aramaic for common Jewish vernacular

3. Latin for the Roman occupation

4. Greek for business commerce

[mizzdy]

Most of the manuscripts we have are in greek but that does not mean the first ones were not written in Hebrew or even in Aramaic, theres some really good evidence Matthew was written in Hebrew. I mean most all those books were written by men who spoke Hebrew, even if they may have been fluent in other language they most likely thought in Hebrew. Yet we have the greek manuscripts today.

[Guest yod]

Yeshua spoke mostly Aramaic but also read/spoke in hebrew.

There is no reason whatsoever to think He spoke Greek or Roman. All the Apostles would have spoken Aramaic mostly because that we the dominant language of the Galilee region. Yet the language of the Bible was always hebrew.

Galileans were considered uneducated hillbillys in Israel but they would have understood a little greek for basic communication with foreigners, even so. That doesn't mean they actually spoke it.

When the gospel spread from Israel to the nations, greek was the dominant language of the world because of Alexander's conquest. There is good reason to believe that Matthew was probably originally written in hebrew but I see no reason the other books couldn't have been originally written in greek so all people would have access to them.

Paul would have been fluent in Greek since he grew up in the greek world (tarsus) and that's why he was chosen as the Apostle to the gentiles. Most scholars believe Luke did the actual writing of some of the gospel accounts and so he was probably fluent in greek as a doctor.

Even before Yeshua, the Torah had been translated into greek at Alexandria Eygpt (The Septuagint) so jews in the diaspora that didn't speak hebrew could have the Word of God.

[terter]

In this verse, it states that His words had to be interpreted -

Mark 5:41"And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."

Does anyone know what language uses "Talitha cumi?"

[EricH]

Yeshua spoke mostly Aramaic but also read/spoke in hebrew.

There is no reason whatsoever to think He spoke Greek or Roman. All the Apostles would have spoken Aramaic mostly because that we the dominant language of the Galilee region. Yet the language of the Bible was always hebrew.

Galileans were considered uneducated hillbillys in Israel but they would have understood a little greek for basic communication with foreigners, even so. That doesn't mean they actually spoke it.

When the gospel spread from Israel to the nations, greek was the dominant language of the world because of Alexander's conquest. There is good reason to believe that Matthew was probably originally written in hebrew but I see no reason the other books couldn't have been originally written in greek so all people would have access to them.

Paul would have been fluent in Greek since he grew up in the greek world (tarsus) and that's why he was chosen as the Apostle to the gentiles. Most scholars believe Luke did the actual writing of some of the gospel accounts and so he was probably fluent in greek as a doctor.

Even before Yeshua, the Torah had been translated into greek at Alexandria Eygpt (The Septuagint) so jews in the diaspora that didn't speak hebrew could have the Word of God.

We know that Peter spoke Greek as did John. Matthew probably did too as his business would have required it

[~Shalhevet~]

Thanks for all your replies. The reason I asked was because my dad and I got into a conversation about this and he told me that Jesus' spoke Greek. I told him that I thought Jesus spoke Hebrew. But you don't think he spoke any Greek?

[Fez]

ok so where does greek come in?

From Across The Mediterranean.

A Young (Starting At 20 Years Old, Ruled 12 Years And Died At 32!) Fellow Named Alexandria (A Macedonian) Took An Army Of Greeks And Conquered The Entirety Of The Persian Empire Which Included Israel.

a fellow named alexandria?

when did this happen? aren't the gospels written in greek. and weren't they written "shortly" after Jesus' resurrection? if Jesus didn't speak greek, why did His disciples write in it? or did they?

1Ma 1:1-7 KJV-1611

(1) And it happened, after that Alexander sonne of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettum, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that hee reigned in his stead, the first ouer Greece,

(2) And made many wars, and wan many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

(3) And went through to the ends of the earth, and tooke spoiles of many nations, insomuch, that the earth was quiet before him, whereupon he was exalted, and his heart was lifted vp.

(4) And he gathered a mighty strong hoste, and ruled ouer countries, and nations and kings, who became tributaries vnto him.

(5) And after these things he fell sicke, and perceiued that he should die.

(6) Wherefore he called his seruants, such as were honourable, and had bin brought vp with him from his youth, and parted kis kingdome among them, while he was yet aliue:

(7) So Alexander reigned twelue yeeres, and (then) died.

Alexander the great?

The persian King Darius the Great, out of whom came the husband of Esther, Xerxes, had sacked Athens and burned it to the ground. Alexander, as a child had sworn revenge on Persia, and once he was King, embarked on the destruction of Persia, eventually only stopping on the outskirts of India.

[Fez]

In this verse, it states that His words had to be interpreted -

Mark 5:41"And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."

Does anyone know what language uses "Talitha cumi?"

Talitha cumi

(Mark 5:41), a Syriac or Aramaic expression, meaning, "Little maid, arise."

[nebula]

We know that Peter spoke Greek as did John.

We do? How?

And was this before or after they left Israel to preach the Gospel?