Slices of Milk Explained With Love

 

Back in 2010, I wrote:

Again, I was grateful for e-Sword and it’s Strong’s!! Strong’s H2461 found in 1 Samuel 17:18 where the ten slices of cheese come from the Hebrew chalab, “milk (as the richness of kine) - + cheese” and I can see the ten slices of cheese made from the richness of milk, remembering the smoothness of the best I’ve tasted.

That was about a line from the book "Ben-Hur," the character thinking of David, whose father sent him on an errand:

And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. (1 Samuel 17:17-18 KJV)

That took place between the biblical description of Goliath, and his death at the hand of David. In that I Samuel chapter, we learn that four sons went to the battle, but one was sent back to tend sheep in Bethlehem. One author, Lewis Wallace, a soldier himself, knew that the Hebrew word "chalab" could be either milk or cheese.

That's a very good reason for learning all you can about the Bible, but it's not necessary to be fluent in both Hebrew, Greek, English, or any other language, to know the meaning within the verse. Since milk cannot be sliced in its liquid form, we know the word "cheeses" is correct in this verse.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 ASV)

I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. (1 Corinthians 13:1 GNB)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 DRB)

ThoughG1437 I speakG2980 with theG3588 tonguesG1100 of menG444 andG2532 of angels,G32 andG1161 haveG2192 notG3361 charity,G26 I am becomeG1096 as soundingG2278 brass,G5475 orG2228 a tinklingG214 cymbal.G2950 (1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV+)

Some of the above use "charity," others translate "love.' KJV+ includes Strong's numbers - the one in question is G26, used 116 times in the New Testament:

Strong's #26: agape (pronounced ag-ah'-pay)

from G25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon: agapē

1) brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence

2) love feasts

Greeks had other words that English translates into "love":

Eros is a concept in ancient Greek philosophy referring to sensual or passionate love, from which the term erotic is derived.

Phileo is to love, approve of; to like; sanction; to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend.

That helps in figuring out why there are different words in different versions of the Bible. I like how the Amplified Bible defines the word "love" in 1 Corinthians 13:1: [that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such *as inspired by God's love for and in us] with the * noted: Some ancient authorities so read.

It helps us understand how people look at a single word, it's meaning to them, how it fits in the sentence, paragraph, chapter, etc. When we hear/read someone's opinion that God is not love, that all the words in the Bible that says so are lies, we have answers. The love of God is expressed from Genesis to Revelation, but best said in:

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16 KJV)

Or:

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. (John 3:16 KJV)

Both of those verses were written with the "agape" love in Greek. Where we use the English word "love" for such awesome things as "I just loved that new album," we should work toward using "love" for life changing events, not so easily dropped into conversations.

Word have meaning, and beginnings. The use of words shows either an appreciation for their meaning, or a disdain for their lack of meaning. I find this very important in a worldly culture where the word "woman" is so politicized that not even a prospective Supreme Court Justice in the United States of America will not attempt to express a definition. 

Be aware of changes in words. Look for the root beginnings of words - where they belong in our lives, our culture, especially when formed in our mouths or retained in our minds.