Tuesday 11 May 2021

How to obtain the date for the next Hebraic festival from Logos Bible Software

 

Logos can tell you the Gregorian date for any upcoming (major) biblical feast & festival using an interactive media tool called Israelite feast and festivals.  

Access via tools-interactive media.  Just hover your mouse pointer over the name of the event.



Thursday 22 April 2021

What are the benefits of learning biblical Hebrew and Greek?

 


I came across this thread on Facebook where a Logos Bible Software user was querying the usefulness of original language study.  This response was so good, I wanted to keep it for future reference.

Q.  What are the benefits of learning biblical Hebrew and Greek?

A.

1. You are not relying upon the interpretation of others. ALL translation involves at least some interpretation. By knowing the original language, you can see and better understand the decisions made by English translators. (Just to be clear, most English translations are great and faithful to the original, but they have different philosophies of translation and always require interpretation of context.)

2. You will see additional nuance in the text. The phrase "lost in translation" exists for a reason. Sometimes you notice things in the original languages that aren't so apparent in English translations. For example, in both Hebrew and English word order can be used for emphasis within a sentence in ways that don't work in English. As another example, Greek verbs don't need an explicit "I," but there are numerous times in the Gospel of John where Jesus does use an explicit "I" when he says "I am."

3. You will understand commentaries better. Even if they're entirely in English, commentaries will still include discussions of grammar and syntax. By knowing the original languages, you can follow along MUCH better. Furthermore, most commentaries will save particularly technical discussions for footnotes where the original language is referenced.

4. You will understand English (or your own language as applicable) better. Being able to read the original languages and translate to English (or your own language) will force you to know it better. You'd be surprised how many people in Greek or Hebrew class don't know what a participle is. By learning grammar in another language, you must necessarily become at grammar in your own language. That will make you a better writer, and being a better writer will always make you a better preacher.

Look, you can still faithfully exegete the Bible without knowing Greek and Hebrew, but you will be much, MUCH better at it if you do. So I will totally steal the previous answer. What is the benefit? "Much in every way."

Source: Curtis Homan, Facebook chat, 21/4/2021.



Thursday 4 March 2021

Auto highlighting corresponding words in another bible

 

With the Logos Bible Software program, sometimes I'd like to select a word in ESV and then see the corresponding word in the Hebrew/Greek Bible highlighted too. 

This can be done by configuring the visual filters feature.

Corresponding words works within a bible, so you won't see anything unless the word repeats on the visible page. If this is what you want, 

  1. Open Logos
  2. Open two bibles
  3. Lay them side by side, if not already so
  4. Click the three dots arranged as a pyramid above each bible and check the Corresponding Words and Lemma boxes.

Corresponding selection works between bibles and ESV works with AFAT, BHW 4.18, BHS/WIVU (almost any Hebrew bible, as well as Greek bibles).  If this is what you want,

  1. Open Logos
  2. Open two bibles
  3. Lay them side by side, if not already so
  4. Click the three dots arranged as a pyramid above each bible and check the Corresponding Selection box.