Tribute to Tolkien: Postulating a Proto-Semitic Language

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, popularly known simply as J.R.R. Tolkien, created the languages of Quenya and Sindarin for his mythical realm of Middle-earth. Quenya was largely based on Finnish, Latin and Greek while Sindarin was based on Brythonic and Welsh linguistics and phonology. Aside from these, there were also other languages which were created for the Lord of the Rings epic.

I have been writing a work of fiction which draws greatly from my interest in the language, religion and history of the Semitic tradition. Thus, in what could be considered my encomium to Tolkien, I have engaged in somewhat of an experiment in Semitic philology and attempted to create a primordial Proto-Semitic language based upon carefully assumed etymon’s of early Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac and Nabataean.

Matthew 27:46 - “My God, My God….huh?”

“And about the Ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?“
[Matthew 27:46, New King James Version]

I’ve encountered some interesting interpretations of this verse from various Christian Syriacists over the years. What follows are two of their interpretations and my responses.

In the “Bowels” of Jesus Christ?

“For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.”
[Philippians 1:8]

Here I will share some of my observations regarding this strange terminology found in the Greek and later English translations of the New Testament text.