For questions related to the Old and New Testament. [Disclaimer: Religious subjects are on topic when dealing with the stories and symbols in the bible, but be aware we take a mythographic approach, which may not always be in line with religious doctrine.]
Questions tagged [bible]
31 questions
31
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4 answers
Why did God prefer Abel's offering to Cain's?
In the Old Testament, God accepts Abel's offering but rejects Cain's:
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an…
user62
27
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3 answers
Why is the story of Odin hanging from Yggdrasil so similar to that of Jesus on the cross?
I hope this actually has an answer, I couldn't find anything but speculation on the web.
Basically, the story of Odin hanging from Yggdrasil is very similar to that of Jesus on the cross. Here are the stories broadly:
In order to learn of the runes…
Lara
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23
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Who commands the Heavenly Host in combat?
According to the bible, Heaven is defended by an army of good angels known as the Heavenly Host. For example, Christian mythology from the Book of Revelation states that the Heavenly Host will take part in the War in Heaven and defeat the army of…
Semaphore
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16
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In Leviticus, who or what is Azazel?
In Leviticus 16.8-10, there is a reference to Azazel (עֲזָאזֵל):
חוְנָתַן אַהֲרֹן עַל שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִם גֹּרָלוֹת גּוֹרָל אֶחָד לַיהֹוָה וְגוֹרָל אֶחָד לַעֲזָאזֵל:
טוְהִקְרִיב אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר אֲשֶׁר עָלָה עָלָיו הַגּוֹרָל לַיהוָֹה…
durron597
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14
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Did the sun stand still at around the same time in Toltec and Biblical traditions?
As I learned from my previous question, the Toltecs had a myth where the Sun did not move for a day.
In the year 8 Tochtli, which was 1,347 years after the second calamity and 4,779 years since the creation of the world, it is recorded in their…
El'endia Starman
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13
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5 answers
Where was the "garden of Eden" located?
According to biblical tradition, where was the garden of Eden located? The garden of Eden being the earthly paradise where God placed Adam and Eve.
Ken Graham
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11
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Does the Abrahamic God smite people with lightning?
A recent question on similarities between Zeus and the Christian God, and it occurred to me God striking down sinners with lightning is a trope, but, offhand, I can't think of stories from the bible that feature this. By contrast, Zeus was famous…
DukeZhou
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9
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Significance of Enoch's age in the Hebrew Bible and identification with seventh antediluvian king/sage from Mesopotamian mythology
In the Hebrew Bible, Genesis 5:23 records Enoch's age as 365 years. As far as I can tell based on my review of the BHS and Göttingen LXX apparatus, there are no alternate readings of this number as 354 nor as 364 years.1
Several scholars have noted…
Dan
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9
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6 answers
Are the Nephilim the demi-gods of the bible?
The Nephilim were not aliens, angels, “Watchers,” or rock monsters; they were literal, physical beings produced from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men.
When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born…
Tom Sol
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9
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4 answers
Are the Anunnaki mentioned in the Bible?
The following Bible passages mention “Anakim” and “Anak”:
Num 13:22; 13:28; 13:33
Deut 1:28; 2:10-11; 2:21, 9:2
Josh 11:21-22; 14:12; 14:15; 15:13-14; 21:11
Judg 1:20.
They sound similar.
Is there any known connection between the biblical…
kenorb
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8
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1 answer
What is the symbolism of horses in Canaanite sun worship?
In the Book of Kings it says:
"He [King Josiah] did away with the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance of the House of the LORD, near the chamber of the eunuch Nathan-melech, which was in the precincts. He burned…
Harel13
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7
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What was Jesus's original name?
It seems that the name of Jesus is mentioned in the Bible under a few different names. Hence the curiosity to know what His real name was when he walked on earth.
user2951
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6
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Greek or Roman equivalent of Bible
Wondering if there are any documents that document the Greek or Roman mythologies in a way similar to the bible, in that it acts as a comprehensive resource for all the knowledge about it. Maybe Metamorphosis is an example, I am not sure. Also, I am…
Lance Pollard
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1 answer
Did the inhabitants of the ancient Near East believe in an ocean in the sky?
An ocean in the sky shows up quite a lot in depictions, for example Psalms 148:4:
Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
But finding good evidence for it in Egyptian and Mesopotamian mythology, etc is hard. It does…
Reggie O'Donoghue
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6
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Who/what is Lilith?
So I was playing The Binding of Isaac the other day, and there's this character called Lilith.
Now I have good reason to believe that this is mythological. For one thing, all of the characters are part of the…
bleh
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