The Bible is full of strange things
It’s interesting some of the things you will find in the Bible if you just open it up and read it.
For example, did you know beer is in the Bible? It appears several times in the Old Testament. Probably the most notable verse is Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
Almost all of the references to beer are in a negative connotation. This from Proverbs 31:6, “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish.” Notice that beer is to be given to those about to die anyway, while wine is used to ease pain.
In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “stuff” is used 16 times. I always thought that word was more modern than that.
There are apes and baboons in the Bible, but no monkeys. I found references to lions and bears, but not tigers, oh my!
Of course, there are going to be differences in translations when you look at various versions of the Bible. I found several references to donkeys in the New International Version (my preferred version), but none in the King James Version. Instead, all I found in the KJV were asses. (I remember as a kid trying to justify the vulgar use of the word “because it’s in the Bible.”)
Speaking of donkeys, I won’t print it here, but have you ever read Ezekiel 23:20-21? I doubt you’ll ever hear a sermon preached on that!
Another difference between the two popular versions of the Bible can be found in the names of creatures. The KJV refers to the mythical satyrs, unicorns and cockatrices (rooster-serpent hybrids). The NIV calls them goats, oxen and vipers respectively.
Another example can be found in 2 Kings 18:27, where the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the men sitting on the wall — who, like you, will have to eat their own filth and drink their own urine?” (NIV). The KJV uses the words dung for filth and piss for urine.
The second book of Kings (2:23) we get a somewhat modern insult that is very similar in both versions. The NIV puts it this way: From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!”
Not all of the really weird stuff is in the Old Testament. The New Testament has some pretty strange things, too. It has zombies, dragons, demonic pigs and bug-eaters (not to be confused with Nebraska Cornhuskers). The book of Revelations alone is filled with many strange creatures, some of which are unfathomable.
In Matthew 27:52-53 we find the zombies. “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
There are many references to dragons in Revelations. The KJV is peppered with talk of dragons in the Old Testament. As for the demonic pigs, do you recall the story of how Jesus drove the demons out of a man and into a heard of swine, which then stampeded off a cliff?
As for the bug-eater, Matthew and Mark both say that John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey (talk about bitter-sweet!).
Now that Halloween has passed, I’m reminded that there are ghosts in the Bible. In 1 Samuel 28 we get the story of Saul going to a medium and having her call up the spirit of Samuel. So, if you believe the Bible, you must believe that there are ghosts.
You can take comfort that they will not bother you unless you seek them out like Saul did. Even then, Samuel did not want to be bothered. “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” he demanded of Saul. He later warned the king that “The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”
Somehow I don’t think I’d want to be messing with a dead guy like that. I’m content to leave the dead well enough alone.
As weird things in the Bible go, I’m just scratching the surface. To really find out about biblical oddities you should sit down and read the Bible for yourself. Not only will you find many strange and bizarre things, you will also find the truth and the light. That is a treasure that is worth looking for.
For example, did you know beer is in the Bible? It appears several times in the Old Testament. Probably the most notable verse is Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
Almost all of the references to beer are in a negative connotation. This from Proverbs 31:6, “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish.” Notice that beer is to be given to those about to die anyway, while wine is used to ease pain.
In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “stuff” is used 16 times. I always thought that word was more modern than that.
There are apes and baboons in the Bible, but no monkeys. I found references to lions and bears, but not tigers, oh my!
Of course, there are going to be differences in translations when you look at various versions of the Bible. I found several references to donkeys in the New International Version (my preferred version), but none in the King James Version. Instead, all I found in the KJV were asses. (I remember as a kid trying to justify the vulgar use of the word “because it’s in the Bible.”)
Speaking of donkeys, I won’t print it here, but have you ever read Ezekiel 23:20-21? I doubt you’ll ever hear a sermon preached on that!
Another difference between the two popular versions of the Bible can be found in the names of creatures. The KJV refers to the mythical satyrs, unicorns and cockatrices (rooster-serpent hybrids). The NIV calls them goats, oxen and vipers respectively.
Another example can be found in 2 Kings 18:27, where the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the men sitting on the wall — who, like you, will have to eat their own filth and drink their own urine?” (NIV). The KJV uses the words dung for filth and piss for urine.
The second book of Kings (2:23) we get a somewhat modern insult that is very similar in both versions. The NIV puts it this way: From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!”
Not all of the really weird stuff is in the Old Testament. The New Testament has some pretty strange things, too. It has zombies, dragons, demonic pigs and bug-eaters (not to be confused with Nebraska Cornhuskers). The book of Revelations alone is filled with many strange creatures, some of which are unfathomable.
In Matthew 27:52-53 we find the zombies. “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
There are many references to dragons in Revelations. The KJV is peppered with talk of dragons in the Old Testament. As for the demonic pigs, do you recall the story of how Jesus drove the demons out of a man and into a heard of swine, which then stampeded off a cliff?
As for the bug-eater, Matthew and Mark both say that John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey (talk about bitter-sweet!).
Now that Halloween has passed, I’m reminded that there are ghosts in the Bible. In 1 Samuel 28 we get the story of Saul going to a medium and having her call up the spirit of Samuel. So, if you believe the Bible, you must believe that there are ghosts.
You can take comfort that they will not bother you unless you seek them out like Saul did. Even then, Samuel did not want to be bothered. “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” he demanded of Saul. He later warned the king that “The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”
Somehow I don’t think I’d want to be messing with a dead guy like that. I’m content to leave the dead well enough alone.
As weird things in the Bible go, I’m just scratching the surface. To really find out about biblical oddities you should sit down and read the Bible for yourself. Not only will you find many strange and bizarre things, you will also find the truth and the light. That is a treasure that is worth looking for.
posted by Joe Southern | 9:58 AM
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