What’s My Name/ Shem?

Did you know that Jewish people, and people in the Bible times blessed their children names with meanings? They named children so that they were called something that would bless them, although not everyone did bless them with those names, like Ruth and Orpah’s husbands, and Gomer’s children, they had weak names and ones that reflected Israel’s plight. Job’s daughter’s had beautiful names though, don’t worry about Hebrew this time, call them, perfume, mascara and dove, yes, it’s true.

My name in Hebrew is Rivkah, it means close to God. And so I am. God changed names like Abraham and Sarah, so he was called the father of many nations, with no children. That’s faith, it’s just what God does, call into existence what He wants for us, but do we? People in those days were just like people today, they had their heroes, celebrities, there were probably a lot of Davids, meaning beloved, not many Goliaths, unless you were a Philistine, lots of Samsons, shimson, the sun, not a lot of  Delilahs, delicate. Her evil deed tarnished the name, like Jezebel, while one transliteration is unexalted or unhusbanded, another origin is unclear, she did rule over her husband, and also brought her name a bad connotion, she was a daughter of the false god Baal, but certain spellings look like and Izbel, of course, Isabel and Isabella, is Italian, it’s beautiful. Jezebel might have been beautiful, but painting her face before her death, put a damper on wearing make up for many women who considered it sinful, when it really isn’t, only the behavior.

People are quick to associate names, but there is a lot more to it than you think. I always try to get parents interested in names, but I know, they inevitably pick what they like, but it is the child who lives with it. And nicknames stick. There are no J’s in Hebrew, so it is a y, names with El or jah, yah are including God. For instance, the Hebrew name, Batya, daughter of God, from bat pronounced bot meaning daughter and yah, God.

John and Mary were common names in the 1940’s, John was a disciple who loved Jesus, Jonathan was the son of King Saul, died in battle.  John, Yohanon, in Hebrew is God or Yahweh is gracious. So it is a good name, and another John was the cousin of Jesus. As for Mary, it means bitter, like Naomi called herself bitter, Mara. Mary has sorrow attached to the name, and there were many Marys in the Bible all called by their name and the mother of or by their place or residence. Mary Magdalene, another name associated with  sin and even unwed mothers, she was from a wicked town, Magdala, no wonder she had seven devils. And Mary of Bethany, who broke the alabaster box. And Mary’s cousin Elizabeth means God is my oath, He did give her a son.

While we have a woman who built cities in the Old Testament, Sheera, and a judge Deborah, the bee, and Rebekah’s nurse, we have Susanna, a follower of Jesus in the New Testament. Also Chloe, Priscilla, Joanna, Phoebe* are a few names you are familiar with all in the Bible, of course there was Anna, the prophetess, but Huldah, I don’t think you will meet many of those. By the way, it means weasel.

There aren’t any Bathsheeba’s that I know of, but I do know a Delilah. Bathsheeba means daughter of an oath or seven, she was not the seventh wife of David, but he had seven and Solomon was her son and the King. Her name is also Bath shua, and we see shua, in Joshua, Yeshua, Jesus,salvation. So God redeemed her.  And Joshua makes me recall Caleb, which means faithful and dog, the Hebrew word for dog is kelev, and lev is heart. Joshua and Caleb were faithful friends. Maybe, you know a Moses, meaning drawn from the water or a Lois meaning grandmother, have you met a Queen of Sheeba? That is more of a title, but so is Candace, but it means pure white.

Rachel, ewe, Leah, weak, Sarah meaning princess, still popular. Abigail was smart woman, whose father is joy, you can use Abby, Abia, or Abi. I like Tabitha meaning gazelle, Dorcas in Greek, I knew one of those. Or Talitha, from talitha cumi, daughter or little girl rise. Names are a lot of fun, picking one can be a difficult choice. One interesting story is that Claudia was a British woman of high birth —the daughter of the British king, Cogidubnus. She was put under the patronage of Pomponia, wife of Aulus Plautius, conqueror of Britain and from this Christian learned the truths of the Gospel. Tacitus the Roman historian speaks of an inscription found in Chichester, England. For a lot opeople who think of the people in the Bible as mere characters, there is proof that they were real people.

I have to add a few more men’s names or boys, I like Daniel, God is my judge. I know some Eli’s, high or ascended, as opposed to Jordan, descending or flow down, like the river. Michael is a common name but it means who is like God. Stephen may have been a martyr, but his name lends itself to a crown, the feminine, Stephanie. Andrew, man or warrior,  James, supplanter, Peter, the rock. Bartholomew, son of Talmai, may have been the same person as Nathaniel, God gives. That is similar to Matthew.

There are too many names to give you all an their meanings, but if you are about to name a child, look at the real definition, call him or her something good from the start, while you might like Hannah, gracious or favor, you might not like Peninnah, coral. ( rough and sharp ) Hepzibah is a name for beauty, but would you call a baby that? And Zacharias, the Lord has remembered might get Zack, but Zerubbabel? Born at babel or begotten at Babylon. I think not.

Noah, for girls or boys, means rest. I need some after all this. But not Hoglah, it might mean partridge but please don’t go there. There is a lot in a name. A rose is a rose, after all. And Drusilla, might mean watered by the dew, but she went against Paul and was likely buried in the ashes of Pompeii, with her child.  Rebecca Jones / pexels

Chloe – green herb

Priscilla – primitive, old fashioned, worthy, venerated

Phoebe – pure or radiant like the moon

Anna / Joanna – favor or grace

Sheera – female relation by blood

 

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Shaloam

This verse about peace has resonated with me as we learn a little Hebrew. It is fun to learn a few words and phrases and study Hebraic roots as Christians but this is a deep study into shaloam, peace. It is something believers should have, because Jesus left us His peace in John 14:27. It is something to cherish and hold dear, a sacred seal on our soul by His Spirit, because He died cruelly, yet loved us enough to will it to us.

It is more than hello or goodbye, and it may sound trite or redundant to use the phrase, ” nothing missing, nothing broken. ” Jesus did address the whole person. He knew how to challenge faith, like asking the man at the pool if He wanted to get well, and ignoring a woman following Him about her daughter, when she changed her pretense, she had His attention and deliverance for her daughter. Jesus knows the thoughts and intents, of our hearts. The word discerns it like a sharpened or scalpel in the hand of the Great Physician.

He knows if you are just wanting to impress someone or sincerely desire His help. We have to face facts, some people like playing the martyr. And some don’t mind feeling sorry for them. ” You poor soul, all you do you should get healed. I don’t know why He doesn’t. ” That sort of thing, forgive me or being blunt, it is not to judge or hurt anyone, it’s just not the way it works. It’s all about Jesus. Not about us. We didn’t earn it, it is a gift, and given, not for works but for favor, faith and grace.

He touched the dead, the lepers. He ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. So a holy pretense means nothing. I have had to avoid some people from both extremes, but let’s delve into shaloam. The greeting that permeates through the soul and speaks to every part of it. So much deeper is the peace of Jesus, it is not the absence of trouble but presence of Jesus overshadowing it. Confidence in Him, His work His rest, His words.

Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid. Jesus paid for it fully!!

He is even referred to Shiloh, pronounced She-low, so the enemy has robbed us of our peace in so many ways as believers in Christ. Are we whole, in health or sound and tranquil? Most of us, myself included, not even close. I have read and written, prayed this verse from John over and over the past week or so, I want it to soak in, I am speaking it to my spirit, I want Him to.

Are we in perfect rest, fullness and harmony? I think not. And so many are easily agitated and ready to cause discord. we, as believers should be aware that Jesus means what He says and the enemy will every take advantage of our situations if we are not walking in His perfect will, which includes His peace. Imagine a will being drawn up, sealed up, authenticated and read, leaving us the peace of Christ. The salvation of Yeshua, Jesus and the still more clauses of Shiloh.

I realize everyone may not agree, and I know it is not easy to be in peace if you are suffering or ill, or lacking but Jesus gave us promises for that. And will keep His even if we have a hard time, I’m not saying we are lying intentionally. But when we speak the agreement with the enemy’s camp, that we won’t make it, He won’t heal me, aren’t we parroting his lies, the father of lies?

Wouldn’t it better to agree with the Prince of Peace? And the report of Isaiah 53? It’s time to take Jesus at His Word, and that word for our Hebrew Study, is shalom, the rest He intended, the Sabbath rest, stop wondering and wandering and abide in His word instead of the wilderness.Even if nothing happened. wouldn’t it be better to believe and keep a measure of hope and a good outlook, even though hope is a sure expectation in Him.

Father, I pray in Jesus name, Abba that you bless your children with the gift of shaloam, from the Sar Shaloam, Himself, Yeshua our Prince of Peace, Shiloh, the peaceful one, who left us His peace. Let us be humbled so you can exalt us. may we receive your Shaloam, the Shabbat Shaloam, God so desires His children to rest in.

And you know, Hebrew letters include word pictures, the destruction of the shepherd who was nailed and shed blood is a literal statement from the letters and meaning, sheen is depicted as teeth or flames, destruction, lamed is a staff for shepherd, vav is a nail, and mem is water, Jesus shed both blood and water. The word picture pins are on Hebraic Study.

Thank you Jesus, your are my Shaloam. Ephesians 2:14. Rebecca Jones / I Love Simple Beyond, thanks.

The Servant Candle

The book of Revelation describes Jesus in the midst of seven candlesticks or menorahs, they go back far into Judaism, being lit in the temple. It is why Hanukkah is celebrated to commemorate the oil not running out during the time of the Maccabees. It is when Jesus declared Himself the light of the world.

Menorahs are lit at different times. Usually, seven branches. But the center candle of the nine branched Hanukkah menorah is called the servant candle or shamash and is used to light the others, they are lit one at a time, from the center candle. The word candle in Hebrew is ner, just like it sounds. And menorah simply means lamp.

What I found interesting about the servant candle, Jesus or Yeshuah is His lighting the fire within us, fire is esh. He lights the Holy Spirit in us, and like the oil that was used in the menorah, Jesus was crushed for us. Olive oil is pressed, like wine or grain, to give you a visual of the the phrase, ” crushed for our iniquities. ”

We can celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah as Christians or Messianics, and yet when Hanukkah arrives just before Christmas, usually, will we be full of oil or running low? Many believers gloss over certain passages and words and assume they already know, we did a word study earlier in the year on certain words we take for granted.

Christians may have memorized the light of the world verse, but do they recognize the meaning of the phrase and how Jesus used it. He was telling them He was the menorah, the servant candle and even the oil. Isaiah even says He gives the oil of joy for mourning, which, quite literally, is life for death.

Isaiah 52 and 53 prophesy of the suffering servant. Jesus  described His life and ministry in this way, ” For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. ” Mark 10:45.

No doubt about it, Jesus is the servant candle, but do Christians take that into consideration? Too often the holidays are about what you can and can not say or display and over commercialized. And it’s really all about Him. The greatest gift of all, He is still giving and wants us to have gifts and even money and material things, just as long as we possess them and not they, us.

It was said of John the Baptist that he was not the light, but testified of Him, Jesus. And then Jesus calls us the light of the world in Matthew 5:14, if He spoke of Himself as the vine and we the branches, how much more so are we the branches lit by the servant candle, one by one, day by day, Hanukkah or not? That was the true light which lights every man that comes into the world John 1:9.

For you will light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28, This is New American King James, other translations use lamp as with my next verse. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Proverbs 18:28.?

The word spirit or wind is ruach, it is the Ruach Ha’Kodesh who indwells us. He is is the wind, the oil, the flame, lit by the servant candle. Jesus never gives out but we do and sometimes have to fan the flame like Timothy. And the Holy Spirit searches out the mind of God, giving us His desires, deep to deep, the belly full of living water.

It is also the word pneuma in Greek, spirit, wind or breath. God breathed Adam’s life, Jesus breathed on the disciples. I like those old movies when you see the maids putting out the lights with a candle snuffer, even in the Catholic services, but the flame Jesus gives, our servant candle who is still giving to us, so we can give to others, don’t let satan snuff it out. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, how about you?

He wants us to be the beloved, to be the light, He knew we would need His rest for that, and He sent His Spirit to teach and guide us into all truth, emet. Let’s be wise and keep that oil and His joy burning brightly awaiting Him, Jesus, the servant candle and Lord. Rebecca Jones / pixabay

• As a footnote seven as in the branches of the menorah is God’s perfect number, usually eight is a new beginning, the number of souls in the Ark, God one upping Himself if you will, but nine as in the Hanukkah menorah represent the Fruit of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, finality, harvest, fullness of development. God uses numbers, this is not numerology but Christian interpretation.

Kallah, the Bride

This month, we are learning Hebrew. I enjoyed my June posts so much I had to throw in a few Hebraic words concerning brides. Kallah is Hebrew for bride, it is pronounced like it reads. If you have read any of my other posts about marriage, perhaps you came across the word, chuppah or hoopa, the tent the wedding takes place beneath, and alluding to His banner over me is love.

In the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Jesus is the spiritual husband, He is Yeshuah, Ha Masheach, Jesus, the Messiah. Hopefully, you fell in love, ahavah, and you even had a wedding uga – oogah, cake. If your parents approved, you had their bra kah or blessing.  A Jewish wedding can have seven, sheva brachot. Imagine how much more the eternal bridegroom offers to the church. And we have Abba’s blessing.

When a Jewish couple married in Bible days and even now there are contracts signed, called ketuvahs or ketubahs. It means written. You may even see the bedeken / covering, in Yiddish, ceremony of the veil. The groom veils the bride. Remember, Rachel and Leah, how Laban tricked Jacob. He worked for her. Usually, fathers chose the bride for the son, often they had never seen him, like Rebekah. Abraham sent Eliezer, whose name means God’s helper, for her, she grew to love Isaac from what she heard and lit of her camel. He was a type of shadkan or matchmaker. The bride was purchased, the price paid  was called a mohar, the Hebrew business term is kichah.

You  may have been purchased for fifty shekels of silver or two camels or a tent. Virgins went for double what widows or divorcees did. The word for wife, be’ulah, literally means the “owned one.” Husband or ba’al means “owner” or “master.” I am so glad Jesus gave women more freedom, He calls on the men to love like Christ, and He is Lord. He purchased us with a high price or mohar. His body and blood.

When He died on the cross word His last about finished is from the Hebrew root ka’lal which means to complete, make perfect or finish. It is the same root of the word for bride: kallah. Did our Lord Jesus,  Yeshua’s last words on the cross have had bridal overtones? Of course, they did. He was waiting for the joy set before Him, His bride was on His heart and lips.

The couple drank from the same cup, like communion, signed a marriage contract or ketubah, a covenant or brit in Hebrew. The bridegroom would go off to build a house for His bride and come to surprise her up to a year later in the night, that is why the wise virgins kept their oil lit not to miss Him. You see the relevance to the rapture in this parable and ceremony.

While the betrothal is called erusin, the word kidushin is used as being set apart and sanctified like Christ did for us the word is literally from kadosh, holy. You see why He considers marriage, sacred and holy. These contracts were binding and sealed sometimes even in blood. M’kudeshet is a word for bride with holiness attached, set apart.

If these rules appear archaic to us today, they really aren’t, because the woman had a choice, Rebekah was asked to go and she said yes. Most women in pagan times had no choice, marriage, among the Jewish, entitled them to being cared for, having food and clothing and a home, and husband. Though adultery was frowned upon and should be, in that day and this and on both sides. There is forgiveness in Him

Jesus gave women an equality, freedom of the Spirit, lifted them out of the role of simply care giver and cook, He was assuring Mary, she was doing the right thing sitting as His feet. He even took them into ministry. And while He says that infidelity is a reason for divorce, there is no way He advocates or tolerates abuse, He made brides to be loved and cared for, and those who are, these are the ones far above rubies, a crown to the husband, his heart trusts her. A lot of men and women do not understand this, men will want to dominate, and women with either step back and take it or fight back and be hurt. Never stay in an abusive marriage.

While I believe men deserve respect, are naturally stronger, I believe they owe it to themselves to love and appreciate a wife like Jesus says to through Paul, for he will not only please her but the Lord and also himself, satisfaction comes from a peaceful and loving home,

Maybe, you were married at the beach, khofh or in a garden, gan. Wherever you marry, or if you already are, I hope you kallah, the bride, and chathan, pronounced khaw thawn, the bridegroom, a more difficult word here, are blessed with joy, simcha or sim- ka. God will give us a nee-soo-een, wedding, like no other someday. And may we be given the nashaq pronounced knaw -shaq, kiss of peace, shaloam. This bride and groom will live happily ever after. Rebecca Jones / pexels

 

http://messianicfellowship.50webs.com/wedding.html

 

 

 

 

 

A Time to Cry

Although cry out and other phrases are used in the Bible, I wanted to study tears in Hebrew. The word weep is bakah, or beki. Tears are, damah, from the word dakryo, although Greek, it has Semitic roots, meaning to shed tears quietly or in silence, as Joseph had to. The shortest verse in the Bible is Jesus wept. John 11:35, at the tomb of Lazarus, the same as Joseph, He wept quietly, whereas the sisters were in the Greek, klaiousan, loud, lamenting, like a baby. Klaio is pronounced klah’-yo.

One of the first hints of tears is in the beautiful and favorite story of Joseph, we find in the Hebrew study of when his brothers came. Naturally, having been sold, he was angry and had an interpreter, yet understood what they were saying about him and the remorse. The Hebrew phrase,  vay’vakesh liv’kot, can be interpreted as ” he wanted to cry,  ” or  ” he asked permission to cry. ”

Joseph, was a grown man, second only to Pharoah and I know we have been taught to hide our emotions, especially men, but I hate to see a grown man cry doesn’t cut it with God, if fact, He weeps Himself as we will see. Joseph, as young man probably cried over many things, his sister’s rape, his mother’s death, , the taunts of the brothers and especially being in a pit, sold, lied about and put in prison. Now, here are the brothers, if you should have a chance the Joseph movie with Paul Mercurio,  it is a favorite of mine, and indeed he does turn and choke up, also at the dinner when he sees Benjamin again. So Joseph, cried, to a point in public and certainly in private.

We know about Rachel weeping for her children, a metaphor for Israel, it is read on the second day of Rosh Hashanah and the women for Tammuz, the fourth month of the Jewish new year, named for the pagan fertility god they cried over, it lost that origin and had to do with crops.

The word for  weep is baki which has a numerical value of 32; the word for heart lev also has a numerical value of 32. David, a man after God’s heart also wept, at the death of his son with Bathseeba, and no doubt repentant tears for sending her husband to be killed, and many other times.

The ancient Jewish sages used to teach that weeping and the heart are related for weeping comes from the heart. The root word for baki is bakah which is a weeping in the presence of God. Weeping in both Hebrew and Aramaic, baka’  is a weeping over one’s own grief. And dama’ which is said to be weeping over the heart of another.

David also writes, You have taken account of my wanderings; You have put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Psalm 56:8 and Those who sow with tears will reap with songs (shouts) of joy. Psalm 126:5 and For His anger is but for a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may tarry for the night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem and in the garden of Gethsemane, He went silently  like a lamb to the slaughter, so it is conceivable He wept quietly though we think He may have wailed. I will have to do further word studies. Personally, I think it had to be a a combination, because of His humanity. Jesus must have cried, silently, aloud, over His own grief and for that of others. It is just as Ecclesiastes says, the inward know of God and our own hearts, a time to weep and time to be silent. Joseph as a ruler withheld emotion, Jesus as Lord was silent before His accusers, something I am always amazed at, I always want to defend myself. And I have to let Him.

Thankfully, He is coming to wipe away tears. i once hear a musician say to never let the devil see you cry, so for years I did not cry, big mistake, friends, cry in the arms of Jesus, He understands, and God crying, the weeping prophet expressed His love for Israel, I will weep and wail for the mountains and take up a lament concerning the desert pastures, the I being God, Jeremiah 9:10

So much more on tears, but that may be another post, and another time to cry. Rebecca Jones/Adina Voicu, thank you.

 

Selah

I used to read through the Psalms, and there it was, the five letter little word that popped up now and again.  Selah. Tefillim is Hebrew for  Psalms or prayers. I would see that it was a note to a musical director, I thought of it as a pause, in music or between two Psalms, truthfully, I had no idea what it was. So, what is selah?

Let’s look at the Hebrew. It is used seventy four times in the Bible. In Psalms and three in Habakkuk. The real meaning isn’t known, it does appear to be a musical direction or instruction on reading the Psalm.  Something like, ” Stop and listen. ” The Amplified Bible, translates it as, ” pause and think about that. ”

Since Psalms were accompanied by music, is it any wonder that thirty one of the thirty nine psalms to the choir master include the word selah. It may indicate a break in the song or music. It has a reflected sound of the Arabic salih, valid or truth preserving.  Another interpretation claims selah  comes from the salah meaning hang, or weigh, even as gold is weighed, ironically, David hung the harps  on trees and a lot of the music, wasn’t heard again until recently when some music was published according to the notes of certain Psalms.

Jewish music expert, Suzanne Haik-Vantoura, offers a different view. Her book, the Music of the Bible revealed concludes that selah was not an instruction rather part of the lyrics. Again, much like the amen at the close of a prayer. Pause and crescendo appear in some Bibles, in the margins.

While selah had an heir of mystery to it, we know that it is definitely has a pause or rest to it. Maybe, it is a grace note of sorts. The word “selah” appears to be related to the Hebrew word “salal” which  means to lift up, or to exalt, a musical direction in the Psalms it probably means a lifting up of the voices or instruments either in pitch or in volume. Or again as a lyric, after studying Christmas carols, some very old ones, perhaps it is like the word refrain, so is it a chorus to repeat the psalm? I could not say for sure.

The ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) uses the word “diapsalma” to translate “selah”.  Literally, it simply means “through the Psalm”. This doesn’t mean they understood the expression.  Arrangers, composers, and lyricists try to  to create emotional lyrics for the words and message of the song. There must be a reason why this word is included in the inspired text of the Book of Psalms, perhaps only the musicians of the day understood the term or God’s instruction.

If this word was inserted for pitch or volume to be increased, it must mean drawn to what has just been said or sung. We would be wise to pause for a moment at the word selah, focusing on what we just read. We can lift up our thoughts to the Lord in praise or sing the psalm, a pause or a break, the very rest that Jesus offers to the weary, does He offer it in music?

Surely, He does, for He rejoices over us in singing and quiets us with His love. Zephaniah 3:17, and still the word is said to be pronounced, say -lah , and others who see it as a strong rock or city. Well, He is that too. Augustin, from a study of Masoetic text suggested it means, fiat, the Latin for let it be made. Others see it as not as word at all but letters sewn together as an acrostic of sorts, much like the sign over Jesus’ head on the cross. except we know what that meant.

But as a pause or a rest, from reading, singing or worship, day to day life. Selah, pause, rest, sing and worship in His finished work and promises. What does selah mean? Maybe, the Lord only knows. And since He is coming soon, He will tell us, selah. Rebecca Jones

Good Morning, Family!

Boker Tov, Mischpochah! That may look like a mouthful to non Jews or native Hebrew speakers, but Boker Tov, Mischpochah, ( mish -po-hah ) is simply, Good Morning, family. So good morning, if it is morning, when you are reading this. I though about good morning class and good morning teacher but that’s a little much isn’t it? This isn’t a lecture.

Today we are learning words that are for family members, and I’ll even have to throw in a few terms of endearment, awww, I wanted to save motek (sweetheart) for Valentine’s Day. Though you will see aunt and uncle and know where we get dote or the nickname dodi. And their word that sounds like mommie, not a mother, ee-mah, but a sweetie.

I have to admit, that though I enjoyed word studies over the years, having people ask me about Hebrew, following my Pinterest board, even people who are in ministry being interested. I was a little amazed. I may have made the assumption that they already knew some of these things I had learned, but obviously, there are areas of study that some us pursue more than others. I am humbled, and I am grateful to have a chance to share.

As I may have mentioned, I am no scholar. That would be nice. We all can learn something from each other, it is after all, our mission as believers, to encourage and build each other up.

father – abba

mother- ee- mah

daughter – bat  ( sounds like bot )

son – ben

sister – achot

brother – ack

grandfather – sab-ba

grandmother –  saf-ta

aunt – doda       both these relatives have a long o sound

uncle – dod

cousins – male – ben dod

female – bat doda

friends – chaverim   ( have a reem ) one  friend is chaver, the im is a plural.

You may see some different spellings as it is transliterated to English, remember there are no vowels in Hebrew. And you can look it up and even listen online to hear the pronunciation. Most of the ch’s appear to be like a k or a choke as you speak, more a hard Germanic tone. I just remembered a dream my ee-mah had about me teaching Hebrew, I was thinking it was funny, matsksheek, sounds like mats, skis, sheek. Sometimes, I think I do well to speak English, I don’t always speak as I write.

And with a Southern accent? Nothing is impossible with Jehovah, Yahweh, Adoni, my Abba, y’all. That’s another lesson. And mischpocha, don’t forget, I love you. Ani, l’ dodi v’ dodi  li. I am my beloved’s and He is mine. Aren’t you glad He is and has given us so much to learn there is always something new, just like His mercies every morning. So boker tov, good morning.  Rebecca Jones / pexels and there is always the google translator.

 

 

Familiar Words In Hebrew

We, as believers, hear many familiar words and phrases in our walk with Christ. So let’s talk about a few that are a constant theme and look at the, in Hebrew. The first and most important is faith, hope and love, from 1 Corinthians 13, love the greatest.

Faith in Hebrew is emunah, pronounced ee-moo-nah. Faith, like in, have faith in God or even His faithfulness.  Or without, you don’t please God. Tikvah, is hope but not like, I just hope so, but the anchor of Christ our hope, it is a pure hope and love is ahavah. But love is not a strong enough word, you can love bananas, friends, even deeper than marriage, agape in Greek. Divine love is a better definition of ahavah, the have, means  to give, now you know how He could both give His Son and forgive sin and see us flawless.

Mercy is another word we hear. It will come under chesed, the gutteral ch, sounds like he-sed, which is also grace, the word merciful rachum applies to God and has roots that are also for the womb. So you see God is love, it comes from deep inside.

Grace, or chen, or chanan, ha non is that undeserved favor of God. It is where we get he name Hannah, ironically spelled the same forward or in reverse and Hebrew is right o left. We are saved by grace. Pleasant , precious, well favored, a superior bending to an inferior, God to us. We hear about salvation, Yeshua means salvation. Jesus is our salvation. Our joy, simcha, rememeber the hard ch, it can sound like ck. He is our peace, shaloam.

Hallelujah means praise to God. ( jah or yah ) And amen, means so be it, we are to amen His promises.  We are to be still and know God and the root for still has meaning relative to Rapha, healing. The word quiet is sheket, you might hear a parent say sheket yeled, it is an admonishment of sorts, even a shut up, but literally, and emphatic and empathetic, hush, child. How often do we, even as adults need that?

We are to be strong in the Lord, chazak, ha-zok means strong. And angels rejoice and we are to,  lis mo ach. ( ok ) Tefilah means prayer and the Psalms are called Tefillim, I like the verses about stars, kokhav or kokhavim, plural. Stars are in the sky, shamayim, which refers to heaven but the word mayim means water, so it may have been an attept to explain rain, geshem. The  sun, shemesh, the moon, yareakh.

Something we have trouble with. waiting. Wait is kava. And listening, and obeying. shema, where we get the name Samuel, He hear God call Him,  ihas to do with listening and forgiveness, selichah, we have to forgive in order to be forgiven. It is interesting, in my studies I ran across the name of Potiphar’s wife, though it is not in the Bible. it is Zelichah, very similar to the Hebrew word for forgiveness, Joseph surely had to forgive a lot, and He is also a type or foreshadow of Christ, who is certainly about forgiveness even to those who were crucifying Him.

I pray you have a Shavua Tov, blessed week, hope you see a miracle, ness. It would be a blessing, berakah. Rebecca Jones / pexels

Blessings!

I enjoy a program called Jewish Jewels, with Neil and Jaime Lash, on one program they were gracious enough to go through a list. I will give you an idea and then you can do it for yourself and your family, blessings are usually given on Friday evening before the Sabbath by the father, grandfather or uncle, whomever you have available, but you can bless someone at anytime, even as woman, thanks to Jesus.

I bless you to be the best  teacher or student. I bless your business, your home, your finances. I bless you if you are a nurse or doctor, I bless you with compassion and healing hands as a believer. I bless the school, daycare, playgrounds, charge angels protect them. I bless you as a mother, father or grandparent with wisdom to love and discipline. I bless your day and night coming and going, waking and sleep, may it be in heavenly peace.

I bless your creativity, your art, your dance, your writing. I bless you with a teachable spirit to receive His Word, I bless you with health, with the very breath of heaven, with the youth that is renewed. You get the idea, whatever you need, you can make a list, write it out for each person, and it doesn’t even have to be Friday.  I heard someone once say you were not supposed to bless everyone, but Jesus certainly laid out the principle in the Sermon on the Mount.

The words of our mouths are either a blessing or curse, we have to choose. Many are familiar with Joseph letting Jacob bless his children, the Aaronic blessing of numbers. Jesus even blessed the bread. Remember, the switched blessings, putting hands on the head the younger one. And while Samuel, rejected all the brothers, He chose David, saying God looks at the heart. He sees what we do not and calls it forth. He can help you pray by the Holy Spirit, the blessings you need.

There are many blessings, the word in Hebrew is barak or baruch, like bah – roo-ch, the k. I will post a blessing in Hebrew for you. And at the bottom is a pin from Hebraic study. Blessings or brachot, sounds like bray-hoat, are for everything in Judaism, the wine, the bread and grain, fruits, vegetables. It can get detailed and we are no longer under the law, just studying. There is even an after dinner blessing. We never say grace before and after, it might be nice at Thanksgiving.

There are prayers when getting up, the Shema, daily prayer, Sabbath, Nasi for the month of Nisan, a travelers prayer, prayers over gravesites. And healing the sick, which I have a CD of from the Psalms. But I bless you with my blog, my words and prayers, and here is the prayer. There are more videos but she goes over it word by word, right to left.  Leaving a link to Jewish Jewels and the Aaronic blessing, look at hands at the top. Rebecca Jones / public domain

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.jewishjewels.org/blog/aaronic-benediction/

The Ruach Ha’ Kodesh

We have went over some of the many names and personalities of God, Abba Father, and we talked about Yeshua. So let’s  go to the third person of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit, the Ruach Hakodesh. Pronounced, roo-ok, wind or spirit, Ha-Ko-Desh is Holy. He descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.

If you go back to Genesis, He is moving over the waters, He helps bring about creation by God’s own words, it is also His role when Jesus promised Him to come after the crucifixion. He moves over us, hovers over us, broods, He would gather us under His wings. The feathery white wings of a dove, pure gentleness yet power. We can hinder or quench Him, and even grieve Him, He is a person, the very persona of Christ.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit, came upon people, like David to kill Goliath, it was the Holy Spirit who gave him strength, like Samson, like the prophets. Perhaps, even like the woman of Thebez who tossed a rock and killed the leader of an invading army and saved her city. While John 10:10 makes it plain who gives life and that it is the enemy who takes it, God moved by His Spirit to strengthen believers and prophets to move into action, resulting in the death and destruction of certain people and races, the wages of theirs sins were so, that He allowed it. Make no mistake He is not trying to divide or stir hate or promote racism, He would gather anyone who would believe to Him.

But the ever loving and merciful, ra-chum, (rah- ch and whom )* Lord was not through trying to redeem His fallen creation, He is patient even if His anger is stirred at times. He sent His beloved Son to be crucified, and Jesus in turn told us how He would send another,the Holy Spirit, to teach us, cause us to remember what He had taught us, He is a seal over our soul, a crown of glory if we choose to walk in the Spirit and not war after the flesh. A crown that is a canopy to protect us. Like a clear or perhaps glorious umbrella that envelopes our body and soul. We might not see it, but the enemy will.

He is our Comforter. We have the blessing of the gift of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. But the Word is clear that Jesus would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit. There  are two baptisms, John’s is with water and the other with the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:16, and 19:2, tell of those who had never heard of the Spirit, and say they received John’s baptism. I am sure there are those may not agree, yet, it is what it says.

He gives us many gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, and 13 is the love Chapter. Ahavah, love. It is all about Jesus. One of the gifts is tongues, this is described in Acts 2. Jesus told the disciples He would send the Ruach Hakodesh. Because of food laws the Jews saw cloven tongues and knew it was safe for their mouth like a cloven hoof. We don’t need that assurance, we have the benefit of Jesus and His words, many people tried to go back to Judaism, even after receiving the Holy Spirit. So it is important after receiving the gift to use it on a regular basis.

And I use the word it to describe the gift, the ma- ta-na, the Holy Spirit is He, a definite personality, and you can hurt Him, love can be hurt. You can grieve Him and hinder His moving in your life, it is called quenching. But He is the living water from Jesus placed in us, a precious gift, so spend time with the Ruach Hakodesh and get to know Him, He is the very same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. He raises us from the dead because we were dead in trespasses, He can raise you physically, mentally, spiritually. He will quicken our mortal bodies.

He is the power, love, and sound mind that we are given in 1 Timothy 1:7 We need His help to overcome, Jesus own Spirit in us. I know all do not believe in these gifts, fear caused me to not receive, but I can promise He is the helper and love and power we can count on. It is our choice how far we can believe, He will not force you to accept gifts.

Hebrew is called the L’Shon Hakodesh, the holy tongue and He can give us our own heavenly tongue to praise God with and pray what the enemy does not understand. We can also sing in the Spirit. What he gives us is tahor, pure and kadosh, holy from, Yeshua. He is like a breath of fresh air in the spring, aviva. A walk by the sea, yahm, after lying down in green pastures. He restores our soul, nefesh. Jesus calls Him the Spirit of Truth, emet. Bo Ruach Elohim, come Spirit of God. Jesus is the one pouring out His Spirit, like the latter rain, geh-shem. Rebecca Jones / Loe Moshkoskova

•  ra-chum, (rah- ch and whom ), this word has roots in Hebrew for the word womb, such proof of the Father’s love for women and how He creates life.