（申32）圣经与面包 (Deut 32) The Bible and Bread

(ChatGPT was applied for translation from Chinese. 中文在后面）

Some Jewish traditions hold that concerning blessing the Creator, there are two teachings in the Bible.

https://www.sefaria.org/Berakhot.21a.4?lang=bi

Among them, Deuteronomy 32:3:

“For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God.”

is teaching that before reading the Bible one must bless the Creator.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkot_HaTorah

From this we can see such a concept:

The Jewish people connect proclaiming the Creator’s name with reading the Bible. At first glance Deuteronomy 32:3 does not mention reading the Bible, but the Bible reveals the Creator to humankind (LORD represents His name), therefore reading the Bible is proclaiming the Creator’s name. Some Jewish people even consider the whole Bible to be the Creator’s “best” name, perhaps because through the Creator’s words and deeds recorded in the Bible, one can more comprehensively know His attributes. See https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Esoteric/esoteric.html.

Therefore my understanding of this verse is like this: “I will proclaim the name of the LORD” is in the future tense, showing that before reading the Bible one first needs to do something in advance: before this, “ascribe greatness to our God,” that is, first bless the Creator. Some relevant prayers can be seen at http://mijiale.mypressonline.com/查经前后的祷告和有关经文：/

Another teaching about blessing the Creator is Deuteronomy 8:10:

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.”

This is teaching that after eating food represented by bread to the full, one must bless the Creator.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkat_Hamazon

For relevant prayers see https://www.sefaria.org/Birkat_Hamazon?tab=contents

From the parallel between reading the Bible and being filled with bread, we can see another concept:

The Bible and bread are both very important — the former is food for the soul, the latter food for the body. Both come from the Creator, therefore we must bless Him for both.

The Jewish sages said: “Without flour there is no Torah, without Torah there is no flour.”

On the one hand, if without the nourishment of the body symbolized by flour, people cannot live in this world to read the Bible. But on the other hand, if one who eats bread does not read the Bible to proclaim the Creator’s name, then flour as a created thing has not fulfilled its true function. (See a related explanation in https://www.sefaria.org/Rabbeinu_Yonah_on_Pirkei_Avot.3.17?lang=bi.)

（申32）圣经与面包

有些犹太传统认为，关于称颂造物主，圣经里有两处教导，https://www.sefaria.org/Berakhot.21a.4?lang=bi

其中，申命记 32:3 “我要宣告耶和华的名。你们要将大德归与我们的神。”

是在教导在宣读圣经之前要称颂造物主。https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkot_HaTorah

从这里我们可以看到这样一个观念：

犹太人把宣告造物主的名和宣读圣经联系了起来。申命记32:3这句经文初看并没有提到宣读圣经，但圣经向人类启示造物主（耶和华是祂的名），所以宣读圣经就是在宣告造物主的名。有犹太人甚至认为整本圣经是造物主的一个“最好”的名字，可能是因为通过圣经里记载的造物主的所说所作所为，能更全面地认识祂的属性，参见https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Esoteric/esoteric.html

。

所以关于这句经文我的理解是这样的，“要宣告耶和华的名”，是将来式，表示宣读圣经以前预先要做一件事：在此之前“你们要将大德归与我们的神”，就是要先称颂造物主。一些有关的祷告可参见http://mijiale.mypressonline.com/查经前后的祷告和有关经文：/

另一处关于称颂造物主的教导，是申命记 8:10 “你吃得饱足，就要称颂耶和华你的神，因他将那美地赐给你了 。” 这是在教导吃饱以面包为代表的食物以后要称颂造物主。https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkat_Hamazon 有关祷告参见https://www.sefaria.org/Birkat_Hamazon?tab=contents

从宣读圣经与吃饱面包两者之间的并列关系，我们可以看到另一个观念：

圣经和面包都很重要，前者是灵魂的粮，后者是肉体的粮，两者都来自造物主，所以我们都要为之称颂祂。

犹太先哲说，”如果没有面粉就没有圣经，如果没有圣经就没有面粉。”

一方面，如果没有面粉所象征的对肉体的喂养，人就不能在今世活着读圣经，但另一方面，如果吃面包的人没有读圣经宣告造物主的名，面粉作为受造物就没有实现它的真实作用。

(参见https://www.sefaria.org/Rabbeinu_Yonah_on_Pirkei_Avot.3.17?lang=bi.)