Reference: Interpretation
American
Revealing the true meaning of supernatural dreams, Ge 41; Da 2:4, unknown tongues, etc., 1Co 12:12,30; 14:5,13.
For the right interpretation of the word of God, the chief requisites are, a renewed heart, supremely desirous to learn and do the will of God; the aid of the Holy Spirit, sought and gained; a firm conviction that the word of God should rule the erring season and heart of man; a diligent comparison of its different parts, for the light they throw upon each other; all reliable information as to the history and geography, the customs, laws, and languages, the public, domestic, and inner life of Bible times. Thus to study the Bible for one's self is the privilege and duty of every one.
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Then spake the Chaldeans to the king, in Aramaic, - O king, to the ages, live! Tell the dream to thy servants, and, the interpretation, we will declare.
For, just as, the body, is one, and yet hath many members, but, all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so, also, the Christ; -
Have, all, gifts of healings? Do, all, with tongues, speak? Do, all, translate?
Howbeit I wish you all to speak with tongues, but, rather, that ye may prophesy, - moreover, greater, is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, - unless indeed he translate, that, the assembly, may receive upbuilding.
Wherefore, he that speaketh with a tongue, let him pray that he may translate;
Hastings
This word and its cognates are found throughout the Bible with a wide variety in their use. 1. In the earlier stages of the history of mankind dreams were looked upon as manifestations of Divine intervention in human affairs, and it was regarded as of the first importance that their mysterious revelations should be explained for those to whom they were vouchsafed. From the story of Joseph we learn that a special class at the court of the Pharaohs discharged the function of interpreters of dreams (cf. 'magicians' Revised Version margin 'sacred scribes'] and 'wise men,' Ge 41:8), A similar body of wise or learned men is mentioned in the Book of Daniel, for the same object at the court of Babylon (Da 2:2 ff; Da 4:6 f.). The idea that dreams were a means of communication between the Deity and men was also current amongst the Hebrews from a very early date. In the NT we find that dreams occupy the place of direct visions or revelations from God, and no difficulty seems to have been experienced by the recipients as to their precise meaning (Mt 1:20; 2:12-13,19,22).
2. Turning again to the history of Joseph, we find there an incidental remark which leads us to believe that there was an official interpreter, or a body of interpreters, whose work it was to translate foreign languages into the language of the court (cf. 'the interpreter,' Ge 42:23). The qualification to act as interpreter seems to have been required of those who acted as ambassadors at foreign courts (cf. 2Ch 32:31). That prominent politicians and statesmen had this means of international communication at their disposal is seen in the translation by the Persian nobles of their letter from their own language into Aramaic (Ezr 4:7). As the Hebrew tongue ceased to be that of the common people, interpreters were required at the sacred services to translate or explain the Law and the Prophets after the reading of the original (see W. R. Smith, OTJC [Note: TJC The Old Test. in the Jewish Church.] 36, 64n, 154). In the NT, examples are frequent of the interpretation in Greek of a Hebrew or Aramaic phrase (Mt 1:23; 27:46; Mr 5:41; 15:22,34; Joh 1:38,41 f., Ac 4:36; 9:36; 13:8); and in this connexion it is Interesting to recall the extract from the writings of Papias preserved by Eusebius, in which Mark is called 'the interpreter of Peter' (see HE iii. 39)
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And it came to pass in the morning, that his spirit became restless, so he sent and called for all the sacred scribes of Egypt and all her wise men, - and Pharaoh related to them his dreams, a but there was no one that could interpret them. to Pharaoh.
But, they, knew not that Joseph was hearkening, - for, the interpreter, was between them.
Yet verily, with regard to the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire concerning the wonderful token which came to pass in the land, God left him, - to prove him, to take note of all that was in his heart.
And, in the days of Artaxerxes, wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates, unto Artaxerxes, king of Persia, - and, the writing of the letter, was written in Aramean, and was to be interpreted as Aramean.
If there hath been near him a messenger who could interpret - one of a thousand, to declare to the son of earth His uprightness,
Thy chief father, hath sinned, And thine interpreters, have transgressed against me;
So the king gave word to call for the sacred scribes and for the magicians, and for the users of incantations, and for the Chaldeans, that they might tell the king his dreams, - they came in therefore, and stood before the king.
Therefore made I a decree, to bring in before me, all the wise men of Babylon, - who, the interpretation of the dream, should make known to me.
But, when, these things, he had pondered, lo! a messenger of the Lord, by dream, appeared to him, saying, - Joseph, son of David! do not fear to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for, that which, in her, hath been begotten, is of the , Holy, Spirit.
Lo! a Virgin, shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, - and they shall call his name Emmanuel; which is, being translated, God with us.
and, being instructed by dream, not to return unto Herod, by another way, retired they unto their own country. Now, when they had retired, lo! a messenger of the Lord, appeareth by dream unto Joseph, saying, Arise, take unto thee the child and its mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there, until I tell thee, - for Herod is about to seek the child, to destroy it.
But, when Herod was, dead, lo! a messenger of the Lord, appeareth by dream unto Joseph in Egypt;
Hearing, however, that, Archelaus, was reigning over Judaea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid, thither, to go, - and so, being instructed by dream, he retired into the parts of Galilee;
And, about the ninth hour, Jesus uttered a cry, with a loud voice, saying - Eloi! Eloi! lema sabachthanei? that is, My God! my God! to what end hast thou forsaken me?
and, grasping the hand of the child, he saith unto her - Talitha, koum! which is, when translated - O damsel! to thee, I say, Arise!
And they bring him unto the Golgotha place, which is, being translated, Skull-place.
and, at the ninth hour, Jesus, uttered a cry, with a loud voice - Eloi! Eloi! lama sabachthanei? which is, being translated - My God! My God!to what end, didst thou forsake me?
But Jesus, turning, and looking at them following, saith unto them - What seek ye? And, they, said unto him - Rabbi! which meaneth, when translated, Teacher, Where abidest thou?
The same findeth, first, his own brother Simon, and saith unto him - We have found the Messiah! which is, when translated, Anointed.
And, Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the Apostles, which is to be translated Son of Exhortation, - a Levite, a Cyprian by nation,
Now, in Joppa, there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, which, being translated, means Dorcas a Gazelle . The same, was full of good works and alms which she was doing.
But Elymas the magician, - for so, when translated, is his name, - withstood them; seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
And, unto another, energies of mighty works, and, unto another, prophesying, and, unto another, discriminations of spirits, - unto a different one, kinds of tongues, and, unto another, translation of tongues; -
Have, all, gifts of healings? Do, all, with tongues, speak? Do, all, translate?
Howbeit I wish you all to speak with tongues, but, rather, that ye may prophesy, - moreover, greater, is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, - unless indeed he translate, that, the assembly, may receive upbuilding.
Wherefore, he that speaketh with a tongue, let him pray that he may translate;
What, then, is it, brethren? Whensoever ye are coming together, each one, hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath a translation: - let, all things, be done, unto building up.
Of this, first, taking note - that, no prophecy of scripture, becometh, self-solving;