Hebrew Word Lessons

We are in the midst of Rosh Hashanah... the head of a new year. It's a good time for new beginnings! Last week I began something new. I went back to school!. I'm now a doctoral student in Biblical Studies at the Colorado Theological Seminary. It’s been a long time coming. I completed my Master’s… Continue reading Hoh’reni, Lamm’deni, Hoh’dieni: TEACH ME, Learn me, Knowledge me up!

Today is Grandparents’ Day in Canada, and many other countries in the world. It’s a particularly special one for me. After years of searching I finally found my biological grandfather with the help of DNA. Unfortunately my Grampa Charlie died in 1992. I didn’t get a chance to meet him, but I have met and… Continue reading B’ney banim: CHILDREN of CHILDREN. Biblical Grandparents & Grandkids.

To LACK/To DECREASE- khaser, verb (Strong’s 2637); LACKING- khaser, adjective (Strong’s 2638); POVERTY- makhsor, masculine noun (Strong’s 4270) Root: חָסֵר Sounds like: kha’sehr & makh’sohr We're looking at a word, this week, that describes my current state of being. I'm taking my two children to their perspective Universities in two different provinces (New Brunswick and… Continue reading Khaser: To Lack, to Decrease, to be in Poverty

FRUIT- peri, masculine noun (Strong’s 6529); FRUITFUL- parah, verb (Strong’s 6509) Root: פְרִי Sounds like: p'ree Both of my kids are heading off to University next weekend and I find myself constantly reminding them to “be kind and eat their fruits and veggies” once they leave the house. In essence I’m telling them to consume… Continue reading Peri: Be FRUITful!

Gikhon, masculine noun (Strong's 1521). From verb giakh, meaning “to burst forth” or “gush”  (Strong’s 1518). Root: גּיחַ Sounds  like: Gee'khown / Gee'akh Simply put, the Gihon Spring is the water source for Jerusalem. That doesn’t sound all that exciting, I realize, but considering life can’t survive without water, the Gihon Spring was of utmost… Continue reading Gikhon: The Gushing GIHON Spring

SULLAM (ladder), masculine noun (Strong’s 5551); M’SILLAH (highway), feminine noun (Strong’s 4546); SALAL (to raise up/build up), verb (Strong’s 5549). Root verb: סָלַל   Sounds like: soo’lawm; m’see’lah; sa’lawl This week we’re going to look at three Hebrew words that are closely related. One of those words only makes a single appearance in the Bible.… Continue reading Sullam, M’sillah: LADDERS & HIGHWAYS

OLD/ELDERS- zaqen, verb (Strong’s 2204); zaqen, adjective (Strong’s 2205); zoqen, zaqun, ziqnah, nouns meaning old age, (Strong’s 2007, 2008, 2009). Root: זָקֵן Sounds like: zah'qehn I turned 50 this year. I’m in the 2nd half of a potential century of life. I guess that makes me “old” but, as they say, with age comes wisdom…… Continue reading Zaqen: OLD and Grey

YOUNGEST/LITTLE/LESSER/LEAST:  Tsa’ir, adjective, (Strong’s 6810). Root: צָעִיר Sounds like: tsa-ee I am an only child but I have two children of my own. My oldest child gets accused, by the youngest, of being bossy. And my youngest child gets accused, by the oldest, of being lazy and getting away with everything.  It’s interesting that the… Continue reading Tsa’ir: YOUNG/Little/Least

 In Front of/Before: Neged, adverb/preposition (Strong’s 5048). Root: נֶגֶד Sounds like: neh'ghed At first glance, neged isn't a very exciting word. It can be used as an adverb, such as “let's eat before dancing” (which is usually related to time), or it can be used as a preposition (proceeding a noun), such as “standing before God”. The… Continue reading Neged: Standing BEFORE YHWH

Hot Spring: Yemim, masculine noun (Strong's 3222).  Hebrew lettering: יֵּמִם֙ (from root word yam (יָם), meaning sea). Sounds like: yay'meem I have returned from my Icelandic vacation. The earthquakes we experienced have finally led to the volcano erupting  this past Monday. We made it back to Canada just before the lava reached the surface. To view… Continue reading Yemim: Hot Spring