Hebrew-Words
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Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three
versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF),
three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all
other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it
once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our
beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL
YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven
Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
A single word in Hebrew can open up profound
insights, and give you a richer view of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God’s) blessed
Word! Thus, below are ten special Hebrew words that will help you, for these
words will take you deeper into the Tanakh, as well as your relationship
with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim!
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1. שָׁלוֹם - Shalom - More
Than Just “Peace”:
We have all heard “Shalom” translated as “peace”, but it means so much more than peace. Shalom goes beyond the absence of conflict. It means ‘wholeness’, ‘completeness’, and ‘well-being’. When the Torah speaks of Shalom, it is speaking of the peace that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim intends for all of creation, the kind of peace that mends what is broken and heals what is hurt. Thus אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s peace is not just ‘calm’, it is ‘restorative’, all ‘encompassing’, and ‘life-giving’.
2. חֶסֶד - Chesed - The ‘Relentless Love of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’:
Chesed is a word that defies a one-word translation. It’s often translated as “loving-kindness”, “mercy,” or “steadfast love”, but it’s so much more. When you think of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s love for you, remember that it’s chesed a love that ‘clings to you’, that ‘fights for you’, and it ‘will not abandon you’.
3. אֱמֶת - Emet - ‘Truth That Can Be Trusted’:
The word “emet” means ‘truth’, but it’s more than factual accuracy. It speaks of ‘reliability’, ‘faithfulness’, and ‘dependability’. When the Tanakh calls אֱלֹהִים - Elohim “Emet”, it’s saying He is the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim you can depend on, ‘the One whose promises will not fail’. In a world that often feels shaky and unstable, ‘emet’ reminds us that we can cling to’ אֱלֹהִים- Elohim’s Words because they are ‘solid’, ‘trustworthy’, and ‘eternally true’. Imagine the comfort that comes from knowing that’ אֱלֹהִים- Elohim’s emet, His truth is the same ‘yesterday’, ‘today’, and ‘forever’.
4. רוּחַ - Ruach - The ‘Breath of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’, the ‘Spirit of Life’:
“Ruach” means ‘spirit’, ‘wind’, or ‘breath’. It’s the same word used when אֱלֹהִים - Elohim breathed life into Adam, and it’s the word used to describe the Holy Spirit throughout the Tanakh. Ruach represents אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s ‘life-giving power’, His ‘creative force’, His ‘presence moving within and around us’. When you feel weak, remember that the same Ruach that breathed life into humanity is also the ‘Spirit’ that renews us and empowers us daily. It is not just air, it is the very ‘breath of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim filling your lungs’, bringing you ‘to life’, filling ‘your spirit’.
5. יָדָה - Yadah - A ‘Surrendering Praise’:
The word “yadah” means to ‘praise’, but it also means to ‘extend your hand in worship’ and ‘surrender’. Imagine lifting your hands, ‘open and outstretched’, ‘giving everything you have to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’. That is what yadah embodies a full ‘surrender’, an ‘acknowledgment of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s greatness’. It’s not just about singing a song; it is a physical act of worship and a declaration of trust in’ אֱלֹהִים- Elohim s sovereignty. When we yadah, we’re saying, “אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, I trust You with everything”. It is a vulnerable, powerful gesture that can change how we approach worship.
6. קָדוֹשׁ - Qadosh - The ‘Holiness of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’:
“Qadosh” means ‘holy’, ‘set apart’, ‘different’. When the Tanakh says אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is “qadosh”, it means He is ‘utterly unique’, ‘utterly pure’, and ‘utterly perfect’.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s holiness is not just about moral perfection, it is about being entirely different from anything else in existence. He is not like us; He is אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. ‘Qadosh’ helps us grasp the ‘awe’ and ‘reverence’ we should feel when approaching אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
This is not a אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who is like us; this is ‘an אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who is above us’, ‘greater than us’, and ‘worthy of our complete devotion’.
7. שְׁמַע - Shema - To ‘Hear’ and ‘Obey’:
“Shema” is a word that means “hear” but in
Hebrew, it goes much deeper. To “shema” is not just
to listen but to ‘hear with the intent to obey’. In Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: יְהוָה - the
LORD our אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, יְהוָה - the
LORD is One”, this famous prayer does not just call
8. בְּרִית - Berith - ‘Covenant’, a ‘Sacred Agreement’: “Berith” means “covenant,” a word we encounter frequently in the Tanakh. A covenant in Hebrew culture is more than a ‘contract’; it’s a ‘sacred agreement’ made with the utmost seriousness. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s covenant with His people, from Noah to Abraham to Moses, is a binding promise, one that He fulfills even when we fall short. When we speak of ‘berith’, we speak of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s ‘commitment to His people’, a promise of ‘grace’, ‘love’, and ‘faithfulness’.
9. צְדָקָה - Tzedakah – ‘Righteousness’ and ‘Generosity’:
“Tzedakah” is often translated as “charity,” but it’s more than giving to those in need. It is an ‘obligation’, a ‘moral responsibility to live righteously’, ‘generously’, and ‘justly’. Tzedakah is not about charity as a simple act of kindness; it’s about embodying ‘justice’ and ‘generosity as a way of life’. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim calls us to be people of ‘tzedakah’, to act with ‘righteousness’, not out of duty but out of a ‘heart transformed by His love’. Imagine a world where we all practiced ‘tzedakah’ where ‘generosity’ and ‘justice’ is the norm.
10. אֱמוּנָה - Emunah - ‘Faith That Stands Firm’:
“Emunah” is typically translated as “faith”, but it’s not merely belief, it is ‘steadfastness’, ‘trust’, and a ‘commitment’ that stands firm even when things get tough. ‘Emunah’ speaks to ‘a faith that holds on’, ‘a trust that does not waver’. In the Tanakh, people of emunah are those who ‘cling to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’, ‘who walk in His ways’, and ‘who remain loyal despite hardship’. Emunah is ‘faith in action’, a faith that does not just say “I believe” but “I trust, I commit, I remain.” This is the kind of faith that can move mountains and carry you through the storms of life!
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Let those Hebrew Words above change the way
you read our blessed Torah / Tanakh.
The next time you open your Tanakh, remember these words. Let them remind you of the depth and richness of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Word, of a language that goes beyond our surface-level understanding.
Hebrew carries nuances that draw us into a fuller picture of who אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is and what He desires for us.
Take a moment to let “shalom” settle into
your soul, to embrace “chesed” as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
unbreakable love for you, to seek “qadosh” holiness
that sets us apart. These are not just words; they are ‘windows into the
heart of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’, בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return
to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and
pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our
beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is
always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site
has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the
following via several of our prophets...
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For 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 - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food
and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
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