Ancient Manuscript Appreciation

  Throughout this blog, we are going to be examining many manuscripts of various languages and dialects.  For this reason, it is important to understand the concept of loanwords within the various texts and translations.  Within this specific post, we are primarily going to focus on Hebrew and Aramaic, although you will find loanwords also in Greek, Latin, and within other languages as you progress your studies.  We will also be looking a little more deeply at a controversial Bible verse that may (and likely) contain(s) an Aramaic loanword along with examining other less ambiguous verses. Hebrew and Aramaic (although different in many ways) are sister languages --- along with Arabic. Being languages that are so close in structure (having the same 22 consonant letters), many times you will find loanwords that cross over between the two languages (Hebrew and Aramaic).  This means that sometimes when speaking or reading Aramaic, you will come across Hebrew words, and sometimes when spe

    ---Ketef Hinnom Scroll 2--- Date: Approximately 650 BC Discovered: Jerusalem, Israel Location: Israel Museum Contains: Numbers 6:24-26 Text Type: Proto-Masoretic Language: Hebrew (Paleo Script) Important Notes: This text is 1 out of 2 silver scrolls found and was also used as an amulet which contains an additional text not found in the Hebrew Bible.    Hebrew (KH2) :     Scroll (English translation) :            (scroll broken at top and bottom)            h/hu. May be blessed h/sh-            -[e] by YHW[H,]           the warrior/helper and           the rebuker of           [e]vil: May bless you,           YHWH,           keep you.           Make shine, YH-           -[W]H, His face           [upon] you and g-           -rant you p-           -[ea]ce.           (scroll broken at top and bottom)     Translation (KH2 - Numbers 6) formatted into verses : ?h/hu. May be blessed h/sh[ e ] by YHW[ H ,] the warrior/helper and the rebuker of [ e ]vil: (6:24) May YHWH bless you [ and ]