Sunday, February 9 - May God Cover Us
The inter-functionality of biblical terms across Hebrew, Greek, and Arabic illumines the statement of Scripture in accordance with its own internal logic against all interpretations.
Most people, when they hear the story of Josiah and his priest rummaging through the rubble of the temple in Jerusalem and stumbling upon a scroll, fall prey to the hope that Josiah was a reformer. That he picked up the scroll, looked upon those who came before him, and thought: I can do it better. I can get it right this time.
But that's the trap. That's the mistake. That's the arrogance--not just of Josiah, but of the one hearing the story.
Had he only watched Star Trek.
Had he seen what happens, over and over again, to the guy in the red shirt--the one who beams down to the planet with Kirk and Spock. The one standing there, amid ruins, staring at some mysterious artifact.
Why is the planet in ruins? Where have all the people gone?
What is this strange artifact?
And just before the guy in the red shirt meets his inevitable doom, the real question emerges:
Why did they keep it buried?
Why were they afraid of it?
More importantly, why am I holding this thing in my hands?
Perhaps instead of uncovering it, Josiah should be praying for cover--in the wilderness.
This week, I discuss Luke 8:17.
Show Notes
κρυπτός / א-ט-ם (aleph-tet-mem) / أ-ط-م (ʾalif-ṭāʾ-mīm)
“To seal,” “to block,” or “to close securely.” In Arabic, أَطْمَ (ʾaṭma) can indicate “a strong building” or “fortification,” although this root is not as commonly used in contemporary Arabic.
"And there were shuttered windows (אֲטֻמוֹת, ʾăṭumōt) looking toward the guardrooms, and toward their side pillars within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. And there were windows all around inside; and on each side pillar were palm tree decorations." (Ezekiel 40:16)
"There were latticed windows (אֲטֻמוֹת, ʾăṭumōt) and palm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the porch; thus were the side chambers of the house and the thresholds." (Ezekiel 41:26)
φανερός / ב-ח-ן (bet-ḥet-nun) / م-ح-ن (mīm-ḥāʾ-nūn)
“Examining,” “testing,” or “distinguishing.” This root appears in various Semitic languages with similar meanings:
Aramaic: בְּחַן (bǝḥan) – to test, try.
Syriac: ܒܚܢ (bḥan) – to test, examine.
Arabic: مَحَنَ (maḥana) – to probe, examine, or test a student.
“Send one of you that he may get your brother, while you remain confined, so that your words may be tested (יִבָּחֵנוּ, yibbāḥēnû) whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, you are certainly spies!” (Genesis 42:16)
The name of the surah, al-Mumtaḥanah, sometimes rendered “She who is to be tested,” refers to the believing women tested in 60:10, the only occurrence of م-ح-ن in the Qur’an, as the term اِمْتَحَنَ (imtaḥana) as the imperative فَامْتَحِنُوهُنَّ ( fa-imtaḥinūhunna “test them!”). In Classical Arabic, م‑ح‑ن conveys “to test,” “to try,” “to examine,” or “to subject someone to a trial or hardship.” The noun مِحْنَة (miḥnah) means “trial,” “ordeal,” or “affliction.”
ἀπόκρυφος / ס-ת-ר (samek-taw-resh) / س-ت-ر (sīn-tāʾ-rāʾ)
Hiding, concealing, covering, or sheltering. The Arabic noun سِتْرًا (sitran) means a covering, a veil, or protection.
لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا
(lam najʿal lahum min dūnihā sitran)
“…We had not provided for them any cover (سِتْرًا) from it (the sun).”
Sūrat al-Kahf (18:90)
الله يستر (allāhu yastur) literally means “God conceals” or “God covers.” In everyday usage, Arabic speakers often say it as an exclamation along the lines of “May God protect us!” or “God help us!” A prayer for protection or guidance in hardship, asking that God will hide something undesirable from public view, such as a fault or mistake, and that he will cover sins.
Iron Sharpens Iron
Fr. Aaron Warwick
Fr. Aaron and Jason Ewertt host Teach Me Thy Statutes on the Ephesus School Network.
Fr. Fred Shaheen
Fr. Fred hosts A Light to the Nations on the Ephesus School Network.
ḥāsid — the double-edged sword of religious devotion
Shepherd’s Note: Blaise presents a compelling analysis of the term ḥāsid across the biblical and Qur’anic texts, illustrating how religious devotion can become a double-edged sword. His exploration of envy (ḥasad) in the Qur’an as a critique of sectarianism offers an insightful contrast to the biblical concept of ḥesed—steadfast love and devotion. By weaving together scriptural texts, Blaise challenges readers to reconsider the role of religious identity in shaping human arrogance. His reflections, particularly in light of the Triodion season, serve as a timely reminder that true faith is marked not by exclusivity but by humility and mercy.
The lexicology of zai 在
Shepherd’s Note: Matthew presents a thought-provoking analysis of the lexicology of zai 在, tracing its agricultural and linguistic origins while drawing parallels with Semitic and Arabic counterparts, particularly the biblical נטע (nāṭa‘) and وضع (waḍa‘). The discussion skillfully intertwines historical linguistics with cultural critique, demonstrating how these terms reflect broader philosophical concerns about human existence, place, and civilization.
Separating Myth from Reality
By Sheryl Ono
Shepherd’s Note: Sheryl Ono’s essay, Separating Myth from Reality in Israel-Palestine, is a deeply personal and meticulously researched reflection on the historical and ongoing nightmare. She challenges mainstream propaganda with a sharp critical eye, exposing how selective memory and entrenched ideology control perceptions of justice and victimhood. Her account weaves historical records, firsthand testimonies, and contemporary reporting into a damning critique of power, propaganda, and moral accountability.
Separating Myth from Reality in Israel-Palestine
My family, like so many other Jewish families, has been at war since October 7. None of us are in uniform, but we’re barely speaking — and once I publish this, I’m afraid that the rift with some of them could be lasting. If I don’t publish, I know that living with myself will be impossible.
“The targeted hits on universities and schools are especially shattering and cruel, because Palestinian families prioritize education: it has been their only hope. Contrary to Israeli rhetoric about barbarism, Palestinians are known as the scholars of the Arab world, alongside the Lebanese.”
“I have been scared to put my thoughts in print, knowing what will come back at me. I am even more scared about the state of my relationship with friends and family. Months ago, my much-loved cousin asked “can’t we agree to disagree?” In any other circumstance my answer would be unequivocally yes. But the voice of my parents would echo in my head if I agreed to overlook this subject. Over the years, they returned to a question that gnawed at them: how did ordinary Germans carry on with their lives and stay silent? My parents never forgave the silent ones, never would set foot in Germany, never would buy a German car.
I can’t agree to disagree.” - Sheryl Ono
Beautiful. God bless you