The Language of Truth
“Do you understand and read Hebrew?”
The pointed question came from an Orthodox Jewish man who had taken offense to my handing tracts to people passing by on a busy major city street. Many Jewish people were among those to whom I offered the literature.
Looking at the tract, he noticed Isaiah 52:13-53:12 was quoted in both Hebrew and English. His immediate response was to challenge my ability to properly understand the meaning of the text in the original language in which Isaiah wrote. If I didn’t have fluency in Hebrew, what right did I have to hand this to passersby?
I readily admitted my knowledge of Hebrew was minimal. I asked if that meant I could not understand the meaning of Isaiah’s words in the English translation.
That was the only question I was able to ask. Instead of replying to this, the man engaged in a passionate and seemingly prepared list of reasons of why he pitied me in my ignorance. Not only was I deceived, but I was perpetuating this deception to Jewish people.
I’m not naive as to why he was opposed to what I was doing. Isaiah 53 is the clearest description of Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures. Even though I had not mentioned Jesus yet, he did numerous times in his impassioned monologue. His lecture completed, he turned on his heel and departed.
After he walked away, I paused and thought deeply about his words. I had wanted to tell him that, indeed, fluent understanding of biblical Hebrew would surely bring the blessing of an even richer and deeper insight into and appreciation of the Scriptures we both agree are God’s Word.
I had wanted to ask if he believed that only people who knew Hebrew could understand the meaning of the Tanakh. Or if he believed there had never been language experts or scholars capable of translating the Hebrew text into other languages in an accurate way.
I could empathize with this man’s opposition to belief in Jesus being the promised Jewish Messiah. I understood his rejection of Jesus is reinforced by some of history’s worst examples of hatred toward and murder of Jewish people at the hands of people who claimed Christianity.
I also thought how difficult it must be to believe in Jesus when for centuries the great majority of the most learned of his leaders have rejected Jesus as being the Messiah.
Yes, there are numerous examples of Jewish people through the centuries who have believed that Jesus is the promised Messiah of Israel. And today we see a growing number of Messianic Jews who have trusted in Jesus and are maintaining a strong Jewish identity despite continued rejection from their kinsmen. Some Jewish believers are well-versed in Hebrew, but many are not.
The question remains, is facility with the original languages (Hebrew and Aramaic for the Old Testament and Koine Greek for the New) necessary to understand the truth of God’s Word? Not in a day when we have so many accurate translations of Scripture. Biblical scholars have invested their lives translating God’s Word into the heart languages of people around the world.[1]
God’s truth was meant for all people to understand and embrace, regardless of language. Near the end of Psalm 119, the Psalmist writes “The beginning of Thy word is truth; and all Thy righteous ordinance endureth forever.”[2]
One of the followers of Jesus wrote these very telling words regarding truth after he had identified Jesus as the Word. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”[3]
He then added these words: “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”[4]
Understanding truth is not limited to knowing a particular language, especially when it comes to God’s Word. His redemptive plan is clearly laid out in the Scriptures, fulfilled by the One who would fully embody Truth. Jesus claimed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”[5]
The study of other languages is a wonderful pursuit that enriches understanding. But rest assured, you can come to the knowledge of God’s truth in a language other than the original. The greater challenge is to approach the text of Scripture – in whatever language we best understand – in a spirit of humility, asking the Divine Author to help us both comprehend and believe what He has preserved for us.
Written by Jeff, LIFE staff
1. Are you struggling in pursuit of a religious truth? Are you aware that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has pursued reconciliation with His people and the nations through His Son, as recorded in the Scriptures? Contact us today to hear about this truth.
2. If you are a believer, what obstacles does the Evil One put in the way of you sharing your faith? “I’m not a scholar. What if someone asks me a question I can’t answer?” is a common excuse. Every believer can share their personal story of faith. And many resources are available to equip you to share your faith more effectively. For example, download Reaching Jewish People for Messiah for free!
Endnotes:
[1] “According to Ethnologue, there are currently 7,106 living languages in the world. As of 2020 the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages. The New Testament has been translated into 1,551 languages and parts of the Bible have been translated into 1,160 additional languages.” See https://www.biblica.com/resources/bible-faqs/how-many-different-languages-has-the-bible-been-translated-into/.
[2] Psalm 119:160, Jewish Publication Society, 1917.
[3] John 1:14, New American Standard Bible, Lockman Foundation, 2020; cited here and following.
[4] John 1:17.
[5] John 14:6.