For the next while (as I try to catch up on my schooling) I will be tidying up some old pages by adding the Hebrew text into the Biblical quotations. I have been doing this for awhile now, but the earlier postings are missing the Hebrew script and I’ve heard from a few of you that it’s helpful to see this alongside the transcription.
So, this week I tied up the original posting on The Way, and while I did it I noticed that derek is an excellent word to do a short lesson on Hebrew grammar.
Perhaps a few of you just thought, oh no, not GRAMMAR!! I used to feel that same way in grade 8. My teacher, Mrs. Maclean, was a big grammar fan, and although she was a great teacher, I can’t say I felt the same passion for dependent clauses and infinitives as she did.
But Hebrew grammar is surprisingly easy (in comparison to many other languages). Hebrew has a root word system. Adding prefixes and suffixes changes the tense and possession relationships of the roots. For example, derek is the root noun meaning WAY. Add ha to derek makes it THE (ha) WAY (derek), or…
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙
Today we’ll look at some Hebrew suffixes (added to the end of the word):
In 2 Samuel 22 David said of God, His way [dar’kow דַּרְכֹּ֑ו] is blameless. Then David said, He makes my way [dar’ki דַּרְכִּֽי] blameless.
Regarding Wisdom, we read in Proverbs 3:17, Her ways [d’rakeha דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ] are pleasant ways [dar’kay דַרְכֵי], and all her paths are peace.
In Lamentations 3:4 we read: “Let’s examine and search out our ways [d’rakenu דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙], and let’s return to YHWH”, and in Psalm 25:4, David said to YHWH, “Make me know Your ways [d’rakeka דְּרָכֶ֣יךָ].”
Ezekiel (33:17) criticized the people, saying, “Yet your fellow citizens say, ‘(The) way [derek דֶּ֣רֶךְ] of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their way [dar’kam דַּרְכָּ֥ם] that is not right.”
The suffixes determine the possessive noun:
My way: dar’ki (ee sound at end)
His way: dar’kow (oh sound at end)
Her way: d’rakeha (ha sound at end)
Our ways: d’rakenu (nu sound at end)
Your ways: d’rakeka (ka sound at end)
Their ways (plural): dar’kam (am sound at end)
This is, of course, simplified. There are other endings depending on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person and singular and plurals, but this gives you a basic understanding of the most common suffixes for noun endings.
I particularly enjoy knowing the personal endings for MY. You can easily incorporate these words into your prayers: My God is my rock (tsuri צוּרִ֥י), my shield (maginni מָגִנִּ֞י), my redeemer (goh’ali גֹאֲלִֽי), and my salvation (yeshuati ישׁוּעָתִ֑י).
Finally, a few weeks ago I did a posting outlining the message I gave at the North Tryon Presbyterian Church on Naaman the Syrian. He followed the Way in the wilderness and Yeshua elevated his status as a man of faith. You can read it here, or you can watch a recording (sorry, the sound quality isn’t the best) of the message below. Keep in mind I misspoke when I said that Rimmon was a god of the Assyrians; he was the storm god of the Arameans. However, I wasn’t too far off as Ramanu was the Assyrian equivalent of Rimmon. But I digress… if you feel so inclined, have a listen!
Next week: COURAGE
Hebrew Word Lessons 