17. Wa u omba ( Interpretation )


1. Wa u omba,          / He who knocks ,
2. Naa ndi nnyi?              /who is it ?
3. A lindela                         /And waits
4. Zwa u naka,                    /for what is beautiful (for good/beautiful  results) 
5. Ndi wa lwendo                 /He's of a journey  
6. A sa dihwi,                           /And he's been unknown 
7. We kale a si vhonwe,           /through ages he was never seen.
8. Muya wanga zwa u ralo         /So my spirit
9. Tenda uri a dzhene.                   /Let him in


[1-2]

1. Wa u omba,          / He who knocks
2. Naa ndi nnyi?              /who is it ?


The singer notices someone knocking and wonders who it might be.

Rev 3:20  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me.

As Revelations indicates, it is Jesus who's knocking.


[3-4]

3. A lindela                         /And waits
4. Zwa u naka,                    /for a what is beautiful (for good/beautiful  results) 


This indicates that Jesus is waiting for a "beautiful response" from the heart. This indicates the patience that Christ has for us. Judgement could have been "rushed" but God gives us an opportunity to change and come to him. So according to the singer, Christ is patiently waiting for the heart to change.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not being slow in doing what he promised--the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He doesn't want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change their ways and stop sinning.

2Th3:5  We pray that the Lord will cause you to feel God's love and remember Christ's patient endurance.

[5-6]

5. Ndi wa lwendo                 /He's of a journey  
6. A sa dihwi,                           /And he's been unknown 

Christ is from a long journey in time , and he was unknown through time. Many bible versions refer to the secret plan of salvation as "Secret truth",. The plan of salvation started long ago most likely in the Garden of Eden, Christ has been the one chosen to crush the serpent's head. (Gen 3:15). He has been prophesized in many forms such as the Passover lamb [Exodus 12:21,  1 Cor 5:7], possibly [Gen 22:12], The bronze snake [ Num 21:9,  Joh 3:14], The prophecy of Jesus was long journey to the crucifixion and he's been unknown, rejected or neglected.

1Co 2:8  None of the rulers of this world understood this wisdom. If they had understood it, they would not have killed our great and glorious Lord on a cross.

Act 2:36  "So, all the people of Israel should know this for certain: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Messiah. He is the man you nailed to the cross!"
Act 2:37  When the people heard this, they felt very, very sorry. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

Luk 4:24  Then he said, "The truth is, a prophet is not accepted in his own hometown.

Mat 21:42  Jesus said to them, "Surely you have read this in the Scriptures: 'The stone that the builders refused to accept became the cornerstone. The Lord did this, and it is wonderful to us.'

Mat 16:20  Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.


[8-9]

So the singer says - My Spirit, let Jesus in yout heart.

Eph 3:17  I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.



Verse II


  
10. Wa u omba,                             /He who knocks
11. U hanefha                                     /He's here
12. A lindela, zwa mangadza            /He waits ,and it's surprising
13. Vothi lone li a konda,                   /The door (heart), is difficult.
14. Nga u ha mela zwinwe,                /Because it grows other things.
15. Nga zwothe zwe zwa melela       /By everything that grows
16. Zwa tanda kha munango.             /it covers the door

[10-11]

10. Wa u omba,                             /He who knocks
11. U hanefha                                     /He's here

The singer says the one (Christ) who knocks is here [ See 1-2]


[12-16]

12. A lindela, zwa mangadza            /He waits ,and it's surprising

Jesus is still waiting and it surprises the singer.


13. Vothi lone li a konda,                   /The door (heart), is difficult.
14. Nga u ha mela zwinwe,                /Because it grows other things.
15. Nga zwothe zwe zwa melela       /By everything that grows
16. Zwa tanda kha munango.             /it covers the door

The door to the heart is difficult. Because it's filled with things of the world , or bad things that grow that cover like a creeping plant on the heart. Making it difficult to open the heart to the Lord.

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Mat 15:19 Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others.

Mat 13:22  "And what about the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That is like the people who hear the teaching but let worries about this life and love for money stop it from growing. So it does not produce a crop in their lives.

There are things that are in our hearts that stop the message of Christ ( gospel) from entering into our hearts. And so the singer has to stop these things from covering their heart as Jesus knocks on the door,


17. Wa u omba,                                           /He who knocks                             
18. U tshe hone                                            /He's still there.
19. A lindela, zwa vhulenda,                       /And he waits, for gentleness ( A gentle response)
20. Tshanda tshone tsha muvhambwa     / And this hand , of the crucified
21. A na khare ya mipfa,                               /With the crown of thorns
22. Mato awe a sa neti                                  /His eyes never tire
23. A penya o lindela.                                     /His eyes shine while he waits

[17-18]

17. Wa u omba,                                           /He who knocks                             
18. U tshe hone                                            /He's still there.


The singer notices that Jesus who knocks is still there. [ See 1-2]

[19]

19. A lindela, zwa vhulenda,         /And he waits, for gentleness ( A gentle response)

Jesus doesn't want us to harden our hearts , and so he's waiting for us to give a gentle responds when he "knocks".

Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. [KJV]
Heb 3:15  That's why the Spirit said, "If you hear God's voice today, don't be stubborn as in the past when you turned against God."

[Heb 3:8]

Psa 95:8  Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:


[20-21]
20. Tshanda tshone tsha muvhambwa     / And this hand , of the crucified
21. A na khare ya mipfa,                               /With the crown of thorns

The hand that is knocking has been crucified and the one knocking wears a crown of thorns. This indicates that Jesus has already suffered and was ridiculed for our sake but he's still knocking to save us from death.

Joh 19:18  There they nailed Jesus to the cross. They also nailed two other men to crosses. They put them on each side of Jesus with him in the middle.

Joh 20:27  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Joh 20:28  Thomas said to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!"

Mat 27:29  Then they made a crown from thorny branches and put it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. Then they bowed before him, making fun of him. They said, "We salute you, king of the Jews!"
Mat 27:30  They spit on him. Then they took his stick and kept hitting him on the head with it.

This indicates that Christ has already suffered and was humiliated. As a matter of fact , we are the ones who should be knocking for his forgiveness, but still he comes to us and knocks. He doesn't have to be the one knocking , he's already done so much for us , but still he knocks.


[22-23]

22. Mato awe a sa neti                                  /His eyes never tire
23. A penya o lindela.                                     /His eyes shine while he waits

The  singer realizes that Christ is never getting tired of knocking and he's bright and shining eyes are waiting.

Rev 1:14  His head and hair were white like wool--wool that is white as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire.



Overall Message

My understanding of the song is God's timely patience when it comes to saving the lost or wavering and doubting saved souls. The knock can be compared to gospel or the saving news of Jesus as they make an appeal to the person's heart.

 The song is a beautiful description of God's long planned salvation , it shows God has been always on the giving and knocking side , but we in turn have been stubborn to the call because of our hardened hearts. But God has been very patient with us. This song also justifies the existence of hell (not mentioned in the song), because God sacrificed so much - he suffered on the cross and yet he still knocks for us to open. The time we have should not be taken for granted or "played" with, it's our only shot and if we miss it we will face eternal damnation in the fiery lake (hell). The song appeals to the one who sits among the church but never opens their heart to the call of salvation (often called altar call) , or the call to salvation. When Jesus calls us to repent , we shouldn't harden our heart with worldly things and listen to him.

The second application of the song comes to the Christian who is double minded in their heart about the path they should take. And it's saying , God is patient let Christ come in. Let Christ rule in your heart, don't let doubts cloud in your mind. Don't harden your heart with worldly worries - trust Jesus' way to work best.

So sing this song when in doubt , and be reminded of God's patience, Christ's suffering , and Christ's everyday appeal for salvation. Sing this song and encourage lost souls to be saved.


Act 2:38  Peter said to them, "Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 



[Disclaimer : This is a personal translation so it might be wrong, I'm not an expert of the language -  if you spot mistakes, misunderstandings or mistranslated phrases,  please email thimuhangwi@gmail.com with the correct interpretation.]

1 comment:

  1. Hi Brother/sister, thanks for creating this blog. may you please add Zulu and Tsonga Hyms as well. from Joshua Chidi, Mamelodi

    ReplyDelete