Study
by Brad Scott
Here is a word that has an interesting beginning. Those who study scripture for the sake of seeking ammunition to blow away other religious doctrines should take heed to the etymology of this word. The English word study comes from the latin studere, which finds its root in the Hebrew ts'ad (צער). Through the translation process, the first two letters were reversed, even though the sound was still similar.
The word ts'ad establishes the verbal root and proper action of the word. This word means to march, to step forward, to run ahead.
Bere’shiyt (Genesis) 49:22Yoseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall.
Mishlei (Proverbs) 16:9A man's heart deviseth his way, but YHVH directeth his steps.
The student of scripture should be about the business of moving forward, always learning, never standing and shooting, but running after his teacher. Every week he will be saying to himself "Boy, was I stupid last week." He would be the first one to say "The more I know, the more I know I don't know!"
Shalom Alecheim! ◊