The Shema in Biblical Hebrew: Deuteronomy 6:4 and the Meaning of אֶחָד (One or Alone?)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ม.ค. 2023
- Deuteronomy 6:4 is quite possibly the most well-known verse in Israel today. It is often referred to as "the Shema" because of the first Hebrew word: שְׁמַע
However, this verse is also notoriously difficult to understand, and consequently, translate. A lot of the difficulty centers on the Hebrew word אֶחָד, which often just refers to the number "one". Does אֶחָד here refer to a quality of "the Lord", namely his "oneness" or "simplicity"? Or does it refer to some class of things that "the Lord" alone belongs to? Or something else entirely?
In order to better understand and translate this verse, Dr. Kevin Grasso dives into the Hebrew text using key linguistic tools.
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FIRST! Yehovah ur Elohim is First
On this subject, I heartily recommend a track I discovered by accident (it appeared in my 'recommended' feed) by a British band called UNIT. The track is A Tribute To The Israeli Defence Force and it is excellent - tuneful and forceful without being bombastic combined with a lovely lyric. I know next to nothing about the group but on investigation I see they've recorded a whole batch of Jewish related tracks such as Pesach, Yom Kippur, Bar Mitzvah, Israel Is Real, The 613 Mitzvot and probably others I don’t know about yet. Some of them feature Rabbi Moshe Bryski which is definitely a recommendation in itself.
Thank you for pointing to the different translations and explaining it in context.
אני חושב אשר זה טוב מאוד. שמעתי ושמחתי לך. תודה
This is similar to how I remember Walter Moberly, my undergraduate tutor, explaining that - but I ought to go back and check my notes to see whether I am remembering correctly.
Great explanation brother 🇿🇦
Great video! In my elementary knowledge of Hebrew (currently in my 2nd year) I thought יְהוָה אֶחָד was a word pair and would translate to "The Lord of one". I thought "one" was referring to the nation. Like how my husband is husband of one. But I really appreciate your in depth view!
Glad you enjoyed the video! That's a great intuition you have, but things can definitely get more complex!
Love your teaching
THANKS A lot for!
HaShem is unique. One of a kind. The totality of everything, in One. ❤
Thank you for taking the time do this. You have a nice way of speaking, & presenting your thoughts. I did wonder a couple things:
If this is true, why then can I not find one translation rendering the Greek text of Mark 12:29 (where Jesus quotes the shema) as "The Lord is the only One?" I would think this would carry significant weight. It does with me, anyway.
Also, you say the name Lord is "Adonai" in the shema, but it is "YHWH". Is there a reason for this?
Thank you.
That YHVH is a “proper name” representing a single person is a major assumption. In Gen 19:24, YHVH on earth rains fire and brimstone from YHVH in heaven. Neither is YHVH a common name. It’s a “shem”. I see multiple layers of meaning in that verses, including yours of course. YHVH Eloheinu could as well be a construct, as also YHVH Elohim, and YHVH Tzevaoth. Of course this will take us in a different direction.
Many layers
Kevin, this is a fantastic video! I’m curious though, why do you think the LXX translators put “κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν κύριος εἷς ἐστιν”?
I thought you would have addressed that the Hebrew uses Yahweh and not Adonai, which is a Jewish tradition of substituting Adonai for Yahweh based on their tradition that God's name is too holy to be uttered or too important to say because we may mispronounce it.
Hallelu Yah, Blessed Be His Mighty And Holy Name Forever And Ever, Amen And Amen!
How does Mark translate Jesus quoting the shema in Greek?
complex unity
Couldn’t we look to how Jesus quoted the Shema in Mark 12:29 to understand what was meant? The Lord our God is one (eis in Greek) meaning opposed to many. And then the scribe says back to Jesus in Mark 12:32, “You have truly said that that HE (eimi, first person singular) is one (eis) and there is no one else besides HIM. Then Jesus tells the scribe he answered wisely.
Curious why so many rings with the shema on them have אלוהינו spelled אלוקינו … what’s up with the spelling difference?
Thank you! Even in Mark 12:28-34, Yeshua agrees that Adonai is God alone.
👍
I liked the part where you refer to GOD as unique, this extends to Him being different, holy, separate from everything else.
I think a lighter translation might include that word: "Hear, O Israel: YHWH our Elohim, YHWH, is unique."
Jeremiah 10:6; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Deuteronomy 3:24, etc.
It is easy in this type of discussion for folks to begin arguing. The translation stating that He is “The Only One” is the most accurate. However, the concept of trinity is an influence from Greco-Roman philosophical attempts to understand G_D manifest in the flesh. Yeshua is fully (the only) diety GOD and fully man (without sin) there are no other personalities in the godhead. Simply Yeshua.
SHEMA ISRAEL ADONAI, ELOHENU, ADONAI ECHAD
from memory from this Gringo
Thank you for all this explanation. But speaking of the only God, it has no sense speaking about three persons. With that the meaning of our words are totally lost. The oneness of the only God is a Revelation. When Jesus speaks: I am ... the way, the truth an the life, it does not make Him three persons. He is revealed as the One. Remember: We Jesus answered the soldiers who came to arrest Him, they felt down by the power of the Lord, when Jesus said: I Am
Greetings, Alex
The divine is not three persons. Sorry, but you are wrong that is not an 'ontologiccal' statement. You seemed to have missed understqanding the middle. Perhaps you cannot, and survive as a non-Jew. But every Jew knowns that God is ONE. Being. What was, will be, what is. ONLY ONE. The only thing, the only manifestation, the only power, the only force, there is no other. There is nothing besides god. Still, I only respond because you were careful with this ottherwise. Don't imagine your mind and logic can emcompass the depth of the Shema.
And sadly, while I added your channel, I must now drop it.
Why are you afraid of using HIS real name "Yehovah" instead of using the title 'Adonai'. You should correct your mistake and redo this video or else you are guilty of tampering with the word of God and you know what is awaiting you.
Echad in Hebrew is one in a compound or unity sense. Like 1 team which has other members. If the word Yachid was used it would indicate only one. Don’t be fooled by this guy . He is not telling The whole truth and he is misleading.
The Hebrew word for “one” employed in the Shema (Deut 6:4) is the word echad; and according to the Pluralists, especially Trinitarians, echad has one in a compound sense as its primary meaning. Texts such as Genesis 2:24 (Adam and Eve become “one [echad] flesh”), Genesis 34:16 (the men of Shechem suggest intermarriage with Jacob's children, in order to become “one [echad] people”), Ezekiel 37:17 (two sticks, representing Judah and Ephraim become one [echad] stick), are held up to demonstrate how more than one can be one.
Yachid:”
1 only one, especially of an only son, Genesis 22:2,12,16 את בנך את יְחִידְךָ thy son, thine only one, אֵבֶל יָחִיד Amos 8:10; Jeremiah 6:26 mourning for an only son, כמספד על היחיד Zechariah 12:10; Proverbs 4:3 רַךְ וְיָחִיד לפני אמי; so feminine יְחִידָה Judges 11:34.
2 feminine יְחִידָה as substantive Psalm 22:21; Psalm 35:17 יְחִידָתִי my only one, poetic for my life, as the one unique and priceless possession which can never be replaced (in each "" נַפְשִׁי).
3 solitary, Psalm 25:16 כי יחיד ועני אני; Psalm 68:6 מוֺשִׁיב יְחִידִים בַּיְתָה causing solitary, isolated ones (i.e. friendless wanderers or exiles; אֲסִירִים) to dwell at home (Lag Ch and others מֵשִׁיב bringing back home).
Yachid is found in only 12 places throughout the Hebrew Scriptures: Gen 22:2, 12, 16; Judges 11:34; Ps 22:21; 25:16; 35:17; 68:6; Prov 4:3; Jer 6:26; Amos 8:10; Zech 12:10.
Say His name! YAHUAH. Our Almighty Elohiym.
His Son name is YAHUSHA HA-MASHIACH our Messiah. Research for yourselves.
It is neither One or Alone. It is TOGETHER, JOINTLY, COLLECTIVELY. Look it up for yourself. Google translate the word echad from hebrew to english. It will ask "did you mean echad", change it to the hebrew text and see what pops up. Tiny hat clan is very disingenuous about this. And as proof, later in Genesis 2:24 echad is used again describing a man coming together with his wife as one flesh (echad).
Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. This is one of the most disgusting mistranslation in the bible I have ever seen.
Your wizards lied to you.
The Lord God testified over and over again that He is one, not a corporation of three other gods like the Roman triumvirate from which the Trinity evolved from the philosophies of men.
Jesus already told you that the Father is the ONLY true God. Why can you not hear him?
@@ElCineHefe Early church fathers spoke about the trinity in the first century but partially recognized by 70 AD. You're talking shit.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over... etc.
Let US, in OUR - That's God speaking. No other person other than God could possibly be there unless it was God.
Praise Jesus!
@stickyplays8809
The "early church fathers" who believed in the Roman triumvirate of gods were the same reprobates who killed off the children of God to consolidate their power in the empire of the Dragon.
The Trinity is the God made in Caesar's image.
@@ElCineHefe Your point is moot because regardless of their previous belief, the trinity and deity of Jesus Christ was always in the Bible.
@stickyplays8809
No, there is no Diety other than the Father Who Jesus revealed as the ONLY true God.
If you could hear Jesus, you'd find eternal life exactly as that's written in Matthew but you believe your wizards instead and continue to break the first commandment every day without repentance.
There's only one destination for breaking the greatest commandment.