Some of the Best Puns in the Bible

[@alexanderportolov]

My favorite biblical pun is from the opening like of Ruth, in English it says “there was a famine in the land of Bethlehem”. But in Hebrew it could also say “there was no bread in the house of bread” .... I also like the humor in Jonah, east to understand Hebrew, the irony of him being a Hebrew, ie. The ones who cross the water, so he ends up being thrown overboard. 😂

[@יהודה-ל7ו]

Ruth 1:1 makes use of the Hebrew word for ‘famine’, thus it translates: "And there was a רעב [Ra'av] ‘famine’ in the land, and a man from Beit Leḥem ‘House of Bread’ of Judah went to sojourn in the fields of Moab". Still a pun. Btw the Torah describes itself also as haShirah haZot ‘this song’, Dewarim 31:19

[@user-ly3li3ex8c]

You'll are inspiring me to learn Hebrew, good job guys!

[@diftone]

I really enjoyed this. I have been teaching a Bible study on Genesis, and recently in the discussion, someone in the class asked me if Rachel's "wrestling" with her sister Leah was related to Jacob's later wrestling with the "Man", usually taken to be the Angel of the Lord or the Lord in human form. I responded that I wasn't aware of a connection, but suggested let's take a look at the Hebrew. To my surprise and delight, there was indeed a literary connection. The NKJV translates Genesis 30:8 to say “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” But the word translated as "great" in the Hebrew is elohim, usually translated God, gods, divine beings, godlike ones, or something similar. When Jacob wrestles with the "Man", the passage from Genesis 32:28 in the NKJV English reads 'And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Both passages end with the phrase "and have prevailed". And Rachel describes her struggle with Leah as godlike, divine, or mighty, depending on how its translated. I never saw that connection before. So basically, the Genesis 30:8 passage foreshadows the Genesis 32 story and specifically, the 28 passage. The Bible is a beautiful work of literary art, in addition to its truth.

[@jaybaldwin]

I like your comment re: "Chavah" being "snake" in Aramaic vs. the etymological tie-in with chai (life) in Hebrew. One quibble: you stated this is **foreshadowing** the snake encounter. It's actually the opposite. Eve isn't named by Adam until Gen 3:20. The snake encounter is immediately prior to that. So is Adam calling her "snake" because she listened to the snake, as did he -- when he "listened to the voice of your wife." ?

[@BiblicalCulture]

Excellent point Jay, I got the order confused 🤦‍♂️. The name "snake" comes after the snake story.

[@jaybaldwin]

@@BiblicalCulture No problem! This is actually a fantastic point. Very cool to have it succinctly put together in this way. I was unaware of the dual meaning of chavah between Hebrew and Aramaic.

[@markoristaniemi]

Thank you for this video. It is reminding me of the importance of Hebrew language. I came here from Nehemia's chanel. Will stay to keep on learning.

[@BiblicalCulture]

Welcome Marko, a friend of Nehemia is a friend of mine. I hope you enjoy.

[@markoristaniemi]

@@BiblicalCulture Thank you. I have my Master of Theology out of Helsinki University, but found their biblical knowledge wanting. In my experience, if I want to lear the scriptures, I go and find the nearest Jew and grab hold of his garments. So here I am 🙂

[@mariadelpilarllona4753]

I want to learn everything.

[@scienceexplains302]

Good name = good reputation sounds like an Anglicized comparison. Didn’t Name represent someone’s essence? So a good name would be more like “good character” than good name. The saying still makes sense, in fact that makes it more profound and seems to fit better with the rest of Ecclesiastes 7.

[@Michelle-g9g4r]

This video is so cool, thanks for sharing!!! 🙏

[@BiblicalCulture]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Dimples54]

Thank you, Rabbi Moster, once again. Always enjoy them.

[@DoreenBellDotan]

ב"ה שמן הוא השם שלהן

[@BiblicalCulture]

Good point

[@jankamper5282]

Christenen voor israel

[@josephpchajek2685]

You got the order wrong of Eve being cursed, she was cursed before she was name Eve.

[@JaykPuten]

You're not gonna mention when god is asked by moses the pun of his name "i am who i am" or "i will be who i will be"

[@BiblicalCulture]

Correct. While Exodus 3:14 is a very important wordplay, I limited the video to puns in Genesis, so this just missed the cut by a few chapters.

[@JaykPuten]

@@BiblicalCulture your right... I forgot it was in exodus(early in it, but still in exodus, but its my fav pun in the book "who are you? "I am who i am/i will be who i will be/ i will conginue to be who i continue to be.... And i cant remember how to work the nostalgia definition as my hebrew is awful)

[@wicekwickowski3798]

You translate very well! What if you still tried the etymology of the word "man".

[@jackgorman5775]

This is so cool! Loved it and need to listen to it a few times. Thanks Rav David

[@BiblicalCulture]

Thanks Jack!

[@ErnestWilber]

I don’t remember where you are in the Bible but it’s not incest until our Lord said it was and said that it was no longer ok

[@christophecrist2171]

8:40 Rabbi Migos coming out

[@stevefrandsen7897]

Very interesting

[@kultus]

Almost impossible to translate these. I thought Robert Alter's 'welter and waste' for tohu waw bohu was darn good. Rosenzweig and Everett Fox!

[@lorraineevans1701]

Love it when you do the little’s snippets!

[@TabletsAndTemples]

Haha brilliant work!

[@BiblicalCulture]

Thanks Bible Unboxed!

[@SewardWriter]

Whoa, where is that study group? I don't know nearly enough Jews around here.

[@ErnestWilber]

You are a wonderful teacher keep it up thank you

[@BiblicalCulture]

Thank you! 😃

[@andrewhopkins1694]

I have wondered if the puns relating to Moab are intended to highlight Lots shame in Genesis 19:8, i have two daughters.

[@BiblicalCulture]

This is a good insight. I never made the connection. Thanks Andrew.

[@andrewhopkins1694]

@@BiblicalCulture I had another though on your comment on Jacobs blessing of Joseph's two sons. I think you know this but just incase I will send it along. I count four switches in Jacob's life. The crossing of the his hand to bless Joseph's sons. At Jacob's birth when he disguised himself as Esau and when his wives where switched by Laban.

[@BiblicalCulture]

You’re on a roll. Excellent point.

[@jpoteet2]

What was that big list mentioned in the video? Where could I find that.

[@BiblicalCulture]

The link is in the video description but here it is: archive.org/details/paronomasiainold00casarich/mode/2up Thanks for watching James

[@jpoteet2]

@@BiblicalCulture oh, yes it was. Thanks.

[@emmanuelmckinney8465]

Keep doing what you are doing!

[@BiblicalCulture]

Thanks Emmanuel

[@alikjug]

Shalom David, Gen 1:27 notice that בצלמו means shadow. In a sense Adam created as Gods shadow and exist to follow as shadow follows the object.

[@BiblicalCulture]

I never heard this interpretation about following like a shadow. Thanks for sharing alikjug.

[@ugomariapablo]

What do you have to say about the Douay Rheims Bible translation of the Old Testament?

[@P.H.888]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nITPkGqnZbJlnKcsi=RmkaBTPYJjaEXCcw

[@alainmarchan2410]

was wondering if you have reading group on hebrew? thanks

[@BiblicalCulture]

Alain email me at [e-mail]. I have a class ending and a possible new reading group beginning.

[@TaushaTW]

Thank you!

[@fransvalkenburg1156]

Dr michael heiser