Adam’s Prayer Life…Lost in Translation

Removing the Tradition of Mythology from Our Translations in the Book of Genesis… Part 2 of Adam was not in Agriculture…

In the last post, we saw that every indication of Adam having a relationship with GOD in prayer was translated out of the scriptures. Whether accidentally or intentionally, we may never know. However, the fact remains we just won’t see it with a literal reading of the text of scripture.

The message that I hope came across in these past teachings the most Is, that as a student of scripture we can not afford to trust /assume that we have all the information that we need in front of us via a literal meaning of the text. We have to dig out the details.

Another hurdle (i.e., habit) I hope that I am helping my students and readers to overcome, is one of taking the literal translations provided in our English Bible and Concordances completely at face value. We need to investigate further.

These are our necessary starting places, but they alone are not where we finish.

Virtually all bibles are based on the English version of the bible, so technically, we are all in the same boat.

Hopefully, I have demonstrated to each of you through the previous 30 teachings, that this type of blanket acceptance can be, not only superficial and misleading, it impairs our spiritual understanding and stunts our spiritual growth.

Consider and Evaluate the Specific Word Choices Being Made in Scripture:

Biblehub.com is a good internet source that is available to all 17 nations that view this blog to date.

As you can see from previous teachings and the attached link, translators have provided a myriad of words that are used to translate the Hebrew. The list of translations for the Hebrew word ‘ah-vode’ in Genesis 2:5, is reprinted below as an example, for your review.

become slaves (1), been slaves (1), bondage (2), burdened (2), cultivate (7), cultivated (2), cultivates (1), do (6), do the work (1), enslaved (3), given (1), holding in bondage (1), imposed (1), keep (2), labor (3), laborers* (2), make servant (1), make slaves (2), manufacturers (1), observe (1), perform (9), performed (2), plowed (1), rendered (1), serve (141), served (52), serves (2), serving (5), slave (1), slaves (1), subject (1), till (1), tiller (1), tiller* (1), tills (2), use as slaves (1), used (1), uses services (1), work (7), worked (2), workers (2), working (1), worship (7), worshipers (6).

25-44 variations of ‘ah-vode’ are presented in most concordances. So, the information you see above, is not unusual. Even if we were to accept all of these “definitions” for ah-vode at face value, without an understanding of the original Hebrew meaning behind the word, we would continue to miss the essence of the message.

Another example from scripture appears in the use of the word, ‘ah-vode’ that is translated as ‘dress’, meaning to cultivate or till’ . Deut. 28:38-41 is a good example to use because the word ‘dress’ is selected once more as a translation for the Hebrew, ‘ah-vode’.

  • 38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
  • 39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
  • 40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
  • 41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.

Deut. 28:1-14 outlines the blessings to be received for obedience to the commandments of GOD. Beginning with Deut 28:15, all of the curses are enumerated for disobedience to the commandments.

Abeying for now, any disputes of whether believers are under any curses since Jesus, our objective is to stay focused on the use of the word avode and its translation.

The overall context is found in the penalty for disobedience. Deut. 28:38-41 is conveying to us that none of the work that we put our hands to will prosper, when operating in disobedience.

There is no such thing as heart felt devotion without obedience.

39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them

The use of avode (dress) in this context reveals that while we may delude ourselves into thinking we are walking with the spirit of GOD and service to our utmost for His Highest, the Spirit has departed from us.

The flesh wants to continue, “business as usual” confessing our love of GOD, yet the entire time we are knee deep in disobedience. GOD is not amused.

We can continue with the pretense, but the blessing will not be attached to our labors.

Genesis 28:39 is telling us that we will cultivate the vineyards to no avail.

Disobedience Frustrates the Power of Prayer

In Genesis 4:12, when GOD pronounced punishment on Adam for his disobedience, the KJV reads, “When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength…”

i.e., When you pray, the ground shall not add its strength to yours…

Once again in Gen 4:12, ah-vode is translated as “till”. And once again, GOD could have chosen another word to convey, ‘working in the field’. Instead He uses avode.

In Genesis 2:5, man’s prayer and worship will complete creation, bring down the rain, the trees and plants and herbs will spring forth and the earth will come alive and bear fruit.

In Genesis 4:12, because of disobedience, the earth will no longer add (yasaph) her strength and abilities (koach) to mankind.

The earth has new instructions.

The harmony between mankind and earth is now strained.

Disobedience has blocked the blessing and in prayer and worship, man must now contend with resistance.

Disobedience frustrates the Power of Prayer. Everybody in the Church has dealt with this truth firsthand.

As you just observed the terminology, ‘dress’, although flowery and poetic, does not fully communicate the truth and essence of the kind of work that the Word of GOD is talking about.

  • Adam had a prayer life. We need one too.
  • Before Adam (man) was created, GOD had the purpose of prayer in mind.
  • Before Adam (man) was created, GOD had the purpose of partnership in mind.
  • Before GOD’s creative plan could be considered complete, man had to o be present in prayer, praise and worship.
  • Rain was prevented from falling to the ground, as GOD awaited hearing mans voice call back to Him in prayer.
  • Prayer is our methodology given to partnership with GOD in creation.
  • Disobedience blocks are Blessings.
  • Effective with Genesis 4:12, Prayer and worship must combat and contend with resistance due to the sin of disobedience.
  • Consider This: If we would at the very least, treat prayer as a tithe, we would commit to prayer 16.8 hours per week.

If you learned a new thing from this post or simply enjoyed the presentation of this message, don’t forget to like, follow, share and/or comment!

May GOD send new instructions into the earth, into the atmosphere, and into the heavens to add their strength in response to your prayers!

This teaching is dedicated to my students. May your spiritual power in prayer multiply ten fold as your prayer life multiplies and grows. May GOD select you for every prayer request of Heaven, every burden of His Heart. May you always awake with prayer on your lips, whenever you ask God to allow your spirit to pray unceasingly while your body rest. May all your prayers be in sync with the Spirit of GOD. Amen.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

Cover Photo by: Meric Dagli, Unsplash.com

  • Man on his knees, photo by: Ben White, Unsplash.com
  • Woman in Thought, photo by: Sean Kong, Unsplash.com

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

NEW Disclosure Added: I am of the belief that any and all teachings on scripture, especially those on prayer should receive prayer before passing them along to others. For this reason, I encourage everyone who reviews these teachings to saturate each one in prayer before sharing, distributing or reproducing them in any fashion.

Anything that we hope to learn and accomplish through the Word of GOD must be born out of a spirit of prayer. Prayer is the root of all our spiritual training. Study without prayer is futile. Without prayer, we learn nothing and we accomplish nothing.

Prayerlessness makes a pretense of piety.

May GOD always send you a confirming word.

GOD Bless You,

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