Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Hebrew Alphabet and meanings - Compiled


Hebrew Alphabet and Meanings - Compiled



This compilation has been developed from considerable research, using many sources as well as personal study of the words in context.  In the definitions you will find some possible meanings identified as inferred.  They are referenced as from Wheatland Ministries.    Those inferred meanings came from my personal study of the meanings of the letters derived from the context of a verse where a word with the letter appeared.  Hopefully they expand and clarify the subtle meanings of the letters.



The alphabet listing follows the following format: the first letter is the current Hebrew, the second symbol is how the letter would have been written in the time of Abraham.



א   Aleph - Strength, leader, first, strong leader- strong, power, leader (2b) In the ancient Hebrew, it was drawn like the head of an ox which is part of the original meaning of the letter (1a)  A



 ב Bet, Beyt -house, It's literal meaning is House or tent. In the ancient Hebrew, it was drawn as the floor plan of a primitive house, and thus it's symbolic meaning is a household. (1a), family (2b)  B



גִּ Gimel – to lift up, It's literal meaning is a camel, to lift up. Its symbolic meaning is kindness, to nourish, or pride, to be lifted up. (1a) gather, walk (2b) CG



ד Dalet -Pathway, enter, door- 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.  (10)  The letter ‘dalet’ is a picture of a door. D



ה He, Hey – behold, to reveal, the – look, reveal, breath (2b)  It's literal meaning is a window, or lattice. The symbolic meaning is to behold, or to reveal. In rabbinic tradition the letter hey is associated with revelation! (1a). Also by inference, the meaning could mean--expose or show. (10)   E



ו  Vav- Nail, to secure – add, secure, hook (2b) The literal meaning is a nail. The symbolic meaning is "to secure or fasten" "add" "a connection". The letter in grammar serves to connect or join together, two words or phrases as in English our word “and” (1a).  Inferred—lasting— Psalms 119:144- עוֹלָם ʿôlām -everlasting. (10)   F



ז Zain /Zayin - a weapon-(possibly the letter was a picture of and axe.) (1a), food, cut (2b) The numeric value is 7, and 7 indicates the saboth which the Lord wants us to remember.  Zayin is also the first letter of the word "zahor" (זחור), meaning to remember—(8)—therefore another meaning of Zayin could be to remember.  Z 



ח  Heth, Chet – fence, hedge, to separate. Outside, divide, half (2b), The literal meaning of this letter is a "fence", "hedge" or “chamber”, (1a)  An inferred meaning could also be protection-IE a fence protects. (10)    Another 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 (10) Another inferred meaning is that the hedge represents love-possibly protective love. (10)  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)



ט Tet -- The 9th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the Tet. The literal meaning of this letter is "a snake" or "to twist" and the symbolic meaning is "to surround."  The snake (Tet) brought judgment to God's children in the garden.  It is amazing in that one of the ways of writing the ancient letter Tav besides as a cross, was in the form of an "X".(1a) surround, contain (2b) It also represents a container made of wicker or possibly clay (9)  (Note—there is considerable variance in the interpretation of the meaning of Tet.  The definition in (1a) suggests a snake.  The definition in (2b) is to surround, contain which is more supportive of the definition in (9) referring to a basket or a pot—which does fit the description of the letter.)



י Yud - deed done, to make, power, might- Work, worship (2b) In the ancient Hebrew word pictures, the yod was drawn as a "hand" complete with the arm above the elbow. It symbolized work done - (1a) (note: the picture of the letter Yud-of how it was represented in the Alphabet used in Abraham’s time, looks like a possible handshake-a handshake could infer ‘agreement’.)    JI



כ ךְ   Kaph - It's symbolic meaning is to cover, to allow or to open. In the picture Hebrew of Moses it was drawn like what it represented, an open hand. The center of the Hebrew alphabet, it shows the open hand of God's blessing for all who embrace Him. (1a) Open, Allow (2b)   The meaning where kaph is used in a work preceded by a word like ‘lo’ לֹא֙ which is a negative could also infer that in the presence of pure Holiness –all our wrong doings are known.  Therefore, to open would be to show faults (10)  K



ל Lamed - Go toward, learn, teach, urge forward - The ancient picture form of this letter is a cattle goad and in this form it symbolized: to control or the controller, to prod or urge forward, to go towards of forward, and a tongue (1a) L



מַ ם Mem-massive, sea, ocean, mighty. It related to Moses, mighty, mighty waters (nations) and this is how Moses got his name. Moses means ‘drawn waters’.  Based on the name Moses, the letter could possibly mean ‘drawn’ (1a) Chaos, Mighty, Blood (2b) (inferred-"many"-see Exodus 20:3 aherim, Strong's Number 312 translated other)10  M



נ ן Nun-Propagate increase, 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) Continue, heir, son (2b)  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



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).  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)

עָ Ayin   - see, know, knowledge, experience, insight, symbol of sight and insight and other possible meaning eye and fountain. (1a) watch, know, shade—(to shade could infer hiding) (2b)   O



פֶּ פְ ף Pey, Fey ,Pe - mouth, speak, word, to speak, to open, It's literal meaning is “mouth” and it's symbolic meaning is "to open", "speak", "word", "the beginning" (like a river). In the ancient picture Hebrew, the letter Pey was drawn according to the meaning, in this case, a mouth.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 (1a) (7) P



צִ ץ Tzade harvest, desire, just, righteous—In ancient Hebrew this letter was drawn like a hook. In Hebrew, to "want" or "desire" is Ra-tsah and the word picture tells us that desire is when a person is "hooked". Another significant word is the Hebrew word for Righteousness, Tse-dek and the word picture tells us that you are righteous when your hook is the door you follow. See John 10:7, 9 (1a) Journey, chase, hunt (2b). An inferred meaning could be: focused desire. (10)  



ק Qoph, Kof - the last, least, behind(6f) –condense, circle, time—(circle time could indicate eternity—which may be a meaning of Qoph; circle time could also mean ‘time’ by inference (10)) (2b) Sunset, back of head, Follow, (follow) after (guarding/protective of).  Also another inference –see Psalms 119: 152—old—Qoph—could mean-passage of time or what has passed in time—i.e. ancient. (10)    Q



ר Resh, Reish - what comes first, capstone, head, highest, first, top, beginning, (2b) The literal meaning of the Reish is "first", "Head" and the symbolic meaning is "first" "person", the "most important", "highest" or the "highest/first person".(1a)    R



שָׁ Shin—The symbolic meaning is "sharp", "to consume, devour or destroy". (It might be possible to infer the meaning of shin as ‘focused’ when looking at the word sharp.  For example—to speak sharply, can be very focused speaking) There are two words that bear out the theme of "destroy" which begin with the sheen/shin. They are the word for "Repent": Shoov  repent.  Note: Repentance comes when we "destroy" our old house (old ways), leaving nothing to turn back; and the word meaning “peace”, which refers to wholeness and wellness: Shalom שָׁלוֹם. A definition of shalom has been given as: (1a) Sharp, press, eat, two (2b) to press could mean to force—force open (note: to force could also possibly mean strong or focused, which could be inferred meanings (10)) S



ת Tav  -- It's literal meaning is "ownership" "covenant" "sign" "a mark" and "to join two things together". (1a), mark, sign, signal, monument (2b)   T

Note about Tav:  In the ancient Hebrew picture letters the Tav was written as a cross, and later as an X. In the ancient Hebrew word for "sign" signwe see that the SIGN is "the strong leader nailed to the cross". It is this same word that is translated Greekin the Greek text of Luke 2:12 which reads: And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
The Hebrew word for religion is "DaT”,
דתּ.  In Abraham’s Day it was written as:  DaT  the ancient word picture tells us that religion is the "door of the sign" or the "door of the cross".  Source (1a) 




References:






(2b) Hebrew28_alphabet chart http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/28_chart.html



(3c)  Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary on Word Search



(4d) Giving Ourselves to Prayer compiled by Dan R. Crawford, Chapter 30



(5c )  Tiffany Ann Lewis Elijah List Publications
528 Ellsworth St. SW
Albany, OR 97321

www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250



(5e)  Hebrew Alphabet Chart with Meanings Prepared by Dr. Jensen Petersen, www.JensenPetersen.com







(7)  Meaning of the Hebrew Alphabet www.abarim publications.com/Hebrew_Alphabet_Meaning.html

8 Hebrew Today http://www.hebrewtoday.com

9 The Ancient Hebrew letters, Jeff A Benner http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/3_thet.htm

10.  Inferred meaning—Lewis Turner, Wheatland Ministries.

Notes: In this passage of Psalms, the word well and good is used several times, and pronounced differently and translated different ways even though the letters are the same.  They all come from the Hebrew word—טוֹב.  The following are the Hebrew Strong’s Numbers for this word:  They are - 2898 & 2896. 



The meanings of the word in each pronunciation are closely related but different.  The pronunciation for ‘well’ may refer indicate the phrase is in the past tense.  The pronunciation mark is on the letter Vav וֹ and the phrase refers to a past event. 



©2015 Lewis Turner

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