Musings the first.

What does it mean to be a jew?

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in flesh; but a Jew is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, of which the praise is not of men, but of God.

The jews were given the law, and are 'first', god's chosen - descendents of Judah ... what's judah?

From H3811; weary; Leah, a wife of Jacob (the hated one). (H3811; A primitive root; to tire; (figuratively) to be (or make) disgusted: - faint, grieve, lothe, (be, make) weary (selves).)
Gen 29:35 And she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and saith this time, `I praise Jehovah;' therefore hath she called his name Judah; and she ceaseth from bearing.
That 'Praise' is {{H3034 (H853) }} = use hand/revere/worship & 'self"
Judah: yeh-hoo-daw' From H3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory: - Judah. (yaw-daw'
A primitive root; used only as denominative from H3027; literally to use (that is, hold out) the hand; physically to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively to bemoan (by wringing the hands): - cast (out), (make) confess (-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank (-ful, -s, -sgiving).

SOOO Judah from Praise (use the hand, revere, worship, praise, give thanks) from Hand (open, power, means, direction ((as opposed to closed hand)) ) with signal/beacon from 'to come, assent, consent'. ---all from weary, tired, 'the hated one'.
Bow to His headship, recognize his goodness and everythingness, especially when you're at you're lowest. Praise is the dedication of your existence to his preeminence and firstness - it's/I'm/we're/all his.
Praise, prayer, thanksgiving, worship, offering, sacrifice...given back, given for, to, because of, so I don't hold on.


Rom 3:20 wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.

so what's the law for? the law is for the lawless (one who has had no understanding of boundary), there light is manifest, righteousness and life-way established.

Rom 3:27 Where then is the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith: therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.


The Serpent; 'The Shining One' in the ISV. WHAT?!
A primitive root; properly to hiss, that is, whisper a (magic) spell; generally to prognosticate: - X certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) X enchantment, learn by experience, X indeed, diligently observe. 0

Evil: 'bad (same word) things' From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). as adjective or noun: - adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong. =, then from root of:
H7489:A primitive root; properly to spoil (literally by breaking to pieces); figuratively to make (or be) good for nothing, that is, bad (physically, socially or morally). (associate selves and show self friendly are by mistake for H7462.): - afflict, associate selves [by mistake for H7462], break (down, in pieces), + displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly [by mistake for H7462], do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish, still vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse.

Isa 34:16 Seek out of the book of Jehovah, and read, One of these hath not been lacking, None hath missed its companion, For My mouth--it hath commanded, And His spirit--He hath gathered them. And He hath cast for them a lot, And His hand hath apportioned it to them by line, Unto the age they possess it, To all generations they dwell in it!

YAY!

So who am I? To whom are these things addressed? they speak of jews and gentiles, then it levels the playing field because no man can boast thanks to sin. so it's speaking to all men, not just about them, or saying something 'pretty applicable/practical for my life'. Here's a way, walk ye in it. But what the H is it saying?! It's awesome to see that part of the serpent is 'to learn by experience' or 'diligently observe'. how tempting, to be convinced. it's not enough we see and wonder at God, rather we see and deduce, considering angles and purpose assuming there's no wonder in it but cause and effect. It's fascinating that the wonder and faith is still there, but if it goes unheeded, it's as if it's nothing; a shade only appearing to those who believe. Sorry, Spirit. It's definitely a spirit. Oh, wonder, beget yourself anew in this heart and mind. =D