That's Punny

I am not good at languages, in fact I did not do well in either Biblical Greek or Hebrew. Fortunately, there are resources available which cover some of my inability (and most people are not ready for or interested in more than a shallow discussion of languages). However, in my three years of more intensive OT study I am more familiar with the actual Biblical text. One thing that I am more aware of is the constant puns in the OT stories. Many of the puns are lost on us because they revolve around Hebrew roots which do not translate easily into English. So a related word, or a rhyme, in Hebrew is not apparent in an English translate.

For example, in Enlish a story about a dead person, a cup of coffee and being tardy can have a clever sound. "The late Mr. Jones did not enjoy the latte, it arrived late." While not artistic, one can see how the words interact in English and can imagine a more complex and enjoyable combination.

In the OT, the authors do a great deal of this. It is the reason why some of the sentences can seem odd to us. In Hebrew the words are similar or sound alike, but in English they do not. Sometimes, though, the English can actually convey the idea found in the Hebrew. In reading Exodus 17 in my prayer time yesterday, therefore, I was attuned to see something more in the text. Ironically, the Hebrew puns are not present, three different and unrelated terms are used. In English, however, it is present. But the thematic connection is obvious.

Moses is worried, the people are mad about being thirsty. In 17:4 he says "A little more and they will stone me!" God says in response, v6, that He will be standing on a "rock" at Horeb and Moses must strike the "rock." This episode is called Massah and Meribah (Testing and Quarrel). Immediately after Israel is driven into battle against Amalek, but their success is based on Moses keeping his arms up. Then in v12 Moses his arms too tired to hold up, sits on a "stone" and gets help from Joshua and Hur. The verb stoned and the words rock and stone connect the three scenes of the narrative thematically. This is something which contemporary readers care little about, but apparently the ancient Hebrew/Jewish people loved. Seeing these sorts of things gives an added depth and texture to the reading and insight into the ancient mind.

The Church Fathers, many of whom considered the literal, plain meaning of a text to be its least significant, would delve into the sacred writ for deeper meaning. The rock/stone imagery would possibly draw one to reflect on Petros/petra (literally rock and stone; or Peter). Jesus told Peter that He would build his church on the stone (of Peter's confession, or faith, or Peter himself). An ancient Christian reading might see Moses on the stone as a type of the church. In our worldly battles (the war) we are at prayer (arms held up), sitting on the faith of the church (stone) and we need Joshua (Jesus) and Hur (literally 'hole', perhaps, therefore, the empty tomb) to make our prayer effective. The stone Moses sits on is also the rock of the life giving waters, so it is baptism (and/or the Holy Spirit). The church reborn in baptism//full of God's Spirit is able to pray. This is an example of God's revelation about the importance of baptism and the Holy Spirit. This is our firm foundation. But there is still a battle, Amalek wins for a while, then loses. It is a struggle. The battle does not end until sunset, the end of day (= symbolically, 'the end of days').

Such an approach to the Word may seem too playful to some. Not concrete enough to others. Overly subject to many. However, it seems that in Ancient Hebrew, puns were part of the point and in ancient Greek sumbolic was the deeper and more imporant meaning. I invite you to dive into the word with an awareness of these possiblities. The sheer artistry of God's authorship!