Hoar is not whore!
God, Jesus Christ, Hell, ass, and damn are biblical terms which man has mutated into common, abusive language.
Many years ago when I heard terms such as hoary, hoar, damn and ass read from God’s holy Scriptures, I wondered if the people were reading the text correctly. However, when I checked my Bible, I found that these words were indeed a vital, accurate, descriptive part of what God has to say to us. They are Biblical terms.
However, because the words hoary and hoar are pronounced like whore—that term referring to a prostitute—I was even embarrassed to use them, thinking perhaps that the translators were using meaningless, archaic, or even incorrect words. However, I found my former thoughts to be wrong, not only with hoar, but many other words.
MAN CHANGES GOD’S WORDS FROM GOOD TO EVIL
Another of these words was the biblical term ass. Most are more familiar with the common misapplication of this word. It is used incorrectly to refer in a derogative manner to someone not liked or respected because of some unacceptable behavior or for an inappropriate reference to a part of the human body.
In fact, this word has been so sinfully abused that even many pastors hesitate reading it from the Bible. Those hearing this biblical language often snicker because they know it is more commonly used by many to refer in a negative manner to people. This beast of burden is biblically referred to by his proper name, ass(es)(‘s), 154 times in the King James Bible. However, authors of most versions, have removed it from their texts, probably thinking it is too offensive.
DAM IS REMOVED FROM SOME BIBLES, BUT NOT FROM DAILY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE (damn).
Dam is another word which has been adapted by man for sinful language (cursing – damn) when talking with other humans or sometimes when he becomes upset with himself or some circumstance. Dam is used in the King James Bible to refer to the mother of young animals. This biblical term, however, has been removed from most new versions.
Cursing and taking the LORD’s name [God] in vain have become quite common practices in many peoples’ lives. These serious sins are being overlooked by many. It’s not unusual to hear even Christians remark: “Oh my _ _ _” or “My _ _ _, Jim …” They insert God (sometimes followed by damn), but are not using His name for prayer! They, instead, are taking the LORD’s name in vain, each time violating God’s command: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
GOD’S NAME IS REMOVED FROM SOME BIBLES, BUT NOT FROM DAILY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.
Many, perhaps, don’t see the long-term pattern developing of what can happen as man gradually eliminates words from the Bible that he pollutes, replacing them with what he feels is an acceptable substitute for whatever reason.
Consider the effect of what is gradually being done to change the Bible “line upon line,” just with the removal of God’s name, in the NIV. Even though God says not to change His Word for any purpose, people seem not to fear His warnings that names can be removed from the Book of Life for such a serious offense. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18,19.)
What is going to happen in the days ahead when man totally removes God, Jesus, and Christ from the Word of God because these terms also become too offensive as has the word ass? Those who have studied the issue of Bible versions have some awareness that these words, in many instances, have already been removed from the new versions of the Bible, but just not to the extent (at least not yet) as has ass and some of the others mentioned in this article.
MAN’S ABUSIVE LANGUAGE PATTERNS HAVE INTIMIDATED CHRISTIANS FROM ACCURATELY QUOTING CERTAIN PASSAGES OF THE BIBLE.
If we are embarrassed to speak any of the words written in the Bible, in their proper context, we may perhaps be getting into the realm of “being ashamed of the gospel”: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth …” (Romans 1:16) The gospel includes EVERY word written in the Bible. Could some of this replacement of biblical terms be responsible for some of the spiritual weaknesses being experienced by Christians today? Perhaps that’s part of why we don’t see the miracles and healings previously so prevalent. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29) The Scriptures are God’s words. It’s the words of God, not of man, that have power.
AUTHORS OF THE NEW VERSIONS ARE CHANGING GOD’S WORDS RECORDED BY HOLY MEN AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST.
Because man abuses God’s words, changing them to evil meanings, translators may feel it’s acceptable to modify biblical language by substituting other words for those given by God to man. This sinful practice is of the same principle as man accepting sinful lifestyles as okay. For example, many accept little “white lies” as okay; stealing pencils, office equipment, furniture and other valuables from employers as their right; not paying government taxes, justified for some reason.
Many accept homosexuality and other aberrations as a “alternative lifestyles” and which children are being taught is normal behavior. Others, even churches, embrace another even more common sexual sin, adultery (especially when it includes having more than one living spouse), as forgiven if these people are “in the church” or, if they say they have repented. They, however, misapply repentance.
Repentance requires confession and forsaking sin: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) A one-flesh marriage is not sin from which one must repent; adultery is. Many take lightly anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness which lead to many lifestyle sins. Bitterness and unforgiveness often provide the seedbed of hatred in peoples’ hearts which God says is murder. “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (I John 3:15)
James 3:6
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity …
HOW WE RESPOND WITH OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS REVEALS THE STATE OF OUR HEART.
God says: “Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods … And come and stand before me in this house,* which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?” (Jeremiah 7:9-10) This house,* we are taught in the New Testament, is our body, the temple in which the Holy Ghost resides when we are born again. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”(II Corinthians 6:16) “Is this house,* which is called by my name, become a den of robbers …?” (Jeremiah 7:11)
Neither does God indwell in a temple where cursing and evil words are spewing out of the mouth. He judges our heart. What’s in the heart comes out of the mouth/body. What’s in the heart is revealed in our lifestyle. “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:34) “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” (Matthew15:11.)
James 3:6-7
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell …But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
HOAR FROST IS A SUPERNATURAL PHENOMENON.
Some might think hoar is an archaic or inappropriate word used by the translators of the King James Bible. However, as I was in the process of studying this word, one of our editors came back from visiting in Kansas and brought a picture she had taken of an incredibly beautiful natural phenomenon which the news media called a hoar frost. (See photo above.)
A little research will tell us that hoar frost requires certain climatic conditions—a combination of moisture and cold temperature. Moisture condensed from the atmosphere at night is deposited in the form of small drops (dew) upon exposed surfaces. If the temperature during a dewy night dips below freezing, these tiny droplets crystallize into hoar frost. The result is a striking white covering surrounding the surfaces to which it is attached.
HOAR FROST DESCRIBES 40 YEARS OF MANNA.
Now let’s see how hoar frost accurately defines the contextual usage of this term in the Bible. Changing the name of this natural phenomenon to other words diffuses the clear meaning of some important contextual biblical information.
For example, while in the wilderness, God provided some two million Israelites with food in the middle of a desert—for 40 years—tons of food! For forty years, the people didn’t grow their food, produce it, or purchase it. God showered it upon them from Heaven. This food, called manna, was the mainstay of their diet. It is described with the important, descriptive, biblical term, hoar (frost).
When we understand what hoar frost is, a term used today in the world (weather reports), but removed by most new versions, then we have a supernatural visual of the manna God provided. It was “a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.” (Exodus 16:14)
There is a big difference between a hoar frost and a frost.
King James
Exodus 16:14-15
And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
NIV
Exodus 16:14-15
“When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.
When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.”
PEOPLE WITH A HOARY HEAD HAVE WHITE HAIR.
Hoar and hoary are also used in the Bible to picture the elderly—those elderly with white hair. Authors who remove this descriptive adjective make the text weak and inaccurate. The white-haired elderly helps cross-referencing the description of the food God supplied during the 40 years His chosen people wandered in the desert. It was not a flat wafer; it was a small round white substance.
There’s a big difference between giving a specific visual picture of the the elderly with a “hoary head,” one with white hair (as in the King James Bible) than a general term of elderly who could fit a variety of descriptions.
Many are elderly (“aged,” NIV) but have very little hair on their head!
King James
Leviticus 19:32
“Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head,
[white haired] … “
.
New International Version
Leviticus 19:32
“Rise in the presence of the aged … “
The word HELL IS REMOVED FROM SOME BIBLES BUT NOT FROM DAILY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.
Hell is a word used by many adults, as well as children. AND, most of those who use this word when they are not quoting from the Bible are quite aware that Hell is not a desirable place. They often tell those with whom they are displeased to go there! The reality of Hell is made very graphic in several Scriptures:
- It is a place where those who refuse to live according to God’s commands will spend eternity.
- It is a place of never-ending, eternal torment.
- It is a place where the fire is not quenched—never stops burning those therein.
- It is a place where the daily living conditions will be so horrible that there will be “wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth” by those living there.
- It is a “lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
New Versions “Skirt” Around Hell.
KJ Revelation 1:18
I am he [Jesus Christ] that liveth and was dead; and, behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
NIV Revelation1:18
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (NAS, NKJV, NGSB, NWT also record the name “Hades.”)
Most new version do not translate the Greek word Hades into the English equivalent, Hell, a word clearly understood by readers as a place they don’t want to go! Relatively few know what Hades is.
Most modern translations are not only removing the word Hell in many Scripture translations; but the graphic description of what Hell is like: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:46 and others) either directly or in footnotes. In new Bible version footnotes, the authors add spurious statements attacking God’s Word by indicating that verses such as Mark 9:46 do not belong in the Bible. They also replace Hell with words with which people do not identify/understand, such as Sheol, Gehenna, Hades and even death or grave, the latter which contextually are inaccurate.
Most people understand that we all will die and that we will go to our grave, BUT not everyone will go to Hell. Those who are saved will go to Heaven, not to Hell. The NIV and NASV have completely removed the word Hell from the Old Testament and have reduced the number of times it is selectively translated as such in the New Testament. In other places, they inconsistently record the untranslated Hebrew and Greek words for Hell: Sheol and Hades. Relatively few people understand that Sheol and Hades refer to Hell and thus may not fear spending eternity there.
Going to Hell and to the grave are not the same thing!
KJ Psalm 9:17
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
NIV Psalm 9:17
The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
God’s warning is not against going to the grave (NIV), to which we all go when we die. The warning is against going to Hell (KJ), where none of us should want to go. God’s warning is to the wicked—those who choose to continue the practice of sinful behavior patterns. It is the wicked who will be “turned into hell.”
KJ Psalm 86:13
… thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.*
NIV Psalm 86:13
… you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.”
*The underlying Hebrew word above is Sheol. We aren’t delivered from the grave through a relationship with Jesus Christ but from the everlasting torments of Hell.The NKJV, NASV, RSV, NWT and NGSB record the Hebrew word, Sheol, instead of translating Sheol into an equivalent English word, Hell: “And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.“
As offensive language patterns continue to take on titles of deity and other biblical terms, such as Jesus, Christ, and God, and become as offensive as ass, how long will it be before we totally accept another name for the Creator of Heaven and earth and entirely lose His identification by His name through the Scriptures? Sounds far-fetched, but that’s how ass has been removed from most new versions of the Bible and how Hell is being greatly diminished.
GOD GIVES WARNINGS,
BUT DO WE BELIEVE HIM?
God continually warned the Israelites that they had to turn from worshiping idols, from participating in sexual sin, from cursing, from lying and stealing. They didn’t believe Him.
The same is true for many today. Please consider your lifestyle and that of your loved ones. Do they line up with acceptable biblical lifestyles? Love your friends and relatives enough to share Truth as it is consistently presented in the Bible. Beware of giving into texts that have been changed with man’s words replacing those of God’s. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11,12) Is there a famine in your Bible?
