The Introduction

I wanted to understand the Bible’s creation narrative — specifically the six (6) days [Genesis 1]. To do this, I needed to answer the two original questions I asked myself when I began this “journey,” which were:

1 — In what language was the Bible originally written?

The answer is both complicated and “not just one”

The simplest way to answer this is that the older books were written in Hebrew [in its older versions]. Later books were in Aramaic [a sister language to Hebrew], and the latest books were in Koine Greek (the historical version of Greek).

The older versions of Hebrew are often referred to as “Biblical” Hebrew. — Note: Also called Classical Hebrew.

What is Biblical Hebrew?

For the sake of some sense of clarity, I will use the basic definition of: A blanket term applied to much earlier variants of Mesopotamian languages — associated with writings which are now part of what is now referred to as “the Bible.”

Note: These earlier variants of languages are classified as archaic forms of languages and are labeled as terms like: Paleo-Phoenician / Paleo-Hebrew scripts.

– Paleo-Phoenician → branched into many others: Greek, Latin (the romance languages: Italian, French, and Spanish, etc), and eventually influenced modern English.

– Paleo-Hebrew → branched into many others as well: As the ancestor languages to modern Hebrew and Aramaic (which was also used with other books in the Bible).

When it comes down to it, I would say there’s no good way to actually get an answer to the question of: What is “Biblical Hebrew.” The most notable fact is that the numerous variables make this even more complicated. Therefore, [for now], I am going to address the visual aspects of the language(s).

Example of the visual representation of the Paleo-style of writing

There are actually discovered texts written in this form of writing style, which include some of the oldest found. The most notable are known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

2 — How was biblical translation done?

The answer is again complicated [I would state: “very much so!” — which is still debated and ongoing in present time.

Personally, I would make the statement that translation begins with the perspective a person takes or the biases they have — this includes both the time period and culture of those doing the translations, which also leads to a layering effect.

What makes this complicated…

Translation via Interpretation

It’s important to note that when it comes to translating “ancient” texts, it’s not as simple as an actual “word-for-word” rendering. The reality is that translation [for the most part] is an interpretation of the concept [of what is being communicated] and as the presumed intent of the person doing the communication (aka: the author).

What this really means is making a guess based on probability and calculating it using a specific methodology [of which there are many types].

Note: A vast array of interpretations and translations of the ancient words has been developed over thousands of years by many cultures and religious groups.

Another factor beyond methodology that influences interpretation is time, specifically the time [time period] when the original, oldest, or older words were reinterpreted to fit the later timeline of culture and language.

The result of these factors has not only led to the branching of religious organizations into various factions but has also produced hundreds of versions of translations.

How to un-complicate this?

My initial thought was that I would go to the source material: [the “original” text] to verify what others have interpreted.

I soon discovered the central issue with the concept of “original” text, especially when searching for the oldest writings. In fact, even the oldest writings are copies of an alleged “original” version — In other words, there are no longer the actual “originals.”

So, the idea of finding the oldest version is the key reason for archaeology and discovery. Which is why the discovery and analysis of the Dead Sea Scrolls are and were important, as they are some of the oldest and largest collection of writings we have to date.

In summary: There are not originals – only copies. Although it appears the coping practice has been very well done, it doesn’t effectively convey the timeline of the “original” [source] material. There’s also the question of “who” wrote them.

The authorship crediting practice also generates an issue because sometimes texts were “credited” to older writers or prophets and their writings).

Note: It’s understood to have been done to elevate the “authority” of the additional text.

How have people in the past tried to un-complicate this?

The simple answer is they didn’t.

This is where things get really complicated. In fact, the ideas of how to interpret biblical scripture have become so complex that new words and categories have been created to define the nuances of this complexity.

Terms like: Theology, Hermeneutics, and Exegesis

The What, Why, and Hows of…

Hermeneutics is the methodology (and theory) of interpretation and is considered the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation. Also, described as the “Art of Interpretation and the study of exegesis.”

There are many subcategories of methods or types of Hermeneutics:

Allegorical… / Literal… / Moral… / Anagogical (Mystical) /
Genre Hermeneutics / Spiritualized Interpretation /
Historical-Grammatical / Historical-Critical (Higher Criticism) /
[There are probably more terms and types]

Essentially, it’s the perspective one takes, which will lead to the result(s) one is looking towards.

– The concept of the path one goes down, is the direction one is aiming at
— as the idea of trying to hit a target.

Note: The concept of Sin is to miss the mark.”

The Outcome(s), Conclusion(s) and Justification(s) of…

The discovery from the results of the perspective taken is basically labeled in two different ways/terms:

Exegesis -versus- Eisegesis

Exegesis is a critical explanation or analysis that includes the actual interpretation of a text. Although this sounds like a positive definition and concept, the term is generally used in a derogatory sense and has often been associated with having a negative reputation.

Whereas, Eisegesis, where one reads one’s own meaning into the text, is much more prone to risk of falseness and influence of personal biases and emotions (especially ego).

Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious (spiritual) perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It’s taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries.

---

In summary, there are various approaches to understanding the scriptures, including the authors’ intent, meaning, truth, belief, and the nature of God or gods.
The fact is, there has always been a diversity of perspectives.

What all these perspectives have in common is their own version of “meaning!”

This brings me back to the first question of the “original” language, and I thought: If I am going to understand the interpretation and translations, perhaps first understanding the language from its origins and development is a good starting point.

Note: None of the biblical text discovered [at least to date] was written in the Glyph form, but the real question is: was it ever?

Origins of the Biblical Hebrew

Many (if not all) ancient human cultures developed a variety of stylized glyphs for recording information (but also as a visual imagery of an aspect of meaning). This process may have begun with a smaller number of glyphs, which then grew over time into thousands of them. So many that it was probably only a select few, highly educated individuals that could have the knowledge of this complexity.

Eventually, in Mesopotamia, a consolidated and limited set of glyphs was chosen. This set of glyphs is sometimes referred to as the “First” Alphabet. There are very few artifacts found in the glyph form, but more common archaeological discoveries are in the later writing versions. Examples of this later alphabet are classified as terms like: the Paleo-Phoenician and the Paleo-Hebrew scripts – (Also called the Canaanite/Semitic languages).

Note: As the name implies, it evolved into the Hebrew and other sister languages, including Aramaic (used in the books of Daniel and Ezra).

Through the Phoenicians (sea-faring merchants), it evolved or influenced the development of what became the later Greek language, which influenced what became Latin, which influenced the Romance languages: Italian, French, Spanish — but also had influenced German and English.

Glyphs to Letters

The Visual Evolution

However, even these “Paleo” versions of writing had predecessors, classified as Proto-Sinaitic or Proto-Canaanite. These are named in relation to the location of their discoveries, in either the southern or northern regions of the Ancient Near East lands. The artifacts found are described as inscriptions in stone (sometimes also called Pictograms or the Pictographic script), and are what is known in simple terms as “Glyphs.”

Many groups of people in the ancient Near East developed glyphs. The images represented seem influenced by their demographics, religious beliefs, and livelihoods. The graphic depictions were diverse, numbering in the thousands, and used by many cultures, from the Hieroglyphs of the Egyptians to the early Sumerian writings. The complexity of the visual representations eventually evolved into streamlined versions within each culture.

Dia. A _ Evolution of Glyphs to Letters (Proto- -> Paleo- -> modern)

Note: The “Glyph” Alphabet was the proverbial “seed” for the development of a vast array of our modern languages.

There have been many changes in these evolving languages throughout history, both visually and functionally. However, the Hebrew language continued using the names of the original Glyphs to the letters they represent.

Note: As a standard practice, Linguistic scholars study Ancient languages from the perspective of the sounds (pronunciations) associated with the corresponding Glyphs, and they generally categorize the method of interpretation based on the symbolic attributes or meanings, as mystical or metaphysical.

The Hebrew language maintained the balance of the visual image and meaning through what is called: Kabbalah.

Letters and Meaning

The method of reapplying “meaning” to these letters has created different results, leading to religious, spiritual, and even mystical outcomes. The variety of these outcomes stems from the focus of a particular lens or perspective.

This aspect of Hebrew letters and analyzing meaning through a metaphysical lens isolates “thought” as a concept of truth, which led to the Jewish, esoteric method called Kabbalah (described as “received wisdom” and defined as hidden or secret knowledge.

Note: Esoteric definition: Intended for or understood by only a small group, especially one with specialized knowledge or interests.

Over time, this has become associated with the term “mysticism” and branched to other types of mysticism practices, including many of the new age beliefs.
Note: For many people, the idea of Mysticism is viewed to be a magical or “woo-woo” practice.

This idea of some deeper or hidden connection of meaning is not from some random association applied to the letters or words. The connection to these meanings is actually related to the attributes of the original glyphs from which the letters evolved.

---