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Moses with horns
1. Moses with horns
The sculpture of Moses with horns, at the church of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome, was created by Michelangelo about 1514. It was based on Jerome's Vulgate (Latin) translation of the Old Testament.
Jerome appears to have confused two Hebrew words. Nevertheless, once the translation, and sculpture, were in place, there was apparently no problem coming up with all sorts of rationalizations to support what had been done. Does the same happen with other similar issues that have occurred over time?
2. Mosesbrunnen
Exodus 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. [kjv]
… דברי … עשרת … [he]
και ην εκει μωυσης εναντιον κυριου τεσσαρακοντα ημερας και τεσσαρακοντα νυκτας αρτον ουκ εφαγεν και υδωρ ουκ επιεν και εγραψεν τα ρηματα ταυτα επι των πλακων της διαθηκης τους δεκα λογους [lxx]
The
Mosesbrunnen statue is at a fountain in Bern, Switzerland. It features Moses with the Ten Commandments and "
horns".
Defenders of the statue and translation of Jerome as "
his face was horned" in Latin using the Hebrew word for "
horned" instead of the
LXX (Septuagint) "
his face was glorified" using the Hebrew word "
shine".
3. Jerome
Jerome himself defended his decision saying that he known both meanings and the one he selected was correct. Perhaps Jerome could not bring himself to admit he might have made a mistake.
Since this was the start of the Catholic Church, perhaps some of Jerome's attitude rubbed off on the Catholic Church. Perhaps it was the other way around.
The time period of Jerome is that of the historical interpretation of the Kingdom parables of the mustard seeds, moving mountains (definitions, same word in Greek) and of the women mixing false doctrine (leaven) in with true doctrine (wheat).
4. Penalty for taking away
5. Hosea 4:6
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. [kjv]
ωμοιωθη ο λαος μου ως ουκ εχων γνωσιν οτι συ επιγνωσιν απωσω καγω απωσομαι σε του μη ιερατευειν μοι και επελαθου νομον θεου σου καγω επιλησομαι τεκνων σου [lxx]
My people are like as if they had no knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall not minister as priest to me: and as you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. [bs3]
KJV (King James Version) (from the HOT (Hebrew Old Testament)) : my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge ... One implication: Those people had better get some knowledge from the religious establishment or, perhaps, listen more carefully to what the religious establishment is saying.
LXX: my people are like as if they had no knowledge ... One implication: Those people are either ignoring knowledge provided by the religious establishment or, perhaps, are being given bad knowledge by the religious establishment for which they should know better.
How can one "
reject" "
knowledge" if one "
lacks" "
knowledge"?
The
LXX says they are acting "
like as if" the had no "
knowledge".
6. Exodus 34:28 Ten Words
Exodus 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. [kjv]
… דברי … עשרת … [he]
και ην εκει μωυσης εναντιον κυριου τεσσαρακοντα ημερας και τεσσαρακοντα νυκτας αρτον ουκ εφαγεν και υδωρ ουκ επιεν και εγραψεν τα ρηματα ταυτα επι των πλακων της διαθηκης τους δεκα λογους [lxx]
The ancient Greek word
"λόγος" ≈ "rational explanation, word".
In Greek, the
"ten" "commandments" or the
"ten" "rational explanations". Using the John 1:1 translation of
"logos" as
"word", one would have the
"ten" "words".
That is why the
"ten" "commandments" are sometimes called the "
Decalogue". Jews will often refer to the
"ten" "commandments" as the
"ten" "words".
7. Exodus 34:28 Ten Words
Exodus 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. [kjv]
… דברי … עשרת … [he]
και ην εκει μωυσης εναντιον κυριου τεσσαρακοντα ημερας και τεσσαρακοντα νυκτας αρτον ουκ εφαγεν και υδωρ ουκ επιεν και εγραψεν τα ρηματα ταυτα επι των πλακων της διαθηκης τους δεκα λογους [lxx]
8. Exodus 34:28
KJV: And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Hebrew: ויהי שם עם יהוה ארבעים יום וארבעים לילה לחם לא אכל ומים לא שתה ויכתב על הלחת את דברי הברית עשרת הדברים׃
Greek: και ην εκει μωυσης εναντιον κυριου τεσσαρακοντα ημερας και τεσσαρακοντα νυκτας αρτον ουκ εφαγεν και υδωρ ουκ επιεν και εγραψεν τα ρηματα ταυτα επι των πλακων της διαθηκης τους δεκα λογους
Latin: fecit ergo ibi cum Domino quadraginta dies et quadraginta noctes panem non comedit et aquam non bibit et scripsit in tabulis verba foederis decem
9. Martin Luther
As a monk and professor of Theology at his Abby, Martin Luther visited Rome in 1510 when Michelangelo was busy creating magnificent works of art to decorate the palaces and cathedrals of Rome.
Luther's idealistic and Bible-based expectations of what he expected to see conflicted with the corruption and extravagance he saw in Rome.
10. Immorality Bible
Changing or omitting or adding even one letter can change the meaning of a piece of text. Richard Carew, British translator and antiquary found this out when King James fined him 300 pounds for a mistranslation by means of a
one letter change.
According to
The origins of English words, p.256, Joseph Shipley, the difference was as follows. The difference was one "
t"
... promised immortality everlasting to all the faithful ...
... promised immorality everlasting to all the faithful ...
Note: It is not clear if Shipley attributes the error to Richard Carew.
The omission of one letter reminds one of "
jots" and "
tittles".
11. Richard Carew and preachers
According to
The origins of English words, p.256, Joseph Shipley attributed to Richard Carew, British translator and antiquary, the following passage from 1607.
Preachers made their sermons one part allegorical,
another anagogical and a third tropological, whereas
they should have made one part morological,
another mythological and a third pseudological.
Apparently preachers then, as today, tried to impress others with big theological words when they may not even understand what they are actually saying.
12. Who is Jesus?
A good teacher asks questions to insure that the students have really understood.
Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [kjv]
16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [kjv]
What did Peter say?
You are the Christ.
What did the others say?
Apparently nothing.
What do some pastors say?
You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being, the ontological foundation of the context of our very self-hood revealed.
13. Matthew 6:7-8 Vain repetitions of vain repetitions
In Matthew 6:7, as part of the "
Sermon on the Mount", Jesus says not to pray using "
vain repetitions" as the "
heathen" do.
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [kjv]
προσευχομενοι δε μη βατταλογησητε ωσπερ οι εθνικοι δοκουσιν γαρ οτι εν τη πολυλογια αυτων εισακουσθησονται [gnt]
This is a specific instance of the idea that "
if some is good then more is better". Some pastors (and others) boast that as a child (or even now) they repeat the Lord's Prayer every night.
A few verses later is the "
Lord's Prayer" which, as an example, does not have repetitions within itself, but could be repeated at different times.
Some pastor appear to think that they get "
paid by the word" according to quantity and not quality. At times producing meaningless or even deceptive content, they may lecture their congregations about trying to keep the pastor to any time schedule.
14. Matthew 16:15
KJV: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Greek: λεγει αυτοις υμεις δε τινα με λεγετε ειναι
15. Matthew 16:16
KJV: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Greek: αποκριθεις δε σιμων πετρος ειπεν συ ει ο χριστος ο υιος του θεου του ζωντος
16. Mark 8:29 Identity of Jesus
Mark 8:29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. [kjv]
και αυτος επηρωτα αυτους υμεις δε τινα με λεγετε ειναι αποκριθεις ο πετρος λεγει αυτω συ ει ο χριστος [gnt]
17. Mark 8:29
KJV: And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
Greek: και αυτος λεγει αυτοις επηρωτα αυτους υμεις δε τινα με λεγετε ειναι αποκριθεις δε ο πετρος λεγει αυτω συ ει ο χριστος
18. Mixed metaphors
One church was doing a series on the Wesley House, an analogy created by John Wesley to understand his concept of grace.
One starts at the steps with prevenient grace, then goes to the door and then into the house or living room. Two weeks in a row the following was presented.
You are going up the steps and are at the door getting ready to go into the house.
An analogy was made to Revelation where Jesus is knocking at the door asking for someone to open the door so he could come into the house.
19. Mixed metaphors
Question: Suppose I go up the
steps (prevenient grace) and am at the
door and want to go into the
house.
If Jesus is there knocking to get into the
house, and they won't let him in, why don't I just talk to Jesus right there outside the house. Is there then any need for either of us to go into the house?
Sometimes pastors grab ideas and, without thinking about what those ideas are, put them together and present them.
Dilbert (mixed analogy paraphrase):
Don't judge others until you walk a mile with the shoe on the other foot.
20. Daniel Defoe
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [kjv]
προσεχετε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες [gnt]
Consider the John Wesley house analogy. Before going up the
steps and through the
door into the
house one should be sure that this is the house into which one wants to go.
English novelist, journalist, merchant (and pamphleteer and spy)
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), known for
Robinson Crusoe in 1719, starts his poem
The true-born Englishman as follows.
Whenever God erects a house of prayer,
the devil always builds a chapel there.
And 'twill be found, upon examination,
the latter has the largest congregation.
21. Matthew 7:15
KJV: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Greek: προσεχετε δε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες
22. Horns
In the
OT (Old Testament), horns were used to communicate announcements and predefined messages such as what troops should do in battle. Through the American Civil War and later, bugles were used as a modern equivalent of the horn.
The original horns were made from the horns of rams and other animals since those horns, when hollowed out, had a shape conducive to making a loud sound that would carry a long distance. This is similar to the modern megaphone, a version of which appears to have existed in ancient times.
23. Horns and trumpets and tubas
24. Exodus 19:19 Trumpets at Mount Sinai
Exodus 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. [kjv]
… השופר … [he]
The Hebrew word
"שופר" (shoh-FAR) ≈ "horn". The
"shofar" horn was a musical instrument made from the
"horn" of an animal such as a ram.
Without valves like a trumpet or cornet, a
"shofar" would make notes like a bugle.
The first instance of a
"shofar" in the
OT is in Exodus 19 at Mount Sinai. The Hebrew word
"השופר" (has-so-w-par) ≈ "of the trumpet".
25. Horned antenna
*G2762 *2 κεραία (ker-ah'-yah) : feminine of a presumed derivative of the base of G2768; something horn-like, i.e. (specially) the apex of a Hebrew letter (figuratively, the least particle):--tittle.
 |
Words: κεραια=1 κεραιαν
|
The modern Greek word
"κεραία" (keh-REH-a) ≈ "antenna"is from the ancient Greek word
"κεραία" ≈ "little horn, antennae of an insect" and anything projecting as a (small) horn. This word is found
2 times in the
GNT and both times translated as
"tittle".
These words derive from the ancient Greek word
"κέρας" ≈ "horn" which is related to the English word
"cornet".
[Boy Scout after repairing the car horn]
26. Toot
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [kjv]
οτι αυτος ο κυριος εν κελευσματι εν φωνη αρχαγγελου και εν σαλπιγγι θεου καταβησεται απ ουρανου και οι νεκροι εν χριστω αναστησονται πρωτον [gnt]
… tuba … [v]
… thuthaurna … [got]
To "
toot" a horn is to blow the horn to make a sound. The word appears to be onomatopoetic in that it sounds like the meaning it represents.
The German word "tuten" ≈ "blow a horn".
The Gothic word "þuthaurna" ≈ "trumpet" or "thuthaurna" (as in the above verse).
Note: The older German sound of "
th" went to "
t" as in German "
thal" to the German word
"Tal" ≈ "valley". Thus, "
Neanderthal" is the older name for the "
Neander's Valley". Joachim Neander wrote the hymn "
Praise to the Lord".
27. Horns and thorns
The modern Greek word
"κέρας" (KEH-ras) ≈ "horn" and is the origin of English words such as
"cornet" (horn used to make sounds by blowing into it),
"cornucopia" (mythical horn of plenty),
"corner" (projecting point),
"triceratops" (thee-horned), etc.
The "
little horn" in Greek and the "
apex" in Latin, which in English is translated "
tittle", appear to be in reference to the Hebrew word
"קוץ" (qots) ≈ "thorn", through Aramaic, which could refer to all the rules of the law which were as "
thorns" in the side.
The Hebrew word for
"thorn" goes back to the original curse from Genesis 3:17-19.
28. Comparison
29. Exodus 34:29
Exodus 34:29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. [kjv]
… קרן … [he]
ως δε κατεβαινεν μωυσης εκ του ορους και αι δυο πλακες επι των χειρων μωυση καταβαινοντος δε αυτου εκ του ορους μωυσης ουκ ηδει οτι δεδοξασται η οψις του χρωματος του προσωπου αυτου εν τω λαλειν αυτον αυτω [lxx]
… cornuta … [v]
30. Exodus 34:29
KJV: And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Hebrew: ויהי ברדת משה מהר סיני ושני לחת העדת ביד משה ברדתו מן ההר ומשה לא ידע כי קרן עור פניו בדברו אתו׃
Greek: ως δε κατεβαινεν μωυσης εκ του ορους και αι δυο πλακες επι των χειρων μωυση καταβαινοντος δε αυτου εκ του ορους μωυσης ουκ ηδει οτι δεδοξασται η οψις του χρωματος του προσωπου αυτου εν τω λαλειν αυτον αυτω
Latin: cumque descenderet Moses de monte Sinai tenebat duas tabulas testimonii et ignorabat quod cornuta esset facies sua ex consortio sermonis Dei
31. Exodus 34:30
Exodus 34:30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. [kjv]
… קרן … [he]
και ειδεν ααρων και παντες οι πρεσβυτεροι ισραηλ τον μωυσην και ην δεδοξασμενη η οψις του χρωματος του προσωπου αυτου και εφοβηθησαν εγγισαι αυτου [lxx]
… cornutam … [v]
32. Exodus 34:30
KJV: And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
Hebrew: וירא אהרן וכל בני ישראל את משה והנה קרן עור פניו וייראו מגשת אליו׃
Greek: και ειδεν ααρων και παντες οι πρεσβυτεροι ισραηλ τον μωυσην και ην δεδοξασμενη η οψις του χρωματος του προσωπου αυτου και εφοβηθησαν εγγισαι αυτου
Latin: videntes autem Aaron et filii Israhel cornutam Mosi faciem timuerunt prope accedere
33. Exodus 34:31-34
34. Exodus 34:31
KJV: And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
Hebrew: ויקרא אלהם משה וישבו אליו אהרן וכל הנשאים בעדה וידבר משה אלהם׃
Greek: και εκαλεσεν αυτους μωυσης και επεστραφησαν προς αυτον ααρων και παντες οι αρχοντες της συναγωγης και ελαλησεν αυτοις μωυσης
Latin: vocatique ab eo reversi sunt tam Aaron quam principes synagogae et postquam locutus est
35. Exodus 34:32
KJV: And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
Hebrew: ואחרי כן נגשו כל בני ישראל ויצום את כל אשר דבר יהוה אתו בהר סיני׃
Greek: και μετα ταυτα προσηλθον προς αυτον παντες οι υιοι ισραηλ και ενετειλατο αυτοις παντα οσα ελαλησεν κυριος προς αυτον εν τω ορει σινα
36. Exodus 34:33
KJV: And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
Hebrew: ויכל משה מדבר אתם ויתן על פניו מסוה׃
Greek: και επειδη κατεπαυσεν λαλων προς αυτους επεθηκεν επι το προσωπον αυτου καλυμμα
37. Exodus 34:34
KJV: But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
Hebrew: ובבא משה לפני יהוה לדבר אתו יסיר את המסוה עד צאתו ויצא ודבר אל בני ישראל את אשר יצוה׃
Greek: ηνικα δ αν εισεπορευετο μωυσης εναντι κυριου λαλειν αυτω περιηρειτο το καλυμμα εως του εκπορευεσθαι και εξελθων ελαλει πασιν τοις υιοις ισραηλ οσα ενετειλατο αυτω κυριος
38. Exodus 34:35
Exodus 34:35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. [kjv]
… קרן … [he]
και ειδον οι υιοι ισραηλ το προσωπον μωυση οτι δεδοξασται και περιεθηκεν μωυσης καλυμμα επι το προσωπον εαυτου εως αν εισελθη συλλαλειν αυτω [lxx]
… cornutam … [v]
39. Exodus 34:35
KJV: And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Hebrew: וראו בני ישראל את פני משה כי קרן עור פני משה והשיב משה את המסוה על פניו עד באו לדבר אתו׃
Greek: και ειδον οι υιοι ισραηλ το προσωπον μωυση οτι δεδοξασται και περιεθηκεν μωυσης καλυμμα επι το προσωπον εαυτου εως αν εισελθη συλλαλειν αυτω
Latin: qui videbant faciem egredientis Mosi esse cornutam sed operiebat rursus ille faciem suam si quando loquebatur ad eos
40. Daniel 8:6
Daniel 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. [kjv]
… הקרנים … [he]
και ηλθεν εως του κριου του τα κερατα εχοντος ου ειδον εστωτος ενωπιον του ουβαλ και εδραμεν προς αυτον εν ορμη της ισχυος αυτου [lxx]
… cornutum … [v]
41. Daniel 8:6
KJV: And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
Hebrew: ויבא עד האיל בעל הקרנים אשר ראיתי עמד לפני האבל וירץ אליו בחמת כחו׃
Greek: και ηλθεν εως του κριου του τα κερατα εχοντος ου ειδον εστωτος ενωπιον του ουβαλ και εδραμεν προς αυτον εν ορμη της ισχυος αυτου
Latin: et venit usque ad arietem illum cornutum quem videram stantem ante portam et cucurrit ad eum in impetu fortitudinis suae
42. Psalms 89:24
43. Psalms 89:24
KJV: But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
Hebrew: ואמונתי וחסדי עמו ובשמי תרום קרנו׃
Greek: και η αληθεια μου και το ελεος μου μετ αυτου και εν τω ονοματι μου υψωθησεται το κερας αυτου
Latin: veritas autem mea et misericordia mea erit cum eo et in nomine meo exaltabitur cornu eius
44. The Christian Hedonism fallacy
Christian Hedonism is a phrase coined about 1986 by John Piper and appeared in his book
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist .
His summary of the concept is that "
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.". John Piper is currently Chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A leading figure in
Christian Hedonism today is American evangelical and Christian pastor
Matt Chandler and his church based in Flower Mound, Texas.
[PIT fallacy]
45. End of page
