Hebrew Word Lessons

Hope (expectation): Tiqvah (Strong's 8615) Root: qavah (to wait) Hebrew script: תִּקְוָ֥ה (tav, qof, vav, hey) Sounds like: teek'vah I recently completed the Canadian Mental Health First Aid course which included a very detailed session on depression. One of the key symptoms of depression is a feeling of hopelessness. Depression is not a modern phenomenon.… Continue reading Tiqvah: be HOPE-filled not hopeless

Remember: Zakar. verb. (Strong's 2142). Zeker. masculine noun. (Strong's 2143). Root: זָכַר (zayin, kaf, resh) Sounds like: zah-car, ze-kehr The end of the year is a time of remembrance. We look back on what happened and we look forward to what will come. The notion of future and past is very different between Jewish and Gentile thinking.… Continue reading Zakar: REMEMBER… and pass it on.

Star(s): kokav/kokavim (Strong’s 3556) Root: כּוֹכָב (kaf-vav-kaf-bet) Sounds like: koe-kawv (singular)/kokaw-veem (plural) The star has become a mainstay of Christmas imagery. They top Christmas trees, they are made into Christmas cookies, and they are displayed on Christmas cards. But where do stars show up in the Bible? The first time stars made an appearance in Hebrew… Continue reading Kokavim: STARS- Declaring God’s Glory

Bethlehem: Bet Lekhem (Strong's 1035) Hebrew Script: בית לחם Oh little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Bethlehem is made up of two Hebrew words: Bet בית (meaning house) and lekhem לחם (meaning bread). So, Bet-lekhem means House of Bread. In fact numerous Hebrew… Continue reading Bethlehem: Oh Little HOUSE of BREAD

Dedication: Chanukkah/Hanukkah (Strong’s 2596, 2597, 2598) Root: חֲנֻכָּה (chet, nun, kaf, hey) Sounds like: (Begins with a guttural kh sound) kha'noo'kah The word Chanukkah is translated as "Dedication" and it is only used a handful of times in the Hebrew Scriptures… mostly connected with celebrating the building or rebuilding of YHWH’s Tabernacle or Temple. But the… Continue reading Chanukkah: A Celebration of DEDICATION and Light.

Shalom: Peace. Strong’s 7965 (sha-lowm) Root: שָׁלַם shin/lamed/mem The Jewish concept of peace is different than what you might think. Peace is not the absence of conflict or the opposite of war. Peace, instead, is a state of wholeness, completeness, fulfillment. It is a restored relationship… a unity with God. It denotes harmonious security and well being.… Continue reading Shalom: PEACE- Restoring a Relationship with God, Face to Face

Rekhem: Womb. Masculine Noun. (Strong’s 7358). Beten: Womb/Belly. Feminine Noun. (Strong’s 990). Root: רחם rkhm Root: בטן btn Sounds like: rekh'em and be'ten As we near the Christmas season it seems fitting that we look at the Hebrew word rekhem, meaning womb. Yeshua (Jesus) came to earth through Mary’s womb. As we noted last week,… Continue reading Rekhem/Beten: WOMB- Creation Compassion

MERCY/COMPASSION: Rakham. Stong’s 7355 & 7356 Root: רָחַם resh/chet/mem Sounds like: raw-khawn Compassion is one of those human qualities that we admire and celebrate. It's a hugely emotional word. Our feelings are stirred by the tiniest bird with a broken wing, a child without a friend, a famished stray kitten, an elderly man who can't… Continue reading Rakham: A touch of COMPASSION

FAITHFUL: Emun, Masculine noun (Strong’s 529); Emunah, Feminine noun (Strong’s 530). Root: אמן -aman The dictionary tells us that faith is the complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Faith in the Bible is having complete trust in YHWH God. Even the word “Amen” comes out of the Hebrew root word for faith- aman-… Continue reading Emun/Emunah: FAITHFULNESS; it’s a Relationship Word

Mishpat מִשְׁפָּט- Judgement/Justice (Strong’s 4941) Hebrew 3 letter root: שָׁפַט (shin-pey-tet)- to judge-to govern (Strong’s 8199) Would you say justice and judgement are two separate words? In Hebrew they are one and the same; they are mishpat. Why does judgement seems harsh and unforgiving? Why does justice seem like a positive, inclusive, aspect of a… Continue reading Mishpat: JUSTICE/JUDGEMENT- to save, not destroy