Chokhmah

 

 

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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), 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 אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, what have both priests and rabbis of the past done, they purposely made grave and ridiculous changes! Thus, they have both added as well diminished from our beloved Scriptures. If you want proof visit Psalms Chapters 53 and 56 and note that they removed the blessed Name יְהוָה (7 times in each Psalm) from the Hebrew and placed God in the English translation. The most ancient texts I have personally read, obviously had His blessed Name in the Ivrit, etc. Read Deuteronomy chapter 4 and verse 2 shown above once more. They, and all rabbis who goes along with their lies will be severely punished!

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 Chokhmah

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Question: In reality where did חָכְמָה - Chokhmah come from, for it sounds so wrong? The term חָכְמָה - ‘Chokhmah’, also transliterated as ‘Hokhmah’ or ‘Chochmah’ and it is an authentic scriptural Hebrew word that apparently has deep roots in our Semitic language! 

Origin and Etymology:

1. Hebrew Root: The word originates from the three-letter Hebrew verb root מ כ ח - (-k-m), which means ‘o be wise, or “act wisely”.

Semitic Cognates: It is an ancient term with cognates in other Semitic languages, such as the Arabic word for ‘wisdom’, ‘Hikma (حكمة), derived from the same -k-m root.

2. Scriptural Usage: חָכְמָה - ‘Chokhmah’ appears frequently in the Tanakh (149 times in the Masoretic Text), most notably in the books of ‘Proverbs’, ‘Job’, and ‘Ecclesiastes’, where it is a central concept.

Here are some famous chapters and verses where the word is used:

Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of יְהוָה - the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise chokhmah (wisdom) and instruction”.

Proverbs 4:7: “Getting chokhmah (wisdom) is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment”.

Proverbs 8:1: “Does not chokhmah (wisdom) call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?”

Job 28:12: “But where can chokhmah (wisdom) be found? And where is the place of understanding?”

Psalm 111:10: “The fear of יְהוָה - the LORD is the beginning of chokhmah (wisdom); all who follow his precepts have good understanding”.

Let us read Ecclesiastes chapter 7 and verse 12:

Chokhmah (Wisdom) is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Chokhmah (wisdom) preserves those who have it”.

3. Meaning and Pronunciation:

The term refers to more than just ‘intellectual ability’ such as wisdom; it encompasses a ‘holistic understanding’ of ‘practical skill’, ‘insight’, ‘moral discernment’, and the ability to ‘live rightly in harmony with Divine principles’. 

Regarding your feeling that the pronunciation ‘sounds very wrong’, this is likely due to the phonetic differences between Hebrew and English: 

Pronunciation: The initial sound, represented by the Hebrew letter Chet (ח) is a guttural sound (like the ‘ch’ in the German ‘Bach’ or Scottish ‘loch’). This sound does not exist in the standard English and might be the element that feels ‘wrong’ or unusual to an English speaker. The transliteration ‘ch’ in English it is a potential mismatch between the expected sound and the actual Hebrew pronunciation.

Transliteration: The variety of transliterations (chokhmahhokhmah, chochmah) reflects attempts to capture a sound using the English alphabet that does not have a direct equivalent. 

In summary, the word is linguistically ‘sound and integral’ to the ‘Hebrew language’ and our Scriptural texts; the unusual sound is simply a feature of its original language’s phonology.

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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

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 through 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. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe 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!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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