Explanations of nearly 1,000 ancient idioms, metaphors, and figures of speech in the Old and New Testaments, from a renowned Bible translator.George M. Lamsa, who was raised speaking Aramaic in a community that followed customs largely unchanged since the times of Christ, offers accurate translations of important idioms, metaphors, and figures of speech found in the Scripture—and provides clear explanations of their meaning in biblical context.Just as Shakespeare, Milton, and Browning wrote in the vernacular for English-speaking people, Moses, the prophets, and the apostles wrote for their own people in the plain language of their times, so that even the unlearned might understand God''s Word. Over the centuries, inaccurate translations and misunderstandings of customs and concepts have led to difficulties in bringing the biblical message to contemporary English-speaking readers.For example, when a man says to Jesus, "let me bury my father," Lamsa points out that this expression means, "Let me first take care of my father until he dies." Traditionally, scholars assumed that this man''s father was dead and that Jesus was not interested in his burial. Lamsa''s scholarship offers a more accurate understanding of the intent and spirit of this passage.Idioms in the Bible Explained and a Key to the Original Gospels goes far in correcting such errors that have crept into Biblical scholarship. Obscure and difficult passages from both Old and New Testaments are listed and compared with the King James version (though it will be helpful when used with any English version). These make clear the original meaning of such ancient idioms and assure that our grasp of the biblical message is more sound and rewarding. To further uncover the original teachings of Scripture, Lamsa discusses at greater length such topics as "The Language of Jesus," "Aramaic Phraseology," "The Sayings of Jesus," "Early Translations," and more.

The author of this book is an Assyrian. His people, now struggling for bare existence in a non-fertile corner of Iraq, are the pitiful surviving remnant of that conquering race which for thousands of years dominated the fertile heart of Asia Minor, living and writing mighty volumes of world art and world history. They that once came down like a wolf on the fold are themselves today scattered Christian sheep, harried by their fierce neighbors. These present Assyrians, largely mixed with the blood of the captive Tribes, represent the oldest existing Christian Church. Their bishops claim an unbroken succession stretching back practically to the time of Jesus. Their Gospel text dates from the second century, nearly two hundred years closer to the event than the Greek MSS. on which our version is based, and free from that translation into a foreign idiom which proverbially destroys the integrity of the written word. Their native tongue, alone of all spoken now, is that Aramaic Jesus spoke. They still live and think and talk as did the people among whom Jesus was born and to whom he revealed his message. Mr. Lamsa grew up and was trained for the priesthood amid these unchanged ancient customs and traditions. From this background of a peculiar intimacy, and with tireless study of the neglected old Aramaic MSS., the author has drawn a portrait of Jesus through native eyes, bringing fresh illumination on many points to Western readers. Again and again dark and troublesome passages, on which commentators have produced libraries of labored explanation, become clear and obvious in the light of the colloquial speech, which the writer knows as only a native knows a language, and the local Oriental habits of thought of those for whom our Gospels were first recorded. Strangely enough, considering the vast literature on the subject, this seems to be the first such presentation of the historical Jesus by one who speaks Aramaic. HENRY WYSHAM LANIER

Explanations of nearly 1,000 ancient idioms, metaphors, and figures of speech in the Old and New Testaments, from a renowned Bible translator.George M. Lamsa, who was raised speaking Aramaic in a community that followed customs largely unchanged since the times of Christ, offers accurate translations of important idioms, metaphors, and figures of speech found in the Scripture—and provides clear explanations of their meaning in biblical context.Just as Shakespeare, Milton, and Browning wrote in the vernacular for English-speaking people, Moses, the prophets, and the apostles wrote for their own people in the plain language of their times, so that even the unlearned might understand God''s Word. Over the centuries, inaccurate translations and misunderstandings of customs and concepts have led to difficulties in bringing the biblical message to contemporary English-speaking readers.For example, when a man says to Jesus, "let me bury my father," Lamsa points out that this expression means, "Let me first take care of my father until he dies." Traditionally, scholars assumed that this man''s father was dead and that Jesus was not interested in his burial. Lamsa''s scholarship offers a more accurate understanding of the intent and spirit of this passage.Idioms in the Bible Explained and a Key to the Original Gospels goes far in correcting such errors that have crept into Biblical scholarship. Obscure and difficult passages from both Old and New Testaments are listed and compared with the King James version (though it will be helpful when used with any English version). These make clear the original meaning of such ancient idioms and assure that our grasp of the biblical message is more sound and rewarding. To further uncover the original teachings of Scripture, Lamsa discusses at greater length such topics as "The Language of Jesus," "Aramaic Phraseology," "The Sayings of Jesus," "Early Translations," and more.

The author of this book is an Assyrian. His people, now struggling for bare existence in a non-fertile corner of Iraq, are the pitiful surviving remnant of that conquering race which for thousands of years dominated the fertile heart of Asia Minor, living and writing mighty volumes of world art and world history. They that once came down like a wolf on the fold are themselves today scattered Christian sheep, harried by their fierce neighbors. These present Assyrians, largely mixed with the blood of the captive Tribes, represent the oldest existing Christian Church. Their bishops claim an unbroken succession stretching back practically to the time of Jesus. Their Gospel text dates from the second century, nearly two hundred years closer to the event than the Greek MSS. on which our version is based, and free from that translation into a foreign idiom which proverbially destroys the integrity of the written word. Their native tongue, alone of all spoken now, is that Aramaic Jesus spoke. They still live and think and talk as did the people among whom Jesus was born and to whom he revealed his message. Mr. Lamsa grew up and was trained for the priesthood amid these unchanged ancient customs and traditions. From this background of a peculiar intimacy, and with tireless study of the neglected old Aramaic MSS., the author has drawn a portrait of Jesus through native eyes, bringing fresh illumination on many points to Western readers. Again and again dark and troublesome passages, on which commentators have produced libraries of labored explanation, become clear and obvious in the light of the colloquial speech, which the writer knows as only a native knows a language, and the local Oriental habits of thought of those for whom our Gospels were first recorded. Strangely enough, considering the vast literature on the subject, this seems to be the first such presentation of the historical Jesus by one who speaks Aramaic. HENRY WYSHAM LANIER