Who is Esaias in the Bible? Answered by a Christian Scholar
In English the name “Esaias” is usually written as “Isaiah,” which is closer to the original Hebrew spelling, but the spelling “Esaias” is closer to how it would be spelled in ancient Greek (Ἡσαΐας). This matters because Greek ...
What are the prophetic books of the Bible?
Because the Bible is bound in a single volume today, modern people don't always realize that the Bible is not a single book but a library of many different kinds of books written over thousands of years. As such, there are many...
Peor: The Mountain and God of the Moabites
Peor was the name of a mountain in the land of Moab. It is significant as the final place that the prophet Balaam visited when he was being pressured by the king of Moab to curse Israel. The Israelites had recently conquered Si...
Necromancy in the Bible: Fallen Spirits, Ancient Religion
Because of fantasy novels, zombie movies, and games like Dungeons and Dragons, a “necromancer” has come to mean someone who raises and commands the dead. In popular culture, a necromancer is commonly pictured as an evil warlock...
Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz, the Son of the Prophet Isaiah
The book of Isaiah features a long name: Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz. It is often considered the longest name in the Bible, though that depends on how you count. It first occurs in Isaiah 8:1: “Moreover the Lord said to me, ‘Take a la...
What is the meaning of Jehovah Shammah?
Jehovah Shammah is a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase יְהוָה שָׁמָּה, which means “God is there.” The phrase is the same as “Yahweh Shammah” because “Jehovah” and “Yahweh” are both variations of the same Hebrew word. Ancie...
Anna in the Bible: The Prophetess and the Mother of Mary
There are two women named “Anna” who were very important in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. One is the prophetess Anna who lived in the temple and constantly fasted and prayed. She was old by the time she encountered...
A PhD explains Isaiah's phrase: “Forget the former things”
The past is a powerful thing. Through pictures, videos, and other types of “time capsules,” we can create powerful messages that endure into the future and offer a window into the past. Certain sounds, tastes, and especially sm...