Confused: Hebrew Definitions

[Guest]

Pro 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

Considerth: H2161- zâmam A primitive root; to plan, usually in a bad sense: - consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil).

Field: H7704- śâdeh śâday From an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat): - country, field, ground, land, soil, X wild.

Buyeth: H3947- lâqach A primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications): - accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive (-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Fruit: H6529- perı̂y From H6509; fruit (literally or figuratively): - bough, ([first-]) fruit ([-ful]), reward.

Hands: H3709- kaph From H3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm tree); figuratively power: - branch, + foot, hand ([-ful], -dle, [-led]), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.

Planteth: H5193- nâṭa‛ A primitive root; properly to strike in, that is, fix; specifically to plant (literally or figuratively): - fastened, plant (-er).

Vineyard: H3754- kerem From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard: - vines, (increase of the) vineyard (-s), vintage. See also H1021.

I don't know Hebrew at all, and I'm just beginning to study Strong's dictionary, so be gentle with me.

I've always been taught that Proverbs 31 describes a good woman that we all should strive to be. So, I was shocked to see the word "consider" mean something that is usually used in a negative sense. If hadn't been given any prior teaching on this verse, and came upon it with the Hebrew defintions, I'd immediately think this woman was plotting evilly to spread out and take for herself her reward and by her own power, stay put and tie herself in like a vine.

This isn't the first time the Hebrew defintion of words has shocked me like this. Why are there so many words whose implication in use is evil but used in verses to describe something I've always been taught is good?

I've also noticed in the Strong's definitions, there are a lot of words in the defintion that don't make any sense, for example, the words Hands (above)- middle? paw? power? spoon? How can any of that mean hand? How am I suppose to understand? The English words are lacking in fullness, and the Hebrew has too much. I'm so upset right now, I don't want to read anything man has written on God's word anymore-even Strong's dictionary.

God started me on this journey because of a discrepancy in my study bible. One word. A preacher had a meaning for the word "birds" and my study bible had a meaning for it (both took it to mean "demons") , but the Strong's dictionary did not have that meaning at all (literally, just "birds"). To come to the conclusion that "birds" means "demons", one would really have to stretch (or twist God's word!) )It taught me not to take man's word for it-even a study bible. At least if I studied it for myself, I could find out for myself.

Well, it happened again. Same study bible, same stretch. This time it was the words "Mourneth". Study bible's definition-"fails", Strong's dictionary-"mourn." I even looked up all the cross-references for the word. No where was it implied that the word used in the verse (Isaiah 24:7) means "fail". So where did they get that from? If it was just my study bible, I'd toss it, but Matthew Henry seems to think it means the same thing. His entire commentary implied it. How many other "experts" believe the same thing? How prolific is this "stretching of God's word" anyways? Every "expert" claims their knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit so who am I to argue? There is a line though, right? I mean, when God gives me a verse, He gives me understanding (not a definition!): the verse helps me understand the situation, His desire for the situation, etc. He's never given me a word-for-word vocabulary lesson. Jesus said we are not to judge but if we must judge, to judge righteously. We are also to righteously divide the word of God. He also said we'd be accountable for every idle word we speak. With such a fine line as this, I don't want to open my mouth again. I don't know how I can know anything anymore. I can know God's will for a moment, and that's it. Ecc 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also [divers] vanities: but fear thou God. So what's the point of study? (By the way, I do believe that I could be wrong here.)

Please don't tell me that its just Satan lying to me or trying to confuse me. This isn't him. There is something here God wants me to understand and I am frustrated with my human inability to understand the fullness of God as well as the full scope and history of God with man. I just want to know if there is something about understanding the Hebrew language that I'm missing-something that will help me 'rightly divide the word of God'.

I think it's great that you are studying Hebrew....sometimes the meanings can be hard to grasp. But it will enrich your bible study time. You need to look at the whole verse in Isaiah 24:7. In the case of "mourneth" the Hebrew word "aval" is used and it does indeed mean "mourn" in Hebrew. In this case, the English translation is pretty accurate in getting the poetry down. The WHOLE context of the verse must be taken into consideration and often the verse preceding it and the verse following it. In this instance, do you think that wine actually "mourns" or "weeps"? No, it is merely a poetic device to dramatically illustrate a truth. If you look at the whole verse, you can see that the word "fail" is used to describe what is really happening here....those who are trying to be merryhearted from consuming the new wine don't get merryhearted at all in this verse...the wine FAILS and does just the opposite, causing sighing in those consuming it. Strong's definition and a Hebrew lexicon are correct in the original language definition. If you look at Isaiah 24:9, just two verses down, you will see: "They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it." The same principle is in this verse...their wine will FAIL. Your study bible is not giving a definition, it is trying to give an explanation of the usage of the word "mourneth" in a literal sense and not a poetic one in case the reader has difficulty interpreting the poetry. You are definitely on the right track and don't stop asking questions...you're being enriched. Hope this helps..

[JohnD]

Indeed.

Some things are spoken with the understanding of a tongue in cheek or ironic method...

The Hebrew for Holy qodesh is very close to the temple prostitutes qadesh (very similar in pronunciation) often context distinguishes meaning.