Paul Luckraft reviews ‘The October Testament’, edited by Ruth Magnusson Davis (Baruch House Publishing, 2018)

Two books on the Hebrew language.

Chaim Bentorah is a teacher of biblical Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic from the Chicago area. We review two of his books below.

Chris Foster reviews ‘Hebrew Word Study’ by Chaim Bentorah (Whitaker House, 2016)

On walking into any Christian bookshop, one will come across numerous devotional books with all sorts of slants. When I first saw the Hebrew Word Study, I was sceptical that this would be any different from or better than others. The size of it, and the cost (I bought my copy for just under £20 from Amazon), would normally be enough to put me off. But it had been recommended to me by someone who had spoken about the joys of the Hebrew language, and I was intrigued by the thought that delving into it could “reveal the heart of God”.

Indeed, Bentorah believes that “If we take the time to study the Hebrew language, we can see the true beauty of God’s word and come to know God and His heart in a much deeper way.”

So I bought the book and started reading. Within a few pages I knew that the title was justified in claiming to reveal at least a little of the heart of God - and I was engrossed.

Exploring Roots and Meanings

In each of the 90 studies, the author starts with a verse from the Bible, takes a key word or phrase, and looks at the original Hebrew word that has been translated into English. He then explores the root and various meanings of the Hebrew word, which often don’t make it through into the English translation. He looks at other passages where this word is used in the scriptures to compare and contrast. Then, finally, he revisits the passage he started with, illuminating it further using some of the meanings he has drawn out of the Hebrew.

If you are looking for a book that will take you into the riches of the scriptures without you having to learn Hebrew, this is a good place to start.

As an example, in one study (p145) we read Psalm 27:5: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion”. We find that the word translated ‘trouble’ (ra’) is related to the word which David used for 'shepherd' (ra’ah) in Psalm 23:1 when he wrote “The Lord is my shepherd”. How can this be? Bentorah goes on to explore this in some detail, relating it to the trouble one feels when one’s shepherds let one down.

Positive and Uplifting

In each chapter, the author draws out meanings that are positive and uplifting. The studies are not set out in any particular order, so the book could be read every day as a three-month devotional series, or more sporadically. There is a Hebrew-English and English-Hebrew index at the back, as well as a glossary of terms.

One doesn’t need to have learnt Hebrew to read this book (though it may possibly deepen one’s understanding to have a grasp of Hebrew letters). The author takes the reader through step by step, so it is not at all difficult to read. If you are looking for a book that will take you into the riches of the scriptures without you having to learn Hebrew, this is a good place to start.

‘Hebrew Word Study: Revealing the Heart of God’ (448pp, hardback) is available from Amazon for £19.34. Also on Kindle.

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘Learning God’s Love Language’ (True Potential Inc, 2018).

This book is described as a guide to personal Hebrew word study and can be seen as a companion to Bentorah’s previous Hebrew Word Study devotional.

The complexity of the Hebrew language means that each word can have a wide range of meanings; any book which can help us to navigate through this variety of renderings is to be welcomed, especially if, as the author claims, he has written for individuals “regardless of his or her educational background, cultural experience or level of spiritual maturity” (p11).

Warning: Esoteric Influence

However, a warning should be sounded here as Bentorah states his intention to take us beyond the words and into the “ancient rabbinical esoteric meanings behind each letter of the Hebrew alphabet” (p12). Indeed, the bulk of the book is dedicated to a letter-by-letter exploration in which the author stretches each Hebrew letter into the realm of the enigmatic and cryptic. These rather dubious extensions at times seem fanciful and even rather worrying.

Bentorah explains that he draws from numerous ancient Jewish sources, admitting that “Some information does come from the mystical books of the Kabbalah” (p39). He adds that he does not embrace Kabbalistic teachings and has studied them only as “a reference to develop my skills with the Aramaic and not to gain any spiritual insights” (p39), but this nevertheless may still be off-putting for some, and may rather contradict his claim to appeal to readers regardless of spiritual maturity. Certainly discernment is needed here.

Bentorah’s esoteric leanings rather contradict his claim to appeal to readers regardless of spiritual maturity – certainly discernment is needed here.

His foray into the murky numerical world of Gematria must also be read with caution. While this topic is certainly worth exploring, the author insists that “words with the same numerical value are in some way related” and could be the basis for fruitful meditation. Again, he is wanting to draw as much as he can from what he sees as a legitimate practice by the Jewish people who are the guardians of the ancient Hebrew language. He states that Gematria “has evolved over many generations of Jewish mysticism” but considers “their insights to be of great value” (p111). However, some of his examples left me floundering.

Some Valuable Information

Having said all that, there are some other sections outside of these central pages that are worthy of consideration: for instance, those on Jewish literature, the history of the Hebrew alphabet, and issues involved in translating from Semitic languages. The book provides very useful information in these areas.

The author, a Gentile who adopted a Jewish pseudonym, clearly enjoys exploring the delights and intricacies of what he calls ‘God’s love language’. Once you understand where his studies have led him then it is possible to make use of his ideas and decide how far to follow him.

‘Learning God’s Love Language: A Guide to Personal Hebrew Word Study’ (160pp, paperback) is available from Amazon for £11.54. Also on Kindle.

Paul Luckraft reviews the Tree of Life version of Scripture (Baker Publishing/Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society, 2015).

The Tree of Life Version of the Holy Scriptures is well worth investigating and then investing in. There are several versions of the Bible available now which attempt to recapture something of the original Jewish authenticity - so what makes this different?

Its main selling point is the claim that this is a brand new translation produced by both Messianic Jewish and Christian scholars. This, the publishers say, makes it the first of its kind, and by incorporating the translational skills of Messianic Jews it highlights the rich Hebraic roots of the Christian faith to a greater extent. And by working together as One New Man, they believe they have provided a Bible for a new era.

A Jewish-Friendly Voice

The translators have gone back to the original Hebrew (Masoretic Text) for the Old Testament and the original Greek (the 27^th Nestle-Aland Novum Testamente Graece) for the New. Naturally they have preserved the original Jewish order of the books of the Old Testament (Tanakh) and have also used transliterated terms such as shalom, shofar, Shabbat, and the Jewish name of the Messiah, Yeshua.

This is a brand new translation produced by both Messianic Jewish and Christian scholars working together as One New Man.

The translation project was headed up by Jeffrey Seir, a professor of Bible and Jewish Studies at Kings University, USA, who served as the Project Manager and Chief Theologian. A full list of the translators is available on their website.

Their aim is to provide a version that speaks with a decidedly Jewish-friendly voice, a voice like the Bible authors themselves, and to show the connections between the covenants God made with his ancient people and those now grafted in through the new covenant with Yeshua.

Versions and Resources

In addition to the full Biblical text there are some useful extras, including a week Torah reading programme and some Jewish prayers and blessings in Hebrew, transliterated Hebrew and English.

There is also a short glossary and a couple of maps. Don’t expect too many extras, this is not a study Bible as such but a new version to be read in order to gain fresh insights from the text itself.

One aim is to show the connections between the covenants God made with his ancient people and those now grafted in through the new covenant with Yeshua.

Produced by the Baker Publishing Group in partnership with the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society, the Tree of Life Version can be ordered online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook.com and various other websites and stores. It is available in several formats, from the cheaper Thinline Edition (if you don’t mind very thin pages!), produced in both softback and hardback forms, to the more expensive imitation leather covers. It is also available on Kindle.

Find out more about the Tree of Life version on its official website (US), which also houses relevant articles and resources.

Peter Sammons reviews the One New Man Bible - a 2011 translation by William J Morford.

The One New Man Bible (ONMB) is a helpful modern translation by William J Morford, an American bible translator and Hebraic specialist.

It aims to bring greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the power given to believers for their daily walk.

In the words of its Preface: "The One New Man Bible...makes the Jewish roots of Christianity come to life" having been "edited from a public domain English translation. The English has been brought up to date and many words previously translated according to tradition have been changed to the literal. The New Testament is the Power New Testament, a fresh translation of the Fourth Edition United Bible Society Greek Text. An effort has been made to keep the text as free as possible from denominational biases and doctrinal interpretations".

Healing the Enmity

Why the name 'One New Man'? The inspiring text is Ephesians 2:16 where the 'enmity' between Jew and Gentile is finally healed, these two becoming One New Man. Ephesians 2:14-22 is provided in the preface as a sort of Scriptural raison d'etre for the new translation.

Certainly the Hebraic root of Christianity comes uniquely to life in the ONMB. Hebrew is a very expressive language, so this translation brings out much of the power that has commonly been omitted from traditional English translations. The ONMB will undoubtedly help to open the eyes of the Church to appreciate its Hebraic roots, and to recognise that Yeshua (Jesus) was born Jewish, that He grew up Jewish, and that He is the same today as He was then (Heb 13:8).

The ONMB will undoubtedly help to open the eyes of the Church to appreciate its Hebraic roots.

This fresh translation adopts the Jewish ordering of the books of the Old Testament, which helps readers to recognise a direct link between the chronicle of the Jewish story with the chronicle of Jesus and the apostolic church. Hence the Old Testament ends with Chronicles.

Translation Surprises

Scripture translated with the power and meaning of the original language really does come alive! One early surprise is in Genesis 12:1 when God does not say "Go" to Abram, but "Get yourself out of here!" Later He tells Moses to order Pharaoh to "Send My people away!" instead of pleading "Let My people go."

These passages are the literal translation from the Hebrew. Some words have been translated differently because the traditional translation conveys something not intended by the author. One of those words is the Greek word ecclesia, which means a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into a public place. Ecclesia is commonly translated 'church', but because of our association of 'church' with both a building and an organisation, in the ONMB, ecclesia is translated 'congregation'.

This fresh translation adopts the Jewish ordering of the books of the Old Testament, which ends with Chronicles.

The One New Man Bible achieves its goal to be a very readable text that flows from one book to another while preserving much of the Jewish flavour, especially the Jewishness of Yeshua, and much of the sheer power in many Hebrew and Greek expressions. If I have one minor complaint, it is that Morford failed to address the poor translation of John 3:16 which should better be translated as "God thus loved the world" rather than misusing the 17^th Century language of "God so loved..." which, in a modern idiom, seems to be so hard-wired into modern translations.

Another core strength of the ONMB is its very extensive glossary at the back. This brings out many treasures that are missed in commentaries and indeed other translations. One simple example:

HOSANNA – is the English spelling of Hoshea.na, meaning Deliver Us Now! This comes from the same Hebrew root as Y'shua, the Hebrew name of Jesus. The ending, "na", is something we do not have a translation for in English, a demanding "NOW!" which is not rude or impertinent. It is properly translated as "please" or "I pray you". The greeting and waving of palm fronds and branches were traditionally done on the sixth day of the feast of Sukkot, welcoming the reigning messiah to assume the throne in Jerusalem. All those shouting "Hoshea-na!" knew this and believed Y'shua was the Messiah Who had come to claim His throne, there and then.

Verdict

My verdict on the ONMB? This translation is more than a useful addition for the serious Bible student. It is something that every such student should have available.

Would it be a reliable stand-alone, general purpose Bible? My first impression was 'no' but I have to say that with frequent use this fresh translation does 'grow' on me as a reader. I am enjoying it more and more. I believe that over the next 20 years this fresh translation will become far more widely adopted. It is priced competitively with higher quality translations.

Available leather-bound for £40 (+P&P) from Glory to Glory Publications, also Saffron Planet Publishing. The One New Man Bible has its own website – click here to find out more.