09-01-2004, 07:04 AM
"""But I say unto you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cuase shall be in danger of the judgement: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be guilty to the council, and whosever shall say, Thou effeminate one, shall be doomed to hell fire." Mt5:22 literal (translation from Aramaic)
The term Raca, which is usually left untranslated, in a Greek or English translation Bible literally refers to "spit in one's face".
Addais take on it
It really describes not just the action, but also the attitude of contempt that goes alongside it (more importantsly). In some translations, I think KJV I've seen it translated as "fool". But that isn't such a good translation. If you look in Psalms and Proverbs their is alot of admonishment against fools, foolish actions, acting without knowedge, acting rashly etc. So trying to imply this as a rebuke to those who want to admonish or rebuke others who behave foolishly isn't really consistent with the Bible.
What is consistent is the admonisment of contempt. All people are "Created in the Divine Image of God", they were created to have communion with Him". In Orthodoxy we like to say that God created humans to be living icons to reflect or bare his glory to the World. That really is God intent for us and the rest of humanity. By reviling others however we work directlya gainst this (actually ally ourselves with Satan and his efforts to damn and pull people down). It is written, in various places that if we show contempt for the poor (and others) we show contemp for God himself who made them. It is probably also for this reason that when Jesus asked what is this Great of the commandments he answers first of all Love for God, but immediately pairs it with love for our fellow humans. Because their is a link their. We cannot truly claim to love God who we cannot see with our naked eyes (which requires more faith, and is presumably more difficult), when we mis-treat those who stand before us.
The term Raca, which is usually left untranslated, in a Greek or English translation Bible literally refers to "spit in one's face".
Addais take on it
It really describes not just the action, but also the attitude of contempt that goes alongside it (more importantsly). In some translations, I think KJV I've seen it translated as "fool". But that isn't such a good translation. If you look in Psalms and Proverbs their is alot of admonishment against fools, foolish actions, acting without knowedge, acting rashly etc. So trying to imply this as a rebuke to those who want to admonish or rebuke others who behave foolishly isn't really consistent with the Bible.
What is consistent is the admonisment of contempt. All people are "Created in the Divine Image of God", they were created to have communion with Him". In Orthodoxy we like to say that God created humans to be living icons to reflect or bare his glory to the World. That really is God intent for us and the rest of humanity. By reviling others however we work directlya gainst this (actually ally ourselves with Satan and his efforts to damn and pull people down). It is written, in various places that if we show contempt for the poor (and others) we show contemp for God himself who made them. It is probably also for this reason that when Jesus asked what is this Great of the commandments he answers first of all Love for God, but immediately pairs it with love for our fellow humans. Because their is a link their. We cannot truly claim to love God who we cannot see with our naked eyes (which requires more faith, and is presumably more difficult), when we mis-treat those who stand before us.