05-09-2008, 11:35 PM
Shlama Christina and Rafa,
The numbers 666 and 616 both occur in Greek mss. (616 in Codex C-5th cent.) & come from the Aramaic for "Nero Caesar".
"Nero" is (Nun=50, Resh=200. Waw=6,- Nun=50) in Aramaic, or (Nun, Resh, Waw)- 2 spellings.
Caesar is Qop=100, Simkat=60, Resh=200. There is also the plenary-full spelling of "Nero" which is (Nun,Alap,Resh,Waw,Nun)
Using the first spelling of Nero, the full name "Nero Caesar" adds up to 666.
This spelling is called "defective" in Hebrew, since it lacks the vowel place holder Alap, but is still pronounced the same. "Defective", as Pastor Henry means it (I think) does not mean it is mis-spelled, just lacking an Alap or another silent letter which does not change the name or pronunciation. This occurs in The Hebrew Bible as well as The Peshitta, which have alternate spellings for names such as Joshua, Jerusalem, Uzziah, David, and many others.Both the plenary and "defective" spellings for the same name occur in the same book or books by the same author.
The second spelling for "Nero" - 3 letters + "Caesar", gives a total of 616. Count it for yourself. So both Greek readings of 666 and 616 most likely come from "Nero Caesar" in Aramaic! (or possibly Hebrew, though Hebrew is quite an unlikely candidate at that)
Greek names cannot account for either number. I have not seen the 656 number, Christina.Do you know where it is?
Blessings,
Dave
The numbers 666 and 616 both occur in Greek mss. (616 in Codex C-5th cent.) & come from the Aramaic for "Nero Caesar".
"Nero" is (Nun=50, Resh=200. Waw=6,- Nun=50) in Aramaic, or (Nun, Resh, Waw)- 2 spellings.
Caesar is Qop=100, Simkat=60, Resh=200. There is also the plenary-full spelling of "Nero" which is (Nun,Alap,Resh,Waw,Nun)
Using the first spelling of Nero, the full name "Nero Caesar" adds up to 666.
This spelling is called "defective" in Hebrew, since it lacks the vowel place holder Alap, but is still pronounced the same. "Defective", as Pastor Henry means it (I think) does not mean it is mis-spelled, just lacking an Alap or another silent letter which does not change the name or pronunciation. This occurs in The Hebrew Bible as well as The Peshitta, which have alternate spellings for names such as Joshua, Jerusalem, Uzziah, David, and many others.Both the plenary and "defective" spellings for the same name occur in the same book or books by the same author.
The second spelling for "Nero" - 3 letters + "Caesar", gives a total of 616. Count it for yourself. So both Greek readings of 666 and 616 most likely come from "Nero Caesar" in Aramaic! (or possibly Hebrew, though Hebrew is quite an unlikely candidate at that)
Greek names cannot account for either number. I have not seen the 656 number, Christina.Do you know where it is?
Blessings,
Dave