various language groups

January 2, 2018

God is with them (Zech 8:23-8:23)

“Thus says Yahweh of hosts.

‘In those days,

Ten men,

From nations

Of every language,

Shall take hold

Of a Jew,

Grasping his garment,

Saying,

‘Let us go with you!

We have heard

That God is with you!’”

Yahweh once again revealed to Zechariah about what was going to happen.  There would be 10 men from the various language groups who would grasp the garment of a Jew, telling them what they had heard.  They wanted to go with this Jewish person, because they had heard that God was with them.  Thus, Yahweh was becoming more universal than just a Jewish God.

August 14, 2017

The king’s new decree (Dan 4:1-4:1)

“King Nebuchadnezzar

To all people,

To all nations,

To all languages,

That live

Throughout the earth!

May you have

Abundant prosperity!”

Once again, King Nebuchadnezzar issued a decree to all the people and all the nations of the world, as if he ruled the whole world. He also included various language groups on earth. He wished everyone abundant prosperity. He wanted everyone to be happy. This is actually part of chapter 3 as in the Bible of Jerusalem. However, I will follow the verse numbers of the Oxford Bible.

 

August 6, 2017

The herald’s proclamation (Dan 3:4-3:6)

“The herald

Proclaimed aloud.

‘You are commanded!

O peoples!

O nations!

O languages!

When you hear

The sound of the horn,

The pipe,

The lyre,

The trigon,

The harp,

The drum,

The entire musical ensemble,

You are to fall down!

You are to worship

The golden statue

That King Nebuchadnezzar

Has set up!

Whoever does not

Fall down,

Whoever does not

Worship,

Shall immediately

Be thrown

Into a furnace

Of a blazing fire.’”

The king’s herald announced to all standing there around this statue. All the people, countries, and various language groups were to fall down and worship this statue, when a musical sound would be made. They were to listen for the sound of a horn, a pipe, a lyre, a trigon, a harp, or a drum. Then, they were to worship this golden statue. Anyone who failed to worship this statue would immediately be thrown into a fiery furnace.