The name "Simon," clarification -- RSQUBF discussion forum

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Date Posted: 01:59:28 10/29/04 Fri
Author: Chris
Subject: The name "Simon," clarification
In reply to: anonymous 's message, "Re: More linguistic fantasy: John1" on 20:56:21 10/28/04 Thu

I think you guys are a bit over-zealous here...Simon does mean "sand" in Aramaic

Sorry, no, this is wrong.

Because Cephas (aramaic) and Petros (Greek) mean "rock," it is tempting to assume that Simon means the opposite, like "sand" or "wavering." I have heared such things not only in UBF. Everybody likes simple explanations, and they stick in your mind even if they are wrong. But I have looked it up in several biblical glossaries and they all say that Simon means "he heared," probably in the sense of "God heared" (the prayer of the parents to have a son). This would make much more sense. Come on, which Aramic parents would call their child "sand" or "wavering"? Simon was a very common name (Mt 10:4, 27:32, Acts 10:6). Simon bar Kokhba was a famous Jewish military leader who led a revolt against the Romans. A military leader with the name "sand" or "wavering"? Even today, Simon (the english version of the jewish "Shimon") is a common name (think of Shimon Peres for instance).

The word "Shimon" comes from the (hebrew and aramaic) root "Shma" which means to "hear." You probably know it from the famous hebrew words "Shma Yisrael" ("Hear O Israel"). The word "sand," on the contrary, would we "Khole" (hebrew and aramaic) which is very different.

Also, the names "Simon" or "Simon Peter" are used later in the Bible, often when Jesus or others speak positively about Simon, e.g. the famous passages Mt 16:16-17, Jn 21:15. If Simon would have a negative meaning, why would they use the negative name here? Plus, Acts 10:5 is interpreted in most translations (German, NASB, AMP, KJV) in the way that Peter was an additional name (surname) given to Simon, as you see it in the combination "Simon Peter." It was not meant as a replacement for his old name.

It may look like we are nit-picking here. But I think this example is very symptomatic for a few problematic points in UBF:

- Biblical commentaries are used too little
- UBF does not care about the original Bible languages
- instead base their Bible interpretations on speculation
- like "black and white" explanations
- fosters the idea that a conversion is something like a complete replacement of your personality, your old personality and everything from your former life is completely suppressed

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Replies:

Re: More linguistic fantasy: John1 -- Mike K:, 01:59:37 10/29/04 Fri

That was a quick answer... -- Chris, 02:05:40 10/29/04 Fri