What exactly does the Bible mean when is speaks of “other gods”? Are they real entities? Ideologies? Lifeless statues? During Passover week, a heated debate erupted among friends. Some adhered to the Pshat—the literal, contextual meaning of the verse: the text seems to suggest that other gods exist alongside the one God. Others took the Drash approach—a deeper, symbolic, or spiritual interpretation seeking moral or ideological messages behind the words. The Pshat asks: What does the verse say? The Drash asks: What does the verse teach? Both approaches complement each other. The Pshat lays the foundation, while the Drash opens space for depth and relevance. This tension moves me—not just linguistically but spiritually. Few topics reveal so clearly how complex and multifaceted the Hebrew language and biblical worldview can be.
In the Torah, the five books of Moses, the term “other gods” is used in a clear historical and social context. Israel lived among peoples with rich polytheistic traditions, such as Canaan, Egypt, and Babylon....
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