Language Studies

Aramaic Thoughts

Idioms in the Bible - Part 2

As we begin to maneuver through this material, we need to make another distinction: the difference between an idiom and figurative language. An idiom is "an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either grammatically or in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meaning of its elements" (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition). Figurative language is "expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another with which it may be regarded as analogous" (same source).

An example of an English idiom is the phrase "a dime a dozen." The phrase is a shortened form of "these things cost a dime for a dozen of them." But the phrase means, "these things are cheap." Figurative language includes such things a similes and metaphors. A particular idiom may in fact be a figure of speech. When Jesus calls Herod a fox (Luke 13:32) he does not mean that Herod is literally a fox, but rather that he has some fox-like characteristics.

When dealing with idioms and figurative language, it is important to pay attention to the context, because that will usually give some clue as to the meaning of the idiom or the figure. Thus, someone who hears the idiom "a dime a dozen" for the first time may well be able to puzzle out its meaning from the larger context of the conversation. Likewise, the disciples did not imagine that Jesus thought Herod to be a literal fox, but rather that Jesus was making a comment about Herod's character.

When we read the Bible and run across figures and idioms, it is likewise important for us to pay careful attention to the context. This is something that George Lamsa fails to do in a number of the "idioms" in the Bible that he seeks to explain. The first idiom he finds in the Bible is God's statement, "Let there be light" in Gen 1:3. This Lamsa explains as meaning, "Let there be understanding." It is true that in Aramaic (as well as in Hebrew and English) "light" can sometimes be used figuratively to indicate understanding. But by calling this an idiom, Lamsa really says that any time Aramaic uses "light" it really means "understanding." That is patently false. Lamsa failed to pay attention to the context of the expression. The context of Genesis 1 is that of creation, specifically of the world. Thus, there is literal earth and sky. There are literal animals. There is literal grass and trees. It is contrary to the context to see the Aramaic in Gen 1:3 (which is a translation of the Hebrew, and one supposes the translators intended to convey the same meaning the Hebrew did) as indicating "let there be understanding." Likewise, the reference to darkness in vs 4 is literal darkness, not figurative ignorance, or lack of enlightenment.

The problem with the mis-identification of idioms or figures of speech is that misunderstanding results. Use the idiom "a dime a dozen" as an example. The phrase could be taken as saying "a dime is a dozen." Someone who misunderstood the phrase in that fashion might then go into the donut shop and ask for a dime of donuts. He would have a problem similar to the person who, on Lamsa's authority, reads "understanding" every time the Bible says "light." Much misunderstanding would clearly result.

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