Roger D. Isaacs, at The Blogs

Dec 8, 2024, 12:07 AM

Jewish high priest wearing a hoshen and ephod, and Levites in ancient Judah. Work in Public Domain.

The ephod, a garment worn upon the priestly breastplate described in the Hebrew Bible, carries linguistic ties that shed light on its origins, design, and even its material. These connections, drawn from related words in other languages (which I...

Nov 23, 2024, 5:45 PM

Qadash: The Tangible Roots of “Holiness” in Akkadian and Babylonian Rituals

Clay tablet with flood and ark story from the Epic of Gilgamesh (This work is in the public domain)

The term qadash in the Hebrew language becomes somewhat ambiguous over the course of its usage, but its earlier use in Akkadian and Babylonian provides a clearer and more structured meaning. In these ancient languages, qadayshu and related terms reveal a...

Jun 8, 2024, 10:17 PM

A Giant Mystery: Nephilim, Rephaim, and Anakim in the Bible

Scattered throughout the Hebrew Bible are a selection of words that refer to peoples who were interpreted to be giants. The words themselves are scarce, obscuring their meanings beneath later mythology. Although discussions are present throughout the literature, both...

Apr 24, 2024, 8:23 AM

Is the Universe in Good Shape?

The basic scientific method starts with observing the world around us and coming to conclusions about how it works based on those observations. It should also help to clarify why it works. Generations of humans going back to our...

May 13, 2023, 10:09 PM

Uncovering Ancient Trade Networks: A Sabaean in Jerusalem?

A recent study has shed light on an ancient inscription found on a pithos shoulder during Eilat Mazar's excavation in the Ophel region of Jerusalem. The inscription, which dates back to the 10th century BCE, has been the subject...

Apr 4, 2023, 7:48 PM

Why You Shouldn’t Break Lamb Bones During Passover

RCB **, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

On Passover eve, there is a plate displayed (called a Seder plate) containing several symbolic ingredients, each having a special meaning relating to the laws set down for the holiday in the Hebrew Bible. They include an egg (beitzah),...

Jan 6, 2023, 12:11 AM

The Top 5 Bible Discoveries of 2022

NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It’s that time once again when we reflect on some of the most remarkable discoveries in the fields of biblical archaeology and scholarship that happened over the past year. As COVID-19 restrictions continued to be relaxed, the surge of...

Sep 14, 2022, 1:10 PM

Was ‘the Anger of the Lord’ a Natural Phenomenon?

In my book Talking with God, I explore several key biblical terms associated with the Ark of the Testimony/Covenant that have either been mistranslated or not understood over time. One phrase found in several verses of the Hebrew Bible...

Apr 13, 2022, 11:20 PM

Once Upon the Doorposts

Attribution: Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing (Creative Commons)

The season of Passover celebrates the freeing of the Hebrews from their years of slavery in Egypt. There was only one reason they were able to make a safe exodus from their onerous servitude. The Bible says the Lord instructed them to smear the blood...

Dec 20, 2021, 12:08 AM

Rethinking Religion: Another Look

I recently published an article in the Times of Israel titled "Rethinking Religion", which discussed the declining interest in religious belief across the United States. The general point was that no matter the denomination of those accepting or rejecting...

About Me

Roger D. Isaacs is an independent researcher specializing in Hebrew Bible studies and the author of two books, "Talking With God" and "The Golden Ark". Isaacs' primary research site was the archives of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, where he is a member of the Advisory Council. He also conducted research at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies, as well as digs, museums, and libraries in many countries, including Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, and England.

Contact Me