2 esdras 14:42 - The Most High gave understanding to the five men, and they wrote by course the things that were told them, in characters which they knew not, and they sat forty days: now they wrote in the day-time, and at night they ate bread.
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What does "2 esdras 14:42" mean?
This verse from 2 Esdras 14:42 is part of a larger narrative where Ezra, a priest and scribe, is tasked by God with restoring the lost scriptures after the Babylonian exile. The verse describes the process by which Ezra and five assistants rewrite the scriptures. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"The Most High gave understanding to the five men...": This emphasizes that the ability to understand and record the scriptures comes directly from God. It is a divine gift, not a result of their own inherent knowledge or skill.
"...and they wrote by course the things that were told them...": This suggests that they wrote in an organized manner, likely in turns or shifts ("by course"). They were recording exactly what they were instructed to record, implying a process of dictation or divine inspiration.
"...in characters which they knew not...": This is perhaps the most intriguing part of the verse. It suggests that the scriptures were written in a language or script that the scribes were not previously familiar with. This could be interpreted in several ways:
It could be a literal unfamiliar alphabet, suggesting a divinely-created script.
It could be a symbolic representation of a deeper, more profound understanding that was beyond their normal comprehension, and the act of writing translated that understanding into an unfamiliar form.
It might mean that the scribes understood the language itself, but not the script. Perhaps they spoke a version of Hebrew, but the original scriptures were written in an archaic or esoteric script they were not used to.
"...and they sat forty days: now they wrote in the day-time, and at night they ate bread.": This establishes a timeline and provides a glimpse into their daily lives during the process. The forty days is symbolic, often associated with periods of testing, preparation, or transformation in Jewish tradition. The detail about eating bread at night emphasizes the mundane nature of their sustenance while performing a divinely-inspired task. They are still human, needing basic nourishment, even while involved in supernatural work.
In Summary:
The verse highlights the divine inspiration behind the rewriting of the scriptures. God provides understanding, the scribes record meticulously, and they do so using a script they are not inherently familiar with, suggesting a divine or elevated mode of communication. The forty days spent writing, combined with the simple act of eating bread, emphasizes both the spiritual significance and the human effort involved in restoring the sacred texts. The verse underscores the idea that the scriptures are a gift from God, communicated through chosen individuals in a way that transcends ordinary human understanding.
2 esdras 14:42 - The Most High gave understanding to the five men, and they wrote by course the things that were told them, in characters which they knew not, and they sat forty days: now they wrote in the day-time, and at night they ate bread.
What does "2 esdras 14:42" mean?
This verse from 2 Esdras 14:42 is part of a larger narrative where Ezra, a priest and scribe, is tasked by God with restoring the lost scriptures after the Babylonian exile. The verse describes the process by which Ezra and five assistants rewrite the scriptures. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"The Most High gave understanding to the five men...": This emphasizes that the ability to understand and record the scriptures comes directly from God. It is a divine gift, not a result of their own inherent knowledge or skill.
"...and they wrote by course the things that were told them...": This suggests that they wrote in an organized manner, likely in turns or shifts ("by course"). They were recording exactly what they were instructed to record, implying a process of dictation or divine inspiration.
"...in characters which they knew not...": This is perhaps the most intriguing part of the verse. It suggests that the scriptures were written in a language or script that the scribes were not previously familiar with. This could be interpreted in several ways:
It could be a literal unfamiliar alphabet, suggesting a divinely-created script.
It could be a symbolic representation of a deeper, more profound understanding that was beyond their normal comprehension, and the act of writing translated that understanding into an unfamiliar form.
It might mean that the scribes understood the language itself, but not the script. Perhaps they spoke a version of Hebrew, but the original scriptures were written in an archaic or esoteric script they were not used to.
"...and they sat forty days: now they wrote in the day-time, and at night they ate bread.": This establishes a timeline and provides a glimpse into their daily lives during the process. The forty days is symbolic, often associated with periods of testing, preparation, or transformation in Jewish tradition. The detail about eating bread at night emphasizes the mundane nature of their sustenance while performing a divinely-inspired task. They are still human, needing basic nourishment, even while involved in supernatural work.
In Summary:
The verse highlights the divine inspiration behind the rewriting of the scriptures. God provides understanding, the scribes record meticulously, and they do so using a script they are not inherently familiar with, suggesting a divine or elevated mode of communication. The forty days spent writing, combined with the simple act of eating bread, emphasizes both the spiritual significance and the human effort involved in restoring the sacred texts. The verse underscores the idea that the scriptures are a gift from God, communicated through chosen individuals in a way that transcends ordinary human understanding.