Today’s Blog: Rejoice in your Kishkas?
TODAY’S PROVERB: Yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Proverbs 23:16, TLV
Ever hear of the word, Kishkas? It’s Yiddish for the gut. Yiddish is the historical language of the Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the diaspora with a High German-based vernacular fused with elements taken from Hebrew and Aramaic as well as from Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages.
Hebrew was considered a holy language, therefore Yiddish was the common language. It wasn’t until Eliezer ben Yehuda brought back Hebrew as a living language around the turn of the 20th century. (A great book on the history of ben Yehuda is Tongue of the Prophets by Robert St. John.)
In today’s proverb, “inmost being” would probably have been translated as kishkas in Yiddish. Why is this important? Because within the Jewish culture, the gut was the core of being. In our world, the heart is the core of our being. And, in the previous verse we see the use of heart as important:
My son, if your heart is wise,
PROVERBS 23:15, TLV
then my heart also will be glad.
But, the gut contains the passion in Jewish culture. In some circles it is believed the gut may house our discernment. We have a “feeling” something isn’t right — in our gut.
So, when we rejoice in our inmost being over a child or someone we mentor because they exhibit the fruits of wisdom, we are really rejoicing! It’s not pride for pride’s sake, it’s that inner understanding and knowing that comes from a culmination of training, love, discipline, tears, joy — a lifetime investment that is reaping real fruits. It’s as complex as it is simple.
Which is why I love digging into the culture of the Bible as much as the words. It brings a deeper understanding and connection to our Father’s truth and His Jewish people. For they are real people, not symbols or icons. Flawed, heroic, brilliant, foolish, redeemed, confused, and hopeful — just like us.
May our Father rejoice in His Kishkas over us, my friends.
Proverbs 23:16 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
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