changethesystem

Memorize the Entire Bible
How I look at memorizing the entire Bible 10 months ago

Since I think it is not worth it to memorize an entire English Bible translation since the English parses concepts and uses words differently than Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, I’ve decided to first learn the original languages, then to memorize the Bible in the originals.

This is what some Muslims do with the Qur’an—though those I have asked about it didn’t actually learn the meanings of the ancient Arabic they memorized. Learning the meaning actually makes it EASIER to memorize something. The Qur’an has a length somewhere between the New Testament and the Tanakh, so I’m sure if Muslims can do it in 2 years, 6-7 hours a day in a classroom with an instructor, surrounded by fellow Muslims with the same goal, how much more so Christians if Christianity is indeed true, our God real and powerful, and His teachings/Word most relevant?

Deuteronomy 32:1-43 is the only part of the Bible God explicitly tells His people to memorize, so that seems like the best place to start.

Since there are multiple different Bible manuscripts, I have chosen the ones traditionally accepted by Orthodox Judaism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity respectively, mainly for simplicity, stability, and to minimize needless controversy.

Also, the advice to kings of making their own handwritten copy of the whole law of God (in the original languages) sounds like good advice for Bible memorization as well.

Whether or not I start a class for this purpose like the Muslims (know anyone interested in attending/sending their kids to it?), I figure a good way to test my memorization is to write out the entire Bible from memory, then compare it to the manuscript I memorized it from.

I’m the only one I know ANYWHERE seriously trying to do this, with my primary purpose being to obey all God’s commands, so anyone else wishing to do this, please let’s be in touch for mutual help and encouragement!

Feb 18, 2009, 05:14PM PST


Comments:

starrwd

I agree with you totally. Why memorize a translation when no translation can really even come close in meaning to the original?
It is easier to memorize when you know the meaning, but as a linguist I can tell you that if you can read the English translation first and then memorize in the original language while holding the meaning in mind, you will begin to recognize and attach meaning to words and you will understand what you are memorizing more and more with each memorized verse. Sort of like a 2 for 1 deal. You want to have it memorized and you want to learn the language, so why not do it at the same time?
That’s what I’m doing with Hebrew right now. I just started this project, but have learned several foreign languages in the past, so I have a pretty good grasp of the process.
First, I learned how to pronounce the letters (Aleph Bet for Adults is a good and easy book to use). Now I am looking at the biblical text and listening to it spoken as I follow along. Once I have memorized one verse and know what it means, I move to the next one. Words are inevitably repeated and I recognize them in the next passage. I understand more and more. Here are some mp3 audio files:
http://aoal.org/hebrew_audiobible.htm#Genesis

Is this similar to what you are doing or are you doing language courses first before you attempt the memorization?

May 29, 04:12AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

changethesystem

I've been reeling from this for a week.

Wow; this is such an awesome idea! I totally haven’t ever thought of doing anything like this before. Thanks for the tip! It makes me want to start memorizing right now!

I was indeed trying to learn the languages first, THEN memorize the Bible. I already know how to read in the original languages, minus a few nuances I’ve glossed over (I’ve got down all the regular pronunciation rules).

This really will help keep me from slacking off! Though I would probably memorize sentence by sentence, not verse by verse, as both chapters and verses are yet more man-made additions to the text, which I’m deliberately trying to distance myself from in order to get the flow and feel of the original better. I’m sure the natural breaks will become apparent, and not having the chapters/verses makes it more likely I’ll understand the full context.

...and, now I’m thinking: since the Bible is translated into virtually every language, I suspect it would work in the other direction as well! I have a list of 15 languages I’d like to learn before I die; who know that Bible memorization could aide learning other languages so much?

Thanks for the links. Any free Bible mp3s in NT Koine Greek?

Thanks again, starrwd! All other suggestions are very welcome. You’ve gotten me really excited. I’ll post sometime later to let you (and others) know how it’s going.

Jun 05, 06:38PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

starrwd

Glad I could help! So far, I have not looked for the Koine Greek mp3s, but I’ll bet I can scrape up something with a little reasearch.
The only other thing I’d say is that it is ssslllooow going for the first few passages before the memorization gets easier.
Since I posted this comment, I got a really nice interlinear translation that has sped things up considerably because it helps to break down the meaning more quickly.
Also- and this is going to sound crazy- I’ve been listening to the mp3 of the part I’m memorizing on loop while I sleep. It really does help. I started doing this because I discovered that if I have something Spanish on while I sleep, then I will dream in Spanish. I figure my brain must be listening to something if that’s happening. It’s not like you will magically wake up knowing the passage, but it does seem to stick a little more quickly for me.

Jun 06, 04:57AM PDT | Respond to this


 

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