HOAR IS NOT WHORE!

Many years ago when I heard terms such as hoary, hoar, dam and ass read from God's holy Scriptures, I wondered if the people were reading the text correctly. However, when I checked my Bible, I found that these words were indeed a vital, accurate, descriptive part of what God has to say to us. Because the words hoary and hoar are pronounced like whore - that term referring to a prostitute - I was even embarrassed to use them, thinking perhaps that the translators were using meaningless, archaic or incorrect words. However, I found my former thoughts to be wrong, not only with hoar, but many other words.

MAN CHANGES GOD'S WORDS FROM GOOD TO EVIL

Another of these words was the biblical term ass. Most are more familiar with the common misapplication of this word. It is used incorrectly to refer in a derogative manner to someone not liked or respected because of some unacceptable behavior or for an inappropriate reference to a part of the human body. 

In fact, this word has been so sinfully abused that even many pastors hesitate reading it from the Bible. Those hearing this biblical language often snicker because they know it is more commonly used by many to refer in a negative manner to people. This beast of burden is biblically referred to by his proper name, ass(es)('s), 154 times in the King James Bible. However, authors of most versions, have removed it from their texts, probably thinking it is too offensive.

DAM IS REMOVED FROM SOME BIBLES, BUT NOT FROM DAILY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE (DAMN)

Dam is another word which has been adapted by man for sinful language (cursing - damn) when talking with other humans or sometimes when he becomes upset with himself or some circumstance. Dam is used in the King James Bible to refer to the mother of young animals. This biblical term, however, has been removed from most new versions. 

Cursing and taking the LORD's name in vain have become quite common practices in many peoples' lives. These serious sins are being overlooked by many. It's not unusual to hear even Christians remark: "Oh my _ _ _" or "My _ _ _, Jim ..." They insert God, but are not using His name for prayer! They, instead, are taking the LORD's name in vain, each time violating God's command:  "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7)

GOD'S NAME IS REMOVED FROM SOME BIBLES, BUT NOT FROM DAILY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE

Many, perhaps, don't see the long-term pattern developing of what can happen as man gradually eliminates words from the Bible that he pollutes, replacing them with what he feels is an acceptable substitute for whatever reason. 

Consider the effect of what is gradually being done to change the Bible "line upon line," just with the removal of God's name, in the NIV.   Even though God says not to change His Word for any purpose, people seem not to fear His warnings of the removal of their names from the Book of Life for such a serious offense. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18,19.) What is going to happen in the days ahead when man totally removes God, Jesus and Christ from the Word of God because these terms also become too offensive as has ass? Those who have studied the issue of Bible versions have some awareness that these words, in many instances, have already been removed from the new versions, but just not to the extent (at least not yet) as has ass and some of the others mentioned in this article. 

If we are embarrassed to speak any of the words written in the Bible, in their proper context, we may perhaps be getting into the realm of "being ashamed of the gospel": "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ..." (Romans 1:16) The gospel includes EVERY word written in the Bible. Could some of this replacement of biblical terms be responsible for some of the spiritual weaknesses being experienced by Christians today? Perhaps that's part of why we don't see the miracles and healings previously so prevalent. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29) The Scriptures are God's words.

Because man abuses God's words, changing them to evil meanings, translators may feel it's acceptable to modify biblical language by substituting other words. This sinful practice is of the same principle as man accepting sinful lifestyles as okay. Many accept little "white lies" as okay; stealing pencils, office equipment, furniture and other valuables from employers as their right; not paying government taxes, justified for some reason. Many accept homosexuality as an "alternative lifestyle" which children are being taught is normal behavior. Others, even churches, embrace another even more common sexual sin, adultery (especially when it includes having more than one living spouse), as forgiven if these people are "in the church" or, if they say they have repented.  They, however, misapply repentance.  Repentance requires confession and forsaking sin: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."  A one-flesh marriage is not sin from which one must repent; adultery is.  Many take lightly anger, bitterness and unforgiveness, which lead to many lifestyle sins.  Bitterness and unforgiveness often provide the seedbed of hatred in peoples' hearts which God says is murder. "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."  (I John 3:15)

HOW WE RESPOND WITH OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS REVEALS THE STATE OF OUR HEART

God says: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods ... And come and stand before me in this house,* which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?" (Jeremiah 7:9-10) This house,* we are taught in the New Testament, is our body, the temple in which the Holy Ghost resides when we are born again. "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."(II Corinthians 6:16) "Is this house,* which is called by my name, become a den of robbers ...?" (Jeremiah 7:11) Neither does God indwell in a temple where cursing and evil words are spewing out of the mouth. He judges our heart. What's in the heart comes out of the mouth/body - is exhibited in our lifestyle: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34) "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (Matthew15:11.)

HOAR FROST IS A SUPERNATURAL PHENOMENON

Some might think hoar is an archaic or inappropriate word used by the translators of the King James Bible. However, as I was in the process of studying this word, one of our editors came back from visiting in Kansas and brought a picture she had taken of an incredibly beautiful natural phenomenon which the news media called a hoar frost. (See photo above.)

A little research will tell us that hoar frost requires certain climatic conditions - a combination of moisture and cold temperature. Moisture condensed from the atmosphere at night is deposited in the form of small drops (dew) upon exposed surfaces. If the temperature during a dewy night dips below freezing, these tiny droplets crystallize into hoar frost. The result is a striking white covering surrounding the surfaces to which it is attached. 

HOAR FROST DESCRIBES 40 YEARS OF MANNA

Now let's see how hoar frost accurately defines the contextual usage of this term in God's Word and how changing the name of this natural phenomenon to other words diffuses the clear meaning of some important contextual biblical information. For example, while in the wilderness, God provided some two million Israelites with food in the middle of a desert - for 40 years - tons of food! For forty years, the people didn't grow their food, produce it or purchase it. God showered it upon them from Heaven. This manna, the mainstay of their diet, is described with this important biblical term, hoar (frost). When we understand what hoar frost is, a term used today in the world (weather reports), but removed by most new versions, then we have a supernatural visual of the manna God provided. It was "a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground." (Exodus 16:14)

PEOPLE WITH A HOARY HEAD HAVE WHITE HAIR

Hoar and hoary are also used in the Bible to picture the elderly - those with white hair. Authors who remove this descriptive adjective make the text weak and inaccurate.

HELL IS REMOVED FROM SOME BIBLES BUT NOT FROM DAILY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE

Hell is a word used by many adults, as well as children. AND, most of those who use this word when they are not quoting from the Bible are quite aware that Hell is not a desirable place. They often tell those with whom they are displeased to go there! The reality of Hell is made very graphic in several Scriptures: 

Most modern translations are not only removing the word Hell in many references; but its graphic description:  "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:46 and others) either directly or in footnotes. They replace Hell with words with which people cannot identify/understand, such as Sheol, Gehenna, Hades and even death or grave.  Most people understand that we will die and that we will go to our grave, BUT not everyone will go to Hell.  Those who are saved will go to Heaven, not to Hell. The NIV and NASV have completely removed Hell from the Old Testament and have reduced the number of times it is translated as such in the New. In other places, they record the untranslated Hebrew and Greek words for Hell: Sheol and Hades. Relatively few people understand that Sheol and Hades refer to Hell and thus may not fear spending eternity there.  

God continually warned the Israelites that they had to turn from worshipping idols, from participating in sexual sin, from cursing, from lying and stealing. They didn't believe him. The same is true for many today. Please consider your lifestyle and that of your loved ones. Love them enough to share Truth as it is consistently presented in the Bible. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." (Amos 8:11,12)  Is there a famine in your Bible?

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