If you want to truly understand the Bible...

...don't forget your language lessons

John 1:14 in the KJV reads, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Such a simple verse, used regularly as evidence of the deity of the Christ, but the depth of it is generally overlooked. What do I mean? Follow along.

John wrote his gospel primarily to The Jews, a people with a robust history of which they were very familiar. John knew this and was able to tailor his imagery to purpose of stirring their hearts. For this reason, John used a particular word in this verse, the Greek word often translated in English as "dwelt." There is much more to this word, however, than meets the modern eye.

This word we read as "dwelt" in the English is the Greek word, "εσκηνωσεν" (eskenosen - es-kay-no-sin). The root of this word is "σκηνη" (skene - τη σκηνη {te skene} with the direct article). What is so special about this word? A little history will help our understanding.

In the third century B.C., seventy-two scholars undertook the task of translating the Hebrew scriptures to Greek. Because of the number of translators, this work has come to be known as the Septuagint. In the New Testament, more often than not, when Jesus quoted the Scriptures, his quotes came directly from the Septuagint. In the Septuagint, "te skene" referred to the tabernacle. This word is used in reference to the “tabernacle” elsewhere in the New Testament as well. Why is this important?

Early in the history of the tribes of Israel, while they were wandering in the desert, God gave Moses the plans for the tabernacle. The Israelites constructed it according to God's instruction. God then directed the sons of Israel to set up their tents around the tabernacle (Numbers chapter 2) - the tabernacle would be at the center of their encampments, the center of their lives. Not only was the tabernacle at the center of their lives, but there God's presence rested visibly amongst them:

"For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel." - Exodus 40:38 (NASB)

Imagine what that was like for the Hebrews? God was literally dwelling, visibly, among them in the tabernacle. Fast-forward to the Gospel of John, and here the apostle tells the Jews that this Word-become-flesh "tabernacled" among them. Think about the picture this would evoke in the mind of a Jew familiar with the history? Consider the emotion such a statement would generate. Once again God had come to live among His people, and this time, in a much more personal way. For them, the idea of "God with us" struck much more of a chord than the English with which we are familiar. He had come once again to live among His people and to save them, only this time instead of saving them from an earthly foe like the Egyptians, He would save them from their sin.