Hebrew Word Lessons

TEMPLE: hekal. Masculine noun. (Strong’s 1964). Root: הֵיכָל Sounds like: hey-kawl. On April 15th a large part of Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris, was burned in a fire. As a medievalist I felt a sense of great historic and artistic loss, but where I felt it most was in my deep love for the Victor Hugo… Continue reading Hekal: The Living TEMPLE

MOUNTAINS: harim. Masculine noun. (Strong’s 2022).  Root: הַר (singular: har). Sounds like: hareem This week I find myself in the beautiful town of Jasper Alberta for a library conference, so it seemed apt to choose the word mountains… because WOW these mountains are amazing! Jasper is a place of mountains… glorious, awe-inspiring, “look-way-up!” mountains. And being… Continue reading Harim: MOUNTAINS of the Most High

Redeem: ga’al. Verb. (Strong’s 1350).  Root: גָּאַל Sounds like: gaw-all The word redemption often comes up during the week of Passover or, for some, Passion week. We know we are redeemed, but does that really mean? In Hebrew the word ga’al (to redeem) means to “buy back”. The laws of Leviticus refer to being bought back… Continue reading Ga’al: I bought you back. You are REDEEMED.

SAVE! HOSANNA!- yasha. Verb. (Strong’s 3467) Root: יָשַׁע (yasha), הוֹשַׁ֣ע  (ho'sha) Sounds like: ho’shiah (save!)… ho’wo’shieni (save me!)... h'woshienu (save us!)  Today is traditionally known as Palm Sunday. It is a memorial celebration honouring Yeshua’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of His final Passover week. Many of us remember waving paper palm branches in Sunday… Continue reading Hosanna: Please SAVE us!

GUILT: asham (Strong’s 817, 816-819). Root: אָשָׁם Sounds like: aw-shawm People don't tend to like the word guilt, but it does pepper our language a fair bit: guilt trip, guilty pleasure, guilty conscience, guilt by association, innocent until proven guilty… Problem is, we make guilt a very “ME” centred word. It’s something that makes us feel bad. It's… Continue reading Asham: I find no GUILT in Him

SERVANT/SLAVE: eved. Masculine Noun. (Strong’s 5650).  Root: עֶבֶד Sounds like: ev’ed My youngest daughter, Bridget, and I went to see "Captain Marvel" this week. I asked her what she thought of it, knowing that her keen, analytical mind, would have something significant to say. After an analysis of the main and supporting characters, she announced,… Continue reading Eved: Behold My SERVANT

IMAGE: tselem. Masculine Noun. (Strong’s 6754). Root: צֶלֶם Sounds like: tzelem. There has been significant controversy regarding the phrase “made in God’s image”. I’m uncertain whether this blog posting will simplify the debate or bring a whole new spin to it, but perhaps focusing in on the Hebrew word for image, tselem, will, at the very… Continue reading Tselem: Being IMAGE bearers

LOOK, SEE, PERCEIVE: chazzah. Verb. (Strong's 2372). Root: חָזָה Sounds like: khazzah! I live along the beautiful South Shore of Prince Edward Island, on the edge of the Northumberland Strait. It takes me about 30 minutes to drive to work which is in PEI’s capital city of Charlottetown. And even after almost five years of driving… Continue reading Chazzah: It’s a Vision… Look and See!

CLING: davaq. Verb. (Strong’s 1692). Root: דָּבַק Sounds like: da-vawk or da-bawk. My youngest daughter, Bridget, gives the best hugs. Although she's slight, it feels like she's as heavy as a rock as she throws her arms all the way around you and holds on tight. There's no letting go, and nothing will break the… Continue reading Davaq: Cling/Cleave/Keep Close… Hug?

WINE: yayin. Masculine Noun. (Strong’s 3196). Root: יַיִן Sounds like: yah-yeen. I have a sensitivity to alcohol and am unable to drink wine, but I'm told by many friends that there's nothing like a glass of wine after work to sooth the soul. Certainly our culture has connected wine with relaxation and decadence. The cup… Continue reading Yayin: the WINE of our Salvation