Mark's tools
- Main Page
- Mark > Mark's tools > Seek ''Drash''
- Main Page
Alphabet metaphor and word play
Mark begins the book with a demonstration of alphabetic metaphor and Hebrew word play.
- Mr 1:1 ¶ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Though Mark was written in Greek as a collection of Peter's teaching, Peter was a Jew who spoke and thought in Hebrew.
'The beginning... Son of God' in Hebrew can be rendered: rashith bar elohim
The aleph א
The primary meaning of the aleph א is that God spoke and created the heavens and the earth. It is also used for "the spirit moved over the face of the waters", "the firmament between the waters" and even "the war between God and the carnal mind". The metaphor includes concepts of separation, reconciliation or/and the one who causes them. The verbalization of a letter's metaphor can change based on position and context.
Mark's word play uses "the gospel of Jesus Christ" as the metaphor for the aleph. Jesus reconciled heaven and earth. He is the firmament between the water above (holiness) and the water below (grace). Consider Ge 1:2 "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. " The word 'moved' means to shake. The Spirit shook over the face of the waters. When the wind shakes over the waters it causes waves. Jesus rebuked the wind/spirit and the sea became calm. [1] [2]
The good news of Jesus Christ is that he made peace between God and man. Mark uses the aleph to express this.
Mark places the aleph; the "good news of Jesus Christ" into the heart of "the Son of God". Compare the "Son of God" with "The Son of God with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his heart":
- בר אלהים
- בר א אלהים
Compare
Now compare Mark 1:1 with Ge 1:1
Barashith bar a Elohim and Barashith bara Elohim
Hint: Could these closely sounding phrases have started John thinking about ברא the "Word which created" and inspire him to begin his gospel with an exposition of Ge 1:1? Such puns and riddles are the foundation of the way that Jesus and his disciples read the Old Testament scriptures.
These rudimentary tools for interpretation, as well as other that will be examined, are used by the New Testament authors so demonstrate how to read the Old Testament. The alphabet letters have meaning, and those meanings combine to form the meaning of words. Position of letters and words can change the expression of the metaphor. And childish word-play is the warp and woof of prophetic riddle.
References
- ↑ Mr 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
- ↑ Ps 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. He made peace. Ps 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
