Life from Breath

22 Mar, 2012
Terri
Cherry Blossoms

cherry blossom blooms

scattering her fragrant life

carried by earth's breath

***

without earth's breath

fragrant life is stultified

cherry blossom dies

Note:  The semitic understanding of soul was non-existent.  Soul is a Greek/Platonic philosophical understanding.  The Semitic peoples, of which Jesus was one, would not understand body/soul since they did not have a dualistic view of body/soul.  Therefore, while the scripture translates the word psuche as "soul," an alternate definition is "life."  This makes more sense for a Semitic people.  Additionally, the word for spirit, pneumatos, translated here as "spirit," can also be translated as "breath."  I'm choosing the following translation:  "piercing until it divides life from breath." 

Cherry Blossoms
Cherry Blossoms from Winston-Salem State University, Ram Pages, March 22, 2011, unattributed

 Inspired by the Lenten Journey reading of  Hebrews 4:1-13

12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. v. 12-13

People on a Lenten Journey

Lorot Poetry: Echoes of the Hills

Becca Givens at On Dragonfly Wings with Buttercup Tea

Terri at What About God?

Jonathan Stone

Granbee

Michael (Booguloo)

Chèvrefeuille

Roy DeLeon at Expressive Prayer

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Categories: Christianity Haiku Poetry Religion Scripture Spirituality

4 comments

  1. granbee said on March 22, 2012
    You have blown me away with those lovely cherry blossom petals and double haiku form of mediation on this passage from Hebrews, Terri! I really appreciate the translation you did, because it makes much more sense that God's sword would divide life from breath, would separate the essence of the flesh and the essence of eternal life with Him.
  2. becca givens said on March 22, 2012
    Terri - this is WONDERFUL ... thank you so much for explaining the interpretations ... absolutely inspirational. :-) (BTW - I am leaving on Saturday, the 24th for a week and believe it or not, without technology ... :D ... I have all of my Lenten Journey pieces scheduled to publish daily until I return on the 1st of April)
    1. Terri said on March 22, 2012
      Have a fabulous break away from technology. Andkudos for being prepared!
  3. Human In Recovery said on March 22, 2012
    Thank you for sharing the image, the poetry, and the clarification of scripture.

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