Deuteronomy interlinear puns
The Book of Deuteronomy contains mostly Biblical laws, interspersed with bits of the Biblical storyline. Many of these laws are also repeated in Leviticus. I have only decrypted a small part so far, but it seems that under the hood, they’re all spook laws.
How to read the interlinear puns
- Each Hebrew word is a block; each Hebrew verse is a paragraph of little blocks. Blocks & text are read left-to-right, as in English.
- Possible pun meaning is on light red at the top, with pun vocabulary just below.
- Original Hebrew text is in the center.
- Official meaning is on light green at the bottom, with official vocabulary just above.
- Pun vocabulary is in red, whenever the meaning differs.
- Pun decryption is not an exact science. Please read the introduction, the interchangeability rules, and judge yourself whether I got it right.
- An encrypted spook message, if it’s really there, does not automatically mean that the literal meaning is wrong, or that the encrypted meaning is the truth.
Deuteronomy 14
Deuteronomy 14:3
Notlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not Notshall you ever trusttkl trust, confide, confident tˀkl תאכלt will ˀkl eat shall you ever eatanykl all, any kl כלkl all, any anyof the subjects.tbˁ submit, summoned, follow tˀbˁ servant, subject, subordinate twˁbh תועבהtˁb abhor, loathed, abomination of the abhorred [animals].
tˀbˁ for “subjects” is Arabic, but the Phoenician spooks must’ve known it. The pan-Semitic root is tbˁ for “demanding”.
Deuteronomy 14:4
[But] these arezˀt this zˀt זאתzˀt this [But] these arethose dumb leader servantsbhm dumb, driver, servant hbhmh הבהמהbhmh beast, cattle those beastswhomˀšr which, whom ˀšr אשרˀšr which, whom whichyou may trust & confide in:tkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you may eat:the aggressive / degenerate one [??],šwr wrestle, fighting swr turn aside, astray, degenerate šwr שורšwr ox the ox,[one who] actsˁšh do, act, order, force šh שהšh sheep, lamb a lambto force and subjugate,kšb subdue kbš subdue, subjugate, force kšbym כשביםkšb lamb kbš lamb from the sheep,[one who] actsˁšh do, act, order, force wšh ושהšh sheep, lamb a lambas strong & powerful,ˁṣm strong, force, powerful ˁzym עזיםˁzym goats from the goats,
Deuteronomy 14:5
the strong / foolish [??],ˀwl strong, foolish ˀyl אילˀyl deer, ram the deerthe angry & quarrelsome,ṣhb angry, quarrel, hate, insult wṣby וצביṣby gazelle, roebuck the gazelle,the strict & restrictive,ḥmwr weighty, stringent, restrictive wyḥmwr ויחמורyḥmwr roebuck the roebuck,the blunt & dull,qhy blunt, dull, obstinate wˀqw ואקוˀqw wild goat and the wild goatthe apathetic & negligent ones,ˀdšwn apathy dwš listless dšš neglect wdyšn ודישןdyšn mountain goat the mountain goat,the desirous & greedy,tˀwh desire, greedy, appetite wtˀw ותאוtˀw antelope the antelope,and the foul & corrupt.mzr foul, corrupted wzmr וזמרzmr mountain sheep, goat and the mountain sheep.
Deuteronomy 14:6
And everykl all, every wkl וכלkl all, every And everydumb leader servantbhm dumb, driver, servant bhmh בהמהbhmh animal, cattle animalwho is separated & aloofm of prš separate, distinguish, aloof mprst מפרסתm of prs split, divide, hoof with splitclearly & distinctively,prš clearly, distinct prsh פרסהprs split, divide, hoof hooves,has a smooth-talking / split personality [???]šsˁt split personality šˁywtˀ smoothness šwˁytˀ talk, tale šˁšˁ play, smooth wšsˁt ושסעתšsˁt split, divide, cloven-foot having the hoofsplitšsˁ split, divide, cloven-foot šsˁ שסעšsˁ split, divide, cloven-foot split[into] twošty two šty שתיšty two [into] twoparts,prs split, divide prswt פרסותprs split, divide parts,and who is distinguished to / will betray [?]mˁlh distinguished, superior mˁl treacherous mˁlt מעלתm of ˁlh go up, bring up, raise, rise [and that] chews up[the other] inferiorsgrˁ inferior, less grh rival, fight grh גרהgrh ground food, cud the cudamong the dumb servants,b in, among bhm dumb, servant bbhmh בבהמהb in, among bhmh animal, cattle among the animalsin himˀt to ˀth אתהˀt to that oneyou may confide.tkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you may eat
The original reads “split the split and split the split in two splits”. This much repetition simply must have a reason, such as underlying punnery. “Split” as abbreviation for “split personality” is a modernism, but similar ones may have existed in ancient times.
Deuteronomy 14:7
Nevertheless,ˀk nevertheless ˀk אךˀk nevertheless Nevertheless,inˀt to ˀt אתˀt to thesezh this zh זהzh this thesedo NOTlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not do NOTconfide,tkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat eat,[even though they] are distinguishedmˁlh distinguished, superior mˁl treacherous mmˁly ממעליm of ˁlh go up, bring up, raise, rise [even though they] chew up[from the other] inferiors,grˁ inferior, less grh rival, fight hgrh הגרהgrh ground food, cud the cudor [though they] are separatedm of prš separate, distinguish, aloof wmmprysy וממפריסיm of prs split, divide, hoof or [though they] have clovenclearlyprš clearly, distinct hprsh הפרסהprs split, divide, hoof hooves[from] the plundered [folk?]:šsˁ persuade šsh incite, plunder hšswˁh השסועהšsˁ split, divide, cloven-foot the cloven: ˀt to ˀt אתˀt to the kind & merciful,gml kind, charitable ḥml mercy, pity, spare hgml הגמלgml camel the camel, ˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to the honest & innocent,nbr honest, innocent, pure hˀrnbt הארנבתˀrnb hare the hareandˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andthe respectful & caring;spn respect, honor, care for, mind hšpn השפןšpn hyrax, coney, rock-badger the rock badger [?!?]forky for ky כיky for fordistinguishedmˁlh distinguished, superior mˁlh מעלהm of ˁlh go up, bring up, raise, rise chew[among] the inferiorsgrˁ inferior, less grh rival, fight grh גרהgrh cud the cudare they,hm they hmh המהhm they do they,but separated [from them]prš separate, distinguish wprsh ופרסהprs split, divide, hoof but [their] hoovesnotlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not are notclearly,prš clearly hprysw הפריסוprs split, divide, hoof cloven,so too assimilated [to the people]ṭmˁ assimilated, absorbed, intermixed ṭmˀym טמאיםṭmˀ unclean so uncleanthey [are]hm they hm הםhm they they [are]for you.lkm to you lkm לכםlkm to you for you.
Camels do have cloven hooves, making this “cud & hoof” law self-contradictory on top of having no apparent motive. The only explanation are the puns.
Deuteronomy 14:8
And [also not]ˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to And [also not]the reflective & repentant, who gives things back,ḥzr repent, restore, give back ḥzrh reflect hḥzr refund, repay hḥzyr החזירḥzyr pig, swine the swine,because [although]ky as, because ky כיky as, because because [although]distinguishedm of prš separate, distinguish mprys מפריסm of prs split, divide, hoof clovenclearlyprš clearly, distinct prsh פרסהprs split, divide, hoof hooveshe is,hwˀ he, it hwˀ הואhwˀ he, it it has,but notlˀ not wlˀ ולאlˀ not but notrivalrous to the other inferiors [??],grˁ inferior, less grh rival, jealous, fight grh גרהgrh ground food, cud [does it chew] cud,so too assimilatedṭmˁ assimilated, absorbed, intermixed ṭmˀ טמאṭmˀ unclean so uncleanhe ishwˀ he, it hwˀ הואhwˀ he, it it isfor you.lkm to you lkm לכםlkm to you for you.In his explanationspšr explain, interpret mbšrm מבשרםbšr flesh, body Its fleshdo notlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not do nottrust,tkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat eat,his foolish ideasnbl foolishness, villainous wbnbltm ובנבלתםnblh carcass and its carcassshould notlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not do notconcern you.t of ngˁ concern, afflict, reach tgˁw תגעוt of ngˁ touch touch.
Deuteronomy 14:9
ˀt to ˀt אתˀt to Thesezh this zh זהzh this Theseyou may entrustt will ˀkl eat tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you may eatof allm of kl all mkl מכלm of kl all of allwhich [are]ˀšr which ˀšr אשרˀšr which which [are]to be mouthpieces [??]:pwm mouth, command pwmyt mouthpiece bmym במיםb in mym waters in the waters:Allkl all kl כלkl all Allthatˀšr that ˀšr אשרˀšr that that[are] to themlw to him lw לוlw to him [have] to themnarrating talesspr recount, tell, narrate snpyr סנפירsnpyr fins finsand babbling & chatteringqšqš prattle, babble, chatter wqšqšt וקשקשתqšqšt scales and scalesyou may entrust,tkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you may eat,
Deuteronomy 14:10
but allkl all wkl וכלkl all but allwhich [are]ˀšr which ˀšr אשרˀšr which which [do]notˀyn not ˀyn איןˀyn not notto themlw to him lw לוlw to him [have] to themnarrating talesspr recount, tell, narrate snpyr סנפירsnpyr fins finsand babbling & chattering,qšqš prattle, babble, chatter wqšqšt וקשקשתqšqšt scales and scales,notlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not notyou shall entrust.tkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you shall eat.Too assimilated [to the people]ṭmˁ assimilated, absorbed, intermixed ṭmˀ טמאṭmˀ unclean Uncleanthey [are]hwˀ he, it hwˀ הואhwˀ he, it they [are]for you.lkm to you lkm לכםlkm to you for you.
Deuteronomy 14:11
Allkl all kl כלkl all All[employee] bankers for collecting wealthspr count ṣbr collect, wealth ṣrp change money, money-changer ṣpwr צפורṣpr bird birdsthat are of nobilityt of ḥwr noblemen ṭhrh טהרהṭhr clean cleanyou may entrust.t will ˀkl eat tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you may eat.
Deuteronomy 14:12
But these [are those]zh this wzh וזהzh this But these [are those]whichˀšr which ˀšr אשרˀšr which whichnotlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not notyou shall entrusttkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you shall eatof them:m from hm them mhm מהםm from hm them of them:the watchful & observant [??],nṣr watch, observe hnšr הנשרnšr eagle the eagle,the invasive & penetrating,prz break, open prṣ breach, invade brṣ penetrate whprs והפרסprs vulture and the vulture,the ones who balance carefully [?],ˀzn listen, balance, weigh carefully whˁznyh והעזניהˁznyh buzzard and the buzzard,
Deuteronomy 14:13
the perceptive,rˀh see, perceive, understand dˀy sufficiency, too much whrˀh והראהrˀh glede dˀh kite and the glede,andˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andthe experienced [?],ḥwh experience hˀyh האיהˀyh falcon the falconthe knowledgeabledˁh knowledge, wisdom whdyh והדיהdyh kite and the kiteand those kind,l to myn kind lmynh למינהl to myn kind and their kind,
Deuteronomy 14:14
andˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andeverykl every kl כלkl every everyresponsible person [?]ˁrb responsible, liable, surety ˁrb ערבˁrb raven ravenand those kind,l to myn kind lmynw למינוl to myn kind and their kind,
Deuteronomy 14:15
andˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to anda person [??]bt daughter bt בתbt daughter the daughter [??]who looks carefully & investigates,ˁyn look carefully, balance exactly, investigate hyˁnh היענהyˁn ostrich of the ostrich,andˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andone who balances,t will msḥˀ balance htḥms התחמסtḥms owl the [short-eared?] owl,andˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andone who searches & examines,ḥpš search, examine, expose pšḥ doubt hšḥp השחףšḥp sea mew, sea gull the seagull,andˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andone who examines & provesnsh try, test, prove nsy examine hnṣ הנץnṣ hawk the hawkand those kind,l to myn kind lmynhw למינהוl to myn kind and their kind,
Deuteronomy 14:16
andˀt to ˀt אתˀt to anda pickpocket [??],kys pickpocket hkws הכוסkws small owl the small owlandˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andone who takes away [funds??]nsb pick up, take away hynšwp הינשוףynšwp owl the [screech?] owland who steals [??],t will nšmṭ slip away n make šmṭ carry off, steal whtnšmt והתנשמתtnšmt white owl and the white owl
One mustn’t steal what the overlords rightfully stole!
Deuteronomy 14:17
and the quarreling one,qṭṭ quarrel whqˀt והקאתqˀt pelican, cormorant and the pelicanandˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andthe headstrong,mrḥ headstrong, difficult hrḥmh הרחמהrḥm carrion vulture the carrion vultureandˀt to wˀt ואתˀt to andthe prudent & intelligentškl prudent, wise, understand, intelligent hšlk השלךšlk cormorant the cormorant
Deuteronomy 14:18
and the ones who suspect things,ḥšd suspect, suspicion whḥsydh והחסידהḥsydh stork and the storkand those who examine & sift through thingsnph sift, examined closely whˀnph והאנפהˀnph heron and the heronand those kind,l to myn kind lmynh למינהl to myn kind and their kind,and the earnest & vehement ones,tkybˀyt earnestly, vigorously tkb vehemence whdwkypt והדוכיפתdwkypt hoopoe and the hoopoeand the ones who look through things [???].ṣlp perforate, open, look through whˁṭlp והעטלףˁṭlp bat and the bat
Deuteronomy 14:19
And everykl all, every wkl וכלkl all, every And everyalert & active onezrz quick, alert, active šrṣ שרץšrṣ creep creeping thingand penetrating one [???],pˁpwˁ piercing, penetrating hˁwp העוףˁwp fly that fliestoo obstinate [and thus] shut offˀṭm shut, closed, obstinate ṭmˀ טמאṭmˀ unclean uncleanhe [is]hwˀ he, it hwˀ הואhwˀ he, it it [is]for you,lkm to you lkm לכםlkm to you for you,notlˀ not lˀ לאlˀ not not[to be] trusted.tkl trust, confide, confident yˀklw יאכלוˀkl eat [to be] eaten.
Deuteronomy 14:20
[But] allkl all kl כלkl all [But] all[employee] bankersspr count ṣbr collect, wealth ṣrp change money, money-changer ˁwp עוףˁwp bird ṣpr bird birdswho are of nobilityt of ḥwr noblemen ṭhwr טהורṭhwr clean cleanyou may entrust.tkl trust, confide, confident tˀklw תאכלוt will ˀkl eat you may eat.
ˁwp “bird” was here used instead of ṣpr “bird”, which puns with ṣrp “moneychanger”. Compare Deuteronomy 14:11.