The-Gift-of-Breath
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout
this site I may use any of three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the
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
(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).
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With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Please Note: All verses in this study is from JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh.
The following three passages, Genesis 2:7, Job 33:4, and Psalm 150:1-6 form one of the most beautiful arcs in all of Tanakh! They move from אֱלֹהִים giving life, to אֱלֹהִים sustaining life, to life returning to אֱלֹהִים in praise!
This study connects Genesis 2:7 to Psalm 150:1-6 using the text from the JPS Tanakh. It looks at how the physical breath of life given by אֱלֹהִים at creation connects directly to the final call for every living thing to praise Him!
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Let us now look at the three remarkable chapters &
verses:
Genesis 2:7:
“Then אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”.
Job 22:4:
“The spirit of אֱלֹהִים hath made me, and
the breath of the Almighty given me life”.
Psalm 150:1-6:
1. “Hallelujah. Praise אֱלֹהִים in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
2. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His abundant
greatness. 3. Praise Him with the blast of the horn; praise Him with the
psaltery and harp. 4. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him
with stringed instruments and the pipe. 5. Praise Him with the loud-sounding
cymbals; praise Him with the clanging cymbals. 6. Let every thing that hath breath
praise יְהוָה - the
LORD. Hallelujah”. Psalm 150:1-6.
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Concise Theme:
1. אֱלֹהִים gives
breath (Genesis 2:7). 2. אֱלֹהִים
maintains breath (Job 33:4). 3. Breath fulfils its purpose in
praise (Psalm 150:6).
What is so amazing that this is the entire journey of human existence in just three verses.
1. Genesis 2:7. The Gift of Breath.
Genesis 2:7 says: That אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
Meaning:
Dust: - Our physical side: ‘fragile’, ‘temporary’, ‘humble’.
Breath of life: - Our spiritual side: given too us directly by אֱלֹהִים, intentional and sacred.
Living soul (nefesh ḥayyah) - a being animated by אֱלֹהִים’s own breath.
Insight:
Genesis 2:7 teaches that life is not an accident. Your breath and every breath you take is a Divine act. We are alive because אֱלֹהִים breathed into us, and that breath has not left us.
2. Job 33:4. The Sustaining Breath.
Job 33:4 says: “The spirit of אֱלֹהִים hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life”.
This verse echoes Genesis 2:7, but it adds something crucial: אֱלֹהִים’s breath does not only begin life but it sustains life.
Meaning:
“The spirit of אֱלֹהִים hath made me” Creation is intentional. We are not random. We are crafted.
“The breath of the Almighty giveth me life” Breath is not a past event. It is a present reality. אֱלֹהִים is breathing life into us right now.
Insight:
Job 33:4 is especially powerful for someone who is critically ill. It says that your life is not held together by your strength, your lungs, or your body but by the breath of the Almighty.
Even when our bodies is weak, the One who breathed life into you still holds you.
3. Psalm 150:1-6. The Purpose of Breath.
Psalm 150 calls for ‘praise with trumpets’, ‘harps’, ‘timbrels’, ‘dance’, ‘strings’, ‘cymbals’ and every instrument imaginable. It ends with the famous line: “Let every thing that hath breath praise יְהוָה - the LORD.”
Meaning:
Praise is not limited to music.
Praise is not limited to strength.
Praise is not limited to youth or health.
Praise is simply the natural expression of our breath.
If you have breath, you have the ability to praise!
Insight:
Psalm 150 does not ask for ‘perfect singing’ or ‘strong dancing’. It simply asks for breath.
Even a ‘whisper’, even a ‘silent prayer’, even ‘a thought of gratitude’, that is praise!
The Beautiful Arc of These
Three Verses:
1. Genesis 2:7 - Breath Given.
God breathes life into humanity.
2. Job 33:4 - Breath Sustained.
God continues to give life every moment.
3. Psalm 150:6 - Breath Returned.
Humanity uses that breath to praise אֱלֹהִים. This is the full circle of human existence:
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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...
“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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