When the text says “recline” in Greek, it doesn’t mean “recline.” When the Greek text differentiates “recline” through repetition, it still doesn’t mean “recline,” even in translation. Even when Greek functions correctly, Greek alone is insufficient—it doesn’t work without lexicography. Without proper word study, there is no such thing as Scripture. If you merely hear the original Greek text in Greek without studying its Semitic inter-function, you are nothing more than a Greek. Jesus has not yet restored your ears, crippled by Hellenism.

What is an alabaster flask? Oh yes, you want to discuss your ancient theology of burial—wrong again. What is an alabaster flask? Do you know where your theology originates, who it was crafted for in antiquity, and how it was used? Or would you prefer to talk about how noble it is that someone as esteemed as you deigns to meet with people you perceive as lesser?

You hypocrite.

You are not Jesus; he may be least, but he is less than no one in the story. They have nothing to offer him, and he has nothing to learn from them. Your theology of reclining is silly, too.

If you disagree, it is because you still have not understood the command against patriarchy, family, institution, and Alexandrian Greco-imperialism in Genesis: you must leave your father and mother and cling to your wife.

As a long-time listener wrote in this week:

“In your last podcast, did you argue that the idea is not about continuation in a particular place? That the entire point is to disappear, ensuring that nothing continues from one generation to the next? Is it less about mother, father, husband, wife, nuclear family, sentimentality, and romantic ideals and more about living your time without worrying about progeny, trusting instead that God will provide?That looking back to our father’s generation and our ancestors is futile because clinging to what they had means we are simply trying to preserve an institution that God places no value on because continuing where you came from isn’t the command?”

Yes…yes.

Would you rather be a lily in God's field or a slave in Solomon's brig?

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Or, as I am wont to shout from the rooftops:

“Free Palestine!”

This week, I discuss Luke 7:36-39.

Show Notes

φάγω-ἐσθίω / א-כ-ל (aleph-kaf-lamed) / أ-ك-ل (ʾalif-kāf-lām)

To “to eat” or “consume.” أَكَلَ (akala)

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat(אָכַל, akal) freely.’” (Genesis 2:16)“For God knows that in the day you eat (תֹּאכֵלוּ, tokelu) from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)

κατεκλίθη / נ-פ-ל (nun-pe-lamed) / ن-ف-ل (nun-fa-lam)

From the verb κατακλίνω, κατεκλίθη means to lay down or to cause to recline. It corresponds to נפל, which indicates fall, collapse, aggressive action, to fall upon in raid, to force to lie down, bring to ruin, drop to the ground, and by extension, to give birth (the related concept of dropping something to the ground). 

“If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but falls (נָפַל, nafal) to bed,” (Exodus 21:18)نَفَّلَ (naffala) “he fell to his share” or “assigned as a share.” الْأَنْفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
(al-anfālu lillāhi wa-l-rasūli)
“The spoils are for God and the Apostle.”
Surat al-Anfal 8:1

κατάκειμαι / ש-כ-ב (shin-kaf-bet) / س-ك-ب (sīn-kāf-bāʼ)

From the verb κατάκειται, κατάκειμαι means to lie down or to be laid out. It aligns with שׁכב, which can indicate to lie down, lie, lie asleep, or lie sick. سَكَبَ (sakaba) to pour or spill. 

“How long will you lie down (תִּשְׁכָּב tishkab), lazy one? When will you arise from your sleep?” (Proverbs 6:9)“And you will be like one who lies (כְּשֹׁכֵב, ke-shokheb) down in the middle of the sea, or like one who lies (כְּשֹׁכֵב, ke-shokheb) down on the top of a mast.”وَيُسْكَبُ مَآءٌۭ حَمِيمٌۭ
(wa-yuskabu māʾun ḥamīmun)
“And scalding water will be poured.”
Surah Al-Infitar (82:19)

ἀλάβαστρον

The name “Alabastron” derives from the Egyptian city of the same name, where high-quality alabaster stone was quarried. The use of the alabaster flask is associated with the cult of Osiris and, by extension, Hathor. Sealed alabastrons were placed in tombs as offerings to the gods or for the deceased’s “ka” in the afterlife.

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