Hidden Meanings Buried in the Bible by Dave Miller

 

Hidden Meanings Buried in the Bible

by Dave Miller

The subtitle of this book is Achieving a Better Understanding of the Bible via Its Cultures and Languages. This is a newer work from the pen of Dave Miller who serves as the Executive Director at Apologetics Press. The vast range of history covered in the pages of our Bibles presents a thrilling challenge to study and contextualize.

The book is designed for class study or personal study. There are about 450 review or discussion questions in the book and an answer key is provided. The book is indexed by Scripture references and over 300 endnotes. Dr. Miller has presented a study that will help all who may not be as familiar with what some may classify as “oddities” of the Bible; although these are not really “oddities” but matters that some are just not familiar with. I have not sat down and read those book cover to cover, but instead I have found portions of it interesting to sit and read at various intervals.

For example, what is the meaning of the term tetragrammaton (four letters), and why is it rendered Jehovah or Yahweh in various translations or commentaries? How did these two names come from the same four letters (YHWH)? Or why do some translations use the word “hell” but other translations sometimes use the word “hades”? There are other matters that may escape one’s notice. For example, why do some translations italicize certain words in our printed Bibles? There are cultural matters that brother Miller explains, such as why did Boaz received a sandal from his relative in relation to marrying Ruth? Or why did people tear their clothes in the Bible? There are several questions answered in this book that I am sometimes asked by those curious about the Bible but are sometimes reluctant to ask. Occasionally I am asked about foot washing as a religious ritual today, and why we do not practice that in our services. The book addresses this matter too. There are important matters pointed out that some often overlook. For example, some claim that the food provided during the exodus was a natural substance in the wilderness; however, the word manna means “what,” as in “What is this?” Obviously, if the Israelites did not recognize the substance in their natural world, then the modernist’s attempt to deny the miraculous provision of God falls as flat as a pancake. Words such as “messenger” and “angel” which come from the same Greek word (angelos) are explained so readers can recognize that such words have different meanings and the context of the passage helps determine the better English word to convey the original meaning.

Several of these matters I have learned over the years from Apologetics Press, the Christian Courier, or other writings. Still, there are those who are not familiar with these resources, and this book may serve as their introduction to further study.

Originally printed in the West Virginia Christian, Vol. 30, No. 8, August 2023, p. 8. Reprinted by permission.