WHAT LANGUAGE DID THEY WRITE IN [1906]

Hebrew
Greek

Other languages
Aramaic
Latin

Languages are dynamic. Words are constantly being added, changing definitions, and fading into disuse. The Old & New Testament were both written in a culture rich with language.

We must remember that if there were "Webster's" they have not survived. Definitions of ancient languages are often discovered from a variety of sources:

• the context the words were use in
• etymology of similar words and/or root words in the same language
• etymology of similar words and/or root words in similar languages
• inscriptions on walls and steles
• best guess

HEBREW
Major language of the Old Testament

• No vowels
• No spaces
• Right to left

What does this sentence say? "rhwnsdg"

Write a ten word sentence:

Write the same sentence with only no vowels and no spaces between consonants.

Have your neighbor write out what the sentence says. (No help!)

In our modern word we are not dependent upon our memories only to "record" historical events. The ancients relayed upon

• Oral Tradition
• Memory

to preserve their history. Adding the vowels and vocalization while reading was not difficult for the learned Hebrew.

THE SEPTUAGINT (LXX)

• was a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament about 250 BC.
• Many Hebrews moved to Alexandria, Egypt. Many of the "Diaspora" Jews could not read the Hebrew text. It is said that 70 translators translated the Hebrew into Greek in 70 days, thus the name of the book is 70.

MASORETIC TEXT

• Masoretes ca. 600 A.D. The ability to read Hebrew was fading. The Masoretes preserved the ability of the "new generation" to read and understand by adding vowels and vocalizations to the Hebrew Text. After they completed their task they destroyed the Hebrew copies.

GREEK

• Few breaks
• Left to right
• "godisnowhere"
  • What are the two possibilities for this sentence?

Common Language of Commerce. For many year many scholars believe that the language of the New Testament was a special language God gave to man just for the Bible. However, thousands of "koine" Greek have be discovered by archeology.

Aramaic

The mother tongue for a majority of Jews. The relationship between Hebrew and Aramaic is like the relationship between Spanish and Portuguese.

The assumption is that Jesus spoke Aramaic as well as Hebrew. (Metzger, 32)

Latin

The "official" language of the government in New Testament times. Many words in the New Testament have been naturalized from the Latin: (Metzger, 32)

Centurion
Legion
Denarius
Praetorium
Colony

(Lesson adapted in part from [Francisco] and A General Introduction to the Bible by Norman Geisler and William Nix)

Last Updated 24 February, 2000