Something cool I learned in my Hebrew lessons...

[Guest his4evr]

I am taking a course on hebrew from a biblical perspective this year- and it has a ton of really neat things about how the language itself has a connection with God... (course from Easy Hebrew)

First: The special characteristics and values of "ahlef".. and Jesus.

(quote from Easy Hebrew bk. 1)

"In the book of Revelation, Jesus declares himself to John as "beginning and end," "first and last", or as translated in Greek, "Alpha and Omega." As a Jew, revealing Himself to a Jew, Jesus wouldn't have used the Greek letters to symbolize His character and purpose. Spiritually, He could not, for the Greek letters are void of the Hebrew symbolism about Him. Moreover, the symbolism is a direct quote from Isaiah 44:6 "...I am First and I am Last..." and was very familiar to John. (personification mine, as I see it in the Hebrew) Since John also understood ah-lef's functions as both "beginning and end", Jesus had to have said "I am Ahlef..." The symbolism is Hebraic through and through, and a more fitting Hebrew analogy could not have been given in either Testament!

It is the Hebrew Ahlef, not the greek letter alpha, that symbolizes the two, contrasting the tasks of Jesus:servanthood-honor, and silence-voice. In Isaiah 53, Messiah is clearly the silent servant, and we know that he went to His death without protest, yet, "had a voice" at other times. As Ahlef, he is in the position if importance in some hearts, but is ignored by others. Representing the Father, he was bold and vocal, but at the end, meek and silent. It is the Hebrew letter, not the Greek, whose symbolism implies dependence on God for when to 'speak' and when, not. As Ahlef is only vocal when a vowel sound is assigned to it, so Jesus was only vocal when His Father assigned a message to Him. Like Ahlef, He had no "sound" or message of His own. He only mimicked the Father's heart. As Ahlef is the first in alphabet order, so Jesus is "Firstborn among many bretheren." Hebraically, the "firstborn" has priority and honor.

Jesus must have these in the hearts of His Believers. But, because He accepted the lowly task of 'servant', (last, of no honor) He has even greater honor in Heaven, for, like ahlef, "the first shall be last, and the last shall be first." At the end of His earthly term, He finished His task, and sealed the gospel, ending the sting of the law to begin for us the experience of grace.

In ancient days, each Hebrew letter bore a certain meaning. Curiously, Ahlef meant ox. Again, this is Hebraic, not Greek, symbolism. Ahlef represents Jesus as the burden bearer (the ox) who is yoked together with the Believer. He is your new beginning with God, and He will be with you till the end.

What do you think of that? Amazing, huh? And there's more where that came from... such as:

Did you know that in Hebrew, all the words for God, are actually in plural masculine form? This supports the Christian belief in the trinity. Example:

At the same time that the Jews cling to their motto "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." (Deut. 6:4) In this verse, both the word LORD and the word God, are plural, yet "Hear" is singular. God addressed the masses of Israel as singular. Be it as "one" nation, a "united" people, or individual hearts, He was making a point.

That's all for now...

Lehitra'ot Khaverim (Goodbye Friends)

His4evr

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice; Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

[Guest Kevinator Cornbread]

Aleph means "ox", Tav means "cross"... so Aleph-Tav is the "ox on the cross"

Now, remember, Messiah was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver:

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:15

Edited October 11, 2004 by Kevinator Cornbread

[Guest evangelina]

his4ever,

That was interesting, I hope you keep posting what you learn because I'll keep reading it.

I couldn't afford the "learn hebrew" computer program, it runs for about $200.00 and sometimes more. Lucky You.

blessings,

evangelina

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings His4evr,

You are just scratching the surface of the wonderful information contained in the Tenakh. When viewed from the New Testament, the OT, just opens up like a beautiful rose.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[DaniJ87]

ok.. just to note... I am His4evr.... but I accidentally closed the email account that I logged in to this site with... and then I forgot my password.. so I had to reregister...

I think it's really neat how the old testament and new testament are so intricately intertwined!

~DaniJ87~