Page 82 - Coincidences in the Bible and in Biblical Hebrew

CHAPTER 2 CASES OF DESIGN IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE
CHAPTER 2 CASES OF DESIGN IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE 61 61

explicit connection between the two concepts: “One dies in his full strength [be-
tumo 122 ], being wholly at ease and quiet” (Job 21:23).
Both words in Hebrew (mavet 120 turned into tom) 121 are given below:

(מ) + (ו) + (ת) � (ת) + (ו) + (מ)

Example 7: Aluf
Aluf 123 in Hebrew means “leader, the head.” However, it is often used in the Bible
as one of the names of God. For example: “Wilt thou not from this time cry to
me, My father, thou art the guide [aluf 123 ] of my youth” (Jer. 3:4)—or, “A perverse
man sows strife: and a whisperer separate close friends [aluf 123 ]” (Prov. 16:28).
The last translated verse is one of the worst translations of a biblical verse we
have ever encountered. Let us trace how Rashi (1040–1105, the most revered

interpreter of biblical Jewish text) would have translated this verse (based on his
explanation of the verse): “A perverse man sows strife: and a grumbler separates
from the World Leader [aluf 123 ]” (Prov. 16:28).
Read in reverse, aluf 123 yields peleh, 124 which means “wonder.” God is related
to in the Bible numerous times as “the one who is doing wonders.” For example:
“Who is like thee, O Lord, among the gods?/ who is like thee, glorious in holi-
ness,/ fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exod. 15:11).
Both words in Hebrew (aluf 123 turned into peleh) 124 are given below:

(א) + (ל) + (פ) � (פ) + (ל) + (א)

Comments
Aluf 123 appears in the Bible with the letter vav or without (as done above).

Example 8: Noah
Noah is the hero of the deluge, in Genesis (chapters 6–9). The name derives from
the same root as “to rest,” and in modern Hebrew, the name means also “comfort-
able.” In section 15.5, we discuss the meaning of Noah’s name and how Noah
compares with Jonah , another biblical hero, regarding his moral conduct.

The unique feature about Noah’s name is that with this name the Bible indeed
confers legitimacy on the previous seven examples, at least with regard to the prac-
tice of reading names in reverse (as done earlier for Laban and Moses ).

The Bible introduces Noah thus: “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord”

(Gen. 6:8).