When Jesus said My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me ? in what language did he speak? Hebrew: the words are Eloi, Eloi ..(Matthew 27:46) Aramaic: the words are Eloi, Eloi .. (Mark 15:34) Historical and Cultural Background In the first century, the region of Judea and Galilee was multilingual. Many of the Jewish people spoke Aramaic as their everyday language, owing to its spread under previous empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian). Hebrew remained in regular use for religious texts, synagogue readings, and devotional life. Greek served broadly as the lingua franca across the Roman Empire for trade and broader communication. Josephus (1st century historian) and various archaeological findings, such as funerary inscriptions and synagogue remains (e.g., the ruins at Gamla), indicate that Aramaic was commonly spoken alongside Hebrew in most Jewish communities. The Dead Sea Scrolls likewise reveal Hebrew texts alongside Aramaic fragments, illustrating that both languages were active in everyday and religious contexts. When exploring Jesus’ words in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34, these overlapping linguistic realities form the backdrop. Textual Evidence from the Gospels Matthew 27:46 states: “About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Mark 15:34 records: “And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Both Gospel accounts translate the phrase for the benefit of Greek-speaking readers, clarifying the meaning: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” These words echo Psalm 22:1, which in Hebrew begins, “Eli, Eli, lamah azavtani?” (with some transliteration variation across manuscripts). The quotations in Matthew and Mark are rendered slightly differently—Matthew using “Eli” and Mark using “Eloi.” This variation suggests that the Evangelists recorded a saying that originally existed in more than one form, reflecting the closely related nature of Hebrew and Aramaic. The Language of the Cry 1. Aramaic Usage in Daily Speech During the time of Jesus, Aramaic was the primary spoken language of ordinary life for many Jews in Galilee and Judea. It is strongly attested by Targum paraphrases of Scripture (Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible), the Gemara sections of the Talmud, and archaeological evidence, all of which show that Aramaic was prevalent in the region. 2. Hebrew for Scriptural Quotation Hebrew, however, remained the language of religious tradition. When quoting the Old Testament, individuals often used Hebrew phrases. Yet, since Aramaic and Hebrew share considerable overlap in vocabulary and syntax, exact distinctions can be subtle when transliterated into Greek letters. 3. “Eli” vs. “Eloi” • “Eli” (Ἠλί in Greek) aligns closely with the Hebrew form in Psalm 22:1. • “Eloi” (Ελωΐ in Greek) shows an Aramaic spelling. Because Aramaic words were frequently spelled phonetically in the Greek New Testament manuscripts, it is not unusual for Mark, who often preserves Aramaic elements (e.g., “Talitha koum” in Mark 5:41), to record Jesus’ words in a more Aramaic-sounding form. In short, Matthew’s account leans toward a Hebrew transliteration of the phrase, and Mark’s toward an Aramaic rendition. Both are rendering the same statement with minor linguistic nuances. Harmonizing the Passages 1. Quoting Psalm 22:1 Jesus’ cry points directly to Psalm 22:1. In the original Hebrew, it reads: “Eli, Eli, lamah azavtani?” (various manuscripts reflect minor spelling variations). This cry was deeply meaningful in a Jewish audience, evoking the entirety of a psalm that transitions from despair to ultimate trust in God. 2. Similar yet Distinct Nuances Since both Hebrew and Aramaic forms of “My God” (Eli/Eloi) are quite similar, the recorded differences may reflect: • Each Gospel author’s choice to preserve or transliterate certain syllables differently. • The possibility that Jesus spoke the phrase in a blend of Aramaic and Hebrew forms recognizable to His audience. • Early source traditions used by Matthew and Mark. 3. Why the Different Spellings Exist Early manuscript evidence (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus) shows that scribes faithfully copied what was in their exemplars. The difference between “Eli” and “Eloi” does not signal error but two accurate renditions of a spoken exclamation that is very close in both languages. As textual critics have noted, the consistent translation into Greek underscores the Evangelists’ care in preserving the actual utterance as well as explaining it for readers unfamiliar with the original wording (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46). Archaeological and Manuscript Insights 1. Aramaic Inscriptions Aramaic lettering on ossuaries, tombs, and personal items near Jerusalem indicates its regular use. One example includes the Aramaic inscription found on the ossuary widely linked to the Caiaphas family, demonstrating Aramaic as a common daily language. 2. Hebrew Scrolls and Targums The Dead Sea Scrolls from Qumran display a majority of Hebrew texts for Scripture but also Aramaic documents (e.g., the Genesis Apocryphon). This shows the bilingual (or even trilingual) environment of 1st-century Judea. 3. New Testament Manuscript Reliability Looking at ancient Greek manuscripts—from papyrus fragments like P52 to major codices (Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus)—we see consistent fidelity in transcribing transliterated expressions. This supports the notion that both forms (“Eli” in Matthew and “Eloi” in Mark) authentically descend from early, recognized traditions about Jesus’ last words on the cross. Linguistic Conclusion While Hebrew was the sacred language of Jewish Scripture and practice, Aramaic served as the day-to-day tongue of many in first-century Israel. The slight differences in the Gospel accounts—“Eli” vs. “Eloi”—indicate that the expression Jesus used can be understood in either Hebrew or Aramaic. The phrase maintains almost identical meaning in both languages and originates from Psalm 22:1 in Hebrew. Given the dialect of Christ’s era, many scholars conclude Jesus likely uttered these words in an Aramaic form closely echoing the Hebrew biblical text. Ultimately, it is reasonable to say Jesus spoke a phrase that bore the hallmarks of both Hebrew (from the scriptural tradition) and Aramaic (from daily speech). The Gospels’ transliterations highlight that (1) the outcry was derived from Psalm 22, and (2) it reflected the Aramaic-Hebrew linguistic milieu of His hearers. Practical Reflections 1. Connection to Psalm 22 The theological and devotional significance lies in the fact that Jesus was connecting His suffering to a well-known Messianic psalm. As soon as He spoke those words, listeners aware of that psalm would be reminded not only of the depiction of suffering but also of the psalm’s victorious conclusion and hope in God. 2. Evidence of Authenticity The distinct transliterations suggest independent sources for Matthew and Mark, bolstering the authenticity of this moment. Such details, unlikely to be fabricated in identical fashion, underscore the historical reliability of the crucifixion account. 3. Reminder of Christ’s Intimacy with Scripture This cry underscores Jesus’ deep familiarity with the Scriptures. Whether He expressed it in an Aramaicized form of the Hebrew or an unmistakably Hebrew phrase, He invoked Scripture at the pinnacle of His suffering. Answer (Summary) When Jesus exclaimed, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He was almost certainly speaking words rooted in Psalm 22:1 in Hebrew while expressing them in the linguistic context of first-century Judea, where Hebrew and Aramaic overlapped. Matthew’s “Eli” highlights a Hebrew pronunciation, whereas Mark’s “Eloi” reflects an Aramaic-flavored rendering. Both represent the same heartfelt cry, recorded faithfully by the Gospel writers. |
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