GIVING BIYN TO SCRIPTURE
(BY UNDERSTANDING HEBREW WORDS)
November 2006
Dear Chaciyd (Saints),
As the
chaciyd of YAHUAH one thing that YAHUAH shall do for us is to bring us to a
place where the pronunciation of the names of different gods is taken completely
out of our mouths and minds. HOWSHEA’ (HOSEA)2:17; For I will take
away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered
by their name. Our language will be pure
because of a clean lip. One thing we must remember is that YAHUAH understands
all languages spoken by men, whether it be Hebraic, English, Greek or French. Not
only does YAHUAH understand the languages of men, YAHUAH causes men to
understand His language to hear the messages and word that they need to hear.
Look at the scripture in ACTS 2:5-11 And there were dwelling at
Yerusalem Yehudim,
devout men, out of every nation under shamayim.vs 6 Now when
this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded,
because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
vs 7 And
they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all
these which speak Galilaeans? vs. 8And how hear we every man in our own
language, wherein we were born?vs. 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites,
and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Yehudah, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and
Asia, vs.10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Yehudim and proselytes, vs. 11
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of
YAHUAH.
As we go
forth to study the dabar of YAHUAH, we will still search to understand that
which is emmiet and
aman.
SHEMOTH (Exodus) 23:13And in all [things]
that I have said unto you be
shamar (circumspect):
and make no zakar
(mention) of the name of ‘elohiym (gods), neither let it be
shama (heard) out of thy
mouth. We should shamar everything YAHUAH has
given us. One way we come into the knowledge of YAHUAH is through the studying
of the kathab and His
dabar. We should also
study the Hebraic words to gain a better understanding of the kathab, since we
know that it has been translated into English.
As we look
upon the kathab and begin using Hebraic words, we must be very careful. Many are
only interested in the primitive root words. We do understand that the primitive
root word is the earliest form of the word but sometimes the meaning of the
primitive root word you are trying to use is not related to the subject at hand.
Lets look at the book of Tehillim (Psalms).
Notice that
when we use Hebraic words, we must make sure that we are using the word
correctly. First, when we are looking up a word we have to run every number in
the concordance that is pertaining to the particular word you are researching.
Next, there is nothing wrong with primitive root words or using primitive root
words, we just need to know when we should use them. The primitive root word
should only be used when it means the same and does not take away from the
context of the scripture. In other words, the primitive root word should only be
used when it has the same meaning of the word and brings greater clarity to the
word without changing the content.
In the
Scripture listed above, we see that “YAHUAH” n’um unto my master . . . This word
n’um (Strong’s Heb.) no. 5002 is from no.
5001; an oracle: saith,
said, spake. As a verb, the word means “to say, utter an affirmation, speak.” As
a noun, the word means “utterance, saying.” The use of n’um is rare at the
beginning of a statement, such as in this passage of scripture. The word may
also be found in the middle of an argument such as in AMOS 2:11-12. N’um is an
indicator which generally appears at the end of the quotation such as in
YESHAYAHU (ISAIAH) 3:15. N’um is from the no. 5001 na’am a primitive root; prop.
To whisper, i.e. (by impl.), to utter as an oracle: say. The primitive root
na’am occurs only once in the entire Old Testament:
YIRMEYAHU (JEREMIAH) 23:31
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith [n’um] YAHUAH, that use their tongues,
and say [5001-na’am], He saith [n’um]. To use the primitive root in Tehillim
(Psalms) 110:1 is incorrect even though both Hebraic words n’um and na’am are
similar in meaning.
Now let us
look at the next two Hebrew words I choose to use in the passage of scripture:
Yashab (Sit) thou at my yamiyn (right hand )
. . . Strong’s no. 3427 yashab, a primitive root; prop. to sit down (spec. as
judgment in ambush, in quiet); by impl. to dwell, to remain; cause to settle, to
marry: dwell, inhabitant, sit, abide, inhabit, down, remain, in, tarry, set,
continue, place, still, taken, ease self, endure, establish, fail, habitation,
haunt, make to keep [house], marry (-ing), return, seat. Yashab, as a verb,
means “to dwell, sit, abide, inhabit, remain.” As a participle the word means
“remaining; inhabitant.”
Now the
Hebrew word yamiyn,
from 3231; the right
hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more
dexterous); locally, the south: hand, right, side, south. Yamiyn means “right
hand.” . . . Until I make thine 'oyeb (enemies) thy footstool.
Yamiyn represents the direction, to the “right.” This word is used to mean
“south” since the south is one’s “right” when he faces eastward. The primitive
root word here is yaman, Strong’s no. 3231, meaning to be (phys)
right (i.e.
firm); but used only as denom. From 3225 [yamiym] and (turn) to (on, use) the
right hand. Clearly we see from the definition of yaman that yamiyn is the
correct Hebrew word to use in this passage of scripture. To use the primitive
root yaman in this passage of scripture is incorrect and causes the scripture to
lose its meaning.
Now let us
look at the last Hebraic word I used in this passage of scripture, until I make thine 'oyeb (enemies) thy footstool. This word 'oyeb (Strong’s Heb.) no. 341 an
active participle of no. 340; hating; an adversary: enemy(s). 'Oyeb means
“enemy.” In form, the word is an active infinitive (or more precisely, a verbal
noun), and is used in at least one reference to both individual and national
enemies. Look at BERESHITH (GENESIS) 22:17 That in blessing I will
bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the
heaven, and the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess
the gate of his 'oyeb (enemies) both personal and national.
No. 340 'ayab is the primitive root; meaning to hate (as one of an opposite
tribe or party); hence to be hostile to, to treat as an enemy. Clearly, we can
see here to use the primitive root word ‘ayab in this passage of scripture is
incorrect even though both Hebraic words 'oyeb and ‘ayab are similar in meaning.
Primitive
root words are good, and we should use them whenever possible. Remember we don’t
want to take away from what the Scripture says, we would like to bring
understanding to it. So when researching a word, we must make sure that we
examine every definition of that word. Then, determine which one to use. The
primitive root should only be used if it does not take away from the context of
the scripture. Let us keep studying.
