Challenges. Nisayon, Hebrew translation

Today I am taking a look at another word in the book about fifty formative words in the Hebrew language and just noting the difference from our English word challenges.

In English challenges are trials or tests which prove the value of whatever is being tested.  Test, or Middle English teste, refers to an earthen vessel in which molten metals were tried or tested.  Trial in English comes from the French word triet, which was a process of testing by experimentation or examination, whether something was as it was supposed to be.  That which was on trial had to prove its self against doubt.

In Hebrew the word for a challenge is nisayon. It is based on the Hebrew root nes, which means to raise up, it also refers to a banner.  A challenge, or experience, is God giving you a chance to rise to what he knows you are capable of.  Just a slight difference.

From the book, The Big Idea:

Tests and trials in life are an indication of inner strength, not weakness; they are G-d's way of letting us know we are ready for the next level.

In addition:

ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – TRANSFORMATION

ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – TRANSFORMATION – NSIONA נסיונא Nun Samek Yod Vav Nun Aleph

James 1:2-3: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

"By digging a little deeper I found that in the Greek the word for temptations was peirasmois which means adversity or trials. The next verse then calls these trials dokimion which is the idea of trying out or testing to determine what is genuine. In other words all these problems we face are only to prove to you that your faith is genuine.

However, James native language was not Greek but Aramaic he may not have known Greek at all but just dictated to a scribe in Aramaic who translated it into Greek. In the Aramaic, unlike the Greek which uses two different words for temptations and trying, there is only one word used and that is nsiona which is an amazing word which means all that the Greek teaches and more.

In its Semitic origins this word comes from the root word nes which is used for a banner or a symbol of honor, such as a uniform worn by those who earned the right to wear that uniform. It is the same as the Hebrew word nisayon used in Genesis 22:1: “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].” Our old pal KJV once again translates this nsiayon as tempt but even if we put it into modern English and use the word test that raises more questions. Why would God need to test Abraham. He knew Abraham’s heart and desires. When I was a teacher I would test my students to see how much they know, because unlike God I could not read their minds or hearts. But, you see that is not the testing of nisayon. There is also another word in Hebrew for testing that is bechinah which is a testing to show how much you know. That is the test I gave my students. Nisayon or nsiona in the Aramaic is a test not to prove how much you know but to provide an obstacle or struggle to propel a person beyond their limits."

 

I think she is singing about trials in the English sense!