Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Gary Hedrick" <garyh AT cjfm.org>]

        Harold, PaRDeS is an acronym referring to the rabbinic approach to
the interpretation of the Scriptures.  It represents P'shat, Resh, Drash,
and Sod, the four levels upon which they believe a text may be viewed, and
very often, more than one simultaneously.  P'shat (the open and most obvious
meaning) is the most common.

Gary Hedrick
San Antonio, Texas USA

-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Harold Holmyard
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 10:26 AM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] how scholars debate controversial issues

Dear Dave,
>   Allow me this afterthought, Kevin. I do not ever try to convince
believers much less non-believers of the inerrancy of Scripture. I do not
believe I can offer any defense for the truth of Torah better than Torah
itself. I proclaim it but never defend it. Of course, I refute and debate
fallacious arguments against the Book all the time because without the right
starting point, no meanigful discussion can be had.
>  
>  To another point, the B'rit Hadashah (New Testament) makes clear that the
Spirit of G-d is required to comprehend the things of G-d. This is a point
where non-believers will have to remian frustrated because there is nothing
believers can do to change it. However, believers are able to compare their
difference in understanding before and after belief which non-believers are
not ever able to do as it is literally impossible. The way you refer to the
text at the p'shat (surface) level is clear evidence of this. What the text
says can be interpreted through PaRDeS and all else is not even close.

HH: What do you mean by PaRDeS? I suppose you mean garden. Are you using 
the word as a metaphor for the visible earth, external reality, or 
something?

> I just want to help you see it through my eyes despite the gulf between us
(and the Tserach is the only bridge from your side to mine).
>   

HH: What does Tserach represent? It may be a software program that 
searches, but that is probably not what you mean. I think of the Hebrew 
letters tsade, resh, and het, but I don't see a noun for those letters. 
I think of Tsemach, "branch" (Jer 23:5).

Yours,
Harold Holmyard
>  

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