It is written in The Holy Bible that "Marriage
is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled..." (Hebrews 13:4, King James Version).
But a question keeps pupping up in
my mind concerning honor and holy.
Does it mean because someone or something is honorable
that such a one or thing is holy?
We often hear marriage is being referred
to as holy matrimony.
Is marriage indeed holy because
it is honorable?
The word honourable in Hebrews 13:4
comes from a Greek word that appears as often as twelve times in the Greek translation of the Bible New Testament
scriptures.
Is the English word holy among
the words that the King James 1611 English translators used in the more than one way in which they translated that Greek word?
The Meaning behind the Translation
That Greek word in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the
Bible is at #5093 timios; including the comp. timioteros; and the superl. timiotatos; from 5092; valuable, i.e.
(obj.) costly, or (subj.) honored, esteemed, or (fig.) beloved.
This just presented definition
of the Greek word translated as honourable in that verse seems not to be indicating that the
writer of the book of Hebrews is implying marriage as something being holy. This is because the word holy or some
definition surrounding the meaning of holiness does not appear as one of the definitions given.
The other words used, according to Strong's
Concordance, to translate this Greek word timios #5093, besides the word "honourable" in Hebrews 13:4, is
"dear, (more, most) precious, had in reputation" at these following New Testament verses of Scripture:
dear
(Acts 20:24), precious (1 Corinthians 3:12; James 5:7), more precious (1 Peter 1:7), precious (1 Peter 1:19; 2 Peter 1:4;
Revelation 17:4), precious, most precious (Revelation 18:12), precious (Revelation 18:16), most precious (Revelation 21:11), precious (Revelation 21:19) and had in reputation
(Acts 5:34).
The Greek word at 5092 from which timios 5093
is derived, is time (pronounced teemay) 5092; from 5099; a value, i.e. money paid, or (concr. and collect.) valuables; by anal. esteem (espec. of the highest degree), or the dignity itself.
This definition appears to be connecting
marriage to something of value in the sense of something for which money has been paid and is valued accordingly as something
of esteem. But the mentioning of holy or any definition surrounding the idea of holiness, appears to be nowhere in
the line up of given meanings and definitions. But does however show marriage to indeed carry with it a level of such
high dignity and not being defined directly as holy.
The words used to English translate
this Greek word #5092 time (pronounced teemay), according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the
Bible, are "honour" (John 4:44; Romans 2:7, 10; 9:21; 12:10; 13:7; 1 Corinthians 12:23-24; Colossians 2:23; 1 Thessalonians
4:4; 1 Timothy 1:17; 5:17; 6:1, 16; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; Hebrews 2:7-9; 3:3; 5:4; 1 Peter 1:7; 3:7; 2 Peter 1:17; Revelation
4:9-11; 5:12-13; 7:12; 19:1; 21:24, 26), "precious" (1 Peter 2:7), "price" (Matthew 27:6, 9; Acts
5:2-3; 19:19; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23) and "some" (can someone please help with Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance of the Bible not showing in which New Testament verse of Scripture the English word some is
used to translate the Greek word #5092 time, pronounced teemay?).
I'm somehow just not seeing the
word holy to be showing up or some word that would be implying any direct aspect of such sense of
meaning in the two Greek words delved into and presented with their meanings thus far. Did you
see any? Nor the message carried in those verses of Scripture (I encourage you to look them up for yourself) appear
to be implying such a thought meant to be conveyed by any of the writers to directly base on holiness as
in the verses where such a message is directly conveyed and the word holy is used, I'll show later.
The Greek word at 5099 from which 5092
time (pronounced teemay) is derived is tino; strengthened for a prim. tio (which is only used as an alt. in certain
tenses); to pay a price, i.e. as a penalty.
Only once this Greek word tino
5099 appears in the Greek translation of the New Testament, as I get it from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, which
is English translated in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 as, "be punished with."
The further back and deeper the study
goes into unraveling what was meant by the writer in terming marriage as being honorable, is the further distant from
the mind of the writer, it's becoming clearer, that he wrote with any intention of classing marriage as
something being holy, in the direct sense of the word holy.
I'm finding instead that the honor the
writer brackets marriage into is one in the aspect of paying a price, whatever is meant by this, as a
penalty.
What does marriage and paying
a price, as a penalty, have in coming? Is it in the sense of the term used and couples today getting married
have to agree and sign up to at the time of the exchanging of vows, "...for better or worse, for richer or poorer"?
Or, maybe Proverbs 6:32-35 might be the more appropriate answer as to what marriage being honorable and paying
a price, as a penalty, have in common, not being linguistically shown to be holy:
32 But whoso committeth adultery
with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get;
and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the
day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Understanding so clearly the definition
of the native language word of the writer used to describe marriage is probably why never once the King
James 1611 English translators employed the use of the word holy.
There is more than one Greek word which
is translated as holy in the New Testament that are completely different and having no association at
all with the Greek word #5093 timios translated as honourable in Hebrews 13:4 and the Greek words
#5092 time (pronounced teemay) and #5099 tino from which it is derived.
The Greek words translated directly
as holy (and are by no means linked in any form, fashion or meaning to the Greek words discussed above in relation
to the word honourable in Hebrews 13:4), in the New Testament, are, #40 hagios translated as (most)
holy (one, thing), saints, #3741 hosios translated as holy, mercy, shall be, #2413 hieros translated
as holy, #39 hagion translated as holiest (of all), holy place, sanctuary and #37 hagiazo
translated as hallow, be holy, sanctify.
“Very Good” Did Not
Exclude Marriage
For example, none of the six working days of the week from
the Sunday first day to the Friday sixth day during which Yahweh our Creator created the heaven and the earth are holy.
We are told in Genesis 1 that when
our Creator looked back carefully at all of His creation work that He had done for those six working days, including
the six working days themselves that He had made in the process of His creation, He saw that everything He had created and
done, was very good.
By the time He had made that observation
at the end of His six working days of creation, the first human couple and marriage, was already created. So, marriage
was included in everything that He had created and saw was very good. We do not see being written that He singled out
the first human couple, the marriage He bonded them into or anything else that He created during those six days as
having been sanctified or being made holy. Merely that, including marriage, was very good.
The singling out as being sanctified
(set apart for a holy purpose) of all that He had created, came not until the arrival of the seventh day of the week
on which He rested from all His work and therefore sanctified it as His weekly holy day of rest for us mankind. Nothing else back
in creation, including marriage, is read about as having been sanctified or set apart for a holy purpose besides
the seventh day of the week.
As a result, maybe, the writer of the
book of Hebrews, with a great knowledge, understanding and interpretation of the Old Testament writings, couldn't have been
saying of marriage that it is holy. Hence the word in His native language that He used to describe marriage as being honorable which
is not even closely associated with the words translated as holy.
He uses three words in his native language from
which the English word holy is used ten times in this his same letter translators have
named as Hebrews and, never once in any of those ten times (#40 hagios - Hebrews 2:4; 3:1, 7; 6:4;
#3741 hosios - Hebrews 7:26; #40 hagios - Hebrews 9:8; #39 hagion - Hebrews 9:12, 24-25); #40 hagios
- Hebrews 10:15) was his discussion ever on or about the marriage that is between a man and a woman. On the
contrary, as we've already seen, the word he used in his native language and is translated as honourable in Hebrews 13:4
is a completely different Greek word #5093 timios.
There’s a Difference
How many in our local communities who have been
elected or appointed to local or central ruler ship or governance or as state ambassador are holy by way of having
repented from sin and water baptized/immersed in our Savior's one and only saving name Yahshua for the remission of sins
and are living their lives thereafter in complete subjection to our Creator's life giving dictates He inspired to be inscribed
in The Holy Bible for our example and eternal salvation? If there are not any, then, obviously, the opposite is
true that they are NOT holy. However, by way of such office of prestige that they hold and to whom our Creator Yahweh
commands we are to demonstrate honor, aren't they referred to as honorable or his or her Excellency so and so? This
does not mean that they are holy or that we are referring to them as being holy in the absence of Yahweh's righteousness
they may have not as yet transformed their life pattern into as the most important thing in life. But they are indeed honorable,
deserving our respect in such an office that they hold and given to them from our Creator and are expected to decently
live up to, as per the parliamentary laws of their respective communities. This is exactly the category in which the
respectability of marriage falls and not in the direct sense of the word holy, however.
If marriage is indeed holy, then why
those who are joined in matrimony while not living the Bible dictated righteous way of life, aren't heavenly declared
holy and righteous from the very moment of having been joined together in matrimony, as an alternative way to being heavenly
saved from our Creator's wrath against all forms of unrighteousness? They still aren't holy, though being married, and
must still go through that spiritual marriage procedure of repentance from sin and receive water baptism/immersion
in our Savior's name Yahshua for the remission of sins, followed by the laying on of hands by the presbytery
for the imparting of the holy spirit into their lives, only from which point on, they are heavenly declared holy into
the sainthood, and must so endure to the end.
Marriage Created and Nuptial on a Working Day
Observe that the works or activities of creating marriage
and the performing of that first nuptial (marriage ceremony) between the first human couple back in creation, was
classed by our Creator as something to be done on a working day in the week and not on the seventh
day Sabbath He declared as being holy. This was by way of His joining Adam and Eve into the first ever marital union
performed on earth on a working day which was the same sixth day of the week He created them both into existence and NOT
on the weekly seventh day Sabbath that He Himself sanctified (set apart for a holy purpose).
Yahweh being our first example, He
is showing the performing of any nuptial (marriage ceremony) between a man and a woman or getting married, is NOT to
be done on a day that He has designated to us as being His holy day of rest on which we aren't to do anything
else than to congregationally appear before Him in a holy, restful, praise, worship and thanksgiving atmosphere.
So, how then can marriage between a
man and a woman be holy?
Marriage that our Creator has created
to be between a man and a woman, is truly honorable, something to be treated with the utmost of respect that indeed carries
with it a price of penalty, if vows are not faithfully lived up to, but is NOT holy in the sense and meaning of
the word holy.
Does Marriage Means Holy in Hebrew?
There are those of course who are not altogether satisfied
with this my reasoning, being it's all based on words translated from the Greek language. The suggestion is
that I should go further into consulting the Hebrew language on the word marriage, since the opinion is, based on
some Hebrew minds, that holiness is intertwined with marriage.
So, having consented, I've
consulted the Hebrew language with the help of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. There and behold, what have
I found to be the definition of the only two Hebrew words translated as marriage in the Old Testament writings? And, is the
word holy or such an idiom, ever one or more of the ways in which the King James 1611 English translators have translated
one or both of those Hebrew Old Testament words?
These two Hebrew Old Testament words,
their definitions and the ways in which they have been translated, are:
#5772 ownah; from an unused root
appar. mean. to dwell together; (sexual) cohabitation. This one appearing of this Hebrew word
is translated as "duty of marriage" in Exodus 21:10. Thus far, there’s no such meaning or even a translation
having anything to do with the idea of holy. But instead, thus far, we're getting from the Hebrew language that
marriage is dwelling together and sexual cohabitation as husband and wife. This is all. Is there
some level of holiness in this? Not even an iota, based on word definition and even translation.
We go now to the next Hebrew word which
is translated as marriage.
#1984 halal; a prim. root; to be
clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show, to boast; and thus
to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causat. to celebrate; also to stultify. Do you know what is to stultify?
The translation these definitions results
into and that I do not find anywhere having anything to do with holy or the meaning of holy, are: (make)
boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against),
give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.
The Old Testament verses of
scripture where this forms of translation appears, are:
Boast (1 Kings 20:11; Psalms
34:2; 44:8; 49:6; 97:7; Proverbs 27:1), celebrate (Isaiah 38:18), commended (Genesis 12:15; Proverbs 12:8),
foolish (Psalms 5:5; 73:3), foolishly (Psalms 75:4), gloriest (Jeremiah 49:4), glorieth (Jeremiah
9:24), glory (1 Chronicles 16:10; Psalms 105:3; 106:5; Isaiah 41:16; 45:25; Jeremiah 4:2; 9:23-24), mad (1 Samuel
21:13; Psalms 102:8; Ecclesiastes 2:2; 7:7; Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 25:16; 50:38; 51:7), marriage (Psalms 78:6), praise
(1 Chronicles 16:4; 23:5, 30; 25:3; 29:13; 2 Chronicles 8:14; 20:19, 21c; 23:13; 29:30; 31:2; Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:24; Psalms
22:22-23, 26; 35:18; 56:4, 10; 63:5; 69:30, 34; 74:21; 102:18; 104:35; 105:45; 106:1, 48; 109:30c; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1, 9;
115:17-18; 116:19; 117:1a, 2; 119:164, 175; 135:1, 3, 21; 145:2; 146:1-2, 10; 147:1a, 12c, 20; 148:1-5, 7, 13, 14e; 149:1a,
3, 9; 150; Proverbs 27:2; 28:4; 31:31; Isaiah 62:9; Jeremiah 20:13; 31:7; Joel 2:26), praised (Judges 16:24; 2 Samuel
14:25; 22:4; 1 Chronicles 16:25, 36; 23:5; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 7:6; 30:21; Ezra 3:11; Nehemiah 5:13; Psalms 18:3; 48:1; 96:4;
113:3; 145:3; Proverbs 31:30; Ecclesiastes 4:2; Song of Solomon 6:9; Isaiah 64:11), praiseth (Proverbs 31:28), praising
(2 Chronicles 5:13; 23:12; Ezra 3:11; Psalms 84:4), praises (2 Chronicles 29:30), rage (Jeremiah 46:9;
Nahum 2:4), renowned (Ezra 26:17) and shine (Job 41:18).
Does Marriage Means Holy in Greek?
Back to the Greek language, this time, on the Greek word
translated marriage in Hebrews 13:4.
The
Greek word is #1062 gamos; of uncert. affin.; nuptials. This is the same Greek word which is translated
as "marriage" in eighth other New Testament verses of Scripture (Matthew 22:2, 4, 9; 25:10; John 2:1-2; Revelation
19:7, 9) and seven times as the only Greek word translated as "wedding" (Matthew 22:3, 8, 10-12; Luke 12:36; 14:8),
but NOT as holy. While this is the only Greek word which is translated as wedding, it is however not the only Greek word
which is translated as marriage. Will those other Greek words shine forth some definition having to do with holy? Here they
are:
#1548 ekgamisko; from 1537 and 1061;
the same as 1547, translated in the sense to "give in marriage" (Matthew 22:30; Luke 17:27; 20:34-35) but not in
the sense of being given in holiness.
#1547 ekgamizo; from 1537 and a
form of 1061 [comp. 1548]; to marry off a daughter. Translated in the same sense to "give in marriage" (Matthew
24:38; 1 Corinthians 7:38), having nothing to do with holy or any such definition.
#1061 gamisko; from 1062; to espouse
(a daughter to a husband). Translated as well in the sense to “give in marriage" (Mark 12:25), having nothing
to do with holy or any such meaning.
Of
great interest is the last given English word definition for the last Hebrew word halal
#1984 discussed above as meaning “also to stultify.” You’re
probably going to be very much surprised at what the word stultify means in an English Dictionary.
My
personal copy of the pocket Collins Gem English Dictionary describes the word stultify
as a verb transitive, meaning to “make look ridiculous, make ineffective.”
In other words, the Hebrew word halal #1984, translated not only as marriage in
the Old Testament scriptures, also means to “make look ridiculous, make ineffective.”
Would this Hebrew word halal #1984 meaning “also
to stultify” (make look ridiculous, make ineffective) have been the word used for marriage, if marriage was indeed
created holy at creation as was the seventh day of the week? Anything created or that has been declared holy, in a biblical
aspect, is not to make the participant look ridiculous or ineffective, right?
Their Conclusion Harmonizes
If marriage is indeed holy and our Creator truly had created
it as such, shouldn’t it have been among the heavenly requirements for eternal life entrance into the kingdom of heaven
instead of our Creator not having objected to those choosing to sideline it for the sake of His kingdom? And why would the
disciples have responded to our Savior with the conclusion that “…it is
not good to marry” (Matthew 19:10), based on what they heard from the mouth of our very Creator Himself? This is
how He replied to His disciples on this their conclusion:
11
“But he said unto them, All men cannot
receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their
mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves
eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let
him receive it.
The
Apostle Sha’ul in his letter to his fellow brethren in Corinth, spoke no different from what our Creator alluded to,
starting first with the very same conclusion that “…It is not good for
a man to touch a woman” (1 Corinthians 7:1) just as his fellow Apostles concluded to our Savior.
The
Greek word for touch is #680 haptomai;
reflex. of 681; prop. to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relatives).
The
Greek word #680 haptomai is reflexive of #680 hapto; prim. verb; prop. to fasten
to, i.e. (spec.) to set on fire.
Some
translators translate the Apostle Sha’ul to be directly concluding that “…It
is good for a man not to marry a woman” (1 Corinthians 7:1), taking into account what he wrote in the immediate
following verse 2 (“Nevertheless, to avoid
fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband”), that it is marriage he’s
referring to in verse 1.
The
Apostle Sha’ul’s reason for this his conclusion is no different from the reason our creating Savior gave to His
Apostles as being the reason why some make themselves eunuchs, while doing which, as per the Bible records, our Savior didn’t
raise any objection to anyone choosing not to get married. Why no objection from the Creator of marriage against those shunning
marriage to make themselves eunuchs for His kingdom sake? No such indication from our Savior in favor of marriage as something
holy they’re shunning. As a member of the in-heaven-Elohim(NOT God)-head who cannot change, He wouldn’t and couldn’t
have done on earth as a human being what He wasn’t mandated to do back in creation at the side of His heavenly father
Yahweh, to have declared marriage, while on earth, as being holy. But apparently instead, applauded those who preferred not
getting married for the purpose of His father’s kingdom business rather than implying marriage as something holy that
is not to be shunned for His kingdom business. This is because marriage can be a hindrance to living a totally committed life
strictly for the kingdom of heaven as we’ll find the Apostle Sha’ul penned, in favor of, and advised for, to the
Corinthian brethren.
Can Be a Matter of Choice; Still,
Marriage Is Holy?
But of course, this would be all good for the one who is able
of controlling him/her intimate/sexual desires/emotions outside of the honorable (NOT holy) office of marriage.
2
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every
man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
7
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift
of Yahweh, one after this manner, and another after that.
8
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even
as I.
9
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
28
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned.
Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29
But this I say, brethren, the time is short:
it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30
And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they
rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for
the fashion of this world passeth away.
32
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things
that belong to Yahweh, how he may please Yahweh:
33
But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please
his wife.
34
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin.
The unmarried woman careth for the things of Yahweh, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married
careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35
And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for
that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon Yahweh without distraction.
36
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass
the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth
not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in
his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin,
doeth well.
38
So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well;
but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead,
she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in Yahweh.
40
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have
the Spirit of Yahweh.
In
a nutshell, Sha’ul’s whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 7 on the subject of marriage, is plainly distinguishing between
the married and the unmarried in the household of faith and the greater advantage of the unmarried above the married for the
reason he gave.
There
are certain areas and aspects of this life, depending especially on the legitimate workload, that can end up being an obstacle
to the amount of time Yahweh might require from us in our service to Him and would necessitate, where possible, a cutting
back or a changing of employer, the sort or type of work for a smaller workload or shorter working period, to allow for more
time in the Master’s vineyard.
Is
working for our livelihood, which maybe done during only the biblical allotted weekly six working days to do so, something
referred to as holy? No because, it is the sort of work we are commanded to not indulge ourselves in, during the sunset to
sunset 24-hour holy period of the weekly seventh day Sabbath. It is just so, that marriage which was created and performed
during one of those six working days, is as any normal legitimate work that may not be done on the weekly holy seventh day
Sabbath. And so, it can be chosen as something to be refrained from, if possible, for the reason we’ve just read the
Apostle Sha’ul gave.
That Marriage Is Holy, Is Just NOT
Correct
Isn’t it a plain fact therefore, from what Sha’ul
stated, that marriage can by no means be something holy, as how some see marriage to be, since it is something that maybe
seen by any individual as not being really necessary in their life for whatever their reason might be, especially by whoever
the Bible practitioner for the sake of the kingdom of Yahweh? This is because, that which is holy is a mandatory requirement
to enter the kingdom of heaven under which marriage just does not fall, as per Yahshua, His disciples and the Apostle Sha’ul
in their statements.
Are we to anymore hold on to the concept, idea
or notion that marriage between a man and a woman is holy and that the institution of marriage is of a holy nature,
biblically?
As I've already brought forward, our
Creator created and instituted marriage not on the weekly seventh day Sabbath that He sanctified and blessed but
on one of the six working days of the week, making the performing of marriage and getting married to be as anyone of
the regular working activities belonging not to be done on His weekly seventh day Sabbath, but on anyone of the regular working
days of the week. This is sure applicable also to His commanded ANNUAL celebrations that include holy Sabbath days during
which, work and nuptials (marriage ceremonies) are not to be done (Leviticus 23).
We're just to conform to the sovereignty
of the Scriptures that "marriage is honorable," yes, but NOT holy.
Have I been too long with this discussion
and still not yet making some sense?
Augustus Paul Andrew
25 Emergency Housing Scheme
Balisier Lane, Bath Estate, Roseau
Commonwealth of DOMINICA
Windward Islands, West Indies
(767) 245-8369/316-1525
www.facebook.com/YahwehsRedeemedInYahshua
November-December 2015
