Halel Study
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please do NOT visit this
site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
On this study, we
will use the following version of the Tanakh: the “Jewish
Publication Society” (JPS-1917).
Please Note: Some
alterations have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been
corrected as it once was, pre the “Masoretic
Text”.
With Shmuel Elisha Ben Avram.
Brief Introduction:
On
this study we will explore the Hebrew word הָלַל - ‘Halel’ and we will do this
using the original Sinaitic or Paleo-Hebrew
pictography of Ancient Hebrew that was the original font written on the Torah
during our wilderness journey, by ‘Moshe Rabbeinu’.
YYYYYYY
|
Letter |
Pictograph |
Meaning |
|
Hey (ה) |
Man with raised arms. |
Behold, reveal, surrender, awe. |
|
Lamed (ל) |
Shepherd’s staff. |
Emphasis: personal discipline |
|
Lamed (ל) |
Repeated Shepherd’s staff. |
Influence over others. Authority, guidance, discipline. |
So הָלַל - Halel is
not just “praise” in the abstract, it’s a ‘physical’, ‘spiritual
posture’:
Hey: A man lifting his hands in surrender and reverence, acknowledging
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sovereignty. The two arms the left and right raised means I
shall not go out of the boundaries of the Mitzvot but shall stay on the road I
walk in the middle. We look up to His light and we follow Him. We surrender our
will to Him and have trust in Him that He will protect us.
Let us look at Devarim
- Deuteronomy 5:28. (JPS-1917 version):
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם
לַעֲשׂוֹת,
כַּאֲשֶׁר
צִוָּה
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
אֶתְכֶם: לֹא
תָסֻרוּ, יָמִין
וּשְׂמֹאל
“Ye shall
observe to do therefore as אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- יְהוָה-
the LORD your Elo’hei’cha (God) hath commanded you;
ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left”.
The phrase, “ye shall not turn aside to the
right hand or to the left” - means to strictly and completely obey אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s commandments without deviating at all.
The imagery of not turning from a straight path symbolizes staying on the path
of righteousness and faithfulness, avoiding distractions or deviations that
lead to sin.
Let us continue, and
learn more of the relevant meanings regarding the Paleo-Hebrew pictography, related directly to our Scriptures.
YYYYYYY
First Lamed:
The
First Sheppard’s (ל) staff acknowledges that we
follow the authority, guidance and discipline of Elohim. So virtually we turn
the staff upon ourselves.
This
is achieved by discipline, overcoming our self-will our מְאֹדֶךָ - me’o’decha - me’o’de’cha. This
is found in the Shema, as the phrase functions alongside “with all your heart”
and “with all your soul,” so בְּכָל
מְאֹדֶךָ completes the triad as the wholehearted
giving all of one’s strength, power, or resources to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. This is done by conforming and aligning it with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s will. This is by far the most challenging task you will ever
face as a human being, as everything man has done is pale in comparison to
overcoming one’s self-will. This constant internal struggle uses your will to
bring your body and soul into alignment with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s will. The reward; well let’s say you will know Him like never
before!
Second Lamed:
The Second Sheppard’s staff is used to bring people back to אֱלֹהִים, describes how a person’s visible closeness to אֱלֹהִים becomes an outward ripple. Your obedience becomes a light that others perceive, and that light produces two primary effects on people. One it can attract and the other it can repel people. You also have to hold yourself in adverse conditions. Live consistency between word and deed; let mercy and justice be prominent; tell the story of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s work in your life when appropriate.
In
Western languages, “praise” can become a mental assent or a musical expression,
but in Hebrew, ‘halel’ is embodied by obedience, a
lifestyle of submission and influence.
Greek “Praise” vs. Hebrew “Halel”:
The
Greek or western languages concept of “praise” (αἰνέω, δοξάζω) tends to be verbal
and abstract, focused on speaking well of, glorifying,
or honouring. It’s often detached from physicality, and
lacks the visceral, relational depth of Hebrew.
Why This Matters:
By
insight reclaims the original intent of ‘halel’:
not just to say “אֱלֹהִים is great,” but to live in a way that reveals His
greatness. It’s a call to ...
Raise your hands: Surrender and acknowledge.
Walk the path: Stay within the boundaries which
our beloved אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim has set.
Wield the staff: Discipline yourself and guide others.
This
is the kind of depth that Western translations often flatten. But our Hebraic
reading restores the multi-dimensional richness of the Hebrew
language.
YYYYYYY
PLEASE NOTE: If you need assistance in some way, just ask, I can email you special
items to help you with whatever you may need, etc! Just email me (using the
link further below) and I will send it to your email, without any follow up
whatsoever, or any requests from me! The email is just down this page.
Remember
what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed
be He, said the following, via a number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me,
and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your
Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה (the LORD your Elo’hei’chem);
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and
do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you,
that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH your Elo’hei’chem”. Yechezkel
- Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
YYYYYYY
“Hebraic Studies” motto
is as follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”.
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of
hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat,
as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace
be with you!
Shmuel Elisha Ben Avram.
iiEnter the Main Site IndexI
Or ...
http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm
0Or Return to
the FRONT PAGE0
Or ...
https://www.hebraicstudies.net
-hebraicstudies.net-
Email the Rabbi
If the email link does not open - You can
also copy the link and use it.
Although the author does not believe in having
to copyright “Hebraic Studies” which commenced in the mid 1980’,
but there have been occasions where there
parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context
under his name, and thus he has been
misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.
Thus, it is only for this reason these
works are covered under strict ...
Copyright © 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All rights reserved.