Tag Archives: Eastern culture

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UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

An Important Key To Remember

I’ve been a fan of the Bible for a very long time. I enjoy reading the Scriptures as well as taking the time to study God’s Word. If understanding the Bible is important to you, you’ll be happy to know I will soon be releasing a book that will help those who enjoy reading Bible understand it more.

An important key in understanding the Bible is recognizing the culture in which it was written. This book gives insight to the culture behind over 48 verses, which will help to make those verses more easily understood.

The title of the book will be, What Does It Mean? Bible Culture Revealed. It  provides wonderful insight regarding the culture of biblical times with respect to manners, customs, idioms, and other figures of speech.

For example, what was the intended meaning when the psalmist wrote, “I am become like a bottle in the smoke”? One might readily recognize the figure of speech employed in that verse, but what exactly was, “a bottle in the smoke”?

The same is true in reverse. Perhaps there are parts of the world that would not understand if they read something in a book that said, “He threw some hot dogs on the grill.” Here in the United States one would easily understand, but those in another part of the world may be a bit puzzled and wonder what kind of dogs, why were they thrown, and, what’s a “grill”? They lack understanding of our culture and idioms.

Final editing is underway. Cover design is in the works. Plans for both paperback and Kindle version are in motion. I will of course have a special post on this blog when it is released.

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There Is A Reason It Has Been Overlooked

It’s great significance has been overlooked.

There Is a good reason.

This week I am posting some things here on the blog that I did last year at this time as we are mindful of the resurrection of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A key point that has been overlooked is that women found out first.  The reason it’s significance has been overlooked is because of not understanding the culture in which the Bible was written.

Here is a podcast I posted last year called,  The Women Found Out First.

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Bewailing Virginity

PLEASE NOTE – THERE WILL BE A REVISED ARTICLE WITH SOME ADDED INSIGHT COMING SOON. ONCE IT IS POSTED, THERE WILL ALSO BE A LINK ON THIS  PAGE TO THE REVISED ARTICLE.

I have recently posted, on the Home page, a revised version of what I posted here a number of years ago.
The new post is titled, Bewailing Virginity – Revised.

The revised article contains added insight along with additional resources.

Here is the link to access Bewailing Virginity – Revised

At the end of the article is a link to a recent teaching I did in which I shared a good portion of this revised article.

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On The Housetop

[The Bible is an “Eastern” book. It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.”  As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.]

In reading the Bible we have to watch that we do not read our modern western culture into the Scriptures.  We many times read words or phrases that instantly paint a picture in our minds of what we are used to seeing or hearing.  Not understanding the culture in which the Bible was written can cause us to scratch our heads and wonder what we just read.

Like most roofs in the United States, mine is pitched. I climb up on my roof about once or twice a year to remove the pine needles that fall from my pine tree.  Other than that, I hardly ever go up on my roof.

Flat Roofs

But in the lands and times of the Bible, the roofs were flat.  It was common for people to go up on the roof, or the housetop, for various reasons. It was generally a quiet place away from other people. It served as a great place to teach children in the evening, or to have a private conversation with someone.  It was also very common to go up on the housetop to pray.

flat-roof (Small)

Housetops would be accessible by a side ladder or stairs from the courtyard, as well as from the inside, where a hatch could open and close.  Such was the case when they took the man up on the housetop, and then lowered him into the house so he could get to Jesus.

Everyone On The Housetops?

There is even a record in Isaiah where there was something that was ailing the entire population.  So much so that it talks about “wholly going up on the housetops.”  This means that everyone went up on their housetops to pray.

That kind of situation would generally be a response to something affecting everyone, a sort of national emergency, like an approaching plague or even the expectation of the enemy.   Everyone would be on their housetop praying to God and asking for His deliverance from the impending calamity.

Remember When You Read

So, the next time you are reading the Bible and you see the word “housetop,” remember that their roofs were different than our modern pitched roofs. They were flat, and it was common for them to go up on the housetop.

I Samuel 9:25
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

Isaiah 22:1
What ails you now, that you are wholly gone up to the housetops?

Acts 10:9
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

Mike Verdicchio

For more “Eastern Eye” articles, Click Here, or click The Eastern Eye tab above.
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There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the Eastern culture in which the Bible was written.  The best I know of were written by by Bishop K. C. Pillai.  I have had the pleasure of listening to recorded teaching by him.

He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced.  But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window

Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon.
The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)

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Buy Without Money?

[The Bible is an “Eastern” book.  It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.”  As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.]

Growing up I can remember on a number occasions my dad saying, “No one gives you something for nothing.”  He understood that even if someone “gave” you something, someone paid the price for it somewhere along the line.

In Isaiah there is a verse that talks about buying water, milk, and wine without money.  Understanding the Eastern culture gives great insight not only into this verse, but also what the verse implies.

It Is A Figure Of Speech

Buying without money and without price is an Eastern figure of speech.  It pertains to a merchant in the marketplace who sells his goods.  Those merchants would call out the price of their goods.  Shoppers would then stop and pay the price for the things they wished to purchase.

There are places like that today in some parts of the world. A few years ago, Kathy and I experienced The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, which is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with over 1,200 shops.  I can tell you they are not shy about calling out to you!

grand-bazarBut there were occasions in the Bible times when the merchant would cry out, “Come and buy without money and without price.” When people heard a merchant crying out, “Come and buy without money and without price,” they knew it meant someone was grateful to God for reaching a milestone in their life.

Showing Gratitude To God

When someone in that culture reached a birthday, they celebrated it by doing something nice for other people.  They did this to show God their gratitude for being alive, for living another year.  Since you cannot see God, bestowing kindness or gifts to others was considered giving a gift to God.

It is really the opposite of our culture.  Today when someone reaches a milestone, say an anniversary or a birthday, they expect to receive gifts in honor of the event.  But the Eastern culture of the Bible was much different.  They celebrated by doing something good for others.

The Price Was Paid

One of the ways someone would do this was to go to a merchant in the marketplace.  He would then pay the merchant for all of his water, or wine, or milk. Once he made his purchase, the merchant in turn began to cry out, “Come and buy without money and without price,”

Those that hear the merchant crying out, and especially those who are needy, can come and “buy without money.”  It is free to them, but the price has been paid.  The benefactor would stay at the merchant stand as people came to “buy without money,” so that they could express their thanks to the one who paid the price.

A Deeper Meaning

In the days of Isaiah, everyone understood this Eastern figure of speech.  But it goes much deeper than selling water, wine, or milk.  Isaiah prophesied much about the coming redeemer.

Mankind could never pay the price necessary for redemption.  So, God gave His Son as payment for all of mankind.  The price was paid and all legal claims were satisfied.

Because of the completed work of Jesus Christ we can have salvation at no cost to us.  That’s why the Bible says that we are saved by grace.  Eternal life is a free gift to us.

My dad was right; someone always pays the price.  And just as those who “bought milk without price” expressed their thanks to the benefactor who paid the price for them, we too can express our thanks to God Who paid the price for us.

Isaiah 55:1:
Ho, every one that thirsts, come you to the waters, and he that has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Feel free to leave a comment, even if it’s a fishing story of your own. I have a few of those and maybe you do too.  We’d love to hear what you have to say.

For more “Eastern Eye” articles, Click Here, or click The Eastern Eye tab above.

Mike Verdicchio
_____________

There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the Eastern culture in which the Bible was written.  The best I know of were written by by Bishop K. C. Pillai.  I have had the pleasure of listening to recorded teaching by him.

He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced.  But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window

Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon. The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)