Grace and Mercy--meanings of derived from the Hebrew Letters

Appendix A

Word Study of Grace and Mercy, looking at their meaning from the meanings of the Hebrew letters by Lewis Turner, Wheatland Ministries-notes-

Grace  חֵ֖ן

Strong’s Number: 2580

Transliteration: ḥên

ח  Heth, Chet, Hhet (9) – fence, hedge, to separate. Outside, divide, half (2b), Barrier, outside, defend, divide. (5e) (1a) (an inferred meaning could also be protection-IE a fence protects) (an inferred meaning could also be that Heth refers to instruction—instruction that makes the hedge—see the word Statutes Hebrew Strong’s Number 2706 חֹק‎) (another inferred meaning is that the hedge represents love-possibly protective love) H

Chesed is the Old Testament's highest expression for love. It is a love that remains constant regardless of the circumstances. Chesed is translated in English in many different ways: kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, loyalty, love, and unfailing love. (5c)

נ ן  Nun-Continue, heir, son, (2b) seed. Life, grow, son, continue, (5e) It can also mean to propagate, to increase, or to sprout. (1a)  In the ancient picture language this was pictured as a seed in ancient Hebrew and Egyptian cultures. As mentioned, it represented "life", "posterity", "active life". As used in the Hebrew word for son , the nun symbolized the posterity of the house. (Also by inference, Nun could mean purpose—it is used in the word—potter  יֹצְרֵ֔נוּ –see Isaiah 64:8—a potter makes a vessel for a specific purpose). Another thought about the meaning of the letter Nun, in Isaiah 53:5 it is possible that the letter Nun in the word nirpa, we are healed, could indicate an inferred meaning of Nun as healing. (10)   N

Ancient meaning derived from the meanings of the Hebrew letters of the word grace:  The hedge/protection of life.

References and notes:

—Brown-Driver-Briggs (Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon)

From H2603; graciousness, that is subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty):—favor, grace
(-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favored.

—Strong's (Hebrew & Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament)  חֵן

Grace:  Genesis 6:8: 19:19; 32:5: 33:8, 10, 11; 34:11: 39:4: 47:25, 29; 50:4 Exodus 33:12, 13, 16, 17:34:9.
Numbers 32:5. Judges 6:17. Ruth 2:2, 10. 1 Samuel 1:18; 20:3; 27:5. 2 Samuel 14:22; 16:4. Esther 2:17,
Psalms 45:2; 84:11 Proverbs 1:9; 3:22, 34; 4:9; 22:11. Jeremiah 31:2, Zechariah 4:7. 7; 12:10

*****

Mercy חָ֑סֶד

Strong’s Number: 2617

Transliteration: ḥā·seḏ

ח   Heth, Chet, Hhet (9) – fence, hedge, to separate. Outside, divide, half (2b), Barrier, outside, defend, divide. (5e) (1a) (an inferred meaning could also be protection-IE a fence protects) (an inferred meaning could also be that Heth refers to instruction—instruction that makes the hedge—see the word Statutes Hebrew Strong’s Number 2706 חֹק‎) (another inferred meaning is that the hedge represents love-possibly protective love) H

Chesed is the Old Testament's highest expression for love. It is a love that remains constant regardless of the circumstances. Chesed is translated in English in many different ways: kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, loyalty, love, and unfailing love. (5c))

סָ  Samekh - lean upon, support, uphold, It's literal meaning is a "prop" or "support". It's symbolic meaning is to prop up, support, to turn aside, like a prop on a tree to change the direction of it's growth. (1a). grab, hate, protect (2b), thorn (9), support, protect (5e).  From the word dross Strong’s Hebrew Number 5509, Ps 119:119 it could mean remove (10)   X 

The Samech is another letter of support and protection. The ancient pictograph of the Samech is that of a prop or support, thus it represents God's support. The circular shape of the Samech can be seen as a picture of God, our support, who has no beginning and no end. This center letter is seen by the sages as a picture of the heart of God where one can reside and be protected by the strong outer circle.  (5c)

ד  Dalet -opening, enter, door (5e) move, Hang, Entrance (2b)- In ancient Hebrew this letter was drawn as a tent flap (1a).  (to enter could infer an action of discovering what is behind the door)  The letter ‘Dalet’ is a picture of a door. D

Ancient meaning derived from the meanings of the Hebrew letters of the word for Mercy:  The hedge or chamber (of God’s love) that supports us and separates us, and provides a door (who is Jesus) to enter it.

Genesis 39:21

Christ said “I am the door” John 10:9.  Those words are an invitation showing He is Mercy providing the door to God’s support upholding us.

Note 1: the English does not convey the depth of meaning that the letters do.  We find that looking at mercy through the meaning of the letters of the word, that God provides a protective hedge to support us and separate us and in providing it, provides a door to enter it.

Note 2: 1 Corinthians 10:13 King James Version (KJV)

¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The way of escape is through the door (Jesus) to the protective hedge that support us and separate us, providing safety and a way of escape from the temptation.

The hedge that God provides for us which Jesus is the door to, supports and protects us.

©2012 Lewis Turner