Idioms in the Bible Explained and a Key to the Original Gospels

by George M. Lamsa

World-renowned Bible translator and commentator George M. Lamsa explains nearly one thousand crucial idioms that will enrich reading of the Old and New Testaments for students and general reader alike.Lamsa, who was raised speaking Aramaic in a community that followed customs largely unchanged since the times of Christ, offers fresh, accurate translations of important idioms, metaphors, and figures of speech found in the Scripture--and provides clear explanations of their meaning of biblical context.Just as Shakespeare, Milton, and Browning wrote in the vernacular for English-speaking people, Moses the prophets, and the apostles wrote for their own people in the plain language of their times, so that even the unlearned might understand God's Word. Over the centuries, inaccurate translations and misunderstandings of customs and concepts have led to difficulties in bringing the biblical message to contemporary English-speaking readers.For example, when a man says to Jesus, "let me bury my father," Lamsa points out that this expression means, "Let me first take care of my father until he dies." Traditionally, scholars assumed that this man's father was dead and that Jesus was not interested in his burial. Lamsa's scholarship offers a more accurate understanding of the intent and spirit of this passage.Idioms in the Bible Explained and a Key to the Original Gospels goes far in correcting such errors that have crept into Biblical scholarship. Obscure and difficult passages from both Old and New Testaments are listed and compared with the King James version (though it will be helpful when used with any English version). These make clear the original meaning of such ancient idioms and assure that our grasp of the biblical message is more sound and rewarding.To further uncover the original teachings of Scripture, Idioms in the Bible Explained and a Key to the Original Gospels, Lamsa discusses at greater length such topics as "The Language of Jesus," "Aramaic Phraseology," "The Sayings of Jesus," "Early Translations," and more..

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 1985

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book written by one who was raised in a traditional Aramaic community. Sheds light on many expressions in the Gospels.

[Katina MOORE · Rating 1 out of 5]

VERY DECEPTIVE!!

I chose this book because at first look online some of the examples resonated with me, so happily I did not research further and to my dismay I saw many deceptive terms, so very disappointed. I would not recommend this book to anyone it is very misleading if you are not studied in the scriptures. My money, and time very wasted.

[Fred W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening and soul nourishing!

It is difficult to argue with someone who was raised in a culture and language most similar to Jesus of Nazareth when he interprets his words in the Bible. If you are a Christian and guide your life by Christ teachings then you definitely must read this book. I found it very illuminating and it solved a lot of problems in some of the sayings of Jesus that I did not understand very well. Get it and read it; you will love it!

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lamsa offers some insights into the colloquial phrases we find in the Bible. He maintains that the Gospels would have originally been written in Aramaic then translated into Greek, but I have seen few scholars who hold to this position.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skipped most of the “idioms,” better as a research tool, and focused on the “key,” an interesting explanation of gospel stories and terms in the context of Aramaic usage.

[shelly onkotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great companion to the Lamsa translation of The Holy Bible. It has many insights into Eastern and Aramaic meanings

[Don Paske · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't want to say this is a bad book. I just don't believe much of what he says...

[Jeff McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Basically this is two books within one cover.

Book one is Idioms in the Bible Explained and contains about 70 pages is one-liners organized into groups based on the book they come from. Each one is a Scripture idiom, and a brief interpretation underneath it. This portion of the book is the meat and potatoes of why I bought it. It is a quick reference guide to many idioms to help better understand what specific verses mean. For example, here are a few:

The wolf and the lamb shall dwell together. Isa. 11:6
-- means "An oppressor and a weak nation shall live together in peace."



The weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. Isa. 11:8
-- means "A small nation shall be able to handle their deadly enemies."



Eat bead in the Kingdom of God. Luke 14:15
-- means "Welcomed in the Kingdom of God."

These little tidbits help to clarify so many obscure (to us) pieces of Scripture, that it makes this little book well worth having on your shelf. Even if you do not buy into Lamsa's ideas on the NT being written originally in Aramaic, this little book is still great.

Book two is "A Key to the Original Gospels" and is a brief story of the Scriptures, cultural history and a bunch of small segments dealing with various topics and verses, almost like an expounded edition of some of the idioms covered before, but more story-like. It explains various subjects like what happened at the wedding at Cana, the word Raca, the rich man, letting the dead bury the dead, the two women grinding concept, and more.

The most "interesting" portion of this book was his take on the words of Jesus on the cross, when he said "Eli, Eli, Lmana Sabachthani." He claims that it does not imply anything about being forsaken, but that in the Aramaic means "My God, My God, for this I was kept" and speaks of Jesus crying out that this was his known destiny and the reason he was born. This stands out as the highlight of the whole second book, but it was all enlightening in one way or another. Well worth the read in my opinion.

[Ed Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reference to Lamsa's important alternative to the standard commercial versions of the New Testament. (See Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text by Lamsa. )