who answered in response to Him calling their name.
Hineni — הִנֵּֽנִי
pronounced: hee-NAY-nee
Hineni is not like the modern Hebrew word po,
which means present or
here, in the sense of taking a classroom attendance.
Hineni by itself is often translated as Behold!
It tells people an important announcement is at hand.
Behold was a way to say “Look… look what I’m pointing at”.
The initial use of hineni in the Bible, was part of God’s first words to Adam:
Genesis 1:27-31” Then God said, “Behold [Look!: Hinneh], I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold [w-hinneh], it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
God was saying,
Hinneh! Look! Look what I’m pointing at…
All this, I made for you.
This fellowship and closeness enjoyed by them was changed after they disobeyed by eating from the tree God commanded them not to and Adam knew it! However, God called out to him not because He didn’t know where he was in the garden, but to re-unite and restore the broken fellowship with him after his disobedience.
Our Heavenly Father was providing Adam the opportunity to confess and repent. He was asking Adam to communicate and talk with his Creator and return to the close intimate relationship. and at the same time, He was giving Adam the chance to be accountable for his actions.
Adam’s initial reaction was flight and to hide, and avoid God’s question with a non-answer:
“I heard you, I was afraid, and I hid.” Genesis 3:10.
Adam did not respond with, “Hineni” — “Here I am”.
Later in Genesis 22. we read of a very different interaction.
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Hineni! (Here I am)”.
Genesis 22:1, NLT.
With the Hebrew word ani, it proclaims,
“I’m at Your service, Lord!”
it is a way of expressing
total readiness to give oneself –
it’s an offer of total availability.
Interestingly, this is not a one-sided announcement, because our Heavenly Father also says to us, “Hineini.”
“Then you will call,
and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and He will say:
Here am I.”
Isaiah 58:9
In Genesis 22:11 we read about Abraham / Avraham:
And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham:
and he said, Here am I.
God calls out, “Abraham” and without knowing what the Lord would ask of him, he answers, “Hineni.” Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Abraham replies without hesitation, despite not knowing what will come next or what God is about to ask of him.
By answering ‘hineni’, Abraham declares
his readiness and his faith.
His faith is proven as he proceeds with the request God has just made of him; to take his only son, the one he waited so many years for, and offer him as a sacrifice.
When Abraham finds out that God wants him to prepare his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice, he obeys. As he places the wood on his son and they proceed to the place of the offering on Mount Moriah, Isaac calls out, “Father?”
Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son” [hineni beni]. And he said, “Behold [Look: hinneh], the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
Wanting to be present for his son’s needs as well as for God’s, Abraham again answers, “Hineini.” Genesis 22:7.
Then, one last time, as Abraham lifts the knife and readies himself to slaughter his son, the majestic Malach YHVH (Angel of God), calls out to him from Heaven: “Abraham, Abraham.”
He answers, “Hineni,” as God mercifully shows him the ram that will take Isaac’s place (Genesis 22:11).
These prophetic words, “God will provide Himself the lamb” was a beautiful foreshadowing of YHWH’s plan for the Messiah and Abraham illustrates God’s sincere desire as our Father in Heaven to restore our broken relationship with Him through the great cost of His only Son Yeshua. God shows us His future Messianic redemptive plan when He calls Abraham to do the unthinkable — sacrifice his son, Isaac — a picture of how God would sacrifice Himself as His own son, Yeshua /Jesus.
Abraham also illustrates how God makes Himself available to us while longing to hear us say, Hineini
Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold [w-hinneh], behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place YHWH Will Provide [YHWH Yir’eh], as it is said to this day, “In the mount of YHWH it will be provided.”
As previously noted, Hineni” (hee-neh-nee) is a Hebrew phrase comprised of two short words:
‘hineh’ and ‘ani’, meaning “here” and “I”.
More literally, “hineh” is translated as
“behold” (certainly, surely),
which is a much stronger word than simply “here”.
When the two words are put together, ‘hineni’ becomes more than just sharing your geographical location. It is a powerful declaration – one that can be made to our Heavenly Father, and one that He can make to us
With reference to the past or present, it points generally to some truth either newly asserted, or newly recognized. Genesis 1:29, 17:20, 27:6, 1 Samuel 14:33. With reference to the future, it serves to introduce a serious or important declaration. Exodus 32:34, 34:40, Isaiah 7:14, according to the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon.
Hinneh can be found over 800 times in the Old Testament, but there are a few times it is “Behold, I”, and has often been translated as “Here I am”, from the Hebrew words hineni and hin’ni; often being a response used when an authority figure called someone, e.g. Jacob speaking to his son, Joseph:
Genesis 37:12-14a
Then his [Joseph’s] brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he [Joseph] said to him, “Here I am” [Hineni]. Then he [Jacob] said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.”…
Genesis 31:11 and 36:2.
Jacob/Yaakov, whose name was changed to Israel, was told to travel, first back to his homeland in Canaan, and then to Egypt. This was to set plans in motion for the Hebrew nation to be strengthened in captivity.
In Genesis 31:11, 13
“Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ [Hineni]… [The angel of God said] ‘I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”
The first time Jacob’s name was called one one time, the second ooccasion God called on him, Jacob’s name was said twice:
Genesis 46:2-3
God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am” [Hineni]. He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.”
Jacob was essentially saying,
“Look! I am here, and I’m willing to go wherever you lead me.”
In Exodus 3:4 we read of Moses/Moshe.
Moses was and caring for his father-in-laws sheep, when suddenly he notices the strange bush that is on fire but was not consumed.
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush,
“Moses! Moses!”. And Moses said,
“Here I am.”.
Sometimes written as hin·nê·nî as seen above. Strongs 2009.
God reveals His name as “I AM WHO I AM” to Moses at the burning bush and commands him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Moses’ response of ‘hineni’ showed that he was ready to hear and obey, again, not knowing what was about to be asked of him. God tells Moses how He has seen the afflictions of His people, heard their cries and that He knows their suffering. He intends to intervene, and He wants to use Moses in that intervention.
Without knowing all that it would entail, Moses’ response of ‘hineni’ becomes a turning point in his life for the next 40 years.
In 1Samuel 3:4 we read the experience that Samuel/Shmuel had when God called him.
That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
The young boy Samuel, was lying down most likely he was asleep, in the temple of the Lord, not far from the place called the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down Samuel is actually asleep when God calls to him.
From this example of Samuel replying ‘hineni’, since initially he does not know it is the Lord. Samuel thinks it is Eli calling his name. This demonstrates that ‘here I am’ can also be used within the context of a family, indicating readiness to pay attention or follow instructions.
‘Hineni’ can be a child communicating their willingness to submit to their parents’ requests. It’s even been compared to a type of military responsiveness, as if the person uttering ‘hineni’ is saying, “at your service”.
In 1 Samuel 3:1, we find Samuel as a boy, ministering to the Lord, which is already indicating that even as a child, Samuel had a heart inclined towards God’s ways.
When God calls out to Samuel, Samuel runs to Eli, thinking he was the one who called his name.; this happens three times and each time Samuel’s answer is ‘hineni’.
Samuel’s call from God was to announce the downfall of the priests of Eli’s line, and this allowed Samuel to become the prophet-priest needed to anoint the earliest kings of Israel.
Samuel would be instrumental in David’s rise as king and ancestor of the Messiah. He was Hannah’s son, the barren woman who prayed for a son, and God granted her request. In thankfulness to the Lord she dedicated Samuel to Him and after she had weaned him, she brought him to the priest Eli,
Samuel’s life was dedicated to being in the presence of God. Perhaps, no surprise that one of the most intense “here I am” stories came from a very young Samuel, before he even understood who the Lord was:
1 Samuel 3:4-16
YHWH called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am” [Hineni]. Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am [hin’ni], for you called me.” But he [Eli] said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
YHWH called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am [hin’ni], for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.”
Now Samuel did not yet know YHWH, nor had the word of YHWH yet been revealed to him. So YHWH called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am [hin’ni], for you called me.”
Then Eli discerned that YHWH was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, YHWH, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Then YHWH came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
YHWH said to Samuel, “Behold [Look: hinneh], I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of YHWH. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am” [Hineni].
Three times God called Samuel, but Samuel didn’t understand because He didn’t yet know the Lord God/YHWH, so he could only think that it was Eli calling him. However, he didn’t ignore the call, he responded immediately to the voice of authority he was used to hearing.
When Samuel learned to discern the voice of God, he was ready to listen and deliver God’s message. Samuel was afraid to share the news with Eli, his teacher and father-figure, but after he said, “Hineni, here I am”, he gathered the confidence and shared the terrible fate awaiting Eli’s family.
Isaiah 6:8 Isaiah Yesha yahu
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”.
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah is quick in his obedience. He gives a resounding “yes” to God’s call, before knowing what would follow.
This response by an individual is more than a basic acknowledgement of being in a physical location, the word “Hineni” has an all encompassing meaning by way of saying, I’m not only here, but I’m here spiritually, I’m all in. I’m prepared to consider my ways and who I really am, what’s important to me, and how I can be a blessing in the lives of others.”
Hineni’ is not only the response of God’s true and faithful servants, Ii’s also a statement God Himself makes to His children.
In Isaiah, there are three examples where the Lord promises His continual presence and provision; in chapter 52:6, 65:1, and in the following verse:
“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.” (Isaiah 58:9)
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” [hin’ni sh’lakheni]
In this instance, God didn’t call Isaiah by name, Isaiah volunteered, and without any hesitation. What was it that he was volunteering to do? Isaiah stood up to be God’s reflection on earth. According to Isaiah, here’s what would happen if you freed the oppressed, shared bread with the hungry, brought the homeless into your house, and clothed the naked:
Isaiah 58:8-9a
“Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of YHWHwill be your rear guard. Then you will call, and YHWH will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am’” [Hineni].
We were called to be image-bearers of our Heavenly Father and of Yeshua/Jesus. When we are truly a reflection He will will be able to look at us and and see Himself in us. He will be able to say “Hineni! Here I Am. I see Myself in You”.
It’s time for us to volunteer like Isaiah did. It’s time for us to call out to our Heavenly Father saying ” Here I am. I’m ready to go and do. Send me!” When you call out to HIm, He will answer, saying, “Here I Am and I see you! You are in Me, and I Am in you”…Then He will give us instructions and directions.
Yeshua/Jesus, God in the flesh. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1; He makes Himself available to us, always waiting for us to say, “Hineini.”
He calls to us during times when we have hidden ourselves from His presence.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am (Hineini!)
“I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:19–20.
Messiah promises to abide with us, if we allow Him in.
Only with His presence can we truly fulfill the call to be of service to our Heavenly Father. For Messiah Yeshua/Jesus says,
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” John 15:4.
Yeshua/Jesus lived out Hineini, always at the service of His Father, doing His will, and with His help, so can we.
“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8.
As with everything that He asks of us, Yeshua/Jesus has gone before us. He knows what it is to live here in an earthly body and still be of service to the Father. But Yeshua/Jesus always did what pleased His Father and fulfilled the divine Hineini that was prophesied inPsalm 40:7-8:
“Then I said, ‘Here, I have come (Hineini); in the scroll of the book it is written of Me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’” Psalm 40:7–8.
We must ask ourselves what will I do?
Paul tells us “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1.
And the Father gave up His Son, to restore our intimacy with Him. In doing so, they have demonstrated the most profound Hineni of all time.
In that way, we fully live out Hineni in the eyes of our family and community in a way that truly pleases and glorifies Him. And He will be fully available to us as well.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen … to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.” Isaiah 58:6-9.
They all answered in the same way to Gods call saying
Hineni – Here I am.
When our Heavenly Father calls to us by name and asks
where are you?
It is not because He doesn’t know where you are physically, He is asking us do we know where we are spiritually and in relationship to HIm; and if we are ready to reply saying Hineni!
What was the response of those we have looked at? In every example, It was the response of a servant: ‘hineni’.
We see ‘hineni’ appear at pivotal moments throughout Scripture. Moments when profound change is about to take place in the lives of those responding to God.
What makes ‘hineni’ such a powerful statement? It is an offer of complete availability, of total readiness to serve. When we say ‘hineni’, we make ourselves fully available to whatever it is God might ask of us. Even without knowing what that might be.
The answer of ‘hineni’ is one of faith.
The answer “hineni” means: “Here I am ready and waiting to do Your will. Here I am, a partner with You in the eternal covenant between You and our people. How can I fulfill my role more fully?”
Yet the word conveys so much more. To say “hineni” expresses a deep desire for a spiritual awakening, a moment, however fleeting, in which we feel close to the heart of the Father.
It indicates a receptive mind and an openness of soul. It declares a readiness to engage, to take part in the unfolding of Gods plan of the Ages.
One New Testament example is recorded in Acts 9:10-15
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord” [Greek: Idou ego, Kyrie]. And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.
Our Heavenly Father called out, by name, those He needed to fulfill His plans. Ananias quick response changed the course of Paul’s life, and he became the missionary to the gentiles.
In the Psalms we are assured that God is our ever-present help, and He delights to make Himself available to His children. By God saying ‘hineni’ to us, He is saying that He hears us, He sees us, and He knows us.
Are our hearts prepared to answer?
Are we ready to offer ourselves,
even without knowing what service He will ask of us?
Let our prayer today be that our hearts will answer without the slightest hesitation, and that we might make ourselves fully available to whatever our Heavenly Father asks of us; and that our faith would be added to in the process.
Song by Marty Goetz
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Deliverer and soon returning King; and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
and where it was evident in the lives of biblical characters.
There are many references to the number 40 in both the old and new testaments. Mentioned 146-149 times. The English word “forty” appears 158 times in King James Bible verses. This breaks down to 134 occurrences in the Old Testament and 24 times in the New.
Hebrew Strongs #705
arbaim: forty
Original Word: אַרְבָּעִים Part of Speech: noun plural indeclinable Transliteration: arbaim Phonetic Spelling: ar-baw-eem’ Definition: forty
The number 40 is associated with seasons of probation and preparation where spiritual awareness is deepened. It also represents a time of leadership, fasting and victory as well as testings of faith, trials and chastisement. This chastisement is not the same as judgment, like the association represented by the number 9 which operates in connection with punishment of enemies; but rather is in connection to the chastisement of sons, family and of a covenant people who are loved.
As we are in the days of counting from the Omer, which comprise 7×7 weeks, equaling 49 days and on the 50th day is Pentecost/Shavuot. We are aware of the 40 days that Messiah remained with His disciples/talmidim after His resurrection and appeared to many.
As Shavuot/Penetcost is also the Moed/Appointed Time of remembering the giving of Torah to Moses/Moshe. We remember that Moses was called up onto Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:1-3 Moses went up the mountain and in v14 he came down; then in verse 20 he goes up the mountain again -25.
He goes up the mountain in Ex. 24:1-3 with others plus the 70 elders. In verse 9, they ate and drank. Moses went up in verse 12 -18 and stayed 40 days and forty nights; then in chapter 32:15 he came down again.
In chapter 34:1-4 it is recorded that Moses went up the mountain again. In verse 18 he was instructed to keep the feast of matzah. In 34:10 God says: I am making covenant. From verse 22 to verse 27 it records Moses was another 40 days and 40 nights on Mt Sinai and verse 29 tells us when Moses came down his face was shining.
Moses was up and down Mt Sinai several times and twice for 40 days and nights.
Exodus 24:18, 34:1 – 28.He was there in order to receive God’s Torah/teaching/instructions and directives for the children of Israel.
The first 40 years of Moses’ life entails him from growing up in Pharaoh’s royal household and living in Egypt until he slays a man and has to flee to Midian.
The second part of his life is spent as a shepherd in Midian tending Jethroes sheep in the wilderness, until God calls him at age 80 (2×40), to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
During the last third of his life he leads the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness until he dies at age 120. 3×40 years.
Deut. 34:7
40 years is also applied as encompassing a generation according to Numbers 14:26-38 as with the children of Israel 40 years wandering while the generation died out.
Moses had sent spies, for 40 days, to investigate the land God promised the Israelites as an inheritance. Numbers 13:25, 14:34.
Believing the report of the ten doubters, the people lost heart and rebelled. They “raised their voices and wept aloud,” grumbling against Moses and Aaron, saying, “If only we had died in Egypt…Num. 14:1-10
Num 14:34
According to the number of days in which you spied out the land [of Canaan], 40 days, for each day, you shall bear and suffer a year for your sins and guilt, for 40 years, and you shall know…
They then had to experience the consequences and cost of disobedience and unbelief. The 40 year Wilderness wandering for what was only an 11 day journey!
God told Moses that Because of their sins and initial unwillingness to enter Canaan, God swore that the generation of Israelites who were 20 years old or older, (except for Joshua and Caleb), who left Egyptian bondage would not enter the Promised Land; they would wander in the wilderness until this generation died and a new one could inherit what the Lord promised.
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies
Hebrews 3:16 -4:11
Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me . . .
And your children shall feed in the wilderness forty years and bear your whoredoms until your dead carcasses have been consumed in the wilderness (Numbers 14:29, 33, HBFV).
Some more instances of 40:
The book of Exodus, KJV, is the only book that has 40 chapters.
The chapters Exodus 25, Numbers 29, Judges 6 and 11, 1Chronicles 7, 8 and 12, Job 31, Psalm 37, Jeremiah 23 and 31, John 18, Acts 8, 16 and 21, 1Corinthians 7 and 14, along with Hebrews 11, all have 40 verses in the KJV.
From the time they entered the Promised Land, to the time of King Saul, Israel was sporadically governed by a number of individuals known as Judges. Though they did not rule like a king, they nevertheless had a tremendous influence on the people, as they represented God and were inspired to execute His will. Judges who served 40 years include Othniel, Deborah and Barak, Eli and Gideon.
The first three human kings over the children of Israel, Saul, David and Solomon, each ruled for forty years (1050 to 930 B.C.). After the united kingdom split into two separate pieces, King Joash served 40 official years (39 actual years) as one of Judah’s better kings.
Absalom’s rebellion was near David’s death. The time cannot exceed the stated 40 years. Saul reigned forty years as first king Acts 13:21. And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom …
Abraham began his bargaining with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah if 50 righteous were found, then he asked if they could be spared if 45 existed Genesis 18:23 – 28. He then pleaded to save the cities if only 40 righteous people were found.
And he (Abraham) spoke to Him (the Lord) yet again, and said, “Perhaps there shall be forty found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for forty’s sake.” Genesis 18:29.
Both Isaac and Esau were 40 years old when they were first married Genesis 25:20, 26:34.
Elijah went 40 days without food or water at Mount Horeb. Yeshua/Jesus was tempted by the devil many times during the 40 days He fasted days in the wilderness, after His immersion in the Holy Spirit and before at the start of his public ministry.
40 days of repentance/teshuvah, is observed every year before Rosh Hashanah.
40 days from conception to the initial formation of a human baby, and 40 weeks of gestation until birth.
God flooded the earth by having it rain for 40 days and nights. Genesis 7:12.
After the patriarch Jacob (Israel) died in Egypt, the Egyptians spent 40 days embalming his body. Genesis 50:3.
God allowed the ancient Israelites, from time to time, to be harassed and dominated by certain enemies in order to chastise and humble them for their sins. The Philistines, in the southern and western parts of Israel’s land, harassed them from 1105 to 1065 B.C. God’s resolution to the harassment was Samson who would become one of Israel’s JudgesJudges 13:1, 1Samuel 7:13, 15 – 17.
The prophet Jonah powerfully warned ancient Nineveh, for 40 days, that its destruction would come because of its many sins.
And Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the Word of the Lord. And Nineveh was a very great city of three days’ journey across. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Jonah 3:4,
The prophet Ezekiel was commanded by God to first lay on his left side for 390 days for the Kingdom of Israel. He was then told to lay on his right side for 40 days for the Kingdom of Judah. This act represented, in years, the length each kingdom would suffer correction for their disobedience to God.
For I have laid on you the years of their (Israel’s) iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have fulfilled them, lie again on your right side, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days; a day for a year; a day for a year, I have set it upon you. Ezekiel 4:5 – 6.
Yeshua/Jesus, just days before His crucifixion in 30 A.D., prophesied the total destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:1-2. 40 years after his crucifixion the mighty Roman Empire destroyed the city and burned its beloved temple to the ground, A.D.70.
There are 21 words and phrases in the Bible’s original languages that are recorded exactly 40 times.
Number 40 is equal to 2 x 2 x 2 (or 2 cubed) x 5. Both 2 and 5 are prime numbers.
In the Hebrew AlefBet, the 13th Hebrew letter called Mem, has the numerical value of 40 and is thereby associated with the following: 40 days and nights of flood waters; 40 years in the wilderness; 2×40 days Moses was on Mt Sinai.
Traditionally the letter Mem has several related meanings: waters, people, nations, languages and tongues.
The name of the letter in its most ancient form resembles waves of water. With this in mind such sayings as: sea of torah, the ocean of knowledge and wisdom are often used.
Mem is regarded as the letter of water/mayim; symbolizing the spring of the Torah – Rivers of Living water, i.e. Gods Word. Just as the waters of an underground spring rise upward from an unknown source to reveal themselves, so does the spring of wisdom rise up from the mysterious Source that is our Heavenly Father. This flowing stream of the inner wisdom can be expressed through the gift of human speech. Proverbs 18:4 the words a man speaks are deep waters, a flowing stream, a fountain of wisdom.
In the Hebrew alef -bet, the letter Mem has 2 forms when it is written: an open form and a closed form.
The open form, peucha, is said to represent the revealed truth of God as demonstrated by Moshe/Moses. The use of the closed letter Mem, stumah, is said to represent the concealed truth of our Heavenly Father as was demonstrated by Yeshua/Jesus, the revealer of mysteries.
Matthew 13:10–11 10. The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”
and
Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hiddenfromthefoundationoftheworld.
Yeshua/Jesus is the only One Who truly satisfies the inner thirst we have for real life, He is the only One Who can satisfy and quench our thirst. Faith/emunah in Him brings refreshment and healing for those He has called His own. John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
The letter M is represented in the Greek alphabet by the letter Mu.
The Old Testament writings use the word “forty” for the number 40. The ones containing the most, are the book of Numbers (19 times) followed by Genesis and Deuteronomy (15 times each). The New Testament books that use the word the most forty, are the book of Acts (10 times) followed by Revelation (6). It is first used in Genesis with its last appearance in Revelation.
And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters. Genesis 5:13, KJV.
The Hebrew word ephah, Strong’s Concordance #H374, is written 40 times in 29 Hebrew Old Testament verses. Its spelling stays the same in the KJV. It is found the most in Ezekiel (17 times) followed by the book of Zechariah (5).
An ephah is used in Scripture as a measure of dry goods such as flour, barley meal, parched corn, wheat and so on. It is roughly equivalent to 22 liters or 20 dry quarts. One of its first uses is in the book of Leviticus.
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering . . . Leviticus 5:11, KJV.
Caleb, who was 40 years old, and Joshua, were two of the twelve spies Moses sent to the Promised Land, as previously noted, He and Joshua were the only two to have the faith to encourage the people to take the land God had promised them.
Forty-five years later he requested from Joshua the land he was promised for obeying the Lord. He received part of the hill country of Judea which included the cities of Hebron and Debir.
Joshua 14:7 – 15.
King Ahaz, who ruled over the Kingdom of Judah from 735 to 715 B.C., died when he was forty years old.
God’s law allowed a wrongdoer, in certain cases, to be beaten with 40 stripes (scourging) as part of their punishment. Deuteronomy 25:1-3. The Jews would later change this to 39 stripes in order not to exceed this amount per Deuteronomy 25:3. Both Messiah and the Apostle Paul were scourged five times by the Jews for preaching the gospel. 2Corinthians 11:23 – 24.
The Bible was written by 40 different people. There were 32 writers of the Old Testament and only 8; Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, Jude, and Paul of the New.
A brief note on the covenants.
The Mosaic covenant, Ex 19:3-6, on the basis of the Abrahamic covenant and promise made to Abraham in Gen.15; God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt and established another covenant with them at Sinai. God used Moses as the deliverer and mediator of this covenant between Israel and Himself. It’s not a covenant of salvation but instead a covenant of blessing and cursing based on trusting and faithfulness on Israels part. The Mosaic covenant is similar to a marriage covenant/contract. This is called a Ketubah or a vassal treaty between God as husband and king, and Israel as His wife and people. It spells out the boundaries and guidelines of the relationship between them, and is summarized in Ex. 19 and 20. The Mosaic covenant includes blessings and security in the land for faithful obedience, Deut. 28; and curses and exile for faithless disobedience. Deut. 27.
The Mosaic Covenant further includes a promise that even though Israel will not keep this covenant fully, and will ultimately be removed from the land; God will not completely forsake them, but He will punish them and scatter them among the nations. From their exile God will circumcise their hearts and they will return to Him in repentance/teshuvah. The Lord will gather Israel back and atone for His people and the land. Deut. 30-33. This promise is to confirm and keep His promise to Abraham. This generation that made the covenant with God at Sinai was not able to enter into the land. The next generation reaffirmed the covenant and entered the land under Joshua, who was a type of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. Each generation of Israel in the land and diaspora must confirm the Abrahamic Covenant by the circumcision of their males; and confirm the Mosaic Covenant by binding the words of God on their foreheads, called teffilim. Though they waver in their faithfulness to the covenant, God remains faithful.
The promises of this covenant must be fulfilled. Messiah Yeshua/Jesus says in Matt. 5:17-19 that until heaven and earth pass away based on the covenant with Noah, the smallest letter or stroke of letter will not pass from the Torah /Mosaic covenant until it is all fulfilled.
Our Heavenly Father said through His prophets that, as long as the heavens and the earth remains, consistent with the Noahide Covenant, Israel would remain a people before Him. The Mosaic covenant is not a replacement of the covenants with Noah and Abraham. It is dependent upon them and along with them is presently in effect. The Davidic covenant also affirms and expresses the earlier covenants. Therefore the new covenant fulfills, adds to and completes, rather than merely replacing the previous covenants. Some denominations are mistaken when they claim that the new has replaced the covenant made between Moses and the children of Israel and God at Sinai. It is simply renewed and added onto the existing covenants, line upon line and precept upon precept. Messiah Yeshua/Jesus came to show us how to live them and complete them according to Gods teachings, ways and decrees, not mans rules regulations and laws.
The Highlight of Revelation, Sinai and the Messiah – Exodus 19:6
When the children of Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, Adonai made Himself known to all those people and gave them the Torah by the hand of Moses. Jewish tradition says that this encounter occurred on Pentecost/Shavuot – the Festival of Harvest or Weeks, based on the chronology and Exodus 19:1, 10–16.
Since the event is the highlight of God’s revelation to Israel, it is also known as the Festival of Revelation. At a earlier occasion when Moses encountered the burning bush, God declared that Mt. Sinai was the goal of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.When you have let the people out of Egypt you will worship me on this mountain. Exodus 3:12.
Throughout the Exodus story leading up to this climax, the Lord repeatedly declares that He will make Himself known both to the children of Israel; Exodus 6:7, 10, 29:46; 31:13 and to the Egyptians, Exodus 7:5, 17, 9:29, by His Mighty acts of deliverance. At Mount Sinai this process of self revelation reaches its climax, as all Israel witnesses God’s presence on the mountain. Exodus 19 Deuteronomy 5:2. They accept God’s instruction contained within the Torah. Exodus 24:3 –8
According to Jewish commentators the fact that the nation of Israel witnessed the Lord speaking to Moses from Mt. Sinai, established the Torah as Gods Word; a Word that includes Gods call to Israel to be a kingdom of priests /cohanim.
For me a nation set apart. Exodus 19:6.
Ex. 19:5 -7 the children of Israel and their 12 tribes were supposed to be a whole nation of priests, a kingdom of priests/cohanim, but it ended up with only the Levites being the priestly tribe out of 12 sons and their families.
Messiah Yeshua/Jesus Himself, is an even higher pinnacle of revelation. He doesn’t supersede Torah but rather embodies and perfectly fulfills/completes it. He has made His Word above His Name. Psalm 138:2 For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. |
Like Israel, called to be a nation of priests at Mount Sinai, and although they do not replace the nation of Israel, Messiahs followers are also a chosen people, the Kings Cohanim/priests, a holy nation, a people for God to process.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1Peter 2:9
Are our lives a true reflection of what we are called to be?
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Deliverer and soon returning King; and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
The visible and authentic trust that Abraham showed in the Lord by his actions, was rewarded by him becoming the friend of God. 2 Chronicles 2:7.
There is another reference inIsaiah 41:8.
8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
LiterallyIsaiah 41:8 could be translated as
Abraham, who loved Me.
Abraham showed his love for Adonai through his faith accompanied by obedience as seen in Genesis 12:1, 4; 15:6.
In the New testament, James 2:23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God
James confirmed that Abraham was truly
the
It was Abraham’s faith that entitled him to be called
the
Moses was also called the friend of our Heavenly Father.
There was no one who had the same level of face to face intimacy with the Lord God that Moses had.
Exodus 33:11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
Exodus 33:11 HEB: אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־ רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְשָׁב֙ אֶל־ NAS: speaks to his friend. When Moses returned KJV: speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again INT: A man to his friend returned to
Original Word: רֵעַ Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: rea Phonetic Spelling: (ray’-ah) Definition: friend, companion, fellow
There are several Hebrew words forfriend.
Were Abraham and Moses the only two given that privileged relationship, or are there others?
We crave that type of intimacy in human companionship, longing to be cherished and treasured; but sometimes there is distance or disappointment that make human relationships less than that which our Father desires for us.
However, in His plan of the ages our Heavenly Father knows our needs and when He sent His Son to walk and live among us, it was not only to restore covenant relationship through His sacrificial death; but also to form a close and lasting friendship with us, one that will endure not only through this life but throughout eternity. By His life, death and resurrection, He enabled us to call Him Messiah, Savior, Deliverer, Redeemer and amongst many others, also Hisfriend.
How do we know this?
Because in Messiahs own words in John 15:14 and 15
Amplified Bible I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.
He calls us friends if we are obedient!
You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you.and he has told us everything He learned from His Father
and then says
16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. Meaning we were created to be His friends!
5384 philos: beloved, dear, friendly
Original Word: φίλος, η, ον Part of Speech: Adjective; Indeclinable Numeral (Adjective) Transliteration: philos Phonetic Spelling: (fee’-los) Definition: beloved, dear, friendly Usage: friendly; subst: a friend, an associate.
John 15:14Adj-NMP GRK: ὑμεῖς φίλοι μού ἐστε NAS:You are My friends if you do KJV: are my friends, if ye do INT: You friends of me are
John 15:15Adj-AMP GRK: δὲ εἴρηκα φίλους ὅτι πάντα NAS: but I have called you friends, for all things KJV: you friends; for INT: however I have called friends for all things
In Hebrew, a friend is a male or female person. In the Bible, a male is referred to as achaver,while a female is called achaverah.Chevarim being the plural for friends.
חבר
We are familiar with calling Yeshua/Jesus our savior Messiah Lord Master King but can we say He is also our friend?
How do we see or consider Him?
How do we appear to other people in our relationship with Yeshua/Jesus?
Is He just a task master and we the obedient servant; or is the relationship something deeper?
Are there examples of this kind of loving friendship in His Word?
The book Song of Solomon is a representation of our relationship with the Father and even more it’s a picture of His heart and it is very important that we come to understand and know what His heart is towards us.
The picture expresses the kind of love that is not only overflowing, passionate and bubbling over, but also as being active. It’s a love that’s always doing something, and always looking for a way in which to express its depth and commitment.
In Song of Solomon 2:10 the shulamite calls Solomon
her dodi
she is saying that she is
completing him in love.
Here we must understand the Hebraic thought, which is, that love is not complete until it is shared… and this is a direct reference from Messiah Yeshua when He said
they will know that you are my disciples because of the love one to another.
Shared love is this way too and necessary if we are to enter the heart of God.
We are to say to Him thatHe is our beloved. There is no one else but you. Not parents, siblings, children, grand or great grand, etc. Yeshua/Jesus said
these are my family those who do the will of my father.. Matthew 12:50.
Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29
Nothing and no one is to come between Him and ourselves…
Beloved is also transalated as dodi.
Dodicomes from a semitic root that meansto boiland its also a word used forlove; but not feelings, or a surface love ..it is the real unconditional love.
Unless we can call Him beloved/dodi do we have any right to enter in to His heart, to that deep and intimate relationship?
yadid: beloved 3039
Original Word: יְדִיד Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: yadid Phonetic Spelling: (yed-eed’) Definition: beloved
Psalm 127:2 HEB: כֵּ֤ן יִתֵּ֖ן לִֽידִיד֣וֹ שֵׁנָֽא׃ NAS: For He gives to His beloved [even in his] sleep. KJV: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep. INT: after that gives to his beloved sleep
Song of Solomon 2:10
The word yadiyad is made up from the word yad which is hand in Hebrew; and it’s repeated, making it to say or read
yadiyad or hand in hand.
Parents, mothers and children, siblings, friends and couples often
walk hand in hand.
It declares to whoever sees them that they share a special relationship.
Is this what people see of our relationship with Our Heavenly Father/Messiah, one of beloved friends walking hand in hand, side by side? Sometimes one in the lead pulling the other along and sometimes in the rear holding the other back?
There is an ancient belief in Hebrew culture that the heart was in the palm of the right hand and that when two people joined their right hands it was symbolic of sharing each others hearts.
It was the part of the body that does the most important functions for other people, and why we say, can I lend you or give you a hand?
Rather than a foot which hasn’t the same ability to assist someone!
We offer a helping hand or arms and hand to support another; and the ancient belief was maybe more of an indication that they realized a persons hand was the most usual outward expression of their heart, love and compassion.
It may bear a reference to the scripture God writing us on the palm of His hand, as they would have understood the deeper meaning with the ancient thinking of heart in hand names are written in His heart!? Isaiah 49:16
The modern Hebrew expression meaning
friend is yadiyad
literally hand in hand
Here in Genesis 28:16
Yod Daleth Vav Yod Daleth
yad i yad / yad v yad
with a v not an i is the same in Hebrew.
The word for knew here is yada and means more than just knowing. It’s a reference to the intimacy of a married couples relationship. As in Adam knew his wife and she conceived.
Yada is also constructed from the word Yad/hand and the same word from which the name David comes, as well as the word yadiyad.
People used to shake hands and it would be a mutual agreement or form of contract between them, saying lets shake on it. It’s obvious that a handshake held much more significance than it does today. Another reason the right hand was offered as a greeting, was to show the other party you did not have a weapon in your right hand.
It is a common custom now to offer our hand when we are introduced to someone for the first time; and it can indicate that in meeting them, there’s an initial action to sharing a future relationship either business, casual or friendship.
In days past the handshake had more meaning than a casual relationship; they believed that:
by taking someones hand and particularly the right hand, you were sharing each others heart.
This action has a much greater meaning, more than just help me out of this situation I’m in but – take my heart and let me take yours.
The ancient thought behind it is that of:
sitting at the right hand of our Heavenly Father.
It was a metaphor, an idiom, meaning:
sharing the Father’s heart.
yad: hand
Original Word:יָד Part of Speech:Noun Feminine Transliteration:yad Phonetic Spelling:(yawd) Definition:hand
Recall Hebrew letters also have a numerical value:
יד
Yod Daleth
The letters in the word Hand YD,
without the vowel letter a:
yod = 10 dalet = 4 = 14
2 hands joined =28
There is another word in Hebrew with the value of28 which is: kocha
The rabbis/teachers, say that when 2 words have equal numerical value, there is a connection that we should take note of. In this instance the two words with the value 28 could refer to:
two hands joined together is great strength!
Or in other words:
A friendship from which one can draw great strength.
This is what Messiah Yeshua/Jesus wants for us,
we are to draw great strength from
our yadiyad with Him
when He said:
I no longer call you servants but friends.
How is our relationship with Yeshua/Jesus?
Is He our yadiyad, our beloved friend?
Are we truly walking with Him hand in hand/ heart in heart..?
In the following verse He is calling us to come:
In the phrase in Song of Solomon:
come away with me
in the Hebrew text there is a lamed (a letter L), before the pronoun Me.
In the Hebrew language, when used as a preposition as it is here, the lamed is usually translated as TO or UNTOso it would read God is simply saying
Come to Me
He is calling us today…
come to me.
And just as the Father in the parable of the prodigal son, who ran to meet him. As we turn/teshuvah, and come to our Heavenly Father through Jesus/Yeshua, He will meet us, coming towards us… then we can become His friend.
Yes, we can be His servant, we can be present at all the meetings and be on time, and we can listen closely to His instructions and obey them. We can be loved by our Heavenly Father, but do we want to be yadiyad, hand in hand with Him?
We can be serving the Lord so much that we fail to realize that He is reaching His hand/His yad out to us. With the concept we just looked at, He needs another hand to complete the word Yadiyad – to be hand in hand.
He may be our Master, our King, our Savior but He wants to be more than that. He wants to be our friend, our Yadiyad, His hand in ours, His heart joined with our heartsand always to be and remain our Yadiyad: beloved friend.
Even more special is the fact that the relationship with our Heavenly Father can always be that of“beloved friend” because He always keeps His promises and longs to establish the relationship Yeshua/Jesus died for us to have.
We were made for God.
Song of Solomon 7:11
In the original Hebrew, the Shulamite woman is saying she is
for or to her beloved;
and if it follows that this is a picture of our relationship with God, then we were made for God.
God created us for Himself.
He created us just for Himself, for His pleasure.
The first purpose for our existence is that we were created to bring pleasure to our Heavenly Father.
Revelation 4:11 KJVS Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. He made you so that He COULD ENJOY YOU, both in this world and eternally in heaven
Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Sometimes we get so focused on fulfilling our own pleasure, we never stop to think that our main purpose and function in life is to bring pleasure to the Lord.
We are created to bring glory to Him, to honor Him, to praise His glorious name, to thank Him for His abundance in our life and to praise Him for His abundant grace,
“everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Isaiah 43:7
This is the very purpose of man – to glorify God in every way.
Ps100:3 says “Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his;”
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear, reverently respect God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Eccles. 12:13
He is really the only one we need to please, and He is the easiest person to please; because He designed created and equipped us to bring pleasure to Him.
Maybe some of us are not good looking or talented, but if He created us that way, then whatever we look like or are able to do, when we do our best it will always bring Him pleasure. We may feel we have no talent, but there is something about us that our father designed to bring pleasure to Him ,and if we ask Him He will show us what that is.
He is our beloved
and
His desire is toward us.
The most usual way to make contact with someone or something, is to reach out and touch with your hand. A touch of the hand is a universally understood sign of affection; however it can also be done in an aggressive move. In legal terms it’s the difference between assault and showing affection. It is also a way to express your desire for a deeper relationship.
We are His beloved and He is our beloved.
Are we ready to be His friend?
Are we ready to reach out and take the hand being offered to us?
Yes, there are more than just Abraham and Moses who are friends of our Heavenly Fathe; all HIs disciples were and as such then so are we.
Decide today to be yadiyad – hand in hand, heart in heart with Him, our beloved friend!
Proverbs 18:24
A man who has friends [ a]must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
He is our Yadiyad, let’s always walk side by side and hand in hand with Him.
Shalom aleikhem chaverim and mishpachah! Peace to friends and family. Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week. Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion. You are very precious in His sight. Not sure ..you can be… SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW… Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
Genesis 17:1-2, “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.”
The word before means “in front of, or in the presences of” (Webster’s 1828). God was calling Abraham to a personal relationship with Himself. He wanted Abraham to live in His very presence.
In Hebrew/Jewish literature the Rabbis and Sages teach that this verse should read
Walk WITH Me.
This is interesting because we are to understand that only after the fullness of 99 years, Abraham was finally invited to Walk WITH YHVH/Yahoveh/God as we are informed in Genesis that Enoch did also.
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Amplified Bible And [in reverent fear and obedience] Enoch walked with God; and he was not [found among men], because God took him. Genesis 5:24
Was Abraham able to do this because He understood that YHVH/God was El Shaddai, the Almighty or all sufficient God/YHVH? The rabbis and sages further say that 90 is the number of humility and 9 is the number of completion. So this infers that when Abraham was 99, he became complete (9) in humility(90) and recognized that YHVH/Yahoveh/God was truly El Shaddai – all sufficient, only then he could walk WITH Yahoveh/ YHVH/ God.
Humility is defined as: not for one moment trusting in self, in the arm of the flesh or in all securities we have built up; but having complete and total trust in our Heavenly Father God/El Shaddai, to be all sufficient for us.
אל שדי (el shaddai) the almighty
Genesis 17:1 HEB: אֲנִי־ אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י NAS: to him, I am God Almighty; Walk KJV: and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God;
And when Abram was ninety nine years old and the LORD appeared to Abram, and he said to him, I am El Shaddai, walk before me, and be perfect Genesis 17:1
7706 Shadday: Almighty
Original Word:שַׁדַּי Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: Shadday Phonetic Spelling:shad-dah’-ee
In the previous post we looked at the meaning of the word
אל el,
as found in אל שדי (el shaddai),
and the word שדי (shaddai).
Most Bible translations translate this word as Almighty.
Many times a translator will not, or is reluctant to, translate a Hebrew word literally;
Why?
Because the literal meaning would not make sense to the Western mind and in some cases could or would actually offend them.
This is the case with the word שדי (shaddai).
The use of the word “Almighty” by the translator is their attempt at translating the text in a manner that will both make sense to the Western reader as well as to retain some of the meaning of the original Hebrew word.
Let’s take another look at this word.
The parent root for this word is שד (shad).
The original pictograph for this word is:
The (sh) is a picture of the two front teeth
and has the meaning of:
“sharp,” “press” (as from chewing)
as well as “two.”
Shin: His Heartbeat apparent in the fervent ardency and the intense, fiery, consuming, passionate power of His essence; A picture of His desire which is evident in; the works of His hand – the brought forth One – the author and finisher.
The picture is the two front teeth.
The whiteness of the teeth shine.
Picture: Teeth
Associations: Shine
Sound:sh
Ancient Name: Shin
Modern Name: Shin
Modern Form:ש
Meaning: Sharp, Press, Eat, Two.
The (d) is a picture of a tent door
with a meaning of
“hang” or “dangle” as:
the door is hung or dangles down from the top of the tent.
Dalet – Door, passageway –
Process of entering-in; according to the Instructions, through the ‘Promised’ Instructor!
Move, hang, entrance, open, path or way.
The entrance of the Hebrew’s tent was covered by a curtain suspended from a horizontal pole.
The picture of this letter represents the “door” of the tent.
Picture: Door
Associations: Door
Sound: d
Ancient Name: Dal
Modern Name: Dalet
Modern Form: ד
Meaning:Move, Hang, Entrance
The combined meanings of the
shin and dalet
could be two danglers.
The goat was a very common animal within the herds of the Hebrews. It produces milk within the udder and is extracted by the goat kid by squeezing and sucking on the two teats dangling below the udder.
The function of these teats is to provide all the necessary nourishment for the kids, as they would die without it.
The Hebrew word שדי (shaddai)
also has the meaning of a teat.
Just as the goat provides nourishment to its kids through the milk, God nourishes His children through His milk and providesall the necessities of life.
This imagery can be seen in the following passage:
“And I will come down to snatch them [Israel] from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and wide land to a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:8
The word שדי (teat) is often coupled with the word
אל (mighty, strong)
creating the phrase
אל שדי (el shaddai)
and literally meaning
the “mighty teat,”
hence we can see the translator’s reluctance to literally translate this phrase and instead using the more acceptable “God Almighty.”
It has also been termed as the Almighty breasty One.
The idea of God being characterized as having breasts/teats does not sit well in our Western culture. We are familiar with identifying with God as a father, but not as a mother.
The Hebrew word for
mother is אם (em)
or
in the ancient pictographic script.
The ox head
meaning strength
combined with the picture for water
forms the word meaning: strong water.
Animal’s hides were placed in a pot of boiling water.
As the hide boiled, a thick sticky substance formed at the surface of the water and was removed and used as glue, a binding liquid or “strong water.” The mother of the family is the “one who binds the family together.”
Our Heavenly Father God can be seen as the
“glue” that holds the whole universe together;
which is more than a figurative statement however it is also quite scientific. We know that all matter is made up of atoms, each atom consists of protons which have a positive charge and electrons which have a negative charge. The protons are packed together in the nucleus, which is the center of the atom, while the electrons orbit/surround the nucleus. Since each proton has a positive charge, each proton should repel the others causing the protons to fly apart, but for some unknown reason, they do not. This phenomenon is called nucleic bonding. Our Heavenly Father God literally binds the entire universe together. WOW!
In Genesis 1:27 we are told “male and female he created them.”
This passage states that man was created as male and female and also that man was created in the image of God. God has the characteristics of both male and female and these characteristics were put into His creation, male characteristics in men and the feminine characteristics were placed in women. When a man and a woman come together, they unite these characteristics as one, now a perfect ‘representation’ of God. AsGenesis 2:24 states and they shall become one flesh.
(In His image and likeness.)
God promised the nation of Israel that he would bring them into a “land flowing with milk and honey.”
God as the אל שדי (el shaddai), the mighty teat, will supply His children with His life sustaining milk.
A brief note highlighting some of the problems with Biblical translations.
There are many aspects that comprise a translation which are both unknown and unseen to the reader. Many people assume that the English translations of the Bible are all equal representations of the original text in which it was first written down. Due to the huge difference between both the ancient Hebrews language and culture compared to our own, an exact translation into our English language is impossible. The job of any translator is extremely difficult as they attempt to bridge the gap between both languages and cultures.
Because the Hebrew text can be translated various ways, sometimes the translator’s personal beliefs have an influence how the text is translated; then it becomes more of a interpretation of the original text based on the individuals own theology and doctrine.
Whoever reads this translation has no choice but to believe the translators understanding of the text and it then also becomes the readers’ foundation.
For this reason, readers will often compare translations, but are usually limited to Christian translations. And many do not have the resources or education to do the research themselves and just simply accept what is presented in the version they have available.
A wise recommendation for any student of His Word is to include a “Hebrew/Jewish” translation when comparing texts, as this will give a different and more authentic perspective. Of course it will be biased toward the Hebraic/Jewish faith, but then Christian translations are biased toward the Christian faith too; so being able to compare the two translations can certainly help to understand the different viewpoint each one contains. We miss so many hidden gems and pearls when we confine ourselves to just one translation…Hopefully these posts help to illuminate and explain some of the more obscure scriptures which because of language ambiguities can seem to be contradictions.
The aim and heart of these posts are not to offend any readers, nor to take the place of personal study and research. No one understands it all and we are all learning along the Way. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father is the most important aspect, drawing closer to Him through His Word and so; having even a small glimpse into Hebrew language/culture, albeit clumsy, hopefully reminds us how little we really know and then only with the help of His Spirit. As always be encouraged to study for yourself and forgive any errors in the text, the writer simply wants you to fall in love with His Word.
Here is one that we can ponder on..
Is God Inhabiting Holiness or Praises?
In Psalm 22:3 it is written:
and thou art holy sitting …the praise of Israel.
Youngs Literal Translation.
In KJV it reads
3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
In other translations it reads as
enthroned
The word inhabit in Hebrew Strongs# 3427
is
יָשַׁב
YASHAV or Yashab
Phonetic Spelling: yaw-shab’
(recall the letters for v and b are interchangeable.)
Yashav means many things related to dwelling,
so, it could be sitting,
as used in Youngs translation,
or it could be
remaining, staying,
set in one place an abodeorestablishing.
Again, depending on the context where the word is used and is most applicable to what the original writer was trying to convey.
Here is a question.
Are our bodies the temple/sanctuary of God
or
are they the Yashav/yashab of God?
Many translations insert the word Temple
yet sanctuary is more appropriate.
Ephesians 2:21
Why?
Because the inner, holiest part of the temple complex was the place where YHVH/Gods’ shekinah presence dwelt.
(whereas naos denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere) — temple.2411. hieron
3485naós (from naiō, “to dwell”) Phonetic Spelling: (nah-os’) Definition: a temple, a shrine,
that part of the temple where God himself resides.– properly, a sanctuary (divine dwelling-place);
a temple (sacred abode), the place of divine manifestation. 3485(naós) refers to the sanctuary (the Jewish Temple proper), i.e. with just its two inner compartments (rooms).
As His Spirit of Holiness is now imparted into our innermost being, then it would seem more likely that the holiest place would be just that, in our innermost being – the sanctuary of our hearts.
Something to think about…
Returning to yashav/yashab,
And some more questions..
Are we hoping Gods’ presence will somehow come
… when we praise Him?
Is it that we somehow think/believe we can entice Him to join us by praising Him?
Doesn’t this signify that He is not yet in the midst of us or that He is not indwelling each of us by His Spirit? Yet
Does He inhabit the praises of His people
or
does He inhabit His Holiness?
Or maybe it could read literally from the Hebrew as:
He the praise of His people?
A serious and more revealing question is:
what is the praise of our congregations?
What are we as a body of believers lifting up?
Is it the leadership, the building?
The number of those attending, is it the denomination and it doctrines and beliefs?
Then we must ask… what is the individuals focus in praise?
Is it our family, job, career, house car etc etc?…
because what we praise
and give our allegiance to and focus on is what our priority is.
All we have to do is listen to conversations all around us, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. What’s in there in abundance will come out of our mouths in conversation.
The Lord is Holy and we are to let no unholy thing come out of our mouth.
1Peter 1:15 be holy in all manner of communication.
Kadesh – holy means:
to be separate and sacred.
The One we are to be in intimate communication with, is Our Heavenly Father and in that intimate relationship, we are drawn to Him Who, Jesus/Yeshua and His Spirit of Holiness always point us to;
and when He dwells within us,
He becomes our praise.
The word for praise here is
HALAL which means: to SHINE.
When we say Hallelujah, we are saying:
God SHINE in us let the world see You not us.
God already inhabits His people so
He obviously inhabits the praises that come forth from them.
God is our praise and He dwells in us, there’s no treasure anywhere that can even come close to who He is;
2Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Our treasure is that holy spirit within our “earthen vessels”. Earthen vessels are jars or containers made of clay. Jar of clay or earthen vessel is a figurative description of the human body as formed of clay (Gen. 2:7; 3:17)
and it should cause us to be continually praising Him, which in turn will give no room to be praising anything else.
As Yeshua/Jesus said, if people are forbidden to shout praises theThe very stones will cry out..
Let it be our aim to
walk with Him
and to let the
el shaddai who
(yashab) inhabits us
as His sanctuary here on earth;
inspire the praises that issue forth from our lips
by His indwelling Spirit of Holiness.
He is then inhabiting the Holiness of our praises!
Here I bow – live common gathering.
Shalom
friends and family!
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,
you are greatly loved and prayed for daily.
Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation
Not sure ..you can be…
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer,
Savior, Lord, and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
Hineni – Here I am
Hineni — הִנֵּֽנִי 
A look at the number 40,
The open form, peucha, is said to represent the revealed truth of God as demonstrated by Moshe/Moses. The use of the closed letter Mem, stumah, is said to represent the concealed truth of our Heavenly Father as was demonstrated by Yeshua/Jesus, the revealer of mysteries.
An 
We are familiar with Abraham being called 
First a P.S. for those who read last weeks post
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