Dr. Rocco Errico
Aramaic scholar, author, and founder of the Noohra Foundation
About Dr. Errico
Dr. Rocco Errico is a lively and passionate scholar who has dedicated his life to uncovering the Semitic roots of Jesus’ teachings, bringing a fresh and exciting perspective to the world of biblical study. With infectious enthusiasm, Errico often reminds us that Jesus wasn’t a distant, abstract figure, but a down-to-earth, Middle Eastern man who spoke in the everyday idioms of his time — idioms that, as Errico loves to point out, don’t always translate well into Western thinking.
A student of the pioneering Aramaic scholar Dr. George Lamsa, Errico carried forward Lamsa’s work of recovering the original Aramaic meanings behind the Greek and Latin translations of the Bible. He founded the Noohra Foundation, an organization dedicated to Aramaic biblical studies, interfaith understanding, and spiritual growth.
Errico teaches that to really understand Jesus, we need to see him through the lens of his Semitic culture, rich with metaphors, humor, and colorful expressions that get lost in translation. His approach invites us to get to know the “real” Jesus — not as a distant deity, but as someone who could have been your neighbor, speaking directly to our humanity. His teachings make the Bible feel more like a warm conversation than a dusty old book.
Selected Works & Resources
- Let There Be Light: The Seven Keys — Exploring the Aramaic origins of biblical teachings
- The Mysteries of Creation: The Genesis Story — Aramaic perspectives on the creation narrative
- Setting a Trap for God: The Aramaic Prayer of Jesus — A fresh look at the Lord’s Prayer through Aramaic eyes
- Classical Aramaic — A comprehensive guide to the language of Jesus
The Noohra Foundation
Dr. Errico’s organization, the Noohra Foundation (“noohra” meaning “light” in Aramaic), continues to offer courses, publications, and resources for those seeking to understand the Bible through its original Semitic lens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Rocco Errico?
Dr. Rocco Errico is an Aramaic scholar, author, and founder of the Noohra Foundation. A student of the pioneering translator Dr. George Lamsa, Errico carried forward Lamsa’s work of recovering the original Aramaic meanings behind Greek and Latin Bible translations. He is known for his lively, accessible teaching style that makes the Bible feel “more like a warm conversation than a dusty old book.”
What does “Setting a Trap for God” mean?
“Setting a Trap for God: The Aramaic Prayer of Jesus” is one of Dr. Errico’s most well-known books. It offers a fresh interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer through the lens of its original Aramaic language, revealing layers of meaning that are lost in standard English translations. The title itself reflects the Aramaic understanding of prayer as an active, participatory engagement with the divine.
What is the relationship between Dr. Errico and Dr. Lamsa?
Dr. Errico was a student of Dr. George Lamsa, the pioneering Aramaic Bible translator. After Lamsa’s death in 1975, Errico carried forward his teacher’s work through the Noohra Foundation, which he founded to continue Aramaic biblical studies, interfaith understanding, and spiritual education. Errico’s books and teachings build directly on Lamsa’s foundational scholarship.
b’shlama · b’shalom · salam
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