"The Pure Truth About...
The PURE TRUTH"

ODAY everyone thinks of themselves as "innocent" or, as the old saying goes: "as pure as the new-driven snow."   Yet one of the authors of the proverbs of scripture foretold of a time when:

   "There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; those whose teeth are like swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among mankind" (Proverbs 30:11-14; Note: Not by helping the poor, but rather by eradicating them through warfare, violent confrontation, felony convictions, and the like!)

    The moral filth, here, is contrasted with the true meaning of the word "pure," as it is used in verse 12.   This word, in the original Ibreyan (ancient "Hebrew") language of scripture, is the one most often translated as "pure" in inspired scripture.

    In Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the word is Hebrew Dictionary listing #2889, tahaver or tahar, meaning: "from 2891 pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense)."   Elsewhere in scripture it is also translated "clean," "fair," and "pureness."

    The primary root of this word is taher, #2891, meaning: "properly to be bright; i.e. (by implication) to be pure (physically sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically uncontaminated; morally innocent or sacred)," translated "clean," "cleanse," "purge," "purify," and "purifier."

    In some instances, the original word is #2134 zak, meaning "clear," and translated also as: "clean," or its root, #2141 zakak, meaning: "to be transparent or clean (physically or morally)," and also translated "clean," or "purer."

    A related primary root word, comparable to #2141 is zakah, #2135, meaning: "to be translucent; figuratively to be innocent;" also translated: "clean," "cleanse," "clear" and "count them pure" (Micah 6:11; KJV).

    Many times the word "pure" is used in the context of chemical purity, as in the phrase "pure gold," throughout the book of Exodus for instance, and in most instances this is translated from tahar (#2889), while in I Kings and half the instances in II Chronicles (3 times) this is translated from sawgar (#5462), meaning: "to shut up," similar to a related derivative word sawgaver (#5458), as in: "gold (as generally shut up safely)."

    In these instances the word "pure" is merely supplied by the English translators, and has nothing more than an implied connection to the Ibreyan word from which it is "translated" (or implied).

    When the reference is to pure olive oil or frankincense, the original word is #2134 zak, as in Exodus 27:20, 30:34; and Leviticus 24:2 and 7.

    However, this word elsewhere is used to describe being "pure and upright," pure doctrine, and pure prayer, in Job 8:6, 11:4 and 16:17 respectively, and twice in Proverbs it is used as follows:

    "Even a child is known by their actions, by whether their conduct is pure and right" (Proverbs 20:11), and "The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct [work; KJV] of the pure [innocent; NIV] is upright [right; KJV]" (Proverbs 21:8).

    Twice in one verse, repeated twice in scripture for emphasis and to denote its importance, the original word is barer, #1305, meaning: "to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine, select," and is translated elsewhere as: "bright, choice, chosen, cleanse...clearly, polished,...pure, purify," and "purge."

    In II Samuel 22:27 and Psalm 18:26 it is used in the following context:

    "To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked [devious, NIV] you show yourself shrewd [tortuous, unsavory; KJV]" while in Zephaniah 3:9 it is used as follows:

    "Then I will return to the peoples a pure language, that they may call upon the name of Yahveh to serve Him equally with one shoulder."

    Twice the word "pure" is translated from bar (#1249), a derivative of barer (#1305), "(in its various senses)," translated elsewhere as "choice," "clean" and "clear," as follows:

    "The statutes [precepts; NIV] of Yahveh are right, giving joy to the heart; the commandments of Yahveh are pure [radiant; NIV], giving light to the eyes" (Psalm 19:8), while verse 9 continues:

    "The fear of Yahveh is clean [pure; NIV, #2889], enduring forever.   The ordinances [judgments; KJV] of Yahveh are true [sure; NIV] and altogether righteous;" and:

    "Who may ascend the Hill of Yahveh?   Who may stand in His sacred place?   He who has clean [#5355, nakeya, "innocent"] hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his heart to an idol or sworn deceitfully" (Psalm 24:3-4).

    Once the original word is paz (#6337), meaning: "pure (gold); hence gold itself (as refined)," from the primary root word pazaz (#6338), meaning: "to refine (gold)," translated "best [gold]."   The identical primary root word (#6339) means: "to solidify (as if by refining); also to spring (as if separating the limbs)."

    The first word occurs in Psalm 21:3 as follows:

    "You welcomed him [the king, verse 1] with rich blessings, and placed a crown of pure gold on his head."

    A related word, tsaraph (#6884), is another primary root, meaning: "to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively)," also translated "cast," "refine(r)," "fine," "founder," "goldsmith," "melt," "purge" and "try," but is twice translated "pure" in the following scriptures:

    "Your word is very pure [KJV, NKJV; "Your promises have been thoroughly tested," NIV], therefore your servant cares for it [them]" (Psalm 119:140), and:

    "Every word of the Almighty One is pure [KJV, NKJV; "flawless," NIV]; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.   Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you are proved a liar" (Proverbs 30:5-6).

    Finally, once the original word is the Chaldee nekay (#5343), meaning "clean," from a root corresponding to naqah (#5352), meaning: "to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively," as used in the following scripture:

    "As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat.   His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of His head was white [NIV] like pure wool [KJV, NKJV].   His throne was flaming with fire [or lightning], and its wheels were all ablaze" (Daniel 7:9; compare Revelation 1:12-15 and 4:2-5).

    In contrast with the scriptural emphasis on what is clean or pure, is our modern world's emphasis on sterile but adulterated, unhealthy dietary and idolatrous religious environments, where every sort of vile, reprehensible and corrupt practice is tolerated and encouraged, while anything that contradicts this -- by a proper emphasis on what is genuinely clean and pure -- is ridiculed and considered to be crazy, unnecessary and fanatical.

    Nowhere is this more so than in the realm of the actual truth compared with what is commonly but falsely assumed to be the truth, whether it is called "plain," "real," or "inspired."

    Let's look briefly at the world's way of handling it's commercial food supplies as a case in point of the true spiritual state of affairs.

    First, it is clear that scripture commands against the eating of fat, blood, or the blood-tainted meat of strangled animals, in both "Old" and "New" testaments (see: Leviticus 3:17, 7:22-27, 17:10-14, 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23-25, 15:23; Acts 15:20, 29, 21:25).

    Nevertheless, it is common to see most meat at a market today literally dripping with blood, or with blood in it, because the animals have obviously been strangled rather than bled properly.

    In Britain, restaurants commonly serve what is called "Black Pudding," which is also called "Blood Pudding," because that is its main ingredient.

    In fact, scriptural commands forbid the eating of pork, swine, ham or pig flesh (such as bacon, most sausage, and pork chops or ribs), shell "fish" such as mussels, prawns, crab, oysters, lobster, fish such as shark, angler or "monkfish," tuna, anchovies, fowl such as duck or goose, and various other commonly eaten but thoroughly unhealthy and unclean animals and creatures, from frogs and turtles to snails and snakes.

    Despite the clear prohibitions against such "fare" it is practically impossible today to find any restaurant that does not cater to such perverse and unclean tastes.   In fact, some go so far as to adulterate nearly every clean entree they might have with embellishments of bacon, prawns, ham, sausage or anchovies, to name but a few.

    Those extremely and increasingly rare few today who opt not to partake of such lawless "food"-stuffs are considered by most people to be worse than strange, they are thought of as weird, idiotic, and even "fanatical."

    Practically every "food" manufacturer/packager today adulterates nearly everything they process, with unclean ingredients and chemical additives, preservatives and similar garbage, so that most canned or prepackaged groceries are unhealthy, as is most of what is offered through fast or other style restaurants.

    In the intellectual realm things are not much better, as anyone who has scanned the shelves of a modern library or video rental store should know, if they are sensible of what is happening before their very eyes.

    The number of offerings of ultra violent, perverse, corrupt, lecherous, banal, crime-glorifying, and insipid low humor, or rigidly self-righteous crud that crams the walls of such establishments forces the realization of an entire generation of children raised up and emotionally, mentally and spiritually warped by the filth of all this so-called "literature" and "entertainment."

    How can sound teaching or true wisdom seem desirable in comparison with the deluge of "cheap," abundant modern fables (or myths) that seem so alluring in comparison (II Timothy 4:4)?

    And from where did this degradation arise other than in the cunningly devised fables and myths of false religious faiths?   Myths such as an alleged "saint" named "Nick," egg-laying rabbits, or rebellious sons who despite their intent of doing away with their father's laws are resurrected back to life to lead a band of rebels against all that "old" testament stuff (cf. I Timothy 1:3-4, 4:7; II Peter 1:16).

    Today, cleverly invented stories seem to prevail in the hearts of most people, while the ancient and ageless pure truths of life and blessings -- compared to the cursings and ultimate death that come from the popular deceptions, conceits and attitudes -- lie trampled underfoot in the dust of the rush to oblivion upon the broad highway to destruction most are following (see: Matthew 7:13-14; and cf. Luke 13:24).

    Today there is a crying need to return to the Law given through Moses, and thoroughly understand the blessings and curses for obedience or disobedience prophesied therein (see: Deuteronomy 27:9 thru 28:68; cf. Malachi 4:4).

    It would not be necessary for all things to be restored (Matthew 17:11; Mark 9:12; Luke 1:16-17) if they had not been first lost along the way from antiquity until today.

    As a society we have not only mostly forgotten our own moral roots -- such as they were -- we have simply never known the more important concepts of spiritual and moral purity in the carnal corruptions and unclean substitute "truths" that seem so popular (until things start to go terribly wrong, as they inevitably must under the burden of such deceptions and arrogant, prideful conceits).

    A restoration to the long-neglected and generally forgotten pure truth will precede the Savior's second-coming (Acts 3:21; cf. Psalm 51:12; Isaiah 1:26, 49:6, 57:18; Jeremiah 27:22, 30:17; "Joel" 2:23-27; Malachi 4:5-6, Septuagint translation).

    Ever since the cunning serpent conspired to deceive Adam and Eve, and foisted off upon gullible humanity a science (knowledge) of good and evil, the human race has been going down the slippery slope to ruin and destruction, that ends in death and finally the judgment of the Lake of Fire for all who remain unrepentant and rebellious.

    Wicked lusts and greed lead to violence and war (James 4:1-3), of which we have an overabundance today, and the majority of people like to have it so and refuse to learn the ways of peace or depend upon their Creator for their protection and salvation from all troubles and threats.

    The truth that He will intervene and act on our behalf seems naive and foolish, if not criminally negligent, to the fearful, security-minded and unbelieving greater part of humanity today, as it in fact has to nearly every past generation.

    Thereby hangs the history of woes and miseries that have plagued mankind since creation, and will continue until the Savior returns to finally end forever the insanity of everyone doing what seems right in their own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8).

    This, then, is the pure truth about the pure truth, while all else is wicked deception and not worthy to be compared with it!