An unusual number of inquiries searching for the meaning of the subject of Exodus 21 verses 1-32 brought visitors to the main UltimateRiddles.com site recently, and requires a closer look at the Hebrew for the English word "judgments" in Exodus 21:1. The subject is law being given to the children of Israel, and specifically the word judgments translates to English from the Hebrew word "mishpat".

Exodus 21:1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. (KJV)

Properly translated, mishpat (mish-PAWT) means a verdict or formal decree pronounced judicially and particularly relating to divine law. In general the subject of Exodus 21:1-32 is law relating to persons as opposed to property which are given later in Exodus 21:33 through 22:15, and is directed to the children of Israel ("them" in 21:1) through Moses.

Exodus 21:1 has God speaking to Moses with instructions to give to the children of Israel as a continuation from Exodus 20:22 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven."

God spoke often with Moses, including "face to face" which was not meant literally, yet translates properly as "in His presence". The timeframe of most of the book of Exodus is 1491-1490 B.C., as is Leviticus, so many of the laws and ordinances were given by God through Moses in a relatively short period of time.

For Christians, by type we are "Israel" of the Old Testament, and so many of the promises of God, including Jesus Christ the Messiah, are not just historical ancient references but apply to people today.

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The next Bible study in of the book of Numbers was released earlier entitled Separation of Tribe of Levites. Each article presents my personal view and interpretation of Bible facts based on close study of God's Word. The latest article makes reference to rules and punishment quoted as follows:

In a previous study of Leviticus 10:2 we learn about Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, who were struck dead with fire from God for violating rules for priests. Looking ahead in 1 Chronicles 13:9, the tribes are on the move and arriving at Chidon when another person is struck dead. Uzza, a driver of the cart carrying the tabernacle, notices the oxen stumble and reaches out holding on to the ark and immediately dies.

God makes the rules, and for modern mankind the importance of Bible study and knowing God's expectations is that learning from Scripture allows us to separate the traditions of man to know God's will.

In the course of following this personal spiritual journey, I have encountered others who write about true purpose as Christians and the dangers of accepting the traditions of mankind instead of God's Word. As I consider these opinions, I realize that my choice of non-denominational Christianity is shared by many many others.

Our first priority is a personal relationship with God which requires looking outside the traditional views of worship and institutional churches. While each co-exists comfortably and congregations do great work, true meaning still depends on knowing God on a personal level, and the Bible is His guide to knowing expectations as a Christian. More on home church (HC) compared to institutional church (IC) will be blog topics in the near future.

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A reader wrote asking about the earliest reference to the age of Moses in Exodus, and the emailed reply is given here for others wondering about this riddle. The Bible does not state the age of Moses when he left his mother to be raised as a son of the daughter of Pharaoh. The timeline of his first 40 years happens very quickly in Exodus 2. Moses was born as documented in Exodus 2:2 and that was in 1571 B.C., and Exodus 2:9 points out that he was being nursed. It could have been months or several years before he was weaned based on customs for nursing in those times, yet we would only be guessing.

The next reference to his age is two verses later in Exodus 2:11, and he was suddenly "grown" and within a few more verses (a matter of days, not months or years) he leaves Egypt at age 40. That was in 1531 B.C. The childhood life of Moses and even his adult life to age 40 presents very little detail. Those periods of time reveal as much (or as little) as the Holy Spirit deemed necessary in God's overall plan.

Skipping ahead to the very next chapter in Exodus 3 when Moses meets God in the wilderness, he is now 80 and first called by God into service. The year is 1491 B.C. The rest of Exodus, all of Leviticus, and part of the book of Numbers take place between 1491 and 1490 B.C. The next leap in the timeline will be covered later in Numbers where we learn that between two verses suddenly 37-1/2 years pass which may not be obvious to the casual reader based on the context there.

Details will be provided in a later Bible lesson when studying the book of Numbers. The first verse subject is current to the year 1491 B.C. and the very next mentions the death of Miriam, the sister of Moses. Knowing the year Miriam died (within months prior to Israel entering the Promised Land) provides the clue to accurately calculate those "missing" or undocumented 37-1/2 years between those two verses.

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The next Bible lesson from Leviticus was released today entitled Feasts of the Lord for Christians. Here is an excerpt from the article with passover and easter compared:

The word in Greek translated to "Easter" in the New Testament is pascha (PAS-khah), and occurs only once in Acts chapter 12. The person being put in prison in that verse is Peter, the Apostle.

Pascha in Greek originated from pesach (PEH-sakh) in Chaldee, one of the original languages of the Old Testament manuscripts which were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Chaldee. Passover appears in the Old Testament 45 times and the meaning is literally the "passover feast" in each. Of 27 instances of pascha in the New Testament, it is always translated passover except the one tranlation as Easter in Acts 12:4.

The 45 translations of pesach in the Old Testament, and 26 of 27 instances of pascha in the New Testament, with the one exception being "Easter" in Acts 12:4, is an example of KJV mistranslations covered in this new article.

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The next Bible study from Leviticus entitled Understanding the Bible Meaning of Scapegoat was just released, and the translation of Hebrew words clarifies the definition of scapegoat. Repentence means that God forgives and forgets sin, and Christians can enjoy peace and joy knowing when they repent they should not feel guilt or dwell on past transgressions.

The article concludes making points about Judgment Day, and why true Christians should anticipate that day with joy, not fear of condemnation. Repent and God will forget your sins forever never to be mentioned again. Do the same for yourself and fellow mankind. Forgive and forget and then enjoy the inner peace and confidence of salvation and eternal life.

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The two latest Bible studies from Leviticus cover additional laws and ordinances given by God to Moses, and another is about the second irruption of fallen angels to explain their role in the laws of Leviticus prior to crossing into the Promised Land.

The first Bible study from Leviticus entitled Bible Laws for Food and Health released earlier today covers chapter 11. One point made in this new article reviews food items found on some restaurant menus that include various creatures called abominations in the Bible.

The article includes translations of "neighbor" from Hebrew in the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament with a slight twist comparing the meaning in English.

The second article is about the Nephilim or Fallen Angels in Leviticus. Here's an excerpt with a hint at future lessons which explains why expulsion or extermination of the occupants of the Promised Land was just as ordered by God to Moses.

In future studies we will cover lands conquered where the Hebrews were to destroy all property and exterminate every living being, human and animal. In others, they spoil the cities of goods and domestic livestock and kill all males or all adult males. To the casual Bible student the brutal treatment of men, women, and children may seem shocking. Knowing the inhabitants of the Promised Land were intermingled offspring of fallen angels helps explain the form of divine justice being meted out.

The half human half supernatural descendants are gone. The article mentions the last descendant of the fallen angels, Og the King of Bashan, and quotes Scripture as evidence of where fallen angels are located today.

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The book of Leviticus in the Bible presents more laws, statutes, and ordinances beyond those given in Genesis and Exodus. A new article released on the main site entitled Book of Leviticus and Ceremonial Law includes Hebrew words from the original manuscripts with explanations comparing Bible translations and modern English.

A review of verses about following instructions and the death of Nadab and Abihu stresses the importance of understanding God's expectations, and talks about the only time in Leviticus that God spoke directly to Aaron. Here's an excerpt from the article:

The rules and covenants broken often in the Old Testament were replaced by the new covenant when God offered His Son as a sacrifice for the atonement of sin.

This salvation by grace, freely given, replaces much of the law in the Old Testament and certainly the ceremonial offerings, yet it does not void all Old Testament law. The Ten Commandments are one exception that still apply.

In comparing Hebrew and English in Leviticus, clearer meaning is given to words translated into English over 400 years ago, and this article features more about their definition in current English. Readers are encouraged to read their Bible daily, and consider a Companion Bible or Strongs Concordance to review unfamiliar words. These Bible study resources allow you to search English words to learn details about the meaning in Hebrew, Aramaic, Chaldee of the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament.

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Visitors have arrived at this site after searching for the meaning of phrases with the word "image" in Genesis chapter 1, verses 26 and 27, and specifically they wanted to know the Hebrew word as translated into current English from "Let us make man in our image". Here are the verses from the sixth day of creation.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26 (KJV)

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. Genesis 1:27 (KJV)

The Hebrew for image in the phrases "in our image", "in his own image", and "in the image of God" were translated from the word tselem (TSEH-lem) which means resemblance. The phrase "after our likeness" is from the Hebrew word demuth (dem-OOTH) which means resemblance, or shape.

This leaves no doubt from the plural form in "our image" that this refers to God and the angels, and later "in his own image" in reference to God that our human form resembles our spiritual body in shape, likeness, and resemblance to God and the angels.

Readers may want to learn more about the word "man" in these verses as taken from the Hebrew adam (aw-DAWM) which means "mankind" including all of mankind, male and female as cited in verse 27. This reference to man during the 6th day creation from Genesis 1 was all the races including men and women. In Genesis chapter 2 the word "man" in English (from the Hebrew adam) in reference to Adam as in "Adam and Eve" translates from the Hebrew "eth ha adam", or the specific person named Adam.

An article on the main site explains the difference between man in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 in more detail.

We won't feel out of place in heaven, and for now consider each face you see in the diversity of human races is a glimpse of faces seen in heaven. The essence of the meaning of "image" or "likeness" as translated in the King James Version of the Bible is accurate, yet by today's English knowing the Hebrew definitions of "resemblance" and "shape" provides an even clearer meaning.

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Another article and Bible study from the book of Exodus was just released and discusses additional laws beyond the 10 commandments as given to Moses, plus instructions for building the ark of the covenant and tabernacle. A list given in the article identifies the key chapters and verses of Exodus with these additional laws:

Exodus chapter 21:1-32 are laws regarding persons.
Exodus verses 21:33 to 22:15 are laws regarding property.
Exodus expands on these in more detail in chapters 22 and 23.

Moses ascended Mount Sinai 6 times and met personally with God. Though the Bible states "face to face", Moses was in His presence and never did see the face of God. He is told later in Exodus that "No man can see the face of God and live.", so there is no contradiction in Scripture as some skeptics try to prove.

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In the Hebrew month Sivan in 1491 B.C. the ten commandments were first given to the children of Israel verbally prior to them being written in stone by God. A new article on the main site entitled Ten Commandments and Bible Structure is a study of the 10 commandments as spoken by God from Mount Sinai, and then a look at this and other examples of divine Bible structure from the original manuscripts in Hebrew.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

Soon after the verbal presentation of the ten commandments, Moses ascends Mount Sinai for 40 days and receives the first set of tablets formed and written by God with the commandments etched in stone. It is incredible that in 6 weeks after God telling the children of Israel, in person, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" that they grew impatient waiting for Moses to return, and molded a golden calf to worship.

The word "before" in the commandment above does not mean "ahead of", but is translated from the Hebrew phrase al paniym (al paw-NEEM) with al meaning above, over, upon, or against, and paniym meaning the face. No wonder 3,000 men were put to death by the sword (Exodus 32:28) and another 20,000 died immediately from pestilence (1 Corinthians 10:8) as punishment for violating this commandment so soon after it was given.

There are consequences for violating what God expects, and this ancient lesson is valid for people today. The death of 23,000 may not be a story you hear in Sunday School, yet seek God by reading the Bible for wisdom and understanding to learn the reasoning and importance of these lessons for modern times.

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The six day creation in Genesis chapter 1 of the Bible is unimaginable on a human scale with 24 hours in a day, and a recent comment from a visitor to the Ultimate Riddles website confirms this difficulty of human perception. They, and others, reference a verse about time and eternity in the New Testament as evidence that the universe in Genesis 1 was created in 6000 years.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 (KJV)

The word in 2 Peter for "day" in Greek is hemera (hay-MER-ah), and translates to the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole of 24 hours. In other words, this is the same as our 24 hour day, yet time for our eternal God is infinite which explains why 1000 years pass like the blink of an eye. This visitor has correctly understood the meaning of one day in that verse.

Next, consider the conclusion of each day of creation in Genesis that ends with the definition of day, as well. The Hebrew of the Old Testament properly translated without making assumptions about time is likewise speaking of days as 24 hours, not 1000 years or eons of time. God is omnipotent with the power to create by spoken word, and the six day creation was literally human 24 hour days. Here's the evidence.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:5 (KJV)

The phrase "the evening and the morning were the first day" is repeated for each day replacing "first" with second, third, etc., including the sixth in the last verse of Genesis 1. The Hebrew word for day is yom (pronounced YOME), and means literal days from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next.

When Bible students encounter the word day with a cardinal or ordinal number, for example one or first, this is a literal day of 24 hours. Each day of creation in Genesis emphasizes this fact by including the phrase "the evening and the morning...", so there's no reason to imagine God created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all things within them in any amount of time longer than six 24 hour days.

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Another article and Bible study of the book of Exodus continues with the journey of Israel into the wilderness after the parting of the Red Sea. Despite miracles shown to the people of Israel in Egypt, leaders Moses and Aaron are faced with stiffnecked people to the point of mutiny.

The lesson for Christians in the article Israel Murmuring Against Moses and Aaron is to recognize the tiny miracles and thank God for what you do have instead of worrying about what you lack.

Hebrew words including place names as used in Exodus that were not translated to English, are explained for clearer meaning of some verses. One in particular is interesting. Manna, food from heaven, literally means "What is that?".

Complaints to the point of mutiny are unnecessary for Christians. God will never leave you or forsake you. In times of trouble when all seems hopeless, He may be forming some aspect of your character in preparation for eternal life, yet He promises that there will always be a way out. Be patient and have faith by putting full trust in Jesus Christ.

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The real purpose of the ultimate riddles Bible study website is to captivate nonbelievers with interesting religious concepts that most may never have heard. For Christians, the last great commission from Christ before His ascension was instructing the disciples and us to witness the Gospel to the world.

Most nonbelievers cannot be converted in one encounter. No human can actually convert a sinner. The best a Christian can do is peak interest and if it's God's will and that person is truly sincere, the Holy Spirit will take over the conversion.

For believers, some of the topics being covered on this site may be controversial when compared to what many are taught in Sunday School. My point is not to debate issues that go beyond that very basic truth of Christ in John 3:16 and John 14:6, plus the first verse quoted on the main study directory . "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentence." Mark 2:17 (KJV)

To document this Bible study cover to cover may take 5 years, so no one topic is cross referenced to every verse that supports a given conclusion. I want to spark interest and plant seeds. Hopefully believers who may have drifted away will take up their Bibles again to discover the importance of staying daily in His Word, or to research Scripture and compare their take on points made and my reasoning.

When looking into the cost of Bibles I was surprised to learn that you can buy a case of 32 with imitation leather for less than $100. I'd like nothing better than having sponsors to help finance free Bibles and giving away a million Bibles every year. Readers, or potential sponsors, are encouraged to email me or post comments with ideas and opinions.

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The next Bible study article covering Exodus was released entitled Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea, and documents the first week of Exodus day by day from the departure, journey, and the freedom of Israel from bondage in Egypt with the parting of the Red Sea.

As a young man I waterskied and swam in the Red Sea on the western coast of what is now Eritrea. A group of us snorkled from shore to an island 3 miles out, also, and although this site is 100's of miles south of the place where the children of Israel passed over on dry land, the experience helps put the miracle in perspective.

The entire first week of Exodus article is here, and concludes with an analogy comparing crossing the Red Sea and Christian baptism.

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A new article on the main site of Ultimate Riddles explores Bible references to Jesus in Genesis, beginning with the very first verse of the Bible in Genesis 1:1. From personal experience hearing comments from others, some Christians focus less on the Old Testament or entirely in the New Testament because it documents the birth and life of Jesus in human form. Here's an excerpt:

God spoke and things were created. There was no action or work that compares to our human creativity which we physically work and struggle over. "And God said..." means by spoken word alone He created everything in the heavens, the earth, and the sea. Continue to the New Testament for evidence that this reference to God refers to Jesus Christ, also called the Word.

Read the full article Finding Jesus in the Old Testament here, with Scripture verses about creation, and learn why these references to God in the Old Testament literally refer to Jesus Christ.

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The next Bible study article covering Exodus was released entitled Tenth Devastating Plague in Egypt here, and discusses the pass over or death of all firstborn in Egypt. In addition, it compares Passover and Easter with the following excerpt about Easter:

The Greek word translated to Easter is pascha (PAS-khah) which is of Chaldee origin, and it means "passover" to include the meal, day, and festival. In the original Greek manuscripts of the New Testament the word "pascha" occurs in 27 verses 29 times. In each instance it is translated to English as "passover" except for the single occurence of "Easter" in Acts 12:4.

The earliest Christians only had the original manuscripts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Chaldee for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament. Easter was introduced in the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible long before the first English translation or later King James Authorized Version (KJV) in 1611.

Easter was a pagan holiday introduced in part to the church to attract unbelievers to Christianity, and it became tradition. The King James authors used the Latin Vulgate which is how the word pascha was mistranslated as Easter in Acts 12:4. By knowing the difference now, it makes sense for Christians to celebrate Passover, yet keep in mind that our true Passover sacrifice is now Christ. Be wary of the traditions of mankind, and keep in His Word to understand that some Old Testament traditions were nailed to the cross, and today communion is the Passover celebration for Christians.

Bible translations in English contain errors, yet by going back to the original manuscript languages Bible students gain clearer understanding of truth in God's Holy Word. Read the full Bible study article on Passover and Easter here.

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The next Bible study from Exodus was released earlier. Read the full article First Nine of Ten Plagues in Egypt on the main site.

This study provides lessons from Exodus for Christians today, and reviews the actions of Aaron and Moses in 1491 B.C. when demanding that the Pharaoh of Egypt "let my people go" from bondage. The first 9 plagues are explained from a historical perspective with insights as to their structure and significance.

The origin and meaning of certain Hebrew words and phrases translated to English is presented, as well. As one example, the recurring concept in Exodus that God "hardened" Pharaoh's heart comes from three different words in Hebrew, each with slightly different yet similar meanings.

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As one of the greatest prophets in Bible history, the life of Moses from birth to age 80 is short on details. Two thirds of the life of Moses is all captured in Exodus chapter 2, and this is before he became a prophet and servant of God. As the author of the first 5 books of the Bible, the Pentateuch, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, it's amazing when you learn about Moses and realize his close relationship to God began at such a late point in his life.

More details were just released on the main site in a new article, so read about the Life of Moses from Birth to Age 80 here.

Taken from Exodus 2 and 3, phrases in English taken back to the original languages of the manuscripts include explanations of Hebrew for "I AM WHAT I AM", and an interesting study of the word "of" in reference to the "angel of the LORD".

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Another article on the main site was just released entitled Fifteen Bible Verses for Understanding Christ, and is intended for persons who have doubts about Christ as the Messiah, or who want to share their Christian faith with non-believers.

The article has headings followed by Scripture covering His purpose, sin and salvation, Jesus as God, Christ's return and judgment, and eternal destiny. After reading the article I invite readers to share this by bookmarking the page or emailing the link to people who may not understand the divine nature and purpose of Jesus Christ.

The sense of peace and joy knowing the truth as revealed in the Bible is something that God wants us all to learn.

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The next Bible study and first article covering the book of Exodus was just published, so follow this link to read the article Patriarch Deaths and Israel in Bondage on the main site.

Besides details and historical dates, the article documents the growth of the family of Jacob from 70 persons entering Egypt as honored guests, and eventually slavery, to nearly 2 million when they left.

The sons of Jacob, who was renamed Israel by God, were the 12 patriarchs and all died in Egypt.

The article concludes with a comment stating "Covenants made and broken by ancient people in relationship to God are a common theme throughout the Old Testament", and helps put the New Testament into perspective.

It's interesting to note that the word "testament" was a poor translation to English in 1611 by the KJV team and was taken from a Latin root. More accurate titles of the two major divisions of the Christian Bible would be Old Covenant and New Covenant.

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A new article on the main site of Ultimate Riddles provides details of the faith unto death of the early Christian church leaders. A list is presented of 15 apostles and disciples of Christ who held their faith to the ultimate sacrifice as martyrs. The list begins with this opening introduction.

From historical records, here's how the Christian apostles and other disciples died. Each person is listed in alphabetical order with the method of execution, plus the date of their death and place, if known.

Additional information about Paul the apostle is given. He was known as Saul before conversion to Christianity, and by his own admission a zealous prosecutor of the early Christian church. Paul happens to be one of my favorite teachers in the New Testament, and anywhere you view the words secret or mystery in his writings, new revelations hidden from the foundation of the world usually follow.

Persons of faith may be shocked that all but one of the 12 apostles was executed for their belief in Christ. The level of persecution faced by most Christians today is not as extreme as in the article about the deaths of the early apostles and disciples of Christ. Please share your faith and witness to those you meet every day, and let them know about the peace and joy that you have found knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

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A new article on the main site of Ultimate Riddles explains your Spiritual Life History in the Three Earth Ages. The article provides an outline of eons of history taken from a Bible study perspective for a snapshot of your past, present, and future.

The Ultimate Riddles website is one person's spiritual journey of Bible study for others to follow as they draw their own conclusions. Is Hell a physical place where sinners are tormented eternally? I don't believe it as shown in event 16.a of the article outline. This, and other answers, will take years to document, so be patient.

Famous theologians disagree on the definition of some truths such as "Where are the dead?" as just one example.

As it is written, the spirit of those humans who have died, and those presently alive who die before the millenium, instantly returns to heaven as stated in Ecclesiastes 12:7 referring to death.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (KJV)

Heaven is divided by a space separating those saved from those who did not believe that it was necessary to establish a personal relationship with God. For the living, our purpose is having that relationship while we continue to grow spiritually through Bible study and understanding God's expectations.

This latest article about spiritual existence in the three earth ages provides a simple outline of eternal history for Christian believers and those interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and spirituality.

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The next article from our Bible study of the book of Genesis was released earlier, and explores the relationships from Abraham to the 12 patriarchs including the 14 generations from Abraham to King David. Intermarriage between the families of brothers Abraham, Nahor, and Haran is examined including the significance in future Bible history.

One aspect of this study is family bitterness over the second born sons of Abraham and Isaac having preeminence over their older siblings, Ishmael and Esau, and the impact to look for in later studies of the Old Testament.

Finally, the 12 patriarchal male children of Jacob by his two wives and their two handmaids is documented showing the 12 names, plus one sister, by birth mother. To help put this period of ancient Bible history in perspective, mention of the paternal line of Moses as descended from Jacob is included, also.

This completes the first pass through Genesis in my personal spiritual journey, and we will begin exploring Exodus next. Readers are encouraged to read Genesis and the entire Bible from cover to cover, and then form their spiritual and personal theology as the Holy Spirit guides them.

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More than 10 divine names for God are used in the Old Testament, yet most are translated as God, Almighty, or Lord. For the benefit of my readers, a new article was added to the main site earlier, and lists the divine names for God in Hebrew with a guide to pronounce each, plus English definitions.

You may read the full article about the Divine Names for God in Hebrew on the Ultimate Riddles main site.

In addition to the list, some free electronic Bibles and study resources are referenced with advice for taking English translations of the Bible back to the original languages of Hebrew in the Old Testament, and Greek in the New Testament.

Finally, some students may be overwhelmed by differing opinions and the traditions of man relating to divine names. Speaking of Jesus, some people will say that Yeshuah, Jesus in Hebrew, is the only appropriate pronunciation of the Lord's name regardless of your native language. Others think it's wrong to speak the sacred name Jehovah out loud. Read the article. You decide.

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The next article of Bible study in Genesis was just released, and discusses Bible history from Noah to Abraham, and the first hint of the ultimate riddle of the Bible. God spoke with Abram with promises of blessing, and later renamed him Abraham from Abram, and his wife Sarah was renamed from Sarai.

These blessings were for all generations of Abram's seed which included his firstborn, Ishmael, born by his wife's handmaid, Hagar. His wife, Sarai had given her handmaid to Abram to raise up an heir because she was thought barren due to advanced age. She later conceived as promised by God, and the same blessings applied to the royal seed which was his son Isaac, from whom would come the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

This article from Genesis in the Old Testament documents the first hint of the ultimate riddle of the Bible, and reveals the full mystery looking ahead at the New Testament. Read the full article about the significance of Bible history from Noah to Abraham here to learn more about the ultimate riddle.

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Here is advice for those readers moved by the Holy Spirit and wondering what formal steps are necessary to be saved and born again in accepting Christ as your Savior. You can be alone. No formal ceremony is necessary.

If you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and want Him in your life as your Lord and Savior, state a prayer from your heart, and in your own words, similar to the one below to join other Christians in the Body of Christ. In praying, simply admit you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and acknowledge His sacrifice, death, and resurrection.

If it makes you more comfortable, first believing and then reading the following prayer example is fine, too.

Lord God, I am a sinner asking forgiveness, and accept Jesus Christ today as my Lord and Savior. I confess that Jesus is God, Who as the Son of God came in the flesh for the remission of sin, that He was crucified and died for me, was raised on the third day, and sits at the right hand of God waiting to return. I believe through faith and the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ that I am saved, and now take my place in the Body of Christ. Thank you for this moment and the promise of eternal life. This I pray in Jesus' precious name, Amen.

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Labels: Christian, God, Jesus

                     

The next article and lesson of Bible study was released earlier on the main Ultimate Riddles site, and is entitled "Races on Ark During Flood of Genesis 7". Individual words from the original Hebrew of the Old Testament, and Greek in the New Testament, are sometimees translated to English as a single word when a phrase or paragraph is needed for clearer understanding. This review of the occupants of Noah's ark during the flood is another example.

Were all the races on Noah's ark? This study reviews Scripture in Genesis 7, Genesis 8, and one reference to the ark and Noah in the New Testament to show evidence that only 8 people were on the ark. The races did survive. Read the full article to learn about Bible Evidence to Dispute Races Aboard Noah's Ark, and then a further explanation of today's wonderful and diverse racial mix of God's children, and why we are not all descendants of Noah.

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Labels: article, Bible, Christian, Genesis, God, Jesus, lessons, study

                     

The next Bible study topic and full article was added earlier to the main site of Ultimate Riddles, and is entitled The Origin of the Giants of Genesis 6. Understanding the paternity of these kingsized giants is discussed in detail with reference to the original Hebrew language of the Old Testament for clearer understanding. Here's an excerpt of the article relating to the size of these giants:

Rapha was the most prominent of the Nephilim, yet there were many other named giants including Anak, the root ancestor of the Anakims, and the last of the giants, Og the King of Bashan. Just how huge was Og? Here's a clue from the book of Deuteronomy:

For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. Deuteronomy 3:11 (KJV)

Og required a bed 9 x 4 cubits made of iron as described in the above verse, and for approximate modern measurements convert 1 cubit to 18 inches, or just under 1/2 meter (0.4572 meters). His bed was 13.5 feet long by 6 feet wide (4.1 meters by 1.83 meters). This giant descendant of a supernatural fallen angel was likely 12 feet tall minimum if you allow 18 inches for his Mommy to tuck his feet in at night.

This article is not just about the size of the Biblical giants. Read the full article about the origin and purpose of Bible giants and their parents.

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Labels: article, Bible, Genesis, God, Jesus, lessons, study

                     

Our next Bible study topic continues in the book of Genesis with secrets found within Bible genealogy that help us date the life of Adam, follow the paternal line to Jesus Christ, plus some interesting surprises. Read the full article on the main site which is entitled Generations of Adam in Genesis 5.

Reading the language of the original Bible manuscripts allows students to go beyond words that truly require phrases to fully understand. Reading long lists of paternal lines of begat or begot may tempt some readers to skip a chapter. Hopefully, this lesson will encourage Christians and those interested in our beliefs to take a closer look at each word in God's Word.

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Labels: article, Bible, Christian, Genesis, God, Jesus, lessons, study

                     

Some students of Bible study have concluded that Satan was the father of Cain, the son of Eve in the Garden of Eden, and not Adam. This is shocking compared to what I learned in Sunday School, and later as an adult. Was Cain's daddy the devil? Read the full article on the main site which is entitled The Paternity of Cain in Genesis 3.

Certain words and phrases from the original Bible manuscripts in Hebrew or Greek, as taken from the Old Testament and New Testament respectively, cannot be translated to a single word in English without losing some of the meaning. This study presents Scripture that could be interpreted to prove Satan as the father of Cain. Read the article and then you decide, or try searching for further evidence.

The point behind sharing this journey of Ultimate Riddles is to encourage readers to study the Bible on a regular basis, and develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God knows us including the number of hairs on our head and how many steps we've taken in this world. He wants us to get to know Him on a personal level, and taking a little time each day for Bible study is the perfect means.

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Labels: article, Bible, Christian, Genesis, God, Jesus, study

                     

The newest Bible study article on the main Ultimate Riddles website explains the Hebrew word for "man" found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 of the Bible, and the different meanings based on "man" being used as a single word or in a phrase.

Certainly the original languages of the Bible include individual words that cannot be simply translated to a single word in English without losing some of the meaning. The man named Adam of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2 who was formed after the 6 day creation of Genesis 1 is assumed by some to be the same "man" in both chapters.

God rested on the seventh day after the six day creation in chapter 1, and then Adam and Eve are presented in chapter 2. The plural use of "man" in Genesis 1 and the word "them" referring specifically to male and female being created, not formed, presents a whole new light on human genealogy.

You may read the full article here about Defining "Man" in the Bible Comparing 'Adam in Hebrew, and return here to comment. Keep in mind this Bible study presents my opinion of truth based on taking the English verses back to the ancient languages of the original manuscripts for a deeper understanding of God's Word.

Readers are encouraged to follow this spiritual journey, and even if you disagree, my hope is you will look for answers by studying the Bible daily.

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Labels: article, Bible, Christian, Genesis, God, lessons, study

                     

Riddles can be fun, yet some of the most complex and difficult puzzles to solve remain a mystery. The ultimate riddle is the age old question of life after death, and we need to solve this while we are still alive. This blog introduces study topics documented on the main site that explore the King James Version of the Bible compared to the ancient and original manuscripts as translated by expert linguist EW Bullinger.

Some Christian teachers take a single verse out of context, and justify condemning a person based on the traditions of mankind instead of the truth. This Bible study site is for Christian believers and non-Christians interested or curious about discovering deeper meaning about spiritual and human existence. Fortunately, language scholar EW Bullinger provided an extraordinary guide more than 100 years ago with his Companion Bible.

Just as a word in any language is better understood by reading a full definition in a dictionary, some words in the Bible require a paragraph to precisely define some words or phrases. Unless you are able to understand the Bible in the original languages of Hebrew, Chaldee, and Aramaic for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament, the chance for error is inevitable.

Furthermore, truth becomes lost in the traditions of mankind, and applying human values complicates what God teaches in very simple terms. Until I understood that the Bible is not entirely literal, the metaphors, figures of speech, and types were overlooked. By studying the translation and going back to the original ancient languages, vague verses become crystal clear.

Join my spiritual journey as I document my conclusions, and then form your opinions towards understanding your spirit and personal spiritual growth. Jesus will return. Knowing what to expect and being prepared will be the best decision you ever make in this life. You may want to begin with the Introduction to the Earth Ages of Genesis or the Introduction and Overview of Spiritual Study.

Special Note: Each Bible study lesson on the main site is available for republication in print or online subject to keeping the author and links information intact according to the Creative Commons License at the bottom of each article page.

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Labels: article, Bible, Christian, death, eternity, Genesis, God, Jesus, lessons, life, spirit, study, teach, truth