Language-specific Insights

Pantokrator

The Ancient Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible used the word pantokrator (παντοκράτωρ) or “Ruler of All” as a translation of the second part of the Hebrew term YHWH Tz’vaót (יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת) or “Lord of hosts” (see here) and occasionally ʼĒl Šadạy (אֵל שַׁדַּי‎), translated in English commonly as “God Almighty.” In the deuterocanonical/apocryphal books, pantokrator might have also been used in the original writing. The New Testament uses it one time in the writings of Paul (2 Cor. 6:18) and several times in the book of Revelation (see esp. Rev. 1:8).

One of the most influential icon styles of the Orthodox church has developed from this concept: Christ Pantocrator. In this icon style, Christ is looking straight at the viewer, his right hand is typically spelling a short form of “Jesus Christ” (see the bottom of the entry on Jesus and icons for an explanation), and his left hand holds a New Testament. His head is often surrounded by a halo.

The earliest preserved icon is found in the Greek Orthodox Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai from the 6th century:

In order to express the two natures of Christ, the two sides of the face are not symmetrical. The right side might represent the qualities of his divinity, while his left side represents human nature. (Source )

Orthodox icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

“Almighty” is translated in Newari as “the strongest of all” (source: Newari Back Translation) and in the English Job translation by E.L. Greenstein (2019) as name: “Shaddai.”

See also LORD of hosts.

their throats are open graves . . .

For the phrases “their throats are open graves; they flatter with their tongues,” see Romans 3:13.

Note that this quote in the New Testament is not taken from the Hebrew Bible but from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) which translates into English as “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.'” (Translation by NETS — for the Greek version see the title’s tooltip)

In Gbaya, the notion of an open throat is emphasized with mgbóm-mgbóm, an ideophone that designates an open object such as a gaping mouth.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)
their throats are open graves;

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire . . .

For the phrase “Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear.´Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, ‘Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God.'” see Hebrews 10:5, Hebrews 10:6, and Hebrews 10:7.

Note that this quote in the New Testament is not taken from the Hebrew Bible but from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) which translates into English as “Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but ears you fashioned for me. Whole burnt offering and one for sin you did not request. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come; in a scroll of a book it is written of me. To do your will, O my God, I desired.'” (Translation by NETS — for the Greek version see the title’s tooltip)

If your enemies are hungry . . .

For the phrase “If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,” see Romans 12:20.

Note that this quote in the New Testament is not taken from the Hebrew Bible but from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) which translates into English as “If your enemy is hungry, nourish him; if he is thirsty, give him to drink. For by doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head.” (Translation by NETS — for the Greek version see the title’s tooltip)

a priestly kingdom and a holy nation

For “a priestly kingdom and a holy nation,” see 1 Peter 2:9.

Note that this quote in the New Testament is not taken from the Hebrew Bible but from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) which translates into English as “a royal priesthood and a holy nation.” (Translation by NETS — for the Greek version see the title’s tooltip)

a voice cries out . . .

For the phrases “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.'” see Luke 3:4ff.

Note that this quote in the New Testament is not taken from the Hebrew Bible but from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) which translates to English as “A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight the paths of our God. Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and all the crooked ways shall become straight and the rough place shall become plains. Then the glory of the Lord shall appear, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'” (Translation by NETS — for the Greek version see the title’s tooltip)

you will find favor and good repute . . .

For the phrase “So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people,” see 2 Corinthians 8:21.

Note that this quote in the New Testament is not taken from the Hebrew Bible but from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) which translates into English as “think of what is noble in the sight of the Lord and of people.” (Translation by NETS — for the Greek version see the title’s tooltip)