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A Return to the Hebrew: SECURITY of THE BELIEVER in the OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 38:17 TO SECURE MY SOUL
This Lesson for the Koine Project Class expands on a previous lesson by Dr. W. A. Dillard concerning Isaiah 38:17
It is the peculiarities of language that allow option, sometimes wide option, in word translation. This accounts for many modern translations, but problems arise when the producers do not adhere either to time honored meaning of words, or context of information under consideration or both. Again, this is yet another reason why the ability to research word meanings within specific contexts should be earnestly, prayerfully, sought.
Regardless of the language native to the student, it is Hebrew and Greek that will be the focus of attention in acquiring Bible knowledge: Bible proof of doctrines contained in the Holy Word. The ancient Masoretic text of the Old Testament, and the Koine Greek text of the New Testament were marvelously preserved in the deep freeze of time for these last days. Hebrew and Koine Greek were considered dead languages, that is, they were not spoken, and did not fall victim to the ravages of time and circumstance that befalls other living languages.
Since 1948 when Jewish people were given access to their ancient homeland, Hebrew has been revived by Jewish scholars and expanded from the biblical vocabulary of some 8,000 basic words to well over fifty thousand words today. However, we have not only the Masoretic text, but the language helps in dictionaries and lexicons that give us original meanings and usages. Perhaps a few examples of how one may profit from a study of the languages is in order.

Let us consider the varied usage of the Hebrew word “Chashaq.” The word is found in I Kings 7:33 where it is translated “Spokes” as in the spokes of a wheel. “Chashaq” is used a number of times in the Torah, the books of the Law, where it is translated as “fillets.” These were the instruments that held the vertical boards of the tabernacle walls together. Additionally, the strong “Desire” of an Israelite man for a captive woman to be his wife is conveyed as the translation of the Hebrew word, “Chashaq.” Furthermore, the use of this word helps the reader to understand why the sons of Jacob reacted so violently against a Canaanite prince and his people for the way he treated their sister, Dinah.

The word “Chashaq” is here translated “Longeth” in Genesis 34:8. At this point one must wonder how the same word could be so variously translated. It is in such cases that a common denominator of meaning will appear.

Consider the varied usage of the Hebrew word “Chashaq.” In order for a wheel to be a useful instrument, there must be attachment extending from a hub to a rim. That important attachment is the spokes. For vertical boards to stand upright and form a wall, there must be attachment from one board to another. That attachment is a fillet (Chashaq). For unity in a marriage, there must be an emotional attachment from one party to the other. That is desire (Chashaq). In each case, what "Chashaq" is conveying to the reader is attachment. In the case of Jacob’s sons breaking forth violently on Shechem, the Canaanite prince, an unacceptable attachment in conjugal relationship (non-consensual) had occurred in disrespect for Dinah or her well-being. The word "Chashaq" conveys it all.

But that is not the high point of its usage. In Isaiah 38:17 the prophet states, “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou has cast all my sins behind thy back.” The phrase “In love to my soul” is a translation of the Hebrew “Chashaq.” The prophet is saying that an attachment has gone out from God the Heavenly Father to his very soul.” This is true of every believer in Christ Jesus.

Could there be any greater illustration of eternal security than that? It really makes John 10:27-30 and Romans 8:31-39 to be so much more meaningful and joyful.