"When Yeshua came to the area of Kisrin shel Pilippos (Caesarea Philippi), He asked His disciples, saying: " What do sons of men say about me? Who is the son of man?"
They said, " some say he is Yochanan the Immerser, and some say Elyahu; some others say Yirmeyah or one of the prophets."
He said to them: "But as for you, what do you say about me? Who am I?"
Shim'on Petros answered and said: "you are the Maschiach, the Son of the Living God!"
He answered and said to him: " O your gladness, Shim'on bar Yonah! For flesh and blood didn't reveal this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven."
And I also say to you that you are Petros ("even -av -ben") and upon this rock ( "even-av-ben") I will build my community and the gates of the She'ol will not overpower it."
Matthew 16:13-18 Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels
I added the word "even-av-ben" to the Delitzsch Hebrew Gospel version in order to develop a more Hebrew perspective of this well known, yet so much misinterpreted, mistranslated and distorted Gospel episode. The trouble when ( even Hebrew, literate persons who are very much Scripture savvy) are referring to the Gospels, people are always bringing up Greek expressions, like Alpha and Omega instead of Aleph and Tav...You may ask, why is it so important to seek for Hebrew words when the Gospel texts that we have are written in Greek language?
It is much more important than you may actually think. Speaking of the Aleph and Tav is a clear reference to Torah, it links Moschiach with Torah-Alpha and Omega doesn't.
But I digress...back to the very core of the subject!
Estrangement from the Jewish communities, mistranslations, distortions, what happened to Yeshua's words in Matthew 16: 13-18?
Centuries of estrangements from the Jewish communities, mistranslations, distortions of all kind have brought distance between the contemporary Gospel reader and the words that emanated from our rabbi Yeshua's mouth in the 1st century.
When Yeshua stated:
"And I also say to you that you are Petros ("even -av -ben") and upon this rock ( "even-av-ben") I will build my community and the gates of the She'ol will not overpower it."
What did our Messiah actually MEAN?
First of all one must realize that there are words that have been translated and constitute true anachronisms in Yeshua's mouth, yet they are accepted in the world of Christianity as if Yeshua actually pronounced them.
The word " church" in Yeshua's mouth while speaking to His disciples DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL!
"Church" has been added by the catholic sect to increase their authority. Shim'on "Peter" has been wrongly presented as the chief of the newborn catholic sect.
However, rabbi Yeshua was simply speaking of the center of the Jewish community, the Beth Haknesset, the synagogue, the assembly of men united by the same faith in Hashem.
I defy anybody to prove that Yeshua wanted to build up something called "Christianity". This has never ever been His intent!
But, most importantly, let us focus on the word " Petros" or " Kepha" according to the version you are holding in your hands right now. This name is also overlooked, because a great majority don't bother why Yeshua actually RENAMED His disciple Shim'on bar Yonah after he made his confession of faith to his rabbi...
Well, if we consider that Yeshua is a Hebrew speaking person, who loves and teaches Torah, it appears merely as an evidence that Yeshua loved making wordplays in Hebrew and to point at a very strong Jewish symbolism. I enlightened our Messiah's wordplays with the word "even", "stone" in particular, in an article entitled "The case in favor of Hebrew language".
It is precisely the word (אֶבֶן ), stone, that comes back into play here. My point is that there are actually great chances Yeshua may have used (אֶבֶן) to give His disciple Shim'on his brand new name. Why? Because the word "Even" or stone does not just refer to a stone. There is a broader meaning behind the word in Hebrew, starting with the astute combination of "Av", Father and "Ben", son.
It points at the Oneness between Father and Son, as depicted in John 10:30 ( and not as referred to in the false doctrine of trinity). Hashem is ONE, not three.
The letter Aleph carries the magnificence of the Creator and the following letter Beth contains the house, the assembly, the Beth ha knesset, the synagogue.
Interestingly the Nun Sofit, the final Nun is the letter of the Servant and it is very rich in multiple meanings. By becoming the "Even", the unity between Father and Son is reflected in Shim'on. But the noun , which is also the letter of the "fish" symbolizes an increase.
Yeshua's disciple will become a prosperous "fisher of men".
It is very important to always be conscious of WHO Yeshua IS.
Yeshua is a Jewish rabbi teaching Torah in the 1st Century. The words and symbolism He uses in His sentences are intimately linked with Israel and Jewish culture. Whoever pretends the contrary is just delusional.
Shim'on bar Yonah ( aka "Peter')'s confession
"You are the Maschiach, the Son of the Living God!"
Shim'on managed to see that Yeshua was the Maschiach. His comprehension wasn't based on Scriptures study, it wasn't some vague intellectual assumption. The revelation came from the Spirit. This is a point most people tend to forget. Reciting Scriptures by heart and endless studies will not reveal you the truth. The Spirit will. The Spirit of Hashem is the true eye opener.
Also remember that Yeshua said in John 6:44: "no one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him".
It is not given to anybody to recognize Yeshua as the true Messiah, but to the chosen ones.
Calling him "even", "stone" was ackowledging Shim'on's connection between Father and Son ( Av-Ben) and empowering him as a disciple.
And, finally, there is MORE behind the stone (even-av-ben) than you may actually think!
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone ( rosh pina)
אֶבֶן, מָאֲסוּ הַבּוֹנִים-- הָיְתָה, לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)
During the time of His first Coming, Yeshua ben Yosef has known rejection. But He has become our rosh pina, our cornerstone. Our Moschiach will come back in glory soon.
He is also our " even ezer", our stone of rescue.
High praise to Yeshua our Messiah!
Copyright© by Isabelle Esling
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