Hello everyone! I’ve had a great week of research and writing. I’m getting very close to finishing my latest paper on David’s genealogy. I appreciate your patience as I have been taking a wee break from presenting a new Hebrew word. This week I tidied up one of my earliest postings, which was on the Hebrew word for knowledge, by adding the Hebrew script (which many of you requested) and doing some minor edits. You can view it here…
Da’at
The noun for knowledge is da’at, but the verb to know is ya’da.
To remember this word I often think of the Star Wars knowledge keeper, Master Yoda. Sorry, I just can’t help it! Being a child of the ’80s, Star Wars had a pretty significant influence on my growing up years. Sometimes, to remember vocabulary, it’s helpful to have brain associations. This one works for me! 😉
The verb yada is found all over the Bible, but this verse stood out to me this week:
Psalm 44:20-21
If we had forgotten the name of our God or extended our hands to a strange god, would God not find this out? For He knows [Hu yodea ה֥וּא יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ] the secrets of the heart.
He knows the secrets of the heart. That is both comforting and terrifying, all at the same time! Are we lifting our hands to a strange god, be it money, substances, accumulation of things, desire for influence or acknowledgement? All these things can be mini-gods in our life that take precedence over our relationship with YHWH. God sees it all:
He knows (the) secrets (of the) heart
ה֥וּא יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ תַּעֲלֻמֹ֥ות לֵֽב
Hu yodea ta’a’lumoht lev
Let your prayers be open and honest because YHWH knows your heart anyway. What’s the point of trying to hide? God desires, from you, full disclosure communication, even the tough stuff. He can handle it… and it just might be the freedom you need!
Perhaps you’re thinking, maybe I’ll give this a try. Maybe I’ll try to be open and honest with God in my prayers, holding nothing back. But you know what Yoda would say, right? “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
Next week: SECRETS
Hebrew Word Lessons 