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+--- Thread: Mark 9:49 (/showthread.php?tid=277)
Mark 9:49 - Paul Younan - 09-10-2003
Shlama Akhay,
In the Greek version of Mark 9:49, we read with astonishment:
Quote:"And everything will be salted with fire...."
In Aramaic, the root [font=Estrangelo (V1.1)]Xlm [/font]can mean "to salt" or "to scatter" as the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon demonstrates:
Quote:mlx V
011 Palestinian,Syr,JBA to salt
012 Syr to scatter
013 BibAr,Syr to use someone's salt
014 Syr to become salty
041 Syr to be salted
051 Syr to treat someone in a familiar way
LS2 390,J 788
R melxA) N
Obviously, what Meshikha meant was:
Quote:"And everything will be scattered/pulverized (Neth-mel-ekh) with fire...."
Now that's not all. Yes, the verb root also means "to salt" - and, yes, Meshikha uses the second meaning in the second phrase of verse 49:
Quote:"And every sacrifice with salt will be salted (Teth-mel-ekh)." (c.f., Leviticus 2:13)
Finally, the Aramaic root in question is also used in this same manner in the Hebrew scriptures:
Quote:"Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish wxlmn like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane." (Isaiah 51:6)
Therefore, the proper interpretation of Mark 9:49 is:
Quote:"For everything will be destroyed [font=Estrangelo (V1.1)]Xlmtn [/font]with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned [font=Estrangelo (V1.1)]Xlmtt [/font]with salt."
A beautiful word-play Meshikha used with the dual meaning (scatter~salt) of this root!
. - drmlanc - 09-10-2003
Man, my Messiah makes Shakespeare (or Marlowe, depending on what you think...) look like an amatuer.