Bastard
This word “illegitimate birth” or “bastard” only appears twice in the Hebrew scriptures (strongs number H4464):
- Deut 23:2 “No one of illegitimate birth H4464 does enter the assembly of
- Zec 9:6 “And a bastard H4464 shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.”
Some translations use the following words : foreigners, mixed race, bastards, child of incest
The Hebrew word is MAMZER H4464 – mamzēr, and this word only appears TWICE in the entire Hebrew Bible, as per verses quoted above. The fact is – the meaning of this word is truly unknown! It is one of those words that have lost its’ meaning, and there are actually a debate on its’ meaning. Does it really matter what this word means? This has most probably nothing to do with a person born out of wedlock or incest, or mixed race, or any race for that matter. The Scripture verses mention entering the assembly of the Temple, and living in Ashdod. Currently this does not apply to us, so we don’t have to worry about the meaning of MAMZER, so don’t let the meaning foreigner or bastard offend you, as these are peoples’ translations that don’t know for sure what the meaning is.
So the lesson here is, not only are there no perfect English translations out there, but even some Hebrew meanings have been lost. That is why it is a good thing when you find a Hebrew word, compare it with other sentences where the same word is used, and see if it does make sense.
Divorce
The abomination is not that she was divorced, or remarried. Verse 2 says, “And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.” What is defilement, is when she returns to the former husband that sent her away. The problem is going back. Another better translation on verse 4 says this, “Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled;” She is defiled the moment she goes back to the former husband.
And out of interest, the word defiled is the word TAME H2930 – ṭāmē‘, which we have used before. It is the same word for being unclean, when you touch a unclean animal, or touch certain carcasses, etc. But YHWH adds it is an abomination, so it is like eating pork, which is also unclean and an abomination. Certain unclean things cannot be helped for, and is more natural. Other unclean things are done on purpose and have a choice to it, whether to do it or not
