Escape to peaces – a light bite
By Baldmichael Theresoluteprotector’sson
That might not sound very good English but apparently it is an acceptable plural, it is just we don’t hear it used in general.
But I imagine most people want this, to find peace in hectic lives. Of course some people seem to love the busy and the frantic, rushing around like a mad thing.
Some people even like strife and conflict. But I think most of us don’t.
Anyway, today in the south of England it has been a beautiful, sunny and calm day, pleasantly warm for the time of year, especially in a sheltered spot. It has been a welcome respite from the grey and wet weather we have had.
As regards the meaning of escape I see that apparently it relates to leaving ones cape or cloak behind in the hands of a pursuer. See
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/escape
From Middle English escapen, from Anglo-Norman and Old Northern French escaper ( = Old French eschaper, modern French échapper), from Vulgar Latin *excappāre, literally "get out of one's cape, leave a pursuer with just one's cape," from Latin ex- (“out”) + Late Latin cappa (“cape, cloak”). Cognate with escapade.
Even in the bible reference is made to a young man escaping the clutches of his enemies, leaving his linen cloth behind. See Mark 14 v.51
As to the word ‘peace’ it apparently originates
from the Anglo-French pes, and the Old French pais, meaning "peace, reconciliation, silence, agreement" (11th century).[4] The Anglo-French term pes itself comes from the Latin pax, meaning "peace, compact, agreement, treaty of peace, tranquility, absence of hostility, harmony." See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace
This is interesting because ‘pax’ can be seen as ‘from x’ where the ‘p’ is related to the ‘ap’ of Greek meaning ‘from’. The ‘x’ represents a cancellation, in this case implying silence or stillness.
But there is a route to peace from the word ‘escape’. This is because it is an anagram of ‘peaces’.
The world offers various ‘peaces’ as solutions to wars, and indeed we have an offer of peace of sorts in the Ukraine-Russia affair.
But there is another peace which Jesus gave his disciples. As is written:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”
As to the nature of that peace I say we can find the meaning in the Greek word he uses, Εἰρήνην - eirenen.
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/14-27.htm
In its anglicised form it can anagram to:
- Nee rein
Nee means ‘born’ so ‘born rein’, the peace Jesus gives is a new birth where one reins over fear and thus one has peace.
So from England this evening I will say peace be with you all dear readers and sleep well.
P.S. If you should need more light bites you can try my World Menu on my WordPress site. The TAPPER’S BAR has lots of such articles, just do a word search for TAPPER’S BAR to get you there quickly.
Should you need more on peace then there’s this on the Hebrew word.
And with regards to ‘x’ there is this recent post for consideration if you have not seen it.
A lovely piece. 🙏🏻