Week #2 - Noach - The Four Levels of Interpretation
Genesis 6:9 - 11:32
November 2nd, 2019
The Reason, The Tool!
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Listen to the Noach Sermon
Amos 3:7 For the Master יהוה does no matter unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
The Hebrew/Aramaic word PARDES is spelled in Hebrew without vowels as PRDS. PaRDeS refers to a park or garden, esp. the Garden of Eden. The word appears three times in the Aramaic New Testament (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4, & Revelation 2:7) as G3857, paradeisos.
The word PRDS is an acronym for:
[P]ashat....in Hebrew..."simple"
[R]emez....in Hebrew..."hint"
[D]rash....in Hebrew..."search"
[S]od...In Hebrew..."hidden"
These are the four levels of understanding the scriptures. Each layer is deeper and more intense than the last, like the layers of an onion.
#1 - PASHAT
The first level of understanding is Pashat (simple). The Pashat is the literal meaning. It is similar to what hermeneutics calls "Grammatical Historical Exegesis".
The Pashat is the plain, simple meaning of the text; understanding scripture in its natural.
The following rules of thumb can be used to determine if a passage is figurative and therefore figurative even in its Pashat:
The Pashat is the keystone of Scripture understanding. If we discard the Pashat we lose any real chance of an accurate understanding.
Parashat Noach: Summary
God wants a Righteous man to rebuild creation. A flood destroys all living creatures, aside from Noah, his family and the animals in their ark.
#2 - REMEZ
The next level of understanding is called in Hebrew Remez (hint). This is the implied meaning of the text. Peculiarities in the text are regarded as hinting at a deeper truth than that conveyed by its Pashat.
Often this "hinting" back refers, (REMEZ-REFERS) to a prior example where the same word or concept has been previously taught in the text.
Genesis 6:3 Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not struggle with man forever. He will die. He will have only 120 years to live until I judge him."
According to Biblical mathematicians, it took 120 total years to build the Ark.
It is written in the Talmud that Noah had hundred twenty years to build his ark. lives.
The word king is used 120 times in the New Testament.
120 were in the upper room. Acts 1:15
Hundred twenty disciples of the Lord were present during his Ascension, according to visions' of Mary Agreda.
The life of the red globule or Red Blood Cells, (RBC’S) live about 120 days.
Life is in the Blood‼
120 was God’s mercy to allow humankind to repent. To see the ark, to ask and change their ways!
Genesis 6:11-12 And the earth was corrupt before Elohim, and the earth was filled with violence. And Elohim looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt – for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth
#3 - DRASH
Another level is called "drash" meaning "search", this is the allegorical, typological or homiletical application of the text.
Creativity is used to search the text in relation to the rest of the Scriptures, other literature, or life itself in order to develop an allegorical, typological or homiletical application of the text. This process involves eisegesis (when a reader imposes one's own interpretation, presuppositions, agendas or biases into and onto the text) of the text.
Discussions are called Midrash!
An example of Parashat Noach begins by describing Noah with two words which are not used for Abraham or for Moshe.
Genesis 6:9 Noaḥ was a righteous man, (Tzadik), and a perfect man, (tâmîym) in his generations. Noaḥ walked with Elohim. (Hitalech et Ha Elohim.)
Ish Tzadik (righteous man) and is an Ish Tamiym (Perfect in God’s eyes). The opening is full of expectation.
No one else in the Torah receives, such accolades, not Abraham, Isaac , Jacob, or Moses, or Joshua. Only Enoch-walked with God, B’reshit 5:22.
Tzadik Refers to MESSIAH! Isa 53:11 He would see the result of the suffering of His life & be satisfied. Through His knowledge My righteous H6662 (Tzadik) Servant makes many righteous & He bears their iniquities.
#4 - SOD
The final level of understanding the Scriptures is called "Sod" meaning "hidden". This understanding is the hidden, secret or mystic meaning of a text.
An example may be found in Revelation 13:18 where the identity of the Beast as the number of MAN & it is expressed by its numeric value 6-6-6. Example,
Could it be 3 times saying, “MAN-MAN-MAN”??
Where you see in this parashat “face of the earth”, (Genesis 6:1, 6:7, 7:3, 7:4, 7:18, 7:23, & 8:9)
It is a “SOD” reference to other areas of the Word, Like Sodom and Gomorrah, Tower of Babel and the “Renewed Earth”, or “New Jerusalem”.
His JUSTICE and HIS MERCY
OR, CAN YOU SEE HIS MERCY IN Genesis 6:18 But I will establish my covenant with you; you will come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife and your sons' wives with you. (The new Earth??)
The time it took to build, 120 years, the life of man, the whole life to repent, is that MERCY AND GRACE!??
To the SOD?? Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isaiah 66:22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me,” declares יהוה, “so your seed and your name shall stand.
2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which righteousness dwells.
Revelation 21:1-2 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Revelation 21:3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "See! God's Sh'khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.