# Tomndebb is one weaselly mother fucker… **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 12, 2007, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569 "2007-03-12T06:48:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/441 "2007-03-15T04:44:46Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] What’s communist party in Israel got to do with things? [/QUOTE] Why, what _don’t_ they have to do with it? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/442 "2007-03-15T04:52:20Z")
Are you referring to the Texas lady whom **tom** was channelling? -Cisco, also too lazy to look it up in Wikipedia 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/443 "2007-03-15T04:57:43Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Methinks your to lazy to look it up. What’s communist party in Israel got to do with things? > **[Rakah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakah)** > > Rakah may refer to: [/QUOTE] _Rhaka_ (not _rakah_… **Monty** actually spelled it wrong) is an Aramaic word used by Jesus in Matthew 5:22. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [Gr. sp. _rhaka_] shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. _Rhaka_ literally means “empty,” figuratively it means “senseless” (or so strong’s tells me. I don’t know Aramaic). ---
**Author:** ![badchad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/444 "2007-03-15T05:05:13Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] _Rhaka_ (not _rakah_… **Monty** actually spelled it wrong) is an Aramaic word used by Jesus in Matthew 5:22. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [Gr. sp. _rhaka_] shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. _Rhaka_ literally means “empty,” figuratively it means “senseless” (or so strong’s tells me. I don’t know Aramaic). [/QUOTE] Thanks, I thought that’s what he might have been getting at but with the spelling I wasn’t sure. I think it should be clear to readers that I wasn’t at all worried about what thought of Jesus saying Raca to anyone, but rather “Thou fool.” Is this what you were getting at **tom** ; did you have anything else to add on the subject? **Monty** will you now repent your sin? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/445 "2007-03-15T05:10:56Z")
I think **Monty** might have actually confused the _rhaka_ part with the “you fool” part which is _more_ (from _moros_) in the Greek. ---
**Author:** ![badchad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/446 "2007-03-15T05:21:28Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I think **Monty** might have actually confused the _rhaka_ part with the “you fool” part which is _more_ (from _moros_) in the Greek. [/QUOTE] Probably, but from his perspective I have to think, repentance is in order. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/447 "2007-03-15T05:24:48Z")
Just to give him a possible out. Some people think that _more_ might actually be a transliteration of the Hebrew word _moreh_, meaning “rebel” instead of the Greek word meaning “fool.” ---
**Author:** ![badchad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/448 "2007-03-15T05:31:19Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Just to give him a possible out. Some people think that _more_ might actually be a transliteration of the Hebrew word _moreh_, meaning “rebel” instead of the Greek word meaning “fool.” [/QUOTE] Considering the quote said hell fire is a possible punishment, do you think (from his perspective) he should repent anyway, just to play it safe? I have to think Pascal would. 😉 Also by “some people” what percentage would you estimate think this? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/449 "2007-03-15T05:36:51Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Considering the quote said hell fire is a possible punishment, do you think (from his perspective) he should repent anyway, just to play it safe? I have to think Pascal would. 😉 Also by “some people” what percentage would you estimate think this? [/QUOTE] What percentage would argue for it definitively, I don’t know, but i think most would concede it as a possibility. This is a case where either word would look the same in Greek so there’s no way to conclusively prove either one. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/450 "2007-03-15T05:51:05Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] What percentage would argue for it definitively, I don’t know, but i think most would concede it as a possibility. This is a case where either word would look the same in Greek so there’s no way to conclusively prove either one. [/QUOTE] WEASEL!!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/451 "2007-03-15T05:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] WEASEL!!! 😛 [/QUOTE] Really? In what way? I’m not arguing for either possibility. I’m just offering the information that two possibilities exist. ---
**Author:** ![badchad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/452 "2007-03-15T06:00:56Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Really? In what way? I’m not arguing for either possibility. I’m just offering the information that two possibilities exist. [/QUOTE] Well then, from **Monty’s** perspective, he should really repent to play it safe, right? Also, just to be clear, when you say most would agree it’s a possibility, do you mean that in a “slim chance” sort of way “good chance” sort of way? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/453 "2007-03-15T06:08:44Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Well then, from **Monty’s** perspective, he should really repent to play it safe, right? [/QUOTE] Well, he knows the score, I’m sure he can handle it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/454 "2007-03-15T06:10:46Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Well then, from **Monty’s** perspective, he should really repent to play it safe, right? Also, just to be clear, when you say most would agree it’s a possibility, do you mean that in a “slim chance” sort of way “good chance” sort of way? [/QUOTE] I haven’t done any in-depth research into this passage so I can’t speak all that authoritatively, but I don’t believe there’s exactly a raging debate about it or firm positions one way or the other. It’s more of an aknowledged question mark than anything. I think the retention of the Aramic _rhaka_ earlier in the verse lends itself to the plausibility of another transliteration, especially since _rhaka_ and _more_ seem a little redundant. I guess what I’m saying is that most translators would say the possibilty that it’s a transliteration of _moreh_ can’t be ruled out, but I’m not aware of any who say it HAS to be read either way. ETA the short answer: I think they’d say it’s a _decent_ chance, but not a slam dunk. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/455 "2007-03-15T06:15:08Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Need I tell you what Jesus said about calling others fools? [/QUOTE] He said they’re in danger, you fool. You do understand, don’t you, that if you tell a child he is in danger of being run over when he goes onto the street, it does not mean that he will be run over when he goes onto the street. It means that the danger of being run over will exist. That same danger can also be mitigated if, say, you go out onto the street yourself and barricade an area for the child. ---
**Author:** ![badchad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/456 "2007-03-15T06:29:34Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I haven’t done any in-depth research into this passage so I can’t speak all that authoritatively, but I don’t believe there’s exactly a raging debate about it or firm positions one way or the other. It’s more of an aknowledged question mark than anything. I think the retention of the Aramic _rhaka_ earlier in the verse lends itself to the plausibility of another transliteration, especially since _rhaka_ and _more_ seem a little redundant. I guess what I’m saying is that most translators would say the possibilty that it’s a transliteration of _moreh_ can’t be ruled out, but I’m not aware of any who say it HAS to be read either way. ETA the short answer: I think they’d say it’s a _decent_ chance, but not a slam dunk. [/QUOTE] Well, lets put it this way, if you were **Monty** , and you were trying to live as Jesus suggested, would you make it a habit to go around calling people fools? If you slipped and did call someone a fool, or a synonym thereof, would you (assuming you weren’t full of pride) ask Jesus for forgiveness, if for no other reason than to play it safe? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/457 "2007-03-15T06:34:46Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Well, lets put it this way, if you were **Monty** , and you were trying to live as Jesus suggested, would you make it a habit to go around calling people fools? If you slipped and did call someone a fool, or a synonym thereof, would you (assuming you weren’t full of pride) ask Jesus for forgiveness, if for no other reason than to play it safe? [/QUOTE] I can’t possibly speak for Monty, but if I were trying to live only as Jesus told me to, I’d already be so screwed for lusting after women who were not my wife (and thus “committing adultery in my heart”) that calling someone a fool couldn’t make things any worse for me. 😉 I really don’t know how to answer this question. I don’t know how to think like a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/458 "2007-03-15T06:35:23Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Well, lets put it this way, if you were **Monty** , and you were trying to live as Jesus suggested, would you make it a habit to go around calling people fools? If you slipped and did call someone a fool, or a synonym thereof, would you (assuming you weren’t full of pride) ask Jesus for forgiveness, if for no other reason than to play it safe? [/QUOTE] So you seek to antagonize people you believe can’t fight back? ---
**Author:** ![badchad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/459 "2007-03-15T06:36:44Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] So you seek to antagonize people you believe can’t fight back? [/QUOTE] Why can’t **Monty** fight back? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569/460 "2007-03-15T06:39:38Z")
[QUOTE=badchad] Why can’t **Monty** fight back? [/QUOTE] His god will punish him, apparantly. In any event, you’re celebrating a claimed victory in a semantically slanted battle. Congrats. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomndebb-is-one-weaselly-mother-fucker/395569.md?page=24)