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

Potter-A Study of its Meanings From the Meanings of the Hebrew Letters Is 64 vs 8

The following is a study of the Hebrew Word YATSAR, Potter, יֹצְרֵ֔נוּ      Hebrew Strong’s Number: H3335  It is used as a name for God in Isaiah 64:8 "Thou our potter."

*Possible Letter Meaning of Potter יֹצְרֵ֔נוּ:  The secure deed of the righteous desire of the capstone that gives life/purpose

Reflection Discussion and Questions:

A potter is one who takes a shapeless piece of clay and makes it into something useful—something special—and something with a purpose.  What a potter makes is according to his desire and the process of making the vessel or special item, is a deed of action. 

Let’s look at the Hebrew letters and their meanings in the name ‘Potter’:

To start, it has the Hebrew letter י  Yud, which refers to a deed.  In looking at the other Hebrew letters making up the name ‘Potter’, we find the letter ו  ן     Vav, which can mean secure or lasting.  Another Hebrew letter found is צַ   Tzadi, which means desire.  Who’s desire is being expressed?  The Hebrew letter ר   Resh, Reish, in the name indicates whose desire is being referred to. That letter means ‘the most important person’.  Perhaps we should take a moment and consider—who is this most important person.  The letter ו  ן     Vav, gives us a clue.  It is quite possible that the most important person is Christ who was secured to the Cross of Calvary by nails.  There is one more letter in the name ‘Potter’.  It is the Hebrew letter  נ  Nun, which tells us about the purpose of the deed being made.  It is referring to life, an active life.

From the above, what might you conclude about the meaning of the word ‘Potter’ as it is used in Isaiah 64:8?

As you consider the meaning of the name Potter, consider what a ‘Potter’ does and what the work Christ has done for us. A potter makes a vessel generally for a purpose, and the work of Christ at Calvary provides a way for us to have life and purpose.

Prayer Focus:  Father, may the desire You have for us, make us into something important and beautiful to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Definitions of the letters used in the Hebrew Word for Potter, YATSAR.

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

צַ     Tzadi-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)

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

נ    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)  N

ו  ן     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—vs  Psalms 119:144- עוֹלָם‎ ʿôlām  -everlasting))  F