Because of the love of the English for the Bible, the Jews and their language have been objects of interest and study in England more perhaps than in any other country. This is noted in Sokolow’s History of Zionism, and a few years ago was more thoroughly treated in one of the pamphlets issued by the Zionist organisation, British Projects for the Restoration of the Jews. In this, popular interest in the Jews and the Hebrew Language is traced from the 16th century down to our time.
In the Jewish Encyclopedia five columns of close print are given to the names of Christian students of Hebrew. In this list the name of John Milton is unaccountably omitted. His knowledge of Hebrew was exceptionally good for an Englishman of the 17th century. He translated many of the Psalms and put them into English verse, and they are said to show considerable familiarity with the Hebrew language.
In the Jewish Chronicle Literary Supplement (Feb.), Dr. A. Cohen, M.A., writes upon “John Milton as Hebraist,” and emphasises Milton’s comments upon the use of the plural Elohim in references to God and the angels.
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: C. A. Ladson
Keywords: John Milton, Milton, Adonai, Elohim, plural of majesty, name of God, titles of God, plurality of majesty, royal we, trinity, Trinitarian, Trinitarianism, One God in three persons, godhead, three persons in one God, Eloah, Jehovah, Yahweh, Let us make man in our image, Paradise Lost, Hebrew language
Bible reference(s): Exodus 3:14
Source: “John Milton and Hebrew,” The Christadelphian, Vol. 67, No. 791, 1930.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.