That would be perhaps relevant if that were the actual wording of the Commandment.

The Hebrew verb used in the Torah commandment is usually transliterated to the Roman alphabet as “ratsah.” The Hebrew word which translates best as simple "killing" is transliterated as “harag.”

A word-for-word translation for "ratsah" is impossible, because it was a concept for which there is no perfect analogue in modern English usage. It was a criminal act which is most-closely analogous to our definitions of "murder" meaning that the best translation is "Thou shalt not murder."

Or are you one of those scholars who insists that Moshe probably spoke English?

Again, abortion of unwanted pregnancies was common in the ancient world, and "ratsah" was a serious crime. AGAIN, God went into agonizing detail about unbelievable minutiae. If He felt strongly that the common practice of abortion constituted "ratsah," one would expect Him to have said so SOMEWHERE in the 600,000 words of the Old Testament.

You think God prohibited it because YOU do not like it. You are applying confirmation bias in translating from the Hebrew.

This post was edited on 9/13/20 at 8:24 am

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Posted by JudgeHolden

Gila River

Member since Jan 2008

18566 posts

Posted on 9/13/20 at 8:18 am to AggieHank86

quote:
The Hebrew verb used in the Torah commandment is usually transliterated to the Roman alphabet as “ratsah.” The Hebrew word which translates best as simple "killing" is harag.

Didn’t God speak in King James English? That’s what I was taught.

Seriously, good exegesis.

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Posted by Nguyener

Kame House

Member since Mar 2013

20603 posts

Posted on 9/13/20 at 9:40 am to AggieHank86

quote:
A word-for-word translation for "ratsah" is impossible, because it was a concept for which there is no perfect analogue in modern English usage. It was a criminal act which is most-closely analogous to our definitions of "murder" meaning that the best translation is "Thou shalt not murder."

So in your definition God supported Nazi concentration camps because it was legal in Germany, ie a non criminal act, and he didn’t specifically mention gas chambers?

That’s your position?

The laws of god are subject to the legal whims of man?

quote:
AGAIN, God went into agonizing detail about unbelievable minutiae.

Man did that. God did not.

Don’t confuse ancient Hebrew law with the word of God. And don’t misunderstand why the Old Testament is in the Bible, nor why the New Testament other than the actual gospels are included.

The Hebrew dietary code is not any more the word of God than the Catholic Church selling indulgences or declaring that saying your sins to a human Priest is the only means of forgiveness.

Honest question: Do you believe in God, Hank? Do you practice your faith?

This post was edited on 9/13/20 at 9:53 am

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