Knowing vs knowing

In Spanish there are 2 words for know. The first is to intellectually know something, like I know I am getting old. The second is to know a person, like to become acquainted with and then be acquainted to, to be familiar with, friends with, etc.. You know a person in a much different way than you know a fact. Knowledge is cold and factual. But knowing a person is familiar and personal.

In Alma 12:34 it says, "Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made ^aknown unto them the plan of redemption"

In Spanish it says, "por tanto, después de haberles dado a ^aconocer el plan de redención"

Knowing the plan of redemption in this way isn't just having an accumulation of facts about an event. It is having it in our hearts and understanding it on a personal level. We need to understand the plan of redemption on a personal level. We need to take it into our hearts, not just our heads. Equally, when we teach the things of God, we need to teach to people's hearts and help them know them on a personal level.

I also like in this scripture that it says AFTER God helped us know (on a personal level) the plan of redemption, then He gave us commandments. We are much more likely to obey the commandments if we know why we have them. The same is true for our children as we teach them and anyone else we try to influence. The obedience is much more likely if they know WHY we have those rules or laws or commandments.

Repentence

2 Cor 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made ^asorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

the last phrase is quite different. In Spanish it says: "para que ninguna pérdida padecieseis por nuestra parte. "

Literally it would say, so that you will suffer no loss because of us.

God doesn't damage us. However we do suffer great loss when we distance ourselves from Him. If we can repent and turn our hearts to him we will not suffer any loss of Him.

God isn't pleased when we suffer, but when the suffering brings us closer to Him, He is happy. I would much rather be brought to Him because I love Him, and I'm sure He would prefer that, too. But if suffering can help us remember our Father who loves us and wants to help and bless us and wants to alleviate our suffering, then He is glad for it. That is sorrow after a godly manner - the sorrow that takes our hearts back to Him. That is the sorrow that ends the suffering from the loss of Him.

We are His people

Alma 34:8 Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people

In Spanish the word used almost always instead of people is pueblo. It could just say for las personas, or la gente, which would mean a group of people. But instead of saying "a group of people" it says pueblo,

If you think of pueblo as a community or a group of people residing together, I think it brings more of a feeling of Christ's group who surround Him. People can be defined as separate individuals who are standing together or are counted together, but are individuals. The word pueblo brings more of a group/community feeling. I think that is the feeling we can have as we come unto Christ. We are not just one of His people but are part of his pueblo.

Communion : fellowship

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

This scripture is encouraging to anyone who feels alone or lonely. We never need to be alone because if we walk in the light (of Christ) we will have fellowship with others who walk in the light. I find that comforting and reassuring.

But in Spanish, the word used is comunion (communion). In the dictionary, it says communion is:

* fellowship. (which we already knew), but also infers
* interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions; intimate communication as in communion with nature.
* the act of sharing or holding in common; participation.

I think of fellowship as association with others and befriending. But it is much more than that. If we walk in the light, we can have an intimate interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions. We can share and hold in common the things that are most sacred and important to us. I love that. Walking in the light is much more than not being in the dark. It is fellowship and intimate sharing of emotions.

Then when we do that, the blood of Christ will cleanse us from all sin.

All are sinners

What happens when we sin? In Romans 3:23 it says:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of god;

In Spanish, instead of 'come short' it says we are "destituidos" or destitute of the glory of God. That sounds much stronger than just coming short of His glory.

I really don't want to come short or be destitute of His glory.

Faith in Christ

This is one example where English works better than Spanish for clear understanding.

Moroni 7:33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

In Spanish instead of a word meaning expedient, the word is conveniente which could lead someone to think God only answers prayers if it is convenient. I'm sure it is more a matter of importance, of necessity, or correctness for our lives than convenience to Him.

Mercy and Justice

Mosiah 15: 9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.

9 habiendo ascendido al cielo, henchidas de misericordia sus entrañas, lleno de compasión por los hijos de los hombres; interponiéndose entre ellos y la justicia; habiendo quebrantado los lazos de la muerte, tomado sobre sí la iniquidad y las transgresiones de ellos, habiéndolos redimido y satisfecho las exigencias de la justicia.

Christ has the bowels of mercy for us; in Spanish it says the bowels are henchidas, or swollen; full of mercy. I like that Spanish makes it clear that Christ is FULL of mercy for us. There is no doubt how Christ feels towards us. We don't need to feel unloved. He shows repeatedly He loves us.

Another one is Alma 42:24
24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

24 Pues he aquí, la justicia ejerce todos sus derechos, y también la misericordia reclama cuanto le pertenece; y así, nadie se salva sino los que verdaderamente se arrepienten.

The Spanish and English frequently have different words for demands, but this time the Spanish word is rights. I like that because we can see that it isn't just that justice demands; it is the right of justice to have its consequences.

How to have God's mercy

2 Nephi 9:21 And he cometh into the world that he may ^asave all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the ^bpains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of ^cAdam.

22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.

22 Y sufre esto a fin de que la resurrección llegue a todos los hombres, para que todos comparezcan ante él en el gran día del juicio.

The difference on this one in Spanish is that instead of "pass upon" all men, in Spanish it says the resurrection might "come to all men".

Also, the word "stand" before God, in Spanish is "appear" before God.



Alma 34:16 And thus ^amercy can satisfy the demands of ^bjustice, and encircles them in the arms of safety,

16 Y así la ^amisericordia satisface las exigencias de la ^bjusticia, y ciñe a los hombres con brazos de seguridad;

I looked up the word ciñe to translate it to English and it came out "adhere". When I looked up the verb ciñir, it came out "girding or to gird up". So we are not just encircled with arms of safety, we are adhered to and girded up with those arms of safety. I think that adds a lot to the meaning of that one scripture. It is much more than just being surrounded in the arms. God loves us and will cling to us with all His strength because of the mercy which He gives us.

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your ^afaith unto repentance, that ye begin to ^bcall upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is ^amighty to save.

17 Por tanto, hermanos míos, Dios os conceda empezar a ejercitar vuestra ^afe para ^barrepentimiento, para que empecéis a implorar su santo nombre, a fin de que tenga misericordia de vosotros;

18 sí, imploradle misericordia, porque es poderoso para salvar.

In verses 17 and 18, they tell us to call and cry unto God's holy name. In Spanish the word for both is implore. We need to implore God to have mercy on us.

Answer the ends of the law

2nd Nephi, 2:7 Behold, he offereth himself a ^asacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law

In Spanish, it says: He aquí, él se ofrece a sí mismo en ^asacrificio por el pecado, para satisfacer las demandas de la ley

The difference is where it says to answer the ends of the law. The direct translation from Spanish would be to satisfy the demands of the law.

I think that makes it clearer to know that the law demands a punishment. The law cannot be ignored. If a child walks in front of a car, he will be hit by the car, no matter how much we love that child. When we sin, there has to be a punishment or consequence. The law demands it.

But Christ offered (from Spanish) of himself in sacrifice for sin to satisfy those demands.

Purpose

I decided to start a blog where I can keep a record of insights I receive into the Scriptures as I study in them in Spanish and English and compare the two.

Many times the Scripture becomes more clear after reading the same Scripture in Spanish. My hope is that someone else might enjoy this comparison along with me.