Zechariah 2:1-2 commentary

       1: I lifted up my eyes again and looked and behold a person with a measuring line in their hand 2: Then said I Where do you go? And [the person] answered To measure Jerusalem to see what is the breadth thereof and what is the length thereof

Comments: ^{Zechariah 2:1-2} The Hebrew doesn't say Zechariah saw a mortal, ‘âdâm—which means mortal/human, it says the prophet saw aish (ish), which usually refers to male humans, but the word is also used generically for person or for mixed crowds of both women and men. Translators supplement the text with male nouns and pronouns, though we cannot know for certain if the person Zechariah saw actually appeared to be male or not. It is assumed the appearance is male, but the text never explicitly says that. What is known is that, in this case, the person Zechariah sees appears to be human but is not. In reality, this person is some kind of celestial being.

Proverbs 12 commentary

 1: love instruction love knowledge The foolish hate reproof 2: How good to obtain favor of YHWH  The wicked plans of 'iysh[1] will be condemned 3: Audawm[2] shall not stand by wickedness but the root of The Just shall never be removed 4: 'Ishshah chayil ^{[a strong woman]}[3] crowns ba`al[4] ^{[lord—not necessarily husband]} Confusion [is as a] rotten bone[5] 5: The thoughts of the just are worthy but the counsels of the wicked are treacherous 6: The words of the wicked ambush for blood but the mouth of the upright saves [delivers]  7: The wicked are overthrown but the house of the righteous shall stand 8: 'Iysh shall be commended according to wisdom but the perverse in heart shall be despised 9: Despised servants ^{[who are provided for]} are better ^[off] than the honorable who lack provision 10: The Just regard the lives of their animals but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel 11: They that till the land shall be satisfied with bread but they that follow laziness and vanity have empty hearts 12: The wicked delights in the snare of evil but the root of the just delivers 13: The wicked are snared by the rebellion of their lips but the just shall be brought forth out of affliction 14: 'Iysh shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of their mouths and the reward of audawm’s hands shall be rendered unto them 15: The way of the foolish is right in their own eyes but they that hearken to [good] counsel are wise 16: The wrath of fools is soon exposed but good sense protects from shame 17: They that speak truth show forth righteousness but a false witness deceit 18: There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword but the tongue of the wise [brings] health 19: The lips of truth shall be established forever but a lying tongue is but for a moment 20: Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil but to the counselors of peace is joy 21: There shall no evil happen to The Just but the wicked shall be filled with mischief 22: Lying lips are abomination to YHWH but they that deal truly ^{in truth} are his delight 23: The prudent audawm conceals knowledge but the heart of fools proclaim foolishness 24: The hand of the diligent shall bear rule but the lazy shall be under tribute 25: Heaviness in the heart of 'Iysh makes it stoop but a good word makes it glad 26: The righteous are more excellent than their neighbors but the way of the wicked seduces them 27: The slothful roasts not that which is taken in hunting but the substance of a diligent audawm is precious 28: In the way of righteousness is life and in the pathway thereof there is no death

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[1] 'iysh H376 Hebrew for man; husband; mixed crowds of both women and men; homosapien-sapien in general; even translated by scholars as “you [thou]” in Proverbs 3:31 (KJV). The word, Iysh, has no legitimate claim as a word exclusive to males. Context must determine translation. 

 

In this commentary, the phonetic spelling of the Hebrew word 'iysh is used instead of the word man, mankind, or human whenever the word refers to mixed crowds of both sexes or to the human race in general. As this commentary is posted online one chapter at a time, readers may find this definition posted in footnotes for first use of in any given chapter

[2] 'âdâm H120 Pronounced “audawm” is the name God gave to both the first man and the first woman—the entire human race. In the Hebrew Bible, mixed crowds (composed of both females and males) are also referred to as 'âdâm. This Hebrew word, does not mean “man” and is not androcentric (male centered) as are most English and Greek words used to describe the entire human population, words such as: man (when used to describe all people), mankind, human race, anthropos (when used to describe all people), etc..

In this commentary, the phonetic spelling of the Hebrew word 'âdâm (audawm) is used instead of man, mankind, or human whenever the word refers to mixed crowds of both sexes or to the human race in general. As this commentary is posted online one chapter at a time, readers may find this definition posted in footnotes for first use of 'âdâm (audawm) in any given chapter.

[3] Chayil H2428 Valor; Strength; Might; [The strength and power of] Wealth; [The strength and power of] Riches. Chayil is mistranslated “virtuous” only three times in the Hebrew text; each of these mistranslations is deliberate (concerning women) due to misogyny. There is no textual reason to translate the Hebrew word, Chayil, as virtuous as it has never had any connotation of virtue.

[4] ba`al H-1167 Lord. Many translations of ba`al as “husband” are incorrect. In the sense that there were many concubines (slave wives) in ancient times, a woman’s ba`al could very well be her husband, but that does not portray God’s intention and direct command when he created men and women.

[5] This verse is rife with misogyny in all translations, beginning with the mistranslation of the Hebrew word, chayil, which means a force, usually of valor, strength, and might, but could be a force of wealth. This force is somehow transformed into “virtuous” for no textual reason other than it was unthinkable to translators (both ancient and modern) that a woman can be a force of strength. The Hebrew word, chayil, Strong’s reference H2428, is only translated as virtuous three times in the authorized version, and each time it is deliberately mistranslated about women. Other versions attribute her with excellence and [moral] worth, but these still fall short of chayil. Another feature of this verse, is than in virtually all translations women become wives and lords (ba`al) become husbands. In the case of slave-wives, this is true, but was the practice right? Deuteronomy 17:17 says it is not. Also connecting women/wives with confusion [that is as rotten bones] is misleading. Without translator supplements, this is a stand alone statement, and should be taken as such.  

2 Thessalonians 1 Commentary

    1: Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ 2: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ[1] 3: We are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is deserving because that your faith grows exceedingly and the love of every one of you all toward each other abounds 4: So that we ourselves boast in you in ^{[we brag on you to]} the Churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations which you endure 5: Which is evidence of the righteous judgment of God that you [are] accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you indeed suffer[2] 6: Since it is [also] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you 7: And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed in the heavens with his mighty angels 8: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 9: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power[3] 10: When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day 11: Wherefore also we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power 12: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ

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[1] “…from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ…” In verses one and two, the word, “the,” has been supplemented twice. The New Testament is rife with this type of Translator Supplement (TS), which was done to in an attempt at human understanding of, separation of, and introducing hierarchy into, the Godhead. Punctuation (the biblical languages do not have punctuation) achieves the same purpose in the formation of English-Translation-Theology (ETT). Since God is our father and Jesus Christ is the Lord, why should this matter? Because it matters. Without TS or punctuation, the verses read, “…from God our father and Lord Jesus Christ. With punctuation, there are a couple of options (as follows): “…from God, our father and Lord, Jesus Christ.” “”…from God our father and Lord, Jesus Christ.”  Since the fullness of the Godhead resides in Jesus in physical form—Jesus is God—both of the above phrases [with the punctuation's] would be correct. Adding the TS “the,” shifts the focus just enough to add a hierarchal flavor to the Eternal Godhead, which it does not possess. For this reason, the Hungry Hearts Bible Commentary removes as many TS’s as possible, along with almost all completely subjective [and optional] punctuation. 

[2] 2 Thessalonians 1:5 is an example of English-Translation-Theology (ETT). In this case, the translation assumes an interpretation which is at odds with the message of the cross as a whole and the righteousness which is already possessed by those who belong to Christ ^{I John 5:11-13}. In virtually every translation of this verse, translator supplements (TS’s) are added, which make it appear as if Christians must be tested after they are saved in order to be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, when in reality, the text says no such thing. Requirements for salvation and Bible prophecy positions on the timing of the resurrection and the harpazo ^rapture, are significantly influenced by TS’s which lead to ETT. Fortunately, today, we have unparalleled resources for study of the Hebrew and Greek texts that under-gird our Bibles, more than at any other time in history. It was foretold that knowledge will increase in the latter days, and no one will argue that it has. So also, to the lay person, has access to knowledge [along with resources to understand the Word of God] increased.  

[3] This is the scriptural definition of death. Jesus alluded to this when he spoke of those physically alive as being dead (“Let the “dead” bury their dead” ^{Luke 9:60})...

Philippians Chapter 1 Commentary

 1: Paulos and Timotheus slaves of Jesus Christ to all the holy-ones in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the episkopons and deacons 2: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and Master Jesus Christ [1] 3: I thank my God upon every remembrance of you 4: Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy 5: For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now 6: Being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ [2] 7: Even as it is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart inasmuch as both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel [3] you all are partakers of my grace 8: For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all in the tender affection of Jesus Christ 9: And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment ^{moral discernment} 10: That you may approve things that are excellent that you may be sincere and blameless till the Day of Christ 11: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God [4] 12: But I would you should understand brethren that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Good News [5]  13: So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places 14: And many of the brethren in the Lord growing confident by my bonds more exceedingly dare to speak the word fearlessly [6] 15: Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will 16: The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds 17: But the other of love knowing that I am appointed for the defence of the gospel 18: What then notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein do rejoice yes and will rejoice [7] 19: For I know that this shall turn to my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [8] 20: According to my earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldness as always so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death 21: For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain 22: But if I live in the flesh [9] this is the fruit of my labour yet what I shall choose I know not 23: For I am in a strait between two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better [10]24: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you 25: And having this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith 26: That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again 27: Only let your lifestyle be as it becomes the Good News of Christ that whether I come and see you or else be absent I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Glad Tidings 28: And in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God 29: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake [11] 30: Having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear to be in me

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[1] (Philippians 1:2) When translator supplements are removed (e.g., Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ), Paul’s greeting to the congregation at Philippi, can be seen as a clear reference to the Godhead. This commentary [using the Majority Text] removes the words “from the” preceding the mention of Jesus in verse two. These two little words, are translator supplements [and are not substantiated by the underlying Koine Greek]. These were added for no other see-able purpose than to portray a non-existent hierarchy within the Godhead. The same can be said for Ephesians 6:23. Any teaching of hierarchy within the Godhead contradicts scriptures which clearly teach functional equality within the Godhead. The scriptures say that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus in bodily form, that Jesus [The Word] is God, that Jesus is the Mighty God, that Jesus is the Everlasting Father. All of these refute the idea of hierarchy within the Godhead. Jesus is YHWH, and no accurate translation of either the Hebrew or Greek scriptures says otherwise. 

[2] (Philippians 1:6) Paul placed great priority on teaching Bible prophecy. In his letters, he often made mention of the coming of Jesus. In this instance, he called it, “the Day of Jesus Christ.” He did the same in 1 Corinthians 1:7, where he used both terms together, leaving no question as to what he was referring. Paul frequently mentions the Rapture, the Second Coming, and other aspects of Bible prophecy as well. See 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, 52 (practically all of chapter 15), Philippians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:15-18, 5:1-11, 23, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, 2 Thessalonians 2 (entire chapter). This is by no means an extensive listing, but just a short list shows the frequency of references to these things and gives a good indication of the importance the great apostle placed on Bible prophecy. 

[3] (Philippians 1:7) Paul was a prisoner of Rome because he preached the resurrection of Christ ^{Acts 23:6-11}. What did his defense and confirmation of the gospel consist of? Concerning his defense of the gospel, in Acts 23, it was the Resurrection he defended. He defined “the Good News,” in 1 Corinthians 15, as the message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Throughout his life, Paul remained laser-focused on the message of the gospel, for which he was imprisoned [which he defined as redemption, the message of the cross and the empty grave]. Each time he identified himself as a “prisoner of Christ,” he was referencing his defense of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. Note the following samples from each of Paul’s letters. There are many more: Romans 1:1-5, 1 Cor 2:1-2, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 2:13-19, Philippians 2:8, Colossians 1:13-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Timothy 2:4-6, 2 Timothy 1:8-12, Titus 2:13-14, Philemon 1:1. 

Concerning the confirmation of the gospel—proof that what he preached about Jesus was true—in Romans 15:18-19, Paul reminded the Christians in Rome how his preaching of the Good News had been confirmed by God with mighty signs and wonders. Jesus had previously detailed what those signs and wonders would consist of ^{Mark 16:13-18}, and Paul no doubt knew of this even before Mark’s Gospel was published. He wrote of the confirming signs and wonders to the the congregations at Corinth and Thessalonica ^{2 Corinthians 12:12, 2nd Thessalonians 2:4}. Even so, he did not neglect to warn Christians against following after counterfeit signs and wonders ^{2nd Thessalonians 2:9}, which Jesus had also warned against ^{Matthew 24:24}. Christians must be able to discern between the real and the counterfeit. That is possible only through a working knowledge of the Bible, with the help of the Holy Spirit. God has also gifted some with the gift of discerning of spirits.

[4] (Philippians 1:11) Jesus is God ^{John 1:1}. New Testament statements like Philippians 1:11, can only be properly understood within the context of the Eternal Godhead ^{Colossians 2:9}. Only by disregarding scriptures like Matthew 1:23, Acts 20:28 and 1 Timothy 3:16 [in the Koine Greek and all translations from the Received Text], which explicitly state that Jesus is Yahweh, can the conclusion of a hierarchical godhead be reached.

Almost all Christian cults diminish Emmanuel (THE God with Us) by creating hierarchical triads. Hierarchy within the Eternal Godhead does not exist, and Received Text scriptures are witnesses to the Hebrew texts, where the prophets wrote of the Messiah, who would be Immanuel—THE God himself ^{Isaiah 7:14, 8:8}. Isaiah also wrote that Messiah would not only be Immanuel, but that the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, would be God Himself [YHWH]—the Everlasting Father (the Father of Eternity) and the Mighty God ^{Isaiah 9:6}.   Jesus is truly THE GOD with us.

[5] (Philippians 1:12) Believers are called to be bearers of glad tidings to the lost. Watchmen and prophets are generally (though not always) sent to God’s people, to other believers or professing Christians. One notable exception is Jonah. The Assyrian  capitol was saved from destruction because these gentiles heeded the word of the prophet.

[6] (Philippians 1:12-14) Here we read of one reason for persecution and martyrdom of believers. Beginning with Jesus himself, history records that anywhere persecution for Christ takes place, the congregation of the Out-Called grows exponentially. One example is China and Korea, where Christians are brutally persecuted, yet the number of believers continues to grow. We must remember to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.

[7] (Philippians 1:15-18) When Christ is preached, regardless of the motivation of the preacher, it is the gospel itself that is the power of God unto salvation. Therefore, whether we approve of the preacher or not, we can rejoice with Paul, that the Word of God is being preached and God’s Word will not be spoken in vain.

[8] (Philippians 1:19) This is yet another proof that there is no hierarchy within the triune Godhead (YHWH). Jesus is YHWH. The Holy Spirit is YHWH. The Spirit of Jesus Christ referenced in this verse is the same Spirit of Elohim in Genesis 1:1 and throughout the Old Testament. The Spirit of God (Elohim) and the Spirit of Jesus Christ are one and the same because Jesus is YHWH. Else why would Ananias have been asked why he had lied to God when he lied to the Holy Spirit?

[9] Paul was a political prisoner, and continually faced a death sentence at any time, so when he wrote, “…if I live in the flesh…,” he was making reference to his life here on earth -Vs- his life in the hereafter. But why did he feel the need to make that distinction?

It was because Paul understood that his conscious existence would never cease. For the Christian, conscious life is continuous, either here on earth or in the hereafter. He also wrote, “to be absent from the the body is to be present with the Lord.” There are no time gaps in the conscious existence of anyone. Whether saved or unsaved. Paul did not teach Soul Sleep. And this helps us to understand his next statement about trying to decide whether he wanted to stay in the flesh or depart and be with Christ, the departure (physical death) being far better.

Paul knew from the story of Lazarus and the rich man, told by Jesus himself ^{Luke 16:19-31}, that the transition from this life to the next is immediate. Only the bodies of believers will “sleep” in death until the resurrection. The soul never sleeps or loses consciousness. Jesus confirmed this when he said, “I am the resurrection and the life They that believe in me though they were dead yet shall they live And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

[10] (Philippians 1:23) This verse also refutes the notion of soul sleep. The doctrine is not taught anywhere in scripture. Paul rightly believed that when his body died (fell asleep), he would immediately be with Christ in Heaven. Jesus taught this as well when he told of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus. There was no loss of consciousness upon the death of the body. The bodies of believers “sleep” in death until the resurrection, but not the soul.

[11] (Philippians 1:29) In every generation since the death and resurrection of Messiah, there have been believers called to suffer for Christ’s sake. Suffering is not a prerequisite for salvation and therefore cannot be confused with the suffering of believers and Jews during the time of wrath that is coming on the earth during the last seven years immediately preceding the 2^nd Coming of Christ.

 Before Jesus was born, died, and rose again, persecution only came upon God’s people when they rejected him and his ways. Persecution for righteousness sake is peculiar to the time of “Christ in You.” The age of the Out-called, the Time of Christ in You, began with the Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and will end with the Resurrection and the Harpazo (Catching Up/Rapture).

With the Body of Christ no longer on the earth, those left behind will find themselves living in the the 70^th Week of Daniel (the final seven years preceding Christ’s visible and physical return), a time the prophet Joel declared to be so fearful he warned all to be greatly afraid. Those who rejected Christ during The Accepted Time, the Time of Christ in You, when it was possible to simply call on the name of the Lord for salvation, will find themselves living in the time of wrath. Jesus spoke of this wrath when he warned that those living in that time must endure to the end [of the most brutal persecution ever known] to be saved.

The Bible says Christians are not called to wrath but to deliverance. The time of wrath is the Time of Jacob’s Trouble/The Great Tribulation and the deliverance is the harpazo (catching up/rapture). This is written of in Luke 21:35-36 (20-36), Revelation 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9, and is speaking of deliverance from the wrath “to come” that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 3:7 (the Time of Jacob’s Trouble/ the Great Tribulation). 

 

 About the author:

   Jocelyn Andersen, is Founder and Pastor of Hungry Hearts Ministries, since 1992. She strives for obedience to Christ’s command to win souls and make disciples. She teaches biblical truth without the limitations of culture or tradition, through preaching, teaching, writing books, and through her 24/7 Bible Talk Radio station, HungryHeartsRadio.com. She is the author of several Christian books, including the short but powerful booklet entitled, Jesus, God of the Burning Bush: Eternal Father & Beloved Son.