MSI Press Blog

  Calling God a Rock is a major divine epithet. It carries a cluster of meanings: strength, protection, permanence, reliability, and life‑giving power. Christianity inherits this imagery directly. Islam does not commonly use “Rock” as a divine name, though it shares the underlying ideas of God as steadfast, unshakeable, and protective, expressed through different metaphors. 🪨 1. Why “Rock” in the Bible? The Hebrew Bible uses ṣūr (“rock”) as a formal title for God. A major scholarly study identifies four core functions of this epithet: Protective agency — God as fortress, refuge, shelter Strength — God as unmovable, reliable, unassailable Ontological status — God as the stable ground of existence Creator — God as the one from whom life and sustenance flow (e.g., water from the rock) This is why verses like: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress” (Ps 18:2) “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD is an everlasting rock” (Isa 26:4) are so central. The metaphor is not casual — i...

  1. The Question Behind the Comparison All three texts — the Qur’an , the Tanakh , and the Bible — speak of one God, creation, revelation, and moral life. Yet they differ profoundly in origin, structure, and purpose . Understanding those differences helps us see not division, but distinct ways of hearing the Divine. 2. The Tanakh: Covenant and History The Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) is the foundation of Jewish faith. It tells the story of God’s covenant with Israel — a relationship expressed through law, prophecy, poetry, and wisdom. Written primarily in Hebrew (with some Aramaic) Composed over centuries, from roughly 1200–100 BCE Structured in three parts: Torah (Law) , Nevi’im (Prophets) , and Ketuvim (Writings) Emphasizes God’s faithfulness, justice, and the call to holiness through covenant life The Tanakh ends with Israel’s return from exile — a story still open, awaiting fulfillment within history itself. 3. The Bible: Covenant and Fulfillment The Christian Bible includes ...

  Few words in Scripture carry as much weight as truth . Yet its meaning shifts subtly across the biblical story—from covenant faithfulness in the Hebrew Scriptures to divine revelation in Christ in the New Testament. The word never loses its moral depth, but it grows in scope: from trustworthiness to ultimate reality . 🌿 In the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) The Hebrew word most often translated as truth is ’emet , meaning firmness, reliability, faithfulness . Truth here is not about factual precision but about trustworthiness —the kind of reliability that holds a covenant together. God’s character: God is true because He is faithful to His promises. “All His works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4). Human integrity: To “walk in truth” means to live faithfully and honestly. Covenant context: Truth and mercy ( ḥesed we’emet ) often appear together—steadfast love and faithfulness describing God’s dependable relationship with His people. In short, truth in the Hebrew Scripture...