Breaking news...Deeper Insights into the Hebrew Aleph-Bet
The Hebrew Aleph-Bet (Alphabet)
The Hebrew alphabet has two main historic script forms: the original old Hebrew script (the paleo-Hebrew) and the Aramaic script (upon which the modern "square" form of the Hebrew alphabet is based). There is also a cursive script, which has varied over time but still exists as a common written form in Israel today.
The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, five of which use different forms at the end of a word (sofit), and is written from right to left.
The Holy Tongue
The Rabbis refer to Hebrew as “lashon ha Kodesh” (the Holy tongue) and it's not at all surprising that G-d has "hidden away" many remarkable details for our encouragement and edification - if we are prepared to research and learn how to find them.
It is hoped that the following series of individual letter studies will help inspire you to further research and a new voyage of discovery of the Hebrew language and the Word of G-d itself.
Aleph
This letter traditionally represents the "sacrificial ox," "first," and "one thousand." It’s the first letter of the Aleph-Bet, and is a symbol of G-d's Oneness and Omnipotence.
Interestingly for Messianic believers, it is a three-in-one compound letter:
- The upper right segment consists of a yod, the first letter in the Name of the G-d, YHVH;
- A second yod in the lower left segment signifies the Creator living within and as a part of His creation;
- The central diagonal connecting pillar is the letter vav, a symbol of transformation.
Amazingly, aleph therefore perfectly represents the concept of the Divine YHVH being transformed / connected with His own Divine presence in and on Earth. For us, that is clearly the presence of G-d in human form: Yeshua, our Messiah and Teacher.
Bet
The literal translation of this letter is "house". It’s also the first letter of the first word in the Tanakh – the Hebrew bible, namely Bereshit ("In the beginning" - Genesis).
Bet is said to symbolise the duality of G-d's Creation, the “two worlds” of the Jewish faith, "This World" (the Olam Ha Ze) and the "World to Come" (the Olam Ha Ba). It certainly helps focus our minds on where our “house” or “home” really is – here, or in the Kingdom to come.
If you put the first two letters of the Hebrew Aleph-bet together, you get Av – father (אב). The first letter, aleph-א, used to be a picture of an ox, a sign of strength. The second letter, bet-ב, was a picture of the tent or house where the family lived. When put together they mean "the strength of the house" and hence the "father." Our G-d is a perfect parent, a strong Father who loves us all, and the whole Jewish people. One day, we shall be called Home to strength and security the Father’s House.
See more exciting Hebrew word studies here.
Gimmel
This letter is a cognate to gamol, which means to nourish until completely ripe / mature. The shape of the letter is like a camel - with its long neck - and indeed the Hebrew for camel is gamal. This animal is itself the 'personification' of the nourished / weaned state as it can go for long periods of time without drinking - thus showing its self-sufficiency.
The traditional meanings of this letter are "reward" or "prize," and therefore, by extension, the letter is also a symbol for YHVH's kindness and completeness, a respresentation of His overwhelming Chesed (merciful grace), which lasts forever.
It is certainly true to say that without G-d's loving-kindness (chesed) we would be nothing, and the universe would not exist. We too should become more and more mature in our walk with Him. Not independent of Him, but weaned nonetheless so we can endure the harshness and perils of life's own deserts. He wants us to be strong, yet still dependent on Him.
Dalet
Literally meaning "door" (pronounced "delet" in Modern Hebrew); it also means "weakness" as the "door" of a house was often considered to be a weak point to guard and secure.
In a more metaphysical sense, it represents dimensions in space and time: the four physical directions (north, south, east, and west) and the "Four Worlds" of:
- emanation (that which flows out or proceeds from a source or origin),
- creation (to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes),
- formation (the external appearance of a clearly defined area or object, as distinguished from its color or material), and
- action (an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity).
It very much calls to mind the dynamic of Yeshua when he said,
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
(Matthew 7:7-8)
What are your doors that need opening? Ask, and see what happens...
More letters coming soon, so don't forget to check back...
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