Your impression!

What is wrong with the world? This was a question proposed by a newspaper editor. One response to that question was the following: I am. Sincerely yours G.K. Chesterton.  

Seldom do we see ourselves as a contributing factor to the problems of our world, society, neighborhood or home. Many times we see the solution is the correction of others around us. Consequently, what impression do we leave on our world? Specifically what impression do you leave on your spouse or children?

Moses addresses this question in Deuteronomy. Notice what he says:

7 gYou shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 hYou shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 iYou shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. [1]

Today let us focus on one key word, teach. The following is from Brown Driver and Briggs Lexicon:

†[שָׁנַן S8150 TWOT2422 GK9111, 9112] vb. whet, sharpen (cf. Arabic سَنَّ (sanna) id.; Aramaicשְׁנִינָא,ܐ (šnino) sharp, etc.; Ethiopic [ሰነነ (sanana)] iii, 2, ተሰነነ (tasannana) contend, litigate;hence שֵׁן tooth, NH id., Assyrian šinnu, Arabic سِنٌّ (sinnun), Ethiopic ስን (sənn) Aramaicשִׁנָּא,ܐ (šeno));--Qal whet, sharpen: Pf. 1 s. אִם שַׁנּוֹתִ֫י בְּרַק חַרְבִּי (Ges§ 67 ee) Dt 32:41, of י׳’s preparation for judgment; 3 pl. (כַחֶרֶב) שָֽׁנְנוּ לְשׁוֹנָם ψ 64:4; 140:4 of uttering sharp words; Pt. pass. שְׁנוּנִים sharpened, of arrows, Is 5:28 ψ 45:6, fig. of tongue 120:4, of false witness Pr 25:13. Pi. Pf. consec. וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָגֶיךָ Dt 6:7 i.e. teach the words incisively, Germ. ‘einschärfen.’ Hithpōʿ. Impf. 1 s. ψ 73:21 in my kidneys אֶשְׁתּוֹנָ֑ן I was pierced (of poignant envy).

†i. שֵׁן S8127, 8128, 8129 TWOT2422a, 3043 GK9094, 9095 n.f. 1 S 2:13 (yet m. 1 S 14:5 cf. Dr) tooth, ivory;—שׁ׳ abs. Ex 21:24 +, cstr. v 27 +, שֶׁן־ Dt 32:24; sf. שִׁנּוֹ Ex 21:27; du. שִׁנַּיִם Pr 10:26, cstr. שִׁנֵּיJe 31:29 +; sf. שִׁנֵּיהֶם ψ 124:6, שִׁנֵּימוֹ 58:7, etc.;— 1. tooth: a. of man, Ex 21:27(×3) (E), Nu 11:33 (J), Gn 49:12 (poem in J), Am 4:6 Ct 4:2; 6:6, שׁ׳ רֹעָה Pr 25:19, v. II. רעע 2; of lex talionis, שׁ׳ תַּחַת שׁ׳ Ex 21:24 (E), Lv 24:20 (H), שֵׁן בְּשׁ׳ Dt 19:21; irritated by acid Pr 10:26, dulled by it (in proverb of inherited guilt) Je 31:29, 30 Ez 18:2; חָרַק שׁ׳ La 2:16 Jb 16:9 ψ 35:16; 112:10, v. חָרַק; אֶשָּׂא בְשָׂרִי בְשִׁנָּ֑י Jb 13:14 =risk my life (del. עַל־מָה, dittogr.; || נַפְשִׁי אָשִׂים בְּכַפִּי); בְּעוֹר שִׁנָּ֑י 19:20, v. מָלַט Hithp. (other conj. v. Di Bi Bu Du). b. of beasts: Dt 32:24, crocodile Jb 41:6, locusts Jo 1:6 (teeth of lions); especially fig. of false prophets Mi 3:5, of foes Zc 9:7, oppressors Jb 29:17, wicked 4:10 ψ 3:8; 58:7; 124:6; of their weapons Pr 30:14ψ 57:5; of Isr. shattered by י׳ c. tooth of a fork, tine, 1 S 2:13 (cf. DrSm. 291); of cliff, שֵׁן הַסֶּלַע 14:4(×2), cf. Jb 39:28, הַשֵּׁן 1 S 14:5. 2. ivory, of commerce, קַרְנוֹת שֵׁן Ez 27:15 (i.e. tusks?); as material, מִטּוֹת שׁ׳ Am 6:4, כִּסֵּא־שׁ׳ 1 K 10:18 = 2 Ch 9:17, בֵּית הָשּׁ׳ 1 K 22:39, cf. Am 3:15, הֵיכְלֵי שׁ׳ ψ 45:9, also Ez 27:6 Ct 5:14; 7:5.[2]

I was perplexed the first time I understood this word had to do with whetting an appetite or tooth. It is translated tooth in most cases of Biblical use and translated teach only once. It is here in Deuteronomy 6. If you check other verses translated teach you find a different Hebrew word.

What is the emphasis of Moses in this verse? I believe he wanted to clearly say, if you want to leave an impression that others will never forget then you should do the following. You should talk, bind and write these on your forehead, hand and on the doorpost of your house.

The Word of God should affect our thinking, behavior and how we live in our home. If the word is changing you at the core you will leave a strong impression on all those around you. It will whet their appetite and create questions about the difference in our life.

What impression are you leaving today? Are others asking questions about how you live your life?

Many times I have to agree with Chesterton. The problem with our world? I am.

Cathy and Danny Sartin

(1)   The Holy Bible: New International Version. Electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Deut 6:7

(2)   Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (2000). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon(electronic ed.) (1041–1042). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.

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g See ch. 4:9
h ch. 11:18; Prov. 3:3; 6:21; 7:3; See Ex. 13:9
i ch. 11:20; [Isa. 57:8]
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Dt 6:7–9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
† prefixed, or added, or both, indicates ‘All passages cited.’
S Strong’s Concordance
TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.
GK Goodrick/Kohlenberger numbering system of the NIV Exhaustive Concordance.
vb. verb.
cf. confer, compare.
NH New (Late) Hebrew.
Pf. Perfect.
Ges W. Gesenius, Heb. Gram. ed. by Kautzsch;
§ W. Gesenius, Heb. Gram. ed. by Kautzsch;
pl. plural.
Pt. Participle.
pass. passive.
fig. figurative.
Pf. Perfect.
consec. consecutive.
Impf. Imperfect.
† prefixed, or added, or both, indicates ‘All passages cited.’
S Strong’s Concordance
TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.
GK Goodrick/Kohlenberger numbering system of the NIV Exhaustive Condordance.
n. nomen, noun.
f. feminine, feminae.
m. masculine.
cf. confer, compare.
Dr S. R. Driver.
abs. absolute.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worth while to cite.
cstr. construct.
v verse.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worth while to cite.
sf. suffix, or with suffix.
du. dubious, doubtful.
cstr. construct.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worth while to cite.
sf. suffix, or with suffix.
×3 three times.
E Elohist.
J Jehovist.
J Jehovist.
v. vide, see.
E Elohist.
H Code of Holiness.
v. vide, see.
= equivalent, equals.
del. dele, strike out (also delet, delent).
|| parallel, of words (synonymous or contrasted); also of passages; sometimes = ‘see parallel,’ or ‘see also parallel.’
v. vide, see.
conj. conjecture(s); also conjection.
v. vide, see.
Di A. Dillmann.
Bi G. Bickell.
Bu K. Budde.
Du B. Duhm.
fig. figurative.
cf. confer, compare.
Dr S. R. Driver, Text of Samuel.
Sm S. R. Driver, Text of Samuel.
×2 two times.
cf. confer, compare.
= equivalent, equals.
cf. confer, compare.
[2] Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (2000). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon(electronic ed.) (1041–1042). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.