SOME THOUGHTS ON SH’AUL, A.K.A. PAUL

As the story goes, Sh’aul (pronounced Sh’ool) and later known as Paul, was knocked off his horse on the road to Damascus when he was accosted by a great and blinding light which accompanied the One he was trying to save his people from, the One who turned out to be the very God of Israel.  Like Sh’aul, folks can be earnest in wanting the truth for ourselves and other people and yet be misinformed. [Our recent election hullabaloo (a very noisy and confused situation) is evidence of that.]  For one thing, though a minor matter, the bible mentions nothing about a horse.  All we know about Sh’aul at this point is that he is avidly attempting to keep Israel from what he wrongly perceives as deception by force against the believers in Yeshua. 

There were some 10,000 Jews living in Damascus at the time, but why Sh’aul, or even the High Priest back in Jerusalem who supposedly gave Sh’aul the authority, would have such authority to capture any citizens of Damascus, albeit Jews, in a city under Roman and not Jewish rule, we do not know. We do know that Jews could not bring a death sentence against anyone under Roman rule, including against their own people, which is why the priests who were hell-bent (sic) on crucifying Yeshua had to go to the Romans to have it done.  

Still, there was Sh’aul in all his enthusiastic determination to save Israel from what he feared was yet another reason for God to be angry with them for worshipping a false messiah. In the past, such other false-god worship had gotten the Jews expelled from their land at the hand of the Babylonians.  What now, he fears, with so many Jews believing this Yeshua is worthy of worship?  

As he is later telling the story to Israel’s king Agrippa, he recounts what happened: “I was on the road, and it was noon, your Majesty, when I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions.”  We know that even as children we are told that we should not look directly at the sun or it will blind us.  This light, brighter than the sun, blinded only Sh’aul, but not those with him.  Only he saw the light because the Lord was impacting only his life, not theirs.  So only he was blinded. How terrified he must have been, not only what happened but to be blinded as well!  Wouldn’t you be? 

Though the others evidently didn’t see the light, still power that came with the Lord’s presence was evident as Sh’aul says, “We all fell to the ground.” Picture what is taking place here as they, far more than just frightened, are try to figure out what’s happening.  Sh’aul goes on to say, “Then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, ‘Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It’s hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!’”  

Paul responds, ‘Who are you, sir?’ and the Lord answered, ‘I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting Me!”  Can we even imagine the shock now added to Sh’aul’s already stunned mind?  What? Had he been so entirely wrong?  Was this Yeshua really the Son of God as the believers had been saying as he now realizes Yeshua is actually alive after having been dead?  He knows enough Scripture to know that it is God who alone is enshrouded in such light. Who could come to him this way, in the glory light of God but God? Could this Messiah actually even be God Himself?  His mind is reeling and Sh’aul is more than terrified.  What could be more terrifying than to realize all his good intentions for God were actually rebellion against Him?!  Could he even be afraid to breathe when the reality of it hit him?

The words Yeshua spoke go through his mind again: “Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It’s hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads.”  He knew what an ox goad was.  An ox goad is a wooden tool, approximately eight feet long, fitted with an iron spike as a point at one end, which was used to spur oxen on as they pulled a plow or cart. When an ox was poked with a goad, its response was sometimes to kick back at it in resistance.  Naturally, kicking back at the goad was futile as the ox had no way to free himself from his yoke, not to mention painful as it would be only be further hurt in its attempt to do away with the spike.  

Sh’aul fully understood what was being said to him.  Yeshua was telling Sh’aul that his efforts to free Israel from following Him were futile. He could not stop this move of God any more than an ox in a yoke can free himself.  Now, finding out that Yeshua was indeed alive meant that he had been fighting against The Almighty Himself!  All his efforts were not only in vain but he was now clearly in danger of God’s recompense  coming against him.  He had been acting in continued resistance to God’s Messiah!  He, the Pharisee who prided himself in his efforts to protect Israel from God’s wrath was himself the one worthy of His wrath! Has any man since Adam ever been so terrified by his own mistake? But yet, look what God did with his life. 

There are two points that we can glean from this event.  First, do you see how connected we are to Yeshua?  His people being persecuted was, and still is, as if Yeshua Himself was being persecuted!  He is that close to us.  God is intimately involved in what happens in our lives.  He cares that much. We are told that He is the Head and we are His body. This is not just a metaphor. This is a spiritual reality. We are “one” with Him!

A vision I once had may give some insight. I was praying for someone when the vision began whom I then saw in the vision was headed for hell. I saw Yeshua as Judge sitting behind what looked like a judge’s bench and a throne at the same time.  I pleaded for this person’s salvation and the Lord said to me, “You speak the words” meaning of salvation and so I spoke the person’s name and declared that he would enter into heaven, rather than hell.  As I spoke I saw Yeshua’s mouth move as if He had said the words I was speaking. When we are one with Him, and speaking according to His will, He has given us the authority so that it is as if He was saying what we are declaring. He has given us that much authority to use His name!! 

When He said “You speak the words…” He didn’t mean me alone, of course. I took the “you” to be plural. He has given all authority to those who are one with Him as His body.  Please ponder this. He has given us His name to speak and declare what we know is His will.  Since He desires that all would be saved, prophesying in faith someone’s salvation seems to be what He was saying.  “ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4). So we know it is always His will to seek someone’s salvation. 

John who knew well what it was to live by the power of the Spirit for all the long years of his life wrote, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14, 15). This speaks of asking, not declaring, but the principle remains that we do not speak casually or without knowing His will.  Salvation is always His will but we aren’t to use His authority casually or independently.  

The second thing is to make the point that God knew Sh’aul’s heart even though he was entirely wrong. The fact is that Sh’aul loved God and loved Israel and wanted to protect her. The Lord recognized Sh’aul’s zeal for God was something He could use once he saw the truth of who Yeshua was.  This is a comforting fact. God can take our greatest mistakes and turn them – and turn us – into what will be for the good of His Kingdom.  

There is no one so lost or beyond God’s ability to transform them into someone who will be a messenger of God’s grace and truth to others.  Sh’aul may have seemed like the last person to be saved, but on the other hand, were there believers praying for him? Are there any Sh’aul’s in your life who seem like the last person you’d ever expect to be saved? Sometimes the most antagonistic person is the one who will become someone who loves much because they are forgiven much (Luke 7:47).  You have the authority to declare that they will be saved, in Yeshua’s name.  And believe it! 

P.S. Just to add one thing while we’re talking about Sh’aul, which obviously was his real name in Hebrew.  That he is later called Paul is not because he denied his Jewishness which is one of those misinformed pieces of information.  He often speaks of aspects of his Jewishness positively.  He is called Paul simply because Romans were unfamiliar with such a pronunciation but Paul or Paulus was familiar to them.  Just thought I’d mention it.  

 Please feel free to check the boxes.  Comments are welcomed below. 

The Gospel Through Jewish Eyes - Afflicted or Faithful Remnant?

Yeshua said, “If you are My disciples you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”  But what if some of what we know isn’t really the truth? What if some things have been mistranslated or misunderstood?  Seeing through Jewish eyes corrects a number of translation errors which have led to some doctrinal misperceptions. There are truths that have been misunderstood or are just missing over the generations because of mistranslations and because of a lack of knowledge of Jewish ways, such as cultural norms. Idioms would fall into that category. 

Today we talk of being close to the end times. Yeshua spoke of end times as being of grave difficulties (See Matthew 24, for instance.)  But there is always a remnant of faithful believers. Let’s talk about those faithful believers. Matthew 5 talks about the “blessed.” The word has a meaning of being worthy of being highly regarded, to be envied. That sounds haughty, doesn’t it?  Not in a culture that values  integrity, generosity, humility and faithfulness to God and His word as their highest virtues. These would be people who live their lives to reflect godliness and purity. To receive a blessing is to bow your knee before the one blessing you. To receive God’s blessings is to be humble before Him, and to be awed by Him and committed to faithful obedience.  
 

Matthew  5:5 is translated as "Blessed are the humble" or "Blessed are the meek."  First of all, these ‘blesseds’ are said to refer collectively - to a group. What group? To the faithful, more specifically the faithful remnant.  There are about two dozen verses hidden in the English translations that use  another word for the Hebrew word ANAV which actually means faithful.  English translations use: poor, meek, lowly or humble.   How does ANAV change our understanding of the meaning of these verses? The Hebrew Scriptures, as opposed to our English translations, frequently use the word ANAV to refer to the faithful remnant which is always a minority, meaning those who remain godly through trials. Such as the 7,000 Israelis who did not bow their knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). Bowing is a form of worship.  Mordechai refused to bow to Haman. Daniel and his buddies would not bow to the king, regardless of the consequences. Keep this in mind in case, God forbid, you are ever required to bow in worship before anyone but God Himself.  You just never know. 

Being among the faithful can also mean not giving into the temptations of the world. And to a nation whose all sufficiency is their God, self sufficiency could be regarded as one of the temptations.   Where did Yeshua’s “sufficiency” come from? His dependency was entirely on the Holy Spirit and His Father.  So, a question arises: Where does  our “sufficiency” come from?  How should we each be living?  Self sufficiently, or in dependence upon our God?   Might this question bring any change(s) to your life in the Lord?  Ponder worthy thoughts!  

Following are a few verses to reveal how these verses were meant to be read. See what you think about how they present a whole different picture when God is addressing the faithful remnant rather than the down trodden, the poor, the blind, etc. It is not those aspects of life that brings the blessings and safety of God, but that we are counted among those who remain faithful to Him. Doesn't that make more sense? Doesn't it also tell us more about God and His special relationship with those who are committed to Him, no matter what?! The correct use of ANAV as the faithful means that we who are committed to being faithful to the Lord today and all the tomorrows, in the small and the big things that life brings us, can count on God to be there for us. As we are faithful to Him, He is faithful to us.  Yes, He heals those in need of healing even when they do not yet know Him. No one knew who Yeshua was when He walked the earth.  Healing is a wonderful evangelistic tool. But there is more to be seen in ANAV.

Consider not only the situations and who is really involved, but what they say about God Himself.  If you give some real thought to these verses, they might help you to see yourself as committed to being a part of the faithful remnant.  Some of these that we've read for years take on a new challenge when read correctly.  Even where I’ve only used faithful, a remnant is implied for the obvious reason that not all who say they are believers are in fact among the faithful remnant. Keep in mind that when being a part of the remnant, not everyone is going to agree with you, or accept you. It may be costly to remain one of the faithful remnant. But we already know that Yeshua told us that. He's worth remaining faithful to Him, Amen?  Please give these verses some pondering and see what the Holy Spirit might show you. Here are some of the verses:

“On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.  The afflicted [Anav, faithful remnant] also will increase their gladness in the Lord,
And the needy [faithful] of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” Is. 29: 17-19 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted [Anav, Faithful]”  Is. 61:1.   It is only really good news to those who receive it, to those who are of the faithful remnant, not to those who are simply afflicted. 

“Seek the Lord, All you humble [Anav, faithful] of the earth who have carried out His ordinances”
 Zeph 2:3.

“He leads the humble [Anav, faithful] in justice, and He teaches the humble [Anav, faithful] His way.” Ps 25:9.   

Matt 5:5 was originally said in Hebrew, though later written in Greek. It has been proven that Matthew was in fact first written in Hebrew. So we can apply this to who will inherit the earth: “But the humble [anav, faithful remnant ] will inherit the earth and will delight themselves in the abundance of Shalom.“ Shalom means complete well being and peace; it comes from being faithful, not necessarily from being humble.  Yeshua was quoting Ps. 37:11 which says the same thing.   

Prov. 3:34 says, “Though He scoffs at the scoffers, yet He gives grace to the afflicted  [anav, Faithful]. Some English translations say, “…grace to the humble.”   In the past humble and meek may have been synonyms but if we say “He gives grace to the humble” in modern English, to us humble means lacking in pride but not a lack of (self) confidence, while meek means low self esteem and lacking confidence. Neither have anything to do with being faithful in hard times. 

There’s a difference between being loyal through hard times and just believing.  James 2:19 says “You believe that God is one (echad), you do well. The demons also believe and shudder.”  The demons know God and His power but they are certainly not obedient or faithful to Him.  What of those people who have no or little fear (awe) of God, nor are they obedient or faithful to His word, and yet  say, “I’m saved”?  Or about whom we may say, “Well, he’s saved because he ‘accepted the Lord’ but he’s just not walking with Him.”  I carry a burden for those who think lightly of what they believe it means to be saved, but are in fact, not. (Selah!) 

Recognizing that these verses above and others refer to a “faithful remnant” may very well give us cause to rethink what it means to be “saved.”   Praying a prayer once but not living a life of faithfulness to God reveals a tragic lack of understanding of the holiness of God and what it truly means to be His. It renders that prayer of supposed salvation of no real value if it is not followed by a changed life lived unto God.  Perhaps we need to preach a true Gospel to some who call themselves, or whom we may call, believers but whose lives do not reflect faithfulness to Him or His word. It may be that we have preached a different gospel than that of the first century remnant of faithful Jewish believers who changed the world.  But, it may also now be that today we are heading into an awareness that it is the faithful remnant that can once again change the world of which we are a part. We will take more about this in future writings.  

   

Is 28:16 says, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.  He who believes (in it) will not be disturbed.”  The issue here is the faithful remnant – a matter of remaining loyal and faithful. It is they who will remain unperturbed when others are. We must determine in our minds and hearts, before the Lord, to be faithful to Him and to His word – to commit to Yeshua Himself in dependence upon Him who will always give grace to the anav, the faithful. 

 Is. 28:16 is quoted in Romans 9:33; 10:11; and 1 Peter 2:6. Translated as ‘the one who believes has no shame.  “ NIV says, “One who trusts will never be dismayed. “  The Hebrew is stronger than that: “The one who believes or “one who trusts” is Ma’amim which has a root meaning of speaking of both training (real and effective discipleship) and loyalty or faithfulness.”  The way religious Jews wait for the Messiah is birthed out of their teachings of loyalty to God and His word, and results in a faithfulness that has remained through centuries, and even despite much suffering, yet they remain faithful (anav).

The Hebrew word Ma’Amim  represents a prayer and a song which religious Jews who are waiting for Messiah pray and sing.  This is a prayer prayed daily by religious Jews.  It is instilled within them to remain faithful to Messiah, though He may tarry. Their faith is strong though they don’t know Yeshua (Yet. Pray that they will!). Has it been the grace of God that has kept this faith so alive within them?  I suggest you google Ma’Amim and be blessed by the numerous Youtubes that will allow you to listen to beautiful and often heart-touching renderings of this prayer/song. Here are the words. We would do well to believe along with them. 

 

"I believe with complete faith
In the coming of the Messiah, I believe

Believe in the coming of the Messiah
In the coming of the Messiah, I believe
Believe in the coming of the Messiah
And even though he may tarry
Nonetheless I will wait for him
And even though he may tarry
Nonetheless I will wait for him

Nonetheless, I will wait for him
I will wait every day for him to come
Nonetheless, I will wait for him
I will wait every day for him to come."

To which we can say, Amen. 

SEEING THE BIBLE THROUGH JEWISH EYES

Looking at the Good News through Jewish eyes, opens up a whole gamut of new interpretations of what Yeshua said and did, as fulfillment of Torah down to the least detail of His life. The original stories all originated in a Hebrew context, in a Hebrew culture. Me and the Israeli flag here is just a small symbol that what God set in place thousands of years ago still flies as a banner of the fullness of His intentions to redeem the earth. He does so by fulfilling every prophetic word in both the New and Older Bibles. So it is important that we understand just what was being said, wouldn't you think?

So we have a bit of a problem here. Our English translations are based on a translation and even yet a previous translations of that one and in the process, some misperceptions of what God intended have arisen.  Words in Hebrew often have various meanings. For instance, Bayt  can mean house, family, synagogue, school or just a building. Translators much choose one word out of several available and in doing so, often lose a wider and deeper message that is meant in Hebrew.  The results of some of these choices of words has led to misrepresentations even of God Himself as we will see.  

True meanings do not have to be a mystery to you. You can google the Hebrew meaning of almost any word and find it’s true significance.  Or go to “Ask.com” and ask there.  You can also look up the meanings of words in various study materials available [1] and see for yourself what the wider significance of what might catch your interest could be.  

Understanding the words of Yeshua, and then of Paul, from a Hebrew perspective, clears up a lot of confusing verses that, if truth be told, make little sense to us and seem a bit mysterious.  The fact is, the original gospel was communicated in Hebrew, and spoken in terms that would have been familiar to Hebrew speakers that don’t translate well. Translators sought to present the text word by word, but the problem was that there are many Hebrew idioms which word-by-word translations make Yeshua sound, well, weird.  Imagine trying to translate some of our own English idioms literally – such as “It’s killing me,” or “Eat your heart out,” or "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse” or “it’s raining cats and dogs.” What might translators think those statements, if taken literally, would seem to indicate about the culture?  You get the idea.   

The entire New Testament can really only fully be understood when we see it as coming from a Hebrew perspective.  Both the OT and the NT are highly Hebraic. Even where parts of the NT was expressed in Greek, the background is entirely Hebrew.   Take a look at how Hebrew the bible really is: 

The OT comprises approximately 78% of the entire Biblical text, more than ¾. The NT comprises only 22%.  When we add the highly Hebraic portions of the original bible material in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts 1:!-15:35, which is approximately 43% of the NT, to the OT, the percentage of biblical material originally written in Hebrew rises to 88%.  Or 87% if we leave out the portions of Ezra and Daniel, less than 1% of the OT, composed in Aramaic.  There are 176 OT quotations in the New Testament writings (14 OT quotations from John and 162 from Acts 15:36 to the end of the NT). To sum it up, originally the percentage of the Bible that was composed in Hebrew rises to over 90%.[2]

The assumption that the entire NT was originally communicated in Greek has led to considerable misunderstandings.  But today, scholars and pastors alike are realizing that the key to fully understand what Yeshua is saying is that Israel is that key.  Greek doesn’t get us to the true Hebrew meanings. Happily, there is quite a shift today to the study of Hebrew history and culture which is providing great insights into what the Brit Hadashah, the New Covenant, has to say.  

The gospel, like everything else, is explained in words.They define how we see everything. Our primary concern in our relationship with God is with “salvation,” isn’t it?  In Hebrew there are many synonyms for “salvation.”  The word salvation itself is little used. Only 7 times actually.  Other words express it even more powerfully, such as  “Righteousness,” one of the synonyms for “salvation.”  Zion is called “The city of righteousness" (Isaiah. 1:10).  When we are aware that the devil is behind all the persecution against Israel, and specifically against “Zionism” (which under Arab influence  regards Zionism as a hate crime according to the UN!), we can see why the enemy of God keeps trying to do away with Zion, "the city of righteousness.”  

Zion is a synonym for Jerusalem, just as righteousness is a synonym for salvation; they go together as is God's apparent intention. And the devil wants to destroy both. All that God has promised and His call for righteousness has its roots in Zion. Consider how much of the bible is centered around what took place in or around Jerusalem. Even the place where Abraham was to sacrifice his son Isaac was the location of where Jerusalem would one day stand.  As we know, God's word is immutable and the ultimate establishment of Zion in righteousness means the devil's demise, which is why he works so hard to 'inspire' antagonism against her. 

We must be careful to stand with Israel for the reason that God’s name and His calling is upon her.  Stand with Israel and you stand with God.  We are told to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they will prosper who love her” (Psalm 122:6).  That doesn’t mean to pray for peace with her Arab neighbors or in the eyes of the world; it means to pray for peace with God to come to every Israeli for each one to realize that the church’s persecution of Israel which has taken place, as has been inspired by the devil, is NOT the heart of God toward Israel or the Jews. The church is to make Israel, whether they are living in the land or elsewhere, jealous of their relationship with Israel's own God. And thank God, that’s  beginning to happen. Will you take a few moments each day to be one of those who pray for her?  How about now?

When we see the word righteousness, read it as also meaning salvation. .Jesus exhorts his disciples to “seek first the kingdom of heaven and His (God’s) righteousness” (Matt 6:33). Those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed" (Matt 5:6), literally, "Of such people the Kingdom is made up." (See Matthew 12:18; Isaiah 42:1). Notice the change in your thinking if you replace “Salvation” where “righteousness” is mentioned. This brings up another point of concern. We have an erroneous idea, many of us, that we say a prayer and we  are “saved.” That a one time verbal expression brings us salvation that seals us in. Period.  But when we think of "seeking righteousness" we realize that it is a life-long   sanctification process. it is a situation-by-situation decision to walk with God regardless of what it is or costs us; it is a way of life, not a one-time recitation.  

Consider  the Hebrew word “judgment” or “justice” which  can also mean “salvation. A judge declares, with the bang of a gavel,whether a person is “Not guilty” as well as “Guilty.” In the same way, the verb “judge” often means “save” or even “rescue.”  When David is in trouble he cries out, “Judge me, O God.”  (Psalm 43:1). He's calling for rescue according to how he's sought to live before God. The judges of the OT were saviors or deliverers of the people, not judges in the modern sense of the word which we often think of as those who bring sentence to people who have violated the law.   

For one thing, as hopefully you are aware, the English usage of the word “law” for the “teachings” or “Instructions” in the Torah (books of Moses), is not found in all of the OT.  There is no Hebrew idea of “law” in all of Torah.  To think of the word as “law” is to make us think of God as Judge just waiting for someone to make a mistake.  How misjudged the Judge has been!   And to take it further, many think that Jesus came to save us from the wrath of Israel's God whose main activity is to always be looking for our mistakes. But.... 

Didn’t Yeshua say He came not to “judge’ the world but to save it. Not to condemn, to bring accusation, but to reveal forgiveness in the heart of His Father.  Isn’t He the exact representation according to Hebrew 1:3 of God the Father, "being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person"?  Could God be an angry wrathful God and Yeshua represent Him as gentle, compassionate, merciful and a God of covenant love and, yes, salvation?  This inconsistency has its roots in the translations that are now being rectified, thank God.

God is called “the Judge” (Judges 11:27; Is 33:22) or “the judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25; Psalm 94:2).  “Righteousness and Judgment” are the foundations of His throne” (Psalm 89:14).  Rachel named the son that Bilhah bore Jacob “Dan” meaning “He judged” because she said, “God has judged me” (Gen 30:6), meaning God has decided in her favor, He has acted on her behalf.  Over and over the Prophet Isaiah uses judgment as a synonym for salvation and righteousness interchangeably: “Therefore judgment is far from us and righteousness does not reach us. We look for judgment but there is none. For salvation, but it is far from us…. Judgment is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance” (Isaiah 59:9, 11, 14). It is judgement on their behalf that he was longing for.

Jesus promised his disciples that they would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19:28, Luke 22:30).  Are the disciples at some future time to sit as judges meting out punishment to members of the tribes of Israel?  No, they are to be meting out deliverance as saviors. We look forward to, as the Bible describes, “the city of salvation” – Jerusalem – as the city to which the tribes of Israel will go up, and there thrones (plural) of judgment (i.e. salvation) will be set up when Yeshua returns to establish the Kingdom – “in Zion!” 

Judgment  is not always a synonym for salvation in the bible.  It can mean “destruction “or damnation.  Summing this up, we must be aware that the text is a translation from Hebrew words and concepts which may not exist in English.  Knowing this, we can decide on the basis of context which meaning of “judgment,” for instance, is meant. (See Acts 3:22, 23 and Deut.18:15, 18, 19). Make this a study of your own and see if it adjusts your understanding of how you see God. Knowing this can impact how we have unconsciously interpreted His character and nature and His ‘doings’ among men, and even in your own life. We might need to reevaluate when we see God as harsh and demanding toward Israel when when really He was Israel’s savior all along – and still is.     

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[1]  For helpful study helps, The standard look-up of definitions is the Strongs Concordance in which you can look up words in English and follow the number listed either in Hebrew (OT) or Greek (NT), even though it is somewhat cumbersome.  The best tool I have found for finding immediate definitions is the NASB Key Word Hebrew-Greek Study Bible. (It may possibly be available in NKJV.) It also has very insightful footnotes.  The One New Man Bible: Revealing Jewish Roots and Power has good footnotes and a Glossary that is extremely helpful.  And The Complete Jewish Bible, presents the Scriptures with Jewish insights and a very valuable Introduction that clears up many of the misunderstandings that English translations lean toward.   

[2]  See Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus: New Insights from a Hebraic Perspective by David Biven and Roy Blizzard, Jr.