Throughout Genesis 1, we see the phrase, “Then God said,” before every act of creation. We previously mentioned how speaking things into existence demonstrates God’s omnipotent, infinite power. The beginning of Genesis highlights that God’s Word is the means that brings about the creation – what God declares happens.
But God’s Word is more than just a verbal or written extension of Himself. As the Scriptures progress, at times, we see the Word of God personified as a Being—a Person who is sent, who interacts, who accomplishes tasks, and who fulfills specific roles.
The recognition of God’s Word as having unique, person-like characteristics that go beyond what God says or does is recorded in ancient Aramaic paraphrases of the Old Testament Scriptures, called “Targums.”
When the Jewish people were taken into exile by the Assyrians (722 BC) and Babylonians (612-586 BC), they began to speak the language of their captors, Aramaic. Even books of Scripture produced during this period, such as Daniel and Ezra, were written in part in Aramaic.
The Targums are not a strict textual translation from Hebrew to Aramaic but a form of explanation (or interpretation) of the Hebrew Scriptures. Because of this, they clarify how ancient Jewish believers understood various verses.
The Aramaic term for “word” is memra (mem.ra) and is often used in the Targums when physical manifestations or actions of the LORD occur. The following are some examples of the activity that the Targums attribute to the Memra (Word).
The Memra (Word)…
Whether all the interpretations of the Targums as they reference God’s Word are correct is a matter of debate. However, they do show that the Jewish people recognized that there was something very distinct regarding God’s Memra / Word beyond being a verbal and written communication conduit.
Likewise, the Greeks had an equivalent term for “word” – logos.
John picks up on the unique understanding of God’s Word / Memra / Logos in his gospel. John 1:1 begins the same as Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning,” but the focus turns not to the creation event but to a Person that existed before, the Word (Logos). In five short sentences, we see that the Word / Logos John describes is a Person who was with God from all eternity (not a created being) and is God. The Word is the Creator of all things, is above all things, and is the source of life and light of all things.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. – John 1:1-4 (LSB)
The Word of God, revealed in flesh as Jesus approximately 2000 years ago in Israel, is the Messiah and the Christ. He is the Source, the Sustainer, and the Redeemer of all creation from the beginning. Life is only found in fellowship with Him.
Key Ideas, Principles, and Applications
Footnotes:
1) The following site has compiled a good overview of the usage of the Memra / Word throughout various Targums. https://juchre.org/articles/word.htm
We will attempt to post solid internet resources for further study. However, please be very careful of internet commentary as many false movements and cults have twisted the concept of God’s Word and have employed it in mystical and heretical ways.
References:
Constable, Tom. Notes on 2 Kings, 2024 Edition. https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/ot/2kings/2kings.htm
Letham, Robert (2004). The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship. P&R Publishing.
Shepherd, Michael B., "Targums, the New Testament, and Biblical Theology of the Messiah" (2008). Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Publications. 294. https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/biblical_and_ministry_studies_publications/294
Vanhoozer, Kevin J. (2005). Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Baker Book House Company.
