Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Meek (07/18/24)
-
TITLE: Blame it on Babel | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terry R A Eissfeldt
07/23/24 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Like water, it morphs and molds to the pressures and will of different cultural atmospheres.
Take the word meek for example:
dictionary.com defines it as:
adjective, meek·er, meek·est.
synonyms:
yielding, soft, timid, weak, obedient, calm, pacific, unassuming, passive
1. humbly patient or quiet in nature, as under provocation from others
2. overly submissive or compliant; tame
3. gentle; kind (obsolete)
The number one definition: humbly patient or quiet in nature, as under provocation from others, sounds like you’re either born with this characteristic or not.
Nature not nurture is the source.
The second definition: overly submissive or compliant; tame, sounds like weakness and/or someone beaten into submission or dominated into compliance. Fear based submission.
Nurture, or lack thereof, is the reason for the meekness.
The third definition: gentle; kind is now considered obsolete.
But aren’t acts of kindness, or displaying gentleness, a learned behaviour? Can’t kindness and gentleness be taught? Or modelled?
Are not both nature and nurture involved in the learning and practice of kindness and gentleness?
But I digress. Meek, defined as gentle and kind, is obsolete in our day and age. We’re left with meekness defined as weakness. You’re either born meek or beaten into it.
I don’t believe this is what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:5 (KJV)
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
He doesn’t limit blessing to those born with a compliant nature; neither does He advocate beating His followers into submission.
In Matthew 11:29 Jesus describes Himself as “meek and lowly of heart”.
Is He confessing to be timid? Or forced into submission?
No!
I blame this definition dysmorphia of the word meek on Babel.
Imagine a world where there is only one language. One word; one meaning.
Genesis 11:6-7 describes the power of such unity:
And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language…nothing which they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
And so it began: liquid language, morphing meanings, misunderstanding and the need for translation.
How has Babel affected our word, meek?
The academics of King James court translated the Greek word, praus, into the English word, meek. But Jesus didn’t speak Greek or English. He spoke Aramaic.
So by the 1600’s we are already three generations away from the original word rooted in Aramaic culture and expression. And now four hundred years later we define meek as weak.
This definition can not possibly be further from the truth.
Praus was used to describe a trained warhorse. The epitome of magnificent strength and power submitted for the benefit of others.
I’ve owned horses for over forty years. I’ve implemented various methods to train and connect with horses. I assure you force and fear never result in true partnership.
Even horses born with a compliant nature must still be trained in order to defer from flight, fight, or freeze. All horses have to learn how to trust and follow their human leader.
Xenophon, a Greek warhorse trainer from around 350 BC, wrote a book titled, The Art of Horsemanship.
Here are a couple of quotes:
“Anything forced is not beautiful.”
“…what a horse does under compulsion he does blindly, and his performance is no more beautiful than would be that of a ballet-dancer taught by whip and goad.”
In light of this meaning let’s reread Matthew 5:5:
“Blessed are the trusting individuals with free-will and autonomy who put their full faith and allegiance in Jesus, demonstrated by how they live their life in compliance to His Word and His will. They will inherit the earth.”
Or how about Matthew 11:29:
“I lay my power and glory down and yield to the will of My Father. I restrain my rights as God to live as an obedient Son. My heart is always toward you.”
Jesus is the Lion and the lamb. Not first one, then the other. Both. At the same time. Eternally.
He is the very picture of the true meaning of meek: strength and power submitted for the benefit of others.
May we all learn, and practice, meekness in our lives.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
