joyancejames

Tag: #bible

  • Mysteries of the Hebrew Names in Torah

    Far too many Hebrew names lose their meaning and intention when translated into English.
    The names of the books of Torah (First five books of the Bible) in English and their Hebrew equivalents are given below.

    Genesis –  ברשית – Bereshit
    Exodus –  שמות  – Shemot
    Leviticus – ויקרא –  Vayikra
    Numbers – במדבר – Bamidbar
    Deuteronomy – דברים – Davarim

    The meanings of the Hebrew names are very different from the English ones because all the Hebrew names come from the first word of the respective book. 

    1. Genesis 1:1 is, “In the beginning…”; the Hebrew word is ‘Bereshit‘

    2. Exodus 1:1 starts with “names”, hence the word ‘Shemot‘ in Hebrew

    3. Leviticus 1:1 starts with Yahweh calling out Moses, hence , ‘Vayikra‘ which means “He called” in Hebrew. 

    4. Numbers 1:1, starts with, “in the wilderness”, hence the word ‘Bamidbar‘ in Hebrew. 

    5. Deuteronomy 1:1, starts with “words” of Moses, hence the Hebrew name ‘Davarim‘. 

    In the beginning, after creation, God chose Abraham to make His covenant and then many generations later comes Moses. 

    Shemot (Exodus) is essentially important because that’s where God first reveals His name as יהוה (YHWH), most commonly transliterated as YaHWeH. He tells Moses at the burning bush that this will be His name for all generations. 

    This is followed by the ‘call of Moses’ to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. In Vayikra (Leviticus) we see the call (purpose) of God for Israel, particularly the children of Aaron to serve as priests. Following the call is the wilderness wanderings described in Bamidbar (Numbers). Finally, at the edge of the promise land it ends with the speech, words of Moses as he reiterates the law and calls to remembrance the goodness of God, which we see in Davarim (Deuteronomy).

    To see and listen to this, check out this video.

    Although Moses was called to lead Israel into the promised land, he never enters it, but his words in Deuteronomy, become his everlasting legacy in shaping the future nation of Israel. Deuteronomy is the most quoted book of the Torah in the New Testament. Even Jesus quoted Deuteronomy multiple times, for example the three times He was tested by Satan when He fasted. 

    Moses’ legacy was not the promised land but the collective experiences starting from the revelation in the burning bush, through the call and wilderness to culminate in the repetition of the Law (Deuteronomy). 

    God bless! 

  • Hypertrophy

    Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary defines ‘hypertrophy’ as: excessive development of an organ or part
    specifically : increase in bulk (as by thickening of muscle fibers) without multiplication of parts.

    In case of skeletal muscles this (hypertrophy) is what happens in those who undertake strength training. Multiple cycles of repetitions – muscle contractions/ relaxations daily compounded over weeks and months leads to hypertrophied muscle.
    In the initial phase there is a lot of wear and tears (micro trauma) to the muscle causing soreness to un-accustomed muscle group but eventually this persistence leads to bulking up of the particular muscle group.

    Vierck, J et al. “Satellite cell regulation following myotrauma caused by resistance exercise.” Cell biology international vol. 24,5 (2000): 263-72. doi:10.1006/cbir.2000.0499

    Y’hoshua (Joshua) 1:8 CJB
    [8] Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed.
    https://bible.com/bible/1275/jos.1.8.CJB

    The Hebrew word for meditate is hagah (הגה) which literally means to mutter/ to utter or speak. This day and night meditation by means of constant utterance and repetition is commonly found in the book of Psalms.
    Psalm 1:2 AMPC
    [2]  But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts,
    the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
    https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.1.2.AMPC

    The human brain is not a muscle to be hypertrophied but the constant repetition day after day brings about a change from the inside out. Saturation with God’s truth kills the weeds of doubts and fear. Verbal repetition strengths the neural pathways in the brain responsible for memory, especially long-term memory.

    Just as repetition cause muscles to hypertrophy and bulk up, become more resistant to injury & stress, repetition of God’s word causes our brains to form strong neural pathways to remind us constantly of His truth.
    I believe this form of meditation is what caused David the little boy to bulk up (not physically but spiritually) to the giant Goliath. He could operate from a place of Faith when all his countrymen cowered in fear.

    May God’s word be the object of our meditations as our minds bathe in the knowledge of His truth.

    God bless!