Keys to Biblical Interpretation DADS Class

• Every translation is an interpretation

  • Best Bibles to study from

    • New King James

    • New American Standard

    • King James

    • ESV

• Ground Rules

  • Every interpretation must make plain sense, considering the context in which it is written.

    • This means that every part of a passage derives meaning from its surrounding context.

  • In-depth interpretation is based upon the written text but goes beyond its literal meaning to teach a moral lesson.

  • Specifically notice

    • What the Text Says

      • Ex 8:18 (NKJV) — 18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast.

To bring forth in Hebrew can mean two different things

• • • • • To bring forth, to produce (to produce more lice)

        • To take out, (to remove from, to cause to depart from)

      • Both are correct. An analysis of the circumstances will reveal that either interpretation will serve to undermine Moses’s God.

• • • How the Text Says It

      • Genesis 34:1

        • Dinah, daughter of Leah, went out 

      • Genesis 34:2

        • Saw her, took her, lay with her, violated her 

      • Genesis 34:3

        • Dinah, daughter of Jacob, loved the young woman (881, 5472), spoke kindly to the young woman (5472)

      • Genesis 34:4

        • Get me the young woman (881, 3316 meaning child) for a wife

The Context Of The Text In Question.

The meaning of the text is dependent upon the context. The real meaning depends on what is being said in the surrounding text. The same words can convey different meanings in different places. Likewise, different words may convey similar meanings when they exist in similar contexts.

What this means is that every part of a passage derives its meaning from its surrounding context.

Joseph's brothers go to Egypt to buy food for their famine-stricken families. Joseph, the Viceroy of Egypt, recognizes them, while they don’t recognize him. He accuses them of spying and demands that they bring their youngest brother to him.

Ge 42:19–24 (NKJV) — 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 

21 Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.” 

22 And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” 23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 

Why did he pick Simeon to hold him as ransom? There is much to consider here.

Context Study Genesis 34:25; 37:12-30

Ge 34:25 (NKJV) — 25 Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.

Now consider birth order: 1. Reuben – Leah, 2. Simeon – Leah, 3. Levi – Leah, 4. Judah – Leah,5.  Dan – Bilhah (Rachel’s maidservant), 6. Naphtali – Bilhah, 7. Gad – Zilpah (Leah’s maidservant), 8. Asher – Zilpah, 9. Issachar – Leah, 10. Zebulun – Leah, 11. Joseph – Rachel,12.  Benjamin – Rachel.

What might this context tell you? Review Genesis 37:12-30

Why Should We Study The Word For Deeper Meanings

Now consider the meaning of Jacob when he was left wrestling to the breaking of day.