The Tittle's Meaning
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The Greek word translated as "tittle" is keraia (Strong's #2762). It is only found twice in the N.T. and both times it is translated as “tittle.”
However, keraia comes from another related Greek word. That is, keras (Strong's #2768). Keras is translated as "horn" several times in the N.T. In Luke 1:69 we read God hath raised up an horn of salvation. This Scripture is helpful to us because the same statement was made in the O.T. (2 Samuel 22:3). This means we can understand that O.T. word translated as "horn" to be the equivalent of the N.T. word (keras) which is also translated as horn.
The Hebrew word translated as “horn” in 2 Samuel 22:3 is Strong's #7161. It is the same word translated as “ram's horn” (Joshua 6:5).
Therefore, we can gather that the word "tittle" (Greek: keraia) which comes from "horn" (keras) is a word that identifies with the ram's horn. And the shape of the ram's horn is similar to the shape of certain Hebrew letters. If one were to alter the shape of the Hebrew letter lamed, or shin, etc., it would alter the meaning of the word and therefore of the divine text. Yet God has preserved His Word so that not one jot (the smallest Hebrew letter yod, as well as the smallest Greek letter iota) or tittle (the rising up like a ram's horn of the letter lamed) shall pass from the law.
2022.11.12 – Question on 1 Kings 14:3, Niqqud
Question received via email (note: in order to understand the person's question, you need to know that "niqqud" is the name Jewish scholars have given to the signs used to represent vowels (vowel points).
Question:
"1 Kings 14:3 - And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.
The English word "cracknels" is a translation of Strong's [#H5350](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/h5350?__eep__=6&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZV5ZCnGmv9bUjBwY2YijopEgzGJC-cxVkleB-9L685enZ03BLkSL6Kl28etrYj1CbnktO2MU8YbnUsIlIJZ0YEBua98ayFSd0SmFHCXb9p90p3Fu7BpPiuV444P_7PDyiVip3qzCrn42Vth0fxIAjrM&__tn__=*NK-R) "niqqÃd".
There are three words in this verse which spirituality represent the Word of God: loaves, honey, and cracknels.
NiqqÃd = Cracknels
Cracknels = The Word of God
NiqqÃd = The Word of God
NiqqÃd = Vowel Points
Vowel Points = The Word of God
Please explain how this can not be.
EBF response:
You gave the Strong's number (#5350) for the Hebrew word translated as "cracknel". Now give me the Strong's number for the Hebrew word translated as "vowel points"? There is none because you are referring to a Hebrew system having to do with vowel points which has been given the name of niqqud-but this system was developed outside of the Bible. It is highly unlikely that the Jewish men who developed this system of niqqud did so because they thought it spiritually represented the Word of God. As we know the nation of Israel's problem was the same as the N.T. church's problem of taking a natural approach to God's Word and arriving at incorrect natural conclusions.
More likely, the Jews gave the vowel points the name of "niqqud" (#5350) because this word is the identical word (according to the consonants) as #5348 – which is translated as "speckled":
Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
According to Strong's, #5348 is naqod. Take away the vowel points and it has the same three consonants as niqqud. Therefore, it is the same Hebrew word. And we can see that the similarity between that which is cracknel (niqqud, which is also translated as “moldy”) and cattle that is speckled. The bread has spots or speckles of mold upon it. Just as the cattle has speckled spots on it. It is likely that the Jews who use this name to refer to their system of vowel points are simply using a word that points to dots or what appear to be specks in the text. Again, their use of the word has nothing to do with its meaning being the Word of God.