Biblical Hermeneutics
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN<br />
Linguistically, the term Peshat finds its root in the <strong>Biblical</strong> Hebrew term meaning "to flatten<br />
out," or "to extend." In the Talmudic Era, this definition was expanded to mean "to<br />
propound."<br />
P’shat literally means “to make a road.”<br />
It is the simplest level of interpreting Scripture: What it says is what it means.<br />
Shabbat tractate of Talmud defines Peshat as מקרא יוצא מידי פשוטו" ",אין or, "a text cannot be taken<br />
from the meaning of its peshat."<br />
Thus Peshat interpretation of a particular passage is "the teaching recognized by the public as<br />
obviously authoritative, since familiar and traditional," or "the usual accepted traditional<br />
meaning as it was generally taught." Based on the definitions provided by Talmud, it may be<br />
inferred that Peshat is solely a literal exegetical method.<br />
The Pashat is the literal meaning. It is similar to what Protestant hermeneutics calls<br />
“Grammatical Historical Exogesis” and also similar to what Protestant <strong>Hermeneutics</strong> calls “The<br />
Literal Principle.”<br />
The Pashat is the plain, simple meaning of the text and the first thing we look for is the literal<br />
meaning. There are certains simple rules to see whether the direct Pashat rule can be<br />
applied or not. The following are the obvious ones.<br />
• When an inanimate object is used to describe a living being, the statement is<br />
figurative. (Example: Prov. 18:10)<br />
• When life and action are attributed to an inanimate object the statement is figurative.<br />
(Example: same example Prov. 18:10)<br />
• When an expression is out of character with the thing described, the statement is<br />
figurative. (Example: Ps. 17:8)<br />
Since the scripture is meant to be understood and since God speak the language of Man for<br />
that purpose, Pashat is the basic interpretive method to be used. Talmud twice warns us:<br />
“No passage loses its PASHAT” (b.Shab. 63a; b.Yeb. 24a).<br />
There are others who extend this to go beyond the literal meaning to include what can be<br />
understood with deep study. Thus Peshat is understood to refer to the meaning of a text as<br />
was commonly taught and accepted, including, but not limited to, a literal interpretation.<br />
As an example here is Rashi's explanation of Gen 1:2<br />
֖ שְֶׁך עַל־פְּנֵ֣י ֑ תְה ֹום וְר֣ וּחַ ֔ אֱֹלהִים מְרַ חֶ֖ פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּ ֽיִם׃ (1:2 (Gen.<br />
38<br />
֔ הוּ וְח ֹ<br />
֗ הָאָ רֶ ץ הָיְתָ֥ה ת ֹ ֙הוּ֙ וָב ֹ<br />
Now the earth was formless (tohu) and empty (Bohu), darkness was over the surface of the<br />
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.<br />
Tohu wa bohu ֹ ֔ הוּ) (ת is a <strong>Biblical</strong> Hebrew phrase found in the Book of Genesis 1:2. It is<br />
usually translated "waste and void," "formless and empty," The Hebrew word 'tohu' also<br />
means astonishment in English and the word 'bohu' means emptiness and next to emptiness.<br />
֙הוּ֙ וָב ֹ