S620 hermeneutics slides week 2

Stan Meyer, PhD April 5, 2021
S620 Messianic Jewish Hermeneutics
Part 2
Review Speech Act • Many meanings of the Text • Linguistic Ranges of
Meaning • Meaning of “Redemption” in the Haggadah

Transcript of Trump’s Speech
Washington DC, 6 January 2021
• Interpeter (US Senators) charged to determine meaning.

• What is meaning of the text?

• What was the meaning in the mind of the speaker?

• What was the speaker’s intended outcome?

• What meaning was understood by the original audience?

The Speech Act (Klein, p. 45)
Text Reader
Writer Language Translation
Copyist
Errors
Locution

What was said

Meaning of the text
Illocution

What was meant

Meaning of the speaker
Perlocution

What was intended

Resulting action

The Speech Act (Klein, p. 45)
Text Reader
Writer Language Translation
Copyist
Errors
Locution

You are the light of the world (Matt 5:14)
Illocution

You are emissaries of the Kingdom
Perlocution

Go proclaim the gospel

Our Lenses of Interpretation
Biases that obscure meaning
1. Our worldviews

2. Our pre-suppositions

3. Our pre-understandings
Klein, pp. 211-244

Critical Realism - There exists an objectively knowable,
mind-independent reality. But we acknowledge the roles of
biases, perception, and cognition in understanding that
objective reality.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Critical_realism
Approach interpretation of the Bible through Critical Realism

Original

Pre-Understanding
Bracket
Text
New Knowledge
New

Pre-Understanding
Correct
Application

Context
Bracket
New Knowledge
Context
Bracket
Text
Text
Osborn 2010
Correct
Hermeneutical Spiral

Range of Meaning of a Text
The word “tree”
Referential My immediate & specific meaning The large apple tree in my backyard
Denotative Linguistic definition
A woody perennial plant, typically having a single stem or
trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral
branches at some distance from the ground.
Connotative Suggested Meaning Have you ever explored your ancestry tree
Contextual How the word is used in a sentence
1. I love my apple tree (referential)

2. Trees will slow global warming (denotative)

3. Have you explored your ancestor tree (connotative)
Klein, p. 47

Range of Meanings of a Text
Deuteronomy 32:22
‫וֹל‬ ֣
‫ְא‬‫שׁ‬‫ַד־‬‫ע‬ ‫ַד‬‫ק‬‫י‬ִ‫ַתּ‬‫ו‬ ‫ִי‬‫פּ‬ַ‫א‬ְ‫ב‬ ‫ה‬ָ֣
‫ח‬ְ‫ָד‬‫ק‬ ‫ֵשׁ‬‫א‬‫ִי־‬‫כּ‬
‫וֹל‬ ֣
‫ְא‬‫שׁ‬ ‫ַד־‬‫ע‬ ‫ַד‬‫ק‬‫י‬ִ‫ַתּ‬‫ו‬ ‫ִי‬‫פּ‬ַ‫א‬ ְ‫ב‬ ‫ה‬ָ֣
‫ח‬ְ‫ָד‬‫ק‬ ‫ֵשׁ‬‫א‬ ‫ִי־‬‫כּ‬
[a] grave Unto/until
And burned

(3f vav-cons s)
My nose In
Was kindled

(3f perf s)
[a] fire Because

Range of Meanings of a Text
Deuteronomy 32:22
‫וֹל‬ ֣
‫ְא‬‫שׁ‬ ‫ַד־‬‫ע‬ ‫ַד‬‫ק‬‫י‬ִ‫ַתּ‬‫ו‬ ‫ִי‬‫פּ‬ַ‫א‬ ְ‫ב‬ ‫ה‬ָ֣
‫ח‬ְ‫ָד‬‫ק‬ ‫ֵשׁ‬‫א‬ ‫ִי־‬‫כּ‬
[a] grave Unto/until
And burned

(3f vav-cons s)
My nose In
Was kindled

(3f perf s)
[a] fire Because
For a fire is kindled by my anger and it burns to the depth of Sheol (ESV)

For a fire will be kindled by my wrath, one that burns down to the realms of the dead (NIV)

For a fire has flared in my wrath and burned to the bottom of Sheol (JPS 1985)

Meaning of ‫ִי‬‫פּ‬ַ‫א‬ְ‫ב‬ & ‫ה‬ָ֣
‫ָדְח‬‫ק‬
Referential immediate & specific meaning
‫אפי‬ My nose—the nose on my face

‫קדחה‬ Burning — feeling intense pain
Denotative Dictionary definition
Nose: The sensory organ on the front of the face

Burning: On fire
Connotative Suggested Meaning I am Angry! (And I feel it in my nose)
Contextual How the word is used in a sentence
I am so angry at you for breaking my law that it feels like my
nose is on fire!!

Meanings of the Biblical Text
Levels of meaning of the text
• Exegetical meaning - grammatical, syntactical, cultural understanding of text

• Writer’s meaning - what the writer intended to communicate

• Audience’s meaning - how writer’s audience understood

• Interpreter’s meaning - how the modern interpreter understands

• Application - meaning contextualized to the interpreter’s audience

You shall not muzzle an ox when
it is treading out the grain.

(Deut 25:4 ESV)
Who serves as a soldier at his
own expense? Who plants a
vineyard without eating any of its
fruit? Or who tends a flock
without getting some of the
milk?…Does not the Torah say the
same? It is written…“You shall not
muzzle an ox when it treads out
the grain.” Is it for oxen that God
is concerned?…It was written for
our sake…If we have sown
spiritual things among you, is it
too much if we reap material
things [back] from you?

(1 Cor 9:7–12 ESV)

You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain (Deut 25:4)
If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much to reap material things back? (1 Cor 9:11)
• Exegetical Meaning:
• Writer’s Meaning:

• Paul’s Meaning:
• Paul’s Application:

• Modern Application:

You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain (Deut 25:4)
• Exegetical Meaning: Don’t put a muzzle on an ox treading grain
• Writer’s Meaning: Allow an ox to eat as he is working (compassion)

• Paul’s Meaning: Those who do ministry deserve to be paid
• Paul’s Application: Paul & Barnabas should be paid for their ministry

• Modern Application: You should receive a salary!

Meaning of “redemption”
in the Passover Haggadah

Meaning of “redemption” in Pentateuch
I will bring you out from under the
burdens of the Egyptians,

and I will deliver you from slavery
to them,

and I will redeem you with an
outstretched arm and with great
acts of judgment. I will take you to
be my people, and I will be your
God.

(Exodus 6:6–7 ESV)
‫ת‬ ֣‫ְֹל‬‫ב‬ִ‫ס‬ ֙‫ת‬ַ‫ח‬ַ֙‫ִתּ‬‫מ‬ ‫ם‬ ֶ֗‫כ‬ְ‫ֶת‬‫א‬ ‫י‬ִ֣‫ֵאת‬‫צ‬‫ְהוֹ‬‫ו‬
‫ִם‬‫י‬ ַ֔
‫ְר‬‫צ‬ִ‫מ‬
‫ם‬ָ֑
‫ת‬ָ‫ֹד‬ ‫ֲב‬‫ע‬ֵ‫מ‬ ‫ם‬ֶ֖‫כ‬ְ‫ֶת‬‫א‬ ‫י‬ִ֥‫ְתּ‬‫ל‬ַ‫צּ‬ִ‫ה‬ְ‫ו‬
‫ה‬ָ֔‫י‬‫ְטוּ‬‫נ‬ ַ‫ע‬‫וֹ‬ ֣
‫ְר‬‫ז‬ִ‫בּ‬ ֙‫ֶם‬‫כ‬ְ‫ֶת‬‫א‬ ‫י‬ִ֤‫ְתּ‬‫ל‬‫ָאַ‬‫ג‬ְ‫ו‬
‫י‬ ִ֨‫ְתּ‬‫ח‬ַ‫ק‬ָ‫ל‬ְ‫ו‬ ‫ֽים׃‬ ִ‫ֹל‬ ‫ְד‬‫גּ‬ ‫ים‬ִ֖‫ָט‬‫פ‬ְ‫שׁ‬ִ‫ב‬‫וּ‬
‫ם‬ֶ֖‫ָכ‬‫ל‬ ‫י‬ִ‫ית‬ִ֥‫י‬ָ‫ה‬ְ‫ו‬ ‫ם‬ ָ֔‫ע‬ְ‫ל‬ ֙‫י‬ִ‫ל‬ ‫ם‬ֶ֥‫כ‬ְ‫ֶת‬‫א‬
‫ים‬ִ֑‫ֽאֹלה‬ ֵ‫ל‬

To snatch away, deliver

(hiphil vav-consecutive, 1s) BDB

To redeem, purchase back,

(Qal vav-consecutive 1s) BDB
‫י‬ִ֥‫ְתּ‬‫ל‬ַ‫צּ‬ִ‫ה‬ְ‫ו‬ [‫]נצל‬
‫י‬ִ֤‫ְתּ‬‫ל‬‫ָאַ‬‫ג‬ְ‫ו‬ [‫]גאל‬

If your brother becomes poor
beside you and sells himself to
you, you shall not make him serve
as a slave (Lev 25:39, ESV)

For they are my servants, whom I
brought out of the land of Egypt;
they shall not be sold as slaves.
(Lev 25:42, ESV)
‫ְך‬ָ֑‫ַר־ל‬‫כּ‬ְ‫מ‬ִ‫נ‬ְ‫ו‬ ‫ְך‬ָ֖‫ִמּ‬‫ע‬ ‫יָך‬ִ֛‫אָח‬ ‫וְּך‬ ֥
‫ָמ‬‫י‬‫ֽי־‬ ִ‫ְכ‬‫ו‬
‫ֶד׃‬‫ב‬ֽ ָ
‫ע‬ ‫ת‬ַ‫ד‬ ֥
ֹ ‫ֲב‬‫ע‬ ‫וֹ‬ ֖‫בּ‬ ‫ד‬ ֥
ֹ ‫ֲב‬‫ע‬ַ‫ֹלא־ת‬
‫י‬ִ‫את‬ֵ֥‫ֶר־הוֹצ‬‫שׁ‬ֲ‫א‬ ‫ם‬ ֵ֔‫ה‬ ‫י‬ַ֣
‫ָד‬‫ב‬ֲ‫ע‬‫ֽי־‬ ִ‫כּ‬
‫וּ‬ ֖
‫ְר‬‫כ‬ָ‫מּ‬ִ‫י‬ ‫א‬ ֥‫ֹל‬ ‫ִם‬‫י‬ ָ֑
‫ְר‬‫צ‬ִ‫מ‬ ‫ץ‬ ֶ
‫ר‬ֶ֣‫ֵא‬‫מ‬ ‫ם‬ָ֖
‫ֹת‬‫א‬
‫ע‬ ‫ת‬ ֶ
‫ר‬ֶ֥‫ְכּ‬‫מ‬ִ‫מ‬

Why can’t Jews make slaves of Jews?
If your brother becomes poor
beside you and sells himself to
you, you shall not make him serve
as a slave (Lev 25:39, ESV)

For they are my servants, whom I
brought out of the land of Egypt;
they shall not be sold as slaves.
(Lev 25:42, ESV)
‫ְך‬ָ֑‫ַר־ל‬‫כּ‬ְ‫מ‬ִ‫נ‬ְ‫ו‬ ‫ְך‬ָ֖‫ִמּ‬‫ע‬ ‫יָך‬ִ֛‫אָח‬ ‫וְּך‬ ֥
‫ָמ‬‫י‬‫ֽי־‬ ִ‫ְכ‬‫ו‬
‫ע‬ ‫ת‬ַ‫ד‬ ֥
ֹ ‫ֲב‬‫ע‬ ‫וֹ‬ ֖‫בּ‬ ‫ד‬ ֥
ֹ ‫ֲב‬‫ע‬ַ‫ֹלא־ת‬
‫י‬ִ‫את‬ֵ֥‫ֶר־הוֹצ‬‫שׁ‬ֲ‫א‬ ‫ם‬ ֵ֔‫ה‬ ‫י‬ַ֣
‫ָד‬‫ב‬ֲ‫ע‬‫ֽי־‬ ִ‫כּ‬
‫וּ‬ ֖
‫ְר‬‫כ‬ָ‫מּ‬ִ‫י‬ ‫א‬ ֥‫ֹל‬ ‫ִם‬‫י‬ ָ֑
‫ְר‬‫צ‬ִ‫מ‬ ‫ץ‬ ֶ
‫ר‬ֶ֣‫ֵא‬‫מ‬ ‫ם‬ָ֖
‫ֹת‬‫א‬
‫ע‬ ‫ת‬ ֶ
‫ר‬ֶ֥‫ְכּ‬‫מ‬ִ‫מ‬

Traditional Haggadah, Opening lines of Magid
My father was a fugitive Aramean. And he went down into Egypt
and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a
nation, great, mighty, and populous…And the LORD brought us
out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm…And
he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land
flowing with milk and honey.

Tabory, Joseph. 2008. JPS Commentary on the Haggadah. Jewish Publication Society

What is the meaning of “redemption”?
My father was a fugitive Aramean. And he went down into Egypt
and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a
nation, great, mighty, and populous…and the LORD heard our
voice…And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty
hand and an outstretched arm…And he brought us into this
place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and
honey

Magid, Conclusion
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who
redeemed us and redeemed our ancestors from Egypt, and
brought us on this night to eat matsa and marror;

So too, Lord our God, and God of our ancestors, bring us to
other appointed times and holidays that will come to greet us in
peace, joyful in the building of Your city…and we shall thank
You with a new song upon our redemption and upon our
restoration.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who
redeemed us and redeemed our ancestors from Egypt, and
brought us on this night to eat matsa and marror;

So too, Lord our God, and God of our ancestors, bring us to
other appointed times and holidays that will come to greet us in
peace, joyful in the building of Your city…and we shall thank
You with a new song upon our redemption and upon our
restoration.

Second response to the Mah Nishtana
Blessed is He who keeps His
promise to Israel, Blessed is
He. For the Holy one, blessed
be He, foresees the end of
the exile, to do as He had
promised Abraham.
‫ָתוֹ‬‫ח‬ָ‫ט‬ְ‫ב‬ַ‫ה‬ ‫ֵר‬‫מ‬‫שׁוֹ‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬
.‫הוּא‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬ ,‫ֵל‬‫א‬ ָ
‫ְר‬‫שׂ‬ִ‫י‬ְ‫ל‬
‫ֶת‬‫א‬ ‫ַב‬‫שּׁ‬ִ‫ח‬ ‫הוּא‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬ ‫ָדוֹשׁ‬‫קּ‬ַ‫ה‬ֶ‫שׁ‬
‫ַר‬‫מ‬‫ֶאָ‬‫שׁ‬ ‫ְמוֹ‬‫כּ‬ ‫ֲשׂוֹת‬‫ע‬ַ‫ל‬ ,‫ֵץ‬‫קּ‬ַ‫ה‬
.‫ָם‬‫ה‬ ָ
‫ְר‬‫ב‬‫ְאַ‬‫ל‬

Blessed is He who keeps His
promise to Israel, Blessed is
He. For the Holy one, blessed
be He, foresees the end of
the exile, to do as He had
promised Abraham.
‫ָתוֹ‬‫ח‬ָ‫ט‬ְ‫ב‬ַ‫ה‬ ‫ֵר‬‫מ‬‫שׁוֹ‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬
.‫הוּא‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬ ,‫ֵל‬‫א‬ ָ
‫ְר‬‫שׂ‬ִ‫י‬ְ‫ל‬
‫ֶת‬‫א‬ ‫ַב‬‫שּׁ‬ִ‫ח‬ ‫הוּא‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬ ‫ָדוֹשׁ‬‫קּ‬ַ‫ה‬ֶ‫שׁ‬
‫ַר‬‫מ‬‫ֶאָ‬‫שׁ‬ ‫ְמוֹ‬‫כּ‬ ‫ֲשׂוֹת‬‫ע‬ַ‫ל‬ ,‫ֵץ‬‫קּ‬ַ‫ה‬
.‫ָם‬‫ה‬ ָ
‫ְר‬‫ב‬‫ְאַ‬‫ל‬

Vehi Sh’amdah (1566 Abudarham Haggadah)
In each generation, they
come against us to destroy
us, but the Holy One,
blessed be He, rescues us
from their hand.
‫ים‬ִ‫ְד‬‫מ‬‫עוֹ‬ ‫ָדוֹר‬‫ו‬ ‫דּוֹר‬ ‫ָל‬‫כ‬ְ‫בּ‬ֶ‫שׁ‬
‫ָדוֹשׁ‬‫קּ‬ַ‫ה‬ְ‫ו‬ ,‫נוּ‬ֵ‫ַלוֹת‬‫כ‬ְ‫ל‬ ‫ֵינוּ‬‫ל‬ָ‫ע‬
‫ם‬ָ‫ָד‬‫יּ‬ִ‫מ‬ ‫ֵנוּ‬‫ל‬‫ִי‬‫צּ‬ַ‫מ‬ ‫הוּא‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬
https://www.sefaria.org/Pesach_Haggadah%2C_Magid%2C_In_the_Beginning_Our_Fathers_Were_Idol_Worshipers.5?lang=bi

In each generation, they
come against us to destroy
us, but the Holy One,
blessed be He, rescues us
from their hand.
‫ים‬ִ‫ְד‬‫מ‬‫עוֹ‬ ‫ָדוֹר‬‫ו‬ ‫דּוֹר‬ ‫ָל‬‫כ‬ְ‫בּ‬ֶ‫שׁ‬
‫ָדוֹשׁ‬‫קּ‬ַ‫ה‬ְ‫ו‬ ,‫נוּ‬ֵ‫ַלוֹת‬‫כ‬ְ‫ל‬ ‫ֵינוּ‬‫ל‬ָ‫ע‬
‫ם‬ָ‫ָד‬‫יּ‬ִ‫מ‬ ‫ֵנוּ‬‫ל‬‫ִי‬‫צּ‬ַ‫מ‬ ‫הוּא‬ ‫ָרוְּך‬‫בּ‬
https://www.sefaria.org/Pesach_Haggadah%2C_Magid%2C_In_the_Beginning_Our_Fathers_Were_Idol_Worshipers.5?lang=bi

Kaplan’s (1942) New Haggadah
Pesach means more than that the first emancipation the
Israelites won from Pharaoh…it means emancipation of the
serfs in the middle ages, the freedom slaves won from their
masters, the freedom the common people won when their
kings were overthrown; it means the guarantee of the
sacred rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Kaplan, Mordecai. 1942. The New Haggadah for Pesah. Behreman House

Hunger Seder (2020)
“This is the bread of aﬄiction. May all who are hungry
come and eat.” The invitation to the hungry seems empty…
we eat to satisfaction without a thought to the hungry.
Tonight we speak of hunger, but do nothing.
Goldberg, Jeﬀrey. 2020. Hunger Seder. https://mazon.org/

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