We sometimes forget that language is very important. The English language has been the one that many other nations have been required to learn in order to communicate with English speaking countries.
There are so many other languages that are very old in origin whereas English is only a few hundred years in its development.
For example the number of unique Chinese characters used through the ages, though the exact figure is unknown, is safely in excess of 100,000.
The largest number ever recorded in a Chinese dictionary—the Taiwan Ministry of Education’s 2004 Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (異體字字典, Yìtǐzì zìdiǎn)—was 106,230.
Only a subset of these characters are still in regular use today.
In 2013, the Chinese government published a list of the 3,500 most essential characters used in modern Chinese. Chinese schoolchildren are expected to learn all 3,500 at a minimum, though many graduate knowing 5,000, 6,000 or more.
In order to pass the highest level on China’s official Chinese proficiency exam for non-native speakers, the HSK (汉语水平考试 hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì), you will need to know 2,663 individual Chinese characters.
This is a huge number compared to the Hebrew alefbet of 22 letters and English alphabet of 26 letters!
The ancient languages of thousands of years ago are more common than we realize and we can gain much from studying those used in the biblical texts. They give us insight to cultural backgrounds that have been lost in translation. Many in the west are rather lazy and expect other nations to speak English rather than take the time to learn the languages of other countries.
The Scriptures were written in Hebrew and Aramaic.
Later they were translated into Greek, Latin/Italian and old English. Its’ not that long ago that entrance to universities required the student to be well versed in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. This was because most of the reference books in libraries were still in those languages, not having been translated into English.
We lose so much of the beauty of a language when it is translated, and learning some of the original words enhances our understanding. It also reveals the inner meanings of concepts that are rooted in the times they were written; referring to the culture and the idioms used.
Early writings like those of cuneiform,
Chinese, Japanese,
Egyptian and Hebrew,
used pictures and images
like the Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Many of the characters are not just an individual letter but depict a complete thought.
Ancient civilizations recorded important events by inscribing marks in clay tablets or cylinders; later the use of scrolls made from animal skins and papyrus were used to record their history.
Many writings that have survived thousands of years
are in stone, which is the most durable substance.
We know that the dead sea scrolls contained
confirming information of biblical stories,
although many are incomplete due to deterioration.
The pictographs, which are the paleo Hebrew characters,
are very descriptive and each letter in itself tells a story.
Rabbis in the time of Messiah would often illustrate spiritual truths using Hebrew letters.
In modern speech we use the expression
‘Hey’!
to get someone’s immediate attention.
In Hebrew the letter H is pronounced the same way
and makes the same sound: ה Hei/ hey.
The Hebrew commentaries teach that Moses could not speak properly because he was thick of tongue and this would have made it very difficult for him to pronounce any name of God that required using his tongue.
To articulate the sound of a word correctly,
pronunciation needs the use of the tongue.
The same Jewish commentary offers the explanation that our Heavenly Father gave Moses a name for Himself which had letters that didn’t need the use of his tongue.
This name was made up of 4 letters.
First the letter Yod which made a Y sound,
next the letter H making the H or Hei sound.
Thirdly, the letter Vav making a V sound; and lastly,
the letter H again making the H or Hei sound.
Moses was given a name that he could speak with his breath that did not require him to use his tongue.
YHVH sometimes written as YHWH.
(there is no letter W in Hebrew.)
It is pronounced sometimes as:
Yod Hey Vav Hey
or Yahweh.
The V and W are interchangeable.
The Hei traditionally represents
the breath and presence of God.
The sages teach that God created the world with the letter
Hei;
that is He created the world with His breath and presence.
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Psalm 33:6-9 (KJV)
The hei represents divine revelation, the breath of God. It is the symbol of the repentant man, who beholds the revelation of God. Hei is spiritual life, the breath of GOD, that is the essence of all creation. Hei, is also connected to the “light” spoken of 5 times in the book of Genesis, on the 1st day of creation. The numerical value of hei is five which is the number of grace and also signifies the 5 dimensions and 5 senses.
The letter Hei was known as the broken letter.
It is identical to the Cheth, except that there is a narrow space, a brake in the upper left hand corner of the letter.
This little space was known as
the narrow or strait gate that leads to the presence of God.
Matthew 7:13: “Enter ye at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat.”
The bottom of the letter is open.
This is known as the wide or broad gate.
As already noted the Hei represents the breath of God. Through repentance we will find the breath of God that will blow us through the narrow gate. Without repentance you cannot find the breath of God to sustain us, causing us to fall through the wide gate at the bottom of the letter to destruction.
Look again at the broken letter Hei ה, and the opening in the top left hand corner of the letter. Jewish literature written about the time of Messiah explains that in this letter, as noted previously represents the presence and breath of God, further add this observation. That it is very difficult to climb to the narrow gate and few there are who can rise to that narrow gate and achieve such a state of righteousness, that they are able to pass through that narrow gate to the Shekinah, or the presence of God.
Through repentance we will find the breath of God that will blow us through the narrow gate into His presence.
Without repentance we cannot find the breath of God to sustain us, this will cause us to fall through the wide gate at the bottom of the letter to destruction; and many are those who pass through the broad gate that leads to destruction. The picture is not simply that of salvation here; but rather of entering into such an intimate relationship with God, that we will experience His loving presence or His Shekinah Glory.
Is this what Yeshua/Jesus was referring to this when He said in Matthew 7:13?. “Enter the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is spacious which leads to destruction, and many are those who are going in it.”
Everything has meaning in Scripture and Our Heavenly Father uses everything in His creation to speak with us. The letters themselves, the words they form, olive trees, birds, animals, bread, grapes/wine, farming, wheat, corn and oil, to name a few; with this understanding, we will find that every word, every jot and title, is written with purpose. There is so much more beneath the surface. Recall the meaning of PaRDeS.
The Hebrew word for the
first 5 books of the Bible is
Torah, pronounced: tow rah
Torah has the letter H/Hei at the end and
in the Ancient Paleo Hebrew pictograph below,
the letter hei has the image of a little stick figure man, with his hands held up in the air.
Recall the hei means to “look” or to “behold”
Below are the ancient pictograph letters for Torah.
signifying:
Behold, look, pay attention, the breath of God in His Words of Instruction and Covenant.
Next time we try to get someones attention or acknowledge a friend with Hei/Hey; remember our Heavenly Father is also trying to get our attention to Look, pay attention, reminding us His Covenant is the breath of His Presence.
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.
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