Bammerhab: Bible Explainer

Rebecca J. Gomez stops by Bammerhab to talk about Isaiah 4:5, canopies and Canopy Creatives!

Rebecca is a children’s book author, illustrator, and poet in Omaha, Nebraska. Her first illustrated book (which she also wrote) is a Middle Grade novel in verse titled Mari in the Margins.

But why do we chat about canopies? Because the Lord frequently speaks of covering, all over the New Testament and Old. It’s a key concept. In the Passover, the children of Israel were covered, and therefore protected from the long-forestalled wrath about to spill over.

God always covers his people. That’s what the cross at Calvary did. That was the ultimate covering, once and for all. The true chuppah for all time, it both protects and covers from wrath as in the passover. Our Lord has taken the bullet for us. He’s covered us with his body, his life and his work. We are covered.

But chuppah also has the connotation of intimacy and relationship. To this day, a Jewish couple are married under a covering called a chuppah. God also covers us in the relationship sense, as a prelude to the marriage of the lamb.

This episode digs deeper into “chuppah” (חֻפֶּה meaning “canopy”) in Isaiah 4:5.

Isaiah 4:5 - “Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy.’”

Mentioned:

Episode 36 - Yom Kippur

My Friend Rabbit - Eric Rohmann

Snippets and Sketches - gomezwrites.substack.com

Canopy Creatives - canopycreatives.substack.com

Mari in the Margins - Rebecca J. Gomez

Watchman Nee

Jessica Linn Evans

SCWBI - Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Home in the Woods - Eliza Wheeler

Love that Dog - Sharon Creech

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam - allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

Ha-Satan is a Hebrew term for a role, not a name. It means “the attacker, the slanderer, the assaulter, and also the prosecutor.

In Job, the heavenly scene we’re given a glimpse into is actually a legal court case, where the prosecutor is attacking the Judge, and making his case to try to undermine the Judge.

This is the Ha-Satan, or who we call Satan.

Why does Satan hate God? And what does it have to do with Judas objecting so strongly to Mary pouring oil on Jesus’ feet?

We’ll explore all of that in the podcast. Take a listen!

This episode digs deeper into “hasatan” (הַשָׂטָן - meaning ‘the attacker, accuser and/or prosecutor’) in Job 1:6.

Job 1:6 - “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.” (KJV)

Mentioned:

Emperor Julian (331-363)

List of What Those “In Christ” are Heir To…

www.navigators.org/resource/know-your-identity-in-christ-bible-verses-to-memorize

Judas in Bethany - John 12:3-6

“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” (KJV)

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam - allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

• Pixabay musicians Nikita Kondrashev & Ievgen Poltavskyi

Barton J. Gingerich stops by Bammerhab to talk about John 3:16 and the Only-Begotten Son!

Barton is the rector of St. Jude’s Anglican Church (REC) in Richmond, Virginia. He was previously with Institute on Religion and Democracy, and one of the managing editors for the website Patheos Evangelical. He currently contributes to the Faith and Honor podcast, and the Opinions section of WORLD news group.

So why do we chat about John 3:16? Well, because John 3:16 is one of the most familiar bible verses yet it holds inside of it one of the odder translations of any Greek translated words: Only-Begotten Son.

But that’s a very accurate translation of the Greek, and these translators chose that odd word for a reason. Barton Gingerich explains why we shouldn’t shy away from this unwieldy term, and why the translators chose it.

This episode digs deeper into “Monogenēs” (μονογενής - meaning ‘Only-Begotten Son’) in John 3:16.

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV)

Mentioned:

World News Group - Barton J. Gingerich

ERLC - Barton J. Gingerich

St. Jude’s Anglican Church - www.stjudesrec.org

Charles Lee Irons

Arius/Arianism - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism

Athanasius - On the Incarnation

E.L. Mascall

“The Good Place” (2016-2020)

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis

“A Hidden Life” (2019)

Denny Burk - “Deep in the Weeds on Monogenēs”

www.dennyburk.com/deep-in-the-weeds-on-monogenes-and-eternal-generation/

Charles Lee Irons - “The Eternal Generation of the Son”

www.upper-register.com/papers/monogenes.html

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam - allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

Ever wonder what happened between the Book of Acts and 2026 AD?

Well, now you can hear all the major events of Jesus’ church in one fell swoop that takes only about 45 minutes!

A Good Shepherd.

For us, that seems like a natural connection. I mean don’t shepherds peacefully play their harp among gentle zethyrs and bucolic pastoral serenity?

But what’s very interesting about this verse is that shepherds then had the same connotation as cowboys do now. Boorish, simple, uneducated blue collar bumpkins.

What would you think if Jesus described himself as the Good Cowboy? What if he said, I am the good cowboy who lays down his life for his cattle?

Whatever idea you have in your head now, that’s probably closer to how the original audience heard the phrase “the Good Shepherd.”

If you read an op-ed in the New York Times describe someone as a cowboy, they’re not complimenting him. The same was true back in Israel and Rome of Jesus’ time. Shepherds were not idyllic, unifying figures of poise and rustic charm. They were cowboys.

This episode digs deeper into “poimen” (ποιμήν - meaning ‘shepherd’) in John 10:11.

John 10:11 - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (NIV)

Mentioned:

Ep. 31 - Lance Ralston

Ep. 50 - Jared Luttjeboer

Ep. 60 - Paul in Troy

Lance Ralston’s Church History Podcast

Jared Luttjeboer’s Church History Podcast

Text of 1 Clement by Clement of Rome

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam - allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

• Pixabay musicians Nikita Kondrashev & Ievgen Poltavskyi

God told Habakkuk to make his vision plain.

So Habakkuk engraved his words into tablets, but the Hebrew word ba’ar means more than just engrave. By extension, ba’ar means to make something visible and obvious by explaining it and expounding it clearly.

Janet and Geoff Benge, like Habakkuk also make the story of the church plain by vividly writing down the lives of many faithful servants of Christ in such a way to inspire each of us to live our own story a little bit more faithfully, and lean into Christ a little bit further.

This episode digs deeper into “ba’ar” (בָּאַר meaning “make it plain”) in Habakkuk 2:2.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 - “Then the LORD answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’”

Mentioned:

Benge Books (YouTube) - www.youtube.com/@BengeBooks

Benge Books - www.bengebooks.com

YWAM Publishing - Janet & Geoff Benge

John & Elizabeth Sherill

Loren Cunningham

The Inklings

Enid Blyton

Lance Ralston’s Church History Podcast

Rabban Sauma

Mānuka Honey

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam - allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

God slowly carves out judgement and deliverance using the same sharp tool: Time itself.

Time unveils reality. Time is a chisel. Though it tarries, we must wait for it because waiting is carving out an image.

I’m very grateful to poet Beth Matheson for her poems “His Glory Will Rise” and “Beatitude Sonnet IV” that she shares with us at the end of this episode! Find more of her poetry here and here.

www.bethmatheson.com

This episode digs deeper into “chakah” (חָכָה meaning “wait”) in Habakkuk 2:3.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 - “Then the LORD answered me and said:“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Mentioned:

Beth Matheson

Habakkuk

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam - allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

Habakkuk asked God a question: Why is evil winning?

God gave him an answer through a vision.

Habakkuk asked with words, God answered with a vision. God also knew that many other would want to know the same answer to the same question that Habaukkuk had asked. So he told Habakkuk to transform the images he saw into the words we still have today.

Janet and Geoff Benge also write a vision, but the Benges write the story of the church. The Benges writing down the lives of many faithful servants of Christ in such a way to inspire each of us to live our own story a little bit more faithfully, and lean into Christ a little bit further. I can’t wait for you to meet these two. They are easily two of my favorite living authors!

This episode digs deeper into “chazon” (חָזוֹן meaning “Vision”) in Habakkuk 2:2.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 - “Then the LORD answered me and said:“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Mentioned:

Benge Books (YouTube) - www.youtube.com/@BengeBooks

Benge Books - www.bengebooks.com

YWAM Publishing - Janet & Geoff Benge

YWAM - Youth With A Mission

Mercy Ships

George Müller

Brother Andrew

Charles Mulli

YouTube - Sheep Rescued from Ditch Jumps Right Back in

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam - allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

Did you know Paul’s life changed twice in the same city?

No, it wasn’t Jerusalem. It wasn’t Damascus. It was Troy.

Troy?

Yup, like the Trojan Horse Troy. Troy itself was gone, but the entire region was named after it: Troas. Paul’s life pivoted twice in Troas.

In Acts 16:7, The spirit explicitly didn’t allow Paul to Go to Asia. We’re not told how, but we’re told that it was a pretty clear No. But frustratingly, the Spirit said no to one direction, but didn’t say where TO go. (Note that this was not a forever no. It was a not yet. Paul would one day spend a great deal of time in Asia, and especially Ephesus. But there was a reason to not go yet.)

So Paul and his companions, took a guess and tried to go towards Bithyinia. We’re not quite sure how far they got with their attempt, but the verb implies that there were plans made and then curtailed and redirected.

Did they make it right to the edge of Bithynia and get redirected? Or did they make it a few steps? We’re not quite sure.

What is clear is that eventually the Spirit sent Paul to Troas. And he did it for at least one reason that we now know…

Want to know what it was? Take a listen!

This episode digs deeper into “epeirazon” (ἐπείραζον - meaning ‘they tested’) in Acts 16:7.

Acts 16:7 - “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” (NIV)

I’m very grateful to poet Olivia Oster for her poem “The New Paraklesis” that she shares with us at the end of this episode! Find more of her poetry here and here.

Mentioned:

Olivia Oster - Poet

Alexandria Troas

Gospel in Life - Tim Keller Sermon - podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/the-flesh-and-the-devil/

Bithynia

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

At the end of Paul’s last letter that he composed on earth, he prophesied that sound doctrine would become rarer and rarer as time progressed. Indeed he said that many people wouldn’t allow it to be taught. They would fight it tooth and nail.

Sound familiar?

Hygiainousēs is related to our word hygiene, and it means healthy, sound, balanced and good teaching. It was one of Paul’s favorite word to mentor with. He uses it four times in his letters to Timothy and four times in his letter to Titus, two of his proteges. He can’t stress it enough, but what is it?

I talk about it with Matt Kennedy.

Matt is the rector (which is just a fancy word for senior pastor) of Church of the Good Shepherd. He earned an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. He is married to Anne and they have six children. Matt oversees pastoral care, teaching, and preaching, administration, staff, and is committed to his singular passion—exegetical preaching. He also hosts the podcast “The Cranmer Fellows” and is a part of the “Stand Firm” podcast on Spotify and Apple iTunes.

This episode digs deeper into “Hygiainousēs” (ὑγιαινούσης - meaning ‘sound’ or ‘healthy’) in 2 Timothy 4:3.

2 Timothy 4:3 - “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (NIV)

Mentioned:

Stand Firm Podcast - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stand-firm-podcast/id1513751604

The Cranmer Fellows Podcast - open.spotify.com/show/0bbVBtzyTTPOEgf7MUct23

Church of the Good Shepherd - www.goodshepherdbinghamton.org

Matt Kennedy’s Substack - lambeth98.substack.com

Anne Kennedy’s Substack - annekennedy.substack.com

What is a Bammerhab?

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard for Graphic Design

www.woodardsdesign.com

• Dave Allam of Allam House for podcasting techniques

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources

Jesus didn’t swear, or use coarse language. Neither did Paul. But they did use very forceful injunctions to express strong emotions, and the word they used was ophelon. It can be translated as “Oh, How I wish!”

…But that’s probably a little too formal for the actual sense of this word, which is just an expression of sheer frustration. In our vulgar age, this role is usually filled by four letter obscene words. Ophelon isn’t that… It’s not obscene, but it is a placeholder for extreme emotion getting spat out at the listener.

The exact terms vary from culture to culture and generation to generation but actually Xennial guys like myself tend to use the interjection “Dude, uncool!”

That’s a more faithful sense of what Ophelon means here.

Paul also used this word in his immense frustration with the Galatian church getting so caught up in circumcision as being salvific that he darkly jokes that maybe they’d be super saved if they went the full nine yards and chopped more off.

Paul’s immensely frustrated, and we know he is because he says ophelon!!!

This episode digs deeper into “ophelon” (ὄφελον meaning ‘Oh, How I Wish!’) in Revelation 3:15.

Revelation 3:15 - “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. Oh, How I Wish you were either one or the other!” (NIV)

Victoria Murgante is a storyteller, a poet and a songwriter. In university, she played in a Klezmer and a Balkan ensemble, and was part of a large gospel choir. To this day, she still composes simple, mild-mannered tunes but you won't hear any of them on the radio. Victoria has worked in a flower shop and a music store; as a primary school teacher, an overnight baker, and manager of the night shift at a bookshop. She began her first job with the public library a few short months after meeting her future husband, Michael. The two now share three children, a fondness for forest rambles, and a home near Lake Simcoe in Central Canada.

Her first book is The Traveling Piano Man of Fort Whettershire.

www.victoriamurgante.com

Mentioned:

• Laodicea

• Colossae

• Victoria Murgante

• Roman Historian Tacitus Describing Laodicea Rejecting Roman Help

• Marshall McLuhan

• “Stop trying to make fetch happen!”

• Song of Solomon 5:2 - “I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” (NIV)

What is a Bammerhab?

Ps. 31:8 - “You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” (NIV)

The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard for Graphic Design

• Dave Allam of Allam House for podcasting techniques

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources