Wayyiqra/Leviticus 21-24
Notes
Transcript
VAYYIQRA (LEVITICUS) 21:1-24:23 – EMOR – ‘SAY/SPEAK’
This week’s Torah portion is called ‘emor’ which comes from the root word אָ מַ רamar –
Strong’s H559 which means, ‘utter, say, speak’.
We begin this Torah portion with further instructions for the priesthood, as Mosheh is once
again commanded to ‘speak’ to the priests, the sons of Aharon; and after being warned and
forbidden from any form of communication with the dead, they are now instructed to not even
be defiled for the dead.
Here, in verse 1, we are given the clear instruction that was to be given to the priests:
“no one is to be defiled for the dead among his people”.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘defiled’ is טָ מֵ אtamey – Strong’s H2930 which means,
‘to be or become unclean, defiled, become impure’.
To be ‘defiled’ would render a priest ‘unfit for service’, as they would be ceremonially unclean
and unable to perform the required set-apart duties of the priesthood.
The previous chapter ended with the clear instruction forbidding any communication with the
dead, as mediums and spiritists were to be put to death.
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 18:11 tells us that there should not be found anyone in our midst who
calls up the dead!
Any communication with the dead is prohibited, and now here, at the beginning of this chapter,
the instructions expand to making it clear that the priesthood must not be made unclean for
the dead!
The Torah represents life, and the priesthood, who are to be the teachers and instructors of the
Torah, are to remain as far from the dead as possible. To be defiled for the dead simply means
the touching of the body of a dead person.
In verse 2 the exception is made for a priest’s close relatives, as there may be an occasion
where a close relative dies in their household and the Torah grants that this form of
‘defilement’ is as far as it is permitted for the priesthood, as even a dead body in a home would
defile the home and the priest living there would be defiled by such.
In ancient Yisra’ĕl, there was no funeral services to come and deal with the dead bodies and
therefore, it was the responsibility for the direct families to take care of burying the dead.
A dead corpse is nothing more than meat and bone, with no life ( נֶפֶ ׁשnephesh – Strong’s
H5315) in it, and is therefore defiled, as it has no life; and so, one would become defiled and
ritually unclean, just by being in the same room as a corpse.
In ancient times, the direct family would have had to prepare the body for burial; a process of
washing and wrapping the body in grave clothes, which would require a significant amount of
touching; and so, the exception for a priest to be able to do such, for an immediate family
member, was allowed, however, a priest could not do the same for more extended family such
as cousins or uncles etc.; and this teaches how יהוהshows us that precedence over one’s true
responsibility for family is taken over any priestly duties in the Tabernacle, and shows what a
high regard יהוהactually places on the need to ‘serve’ one’s family, even in the event of
death!
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The Torah represents life and so, it is with great caution that the priesthood must, at all times,
remain undefiled so that they may serve the entire community of Yisra’ĕl; and therefore, the
only exception to being exempt from performing such duties would be for the death of a close
relative.
However, we do remember how even Aharon, the high priest, was not allowed to mourn for his
two sons who were struck by יהוהand killed for bringing strange fire; bearing in mind that
Aharon was still busy with the duty in the Tabernacle and so was unable to mourn the loss of
his sons; as the Torah does, and must always, represent life, for it is our life!
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 32:47 “For it is not a worthless Word for you, because it is your life,
and by this Word you prolong your days on the soil which you pass over the Yardĕn to
possess.”
Verse 4-5 further stipulates that a leader may not defile himself among his people to profane
himself, and not to make any bald spots on their head, nor shave the corners of their beards,
nor cut themselves.
We must remember that these were the typical practices of the pagan nations in mourning for
their dead, and we see how a leader is one who should lead with integrity and soundness in the
Torah.
What does it mean to profane?
The word ‘profane’ means, ‘to treat something set-apart with abuse, irreverence or
contempt’. The Hebrew root word for profane is חללḥālal - Strong’s H2490 (chalal – with a
‘ch...’ sound as in ‘loch’) and means, ‘to bore or pierce through or kill or wound or defile’.
What is very interesting to me, is that the most common Hebrew word for ‘praise’ is – הלל
halal - Strong’s H1984 (with a soft sound as in ha) and, in essence, carries the meaning, ‘to
shine, be boastful, give praise’.
These two words differ with a slight difference is the stroke of the pen by means of a little tiny
gap!
In Praise, the letter ( הhey) is used and in profane the letter ( חḥet) is used.
Similar looking letters at a glance and hence the words, even at a glance, may seem to be the
same, while they are the total opposite of each other and the difference in the written form is
but a tiny little gap on the top left corner of the first letter!
This may sound a little pedantic to some of you, but for me it makes me realise just how fine
line it is between pure worship and profanity!
Let me tell you why I find the closeness of these words very interesting – we see in the world
today that there are many who claim to be born again believers of the Almighty yet in their
worship they are offering profane worship and they cannot distinguish between the set-apart
and the profane!
The ‘church’ today, is profaning the Name of יהוהand have not only brought His Name to
nought but have profaned it by treating it with abuse, irreverence and contempt!
There is a very fine line between praise and profane as outlined below in this chart:
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A ‘leader’, here in this chapter, refers also to the head of the home, i.e. the husband who is
expected to lead his family, according the clear instructions of the Torah and not be found to do
as the nations do.
Some of these practices of cutting one’s flesh or shaving one’s head is still practiced in many
cultures as a form of mourning rites for the dead.
Some African cultures call for relatives to cut off the tip of their small finger to mourn for a
close relative.
In ancient times the cultic practice of shaving of one’s beard for the dead was done so that the
shaved hair would be placed upon the deceased face so as to not make them recognisable to
the dead spirits and was a means to appease the spirits of the underworld.
Once again, as we discussed in the last Torah Portion, the cutting, or shaving, of one’s beard is
strictly forbidden; and while many may argue that they do not shave for the dead, we must
listen to the strict instructions of not cutting the corners of one’s beard, and while, in chapter
19, it is made clear that this command to not ‘shave’ is for all Yisra’ĕl, here we see the further
emphasis being placed on leadership, as they are the ones who are to lead the family and
community in the correct manner; and so, we once again reiterate the strict command to not
shave one’s head nor shave one’s beard!!!
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I again make my concern known, that there are many today who are claiming to be true Torah
teachers and leaders in the greater community of the returning tribes of Yisra’ĕl, while they
neglect to heed this command, and when I see a ‘torah’ teacher who is clean shaven or has a
‘goatee’ or even a ‘shaped’ beard that has the majority of the ‘corners or sides’ shaven away, I
have to question their validity as true teachers of the Torah of Elohim!
While there is much debate over shaving, I am of the firm belief that Scripture makes it clear
that men should have beards, as discussed in the last Torah portion.
There is the view that this instruction refers specifically to the mourning of the dead and
therefore, based on this view, it is thought that it is ok then to shave for any other reason.
While, at first glance, this may sound like a valid point, let us consider the obvious; and that is
that, in Scripture, the instruction to not shave for the dead, presupposes that one has a beard!
Secondly, if the argument is used that this instruction on not to shave applies only to the
mourning for the dead then one has to ask in the same breath in regards to the instruction
given in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19 if it is then ok to have a tattoo if not done for the mourning of
the dead?
The answer is pretty obvious – NO – no markings or cuttings in the flesh is allowed, period!
These practices, such as tattoos and cutting temporary or permanent designs into one's body
were pagan mourning rituals practiced throughout the whole Near East.
This generation of priests had grown up in Mitsrayim, where preparation for death consumed
the greatest energies of one's life, especially among leaders, as proven by the thousands of
mummified bodies found there in the past century of archaeology.
But Yisra’ĕl is not to be a people that focuses on death, but on the Torah, which is life.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘shave’ comes from the root word גָלַ חgalaḥ – Strong’s
H1548 which means, ‘to be bald, shave, shave off, cut’, and also means to be bare, smooth or
naked!
Among Semites, shaving off hair or the beard was a sign of lamentation and distress, as in
clearly forbidden for a Yisra’ĕlite!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘corner’ comes from the root word פֵ אָ הpeah – Strong’s
H6285 meaning, ‘corner, side, boundary, edges’.
The shaving of the beard was considered a great indignity and in Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 10:45 we see that Dawiḏ instructed his servants, who had been captured and had their garments
cut to the buttocks and half of their beard shaved off, to stay at Yeriḥo until their beards had
grown and then return.
By shaving half their beard, Ḥanun not only treated Dawiḏ’s ambassadors with contempt, but
made them objects of ridicule and shaving the beard of a slave was also recognised as a sign of
servitude and a stripping away of authority. Now if one was permitted to shave your beard then
why did Dawiḏ tell them to wait until the beard grew back instead of telling them to shave of
the other half?
Well that is easy – because we are supposed to have full beards!!!
Dawiḏ had a beard and we see in the account when he came before Aḵish the sovereign of
Gath, that he acted like a madman and let his saliva run down his beard (Shemuʼěl Aleph/1
Samuel 21:13).
Aharon, the high priest had a beard upon which the oil of anointing ran down upon as a picture
of unity of brothers dwelling together (Tehillah/Psalm 133).
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יהושעMessiah, our High Priest and King had a beard as we see in the prophetic words
describing Him being handed over to be tortured and having His beard plucked out of his
cheeks in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 50:6 “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who
plucked out the beard, I did not hide My face from humiliation and spitting.”
My point, in stressing the issue of not cutting (shaving or rounding) the corner of the beard, is
the fact that we are to heed these very simple instructions.
I want to make it very clear that we are not to cut off or make bald patches on our heads and
circle them, as the monks do for example, nor shave the head in a circular fashion, as we have
already discussed; and we are not to cut off the edges of our beards – that part which grows on
our cheeks!
A ‘goatee’, for example, is not acceptable for a Torah observant follower of Messiah; a
moustache alone is also not acceptable for a Torah observant follower of Messiah, nor is any
fashioned or ‘styled’ beard acceptable!
We are to grow a full beard and keep it tidy, and we are not to grow our hair too long as we see
when speaking of the priesthood in the Millennial Reign the instruction in:
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 44: 20 “And their heads they shall not shave, nor shall they let their hair
grow long – they shall keep their hair well-trimmed.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘well-trimmed’ comes from the root word כָ סַ םkasam –
Strong’s H3697 which means, ‘to shear, clip (only trim – not shave)’, and, in this, we recognise
our need to be ‘tidy’ and well-groomed with a FULL BEARD!!!
This does not allow for any ‘shaping’ or styling by shaving parts of the beard, but rather it tells
us, as a royal priesthood, that we are to keep a well-trimmed FULL beard!!!
We are a royal priesthood and are expected to look like it!
Any Torah claiming follower of Messiah that tells you he is allowed to shave his beard, neglects
the authority of the Torah, and if the outward picture is neglected who knows what is in the
heart!!!
When the world makes a statement that “a best a man can get” is to be clean shaven, as we
see being promoted by Gillette’s advertising campaigns, we certainly recognise how this goes
totally against the plumb-line of the Torah, and that they are wrong in their promoting of
falsehood and lies. It further reveals a lack of submission to the authority of the instructions of
יהוהin order to rule self, which will only lead to destruction.
The best a man can get is to walk as Messiah walked and guard the commands of Elohim – so
men – GROW YOUR FULL BEARDS!!!
For a more in-depth look at the much-debated topic of beards, please see the article on our site
(https://atfotc.com) called, The Beard – All Set-Apart men should have one! from the following
link:
https://atfotc.com/the-beard-all-set-apart-men-should-have-one/
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No cuttings in the flesh!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘cutting’ is שֶ ֶרטseret – Strong’s H8296 which means,
‘incision, cut’, and comes from the root verb שָ ַרטsarat – Strong’s H8295 which means, ‘to
incise, scratch, make cuts, severely injure’.
The ritual of cutting oneself for the dead, is a common pagan practice that is still practiced in
many cultures and here we are clearly told that it is strictly forbidden.
We are reminded of the Ba’al prophets on Mount Karmel who contended with Ěliyahu and cut
themselves trying to appease their falsely worshipped Ba’al.
Cutting for the dead is a form of ancestral worship in trying to bring the strength of the dead
ancestor into one’s own body – a custom practiced in many rural cultures to this day, and in
fact ancestralism is one of the main forms of worship, throughout the continent of Africa, as
many tribes worship their dead ancestors and cut themselves in rituals in the hope of enticing
the ancestral spirits to bring fertility and blessing.
Verse 6 makes it very clear that this instruction to the priests given here in this chapter is to
remind them that they were to continually be set-apart unto Elohim and not be found to
profane His Name, as they were the ones who drew near on behalf of the nation.
The Hebrew root word for ‘set-apart’ is קָ דֹוׁשqaḏosh – Strong’s H6918 which means, ‘setapart, consecrated’ and so these instructions follow on from the command for us to be
‘qeḏoshim’ – set-apart ones unto Elohim.
This word קָ דֹוׁשqaḏosh – Strong’s H6918 comes from the primitive root verb קָ ַדׁשqaḏash –
Strong’s H6942 which means, ‘to be set-apart, consecrated, dedicated’ – and that is what we
have been called to be, and it is from this root that we get the noun ק ֶֹדׁשqoḏesh – Strong’s
H6944 which means ‘apartness/ consecrated/ dedicated/ that which is dedicated and
separated unto ’יהוה.
This word is rendered as follows in the ancient pictographic letter/symbols:
Quph – ק
ֹ :
This is the letter ‘quph’, which is pictured as
, and is a ‘horizon’ and depicts the
elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the
meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well
as eternity and speaks of continual adherence to the Appointed Times.
Dalet – ֶד:
This is the letter ‘dalet’ which is pictured as
, which is a ‘tent door’. It can also have the
meaning of a back and forth movement, as one goes back and forth through a tent door and so
speaks of an access point.
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It can also carry the meaning of ‘dangle’ or hanging as the tent door would hang from the roof
pole of the tent.
It speaks a great deal in terms of understanding the door of the tent of appointment as the only
means of access. And we also know that Messiah is ‘The Door’, for we only are able to have
access into the Kingdom through Him!
The commands are also to be written on the doorposts teaching us to remember to guard the
commands of Elohim as we go out and come in, so that our going out and coming is in peace!
Shin - ׁש:
This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as,
, which is ‘two front
teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do,
and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth as the teeth ‘chew’ or
‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the
understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food.
Looking at the rendering of this Hebrew word ק ֶֹדׁשqoḏesh – Strong’s H6944 in the
pictographic form that renders set-apartness or to be set-apart we, are able to see what this
clearly implies as we take note that this word can render for us the following meaning:
CONTINUALLY COMING TO THE DOOR OF APPOINTMENT
TO MEDITATE ON THE WORD!
Our ability to be properly set-apart involves our ability to properly meditate on the Word on a
daily basis as well as making sure that we do not neglect the set-apart Appointed Times that are
clearly commanded as ‘set-apart gatherings’, which are All the Appointed Times of יהוה, as
outlined and instructed in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23, which includes the weekly Sabbath!
There was a stricter expectation placed upon the priests who served in the Tabernacle and the
requirement to ensure complete set-apartness was extremely vital, or else they would find
themselves being struck by the fire of Elohim, as they had witnessed by the example of
Aharon’s two sons who brought profane/strange fire and paid the price for their ignorance and
pride.
What we must understand now is that we, collectively as the body of Messiah, are a royal
priesthood and therefore set-apartness is vital for us all, as we are reminded through the very
clear words of Kěpha:
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:9-12 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart
nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvellous light, 10 who once were not a people, but now the people
of Elohim; who had not obtained compassion, but now obtained compassion. 11 Beloved
ones, I appeal to you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts which battle
against the life, 12 having your behaviour among the gentiles good so that when they speak
against you as evil-doers, let them, by observing your good works, esteem Elohim in a day of
visitation.”
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We who have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light, must walk ‘in’ Messiah our
High Priest and King and therefore we serve as a royal priesthood, able to draw near to Elohim
having our conscience sprinkled by the Blood of Messiah.
If we do live set-apart according to is Torah we are in great danger of profaning His Name which
we ought to bear as His children!
The Hebrew word that is used for profane is חָ לַ לḥalal – Strong’s H2490 which means, ‘to
bore, tear to pieces, wound or kill’.
Now, how do we wound, tear to pieces or kill His Name?
Well that is very simple – in a nutshell it means that when you misrepresent or misuse His
Name through walking in lawlessness and sin while proclaiming to be ‘in’ Him you are profaning
or wounding the very name that saves.
Walking in disobedience after having been brought into His marvellous light is a way of
profaning His Name.
In essence, what this verse is saying is this: when you do not live set-apart lives you profane the
very Name that sets apart!
When misusing His Name, or when you make it common, or represent Him wrongly in allowing
that which is strictly forbidden to be lived out without regard or reverence for his set-apart
instructions we profane His Name; or if we render His Name of no effect, by not using it at all,
but rather, substitute euphemisms or translations or pagan inherited titles for His actual name,
יהוה, then we too wound or profane His set-apart Name.
The priests had a job to do – and that was to tend to the service in the Tabernacle and bring the
fire and the bread to יהוה.
Fire, as we know, represents the presence of יהוהand the bread is symbolic of His Word that
came down to earth, as daily provision for His set-apart people, which is ultimately fulfilled in
Messiah, the Bread of Life – the Word made flesh, who came and dwelt among us and, unless
we eat of Him we have no part in Him; and therefore the bread brought before יהוהalso
represents the body/community and the priests would bring a ‘united’ body of Yisra’ĕl into the
presence of יהוהand then teach them the needed unity of יהוהto His people.
So, when we see this strict and very serious set-apart call on the priests, let us be reminded as
stated above in Kěpha that we as the body of Messiah are His priesthood and so be set-apart
for He is set-apart; and do not be found to be profaning His Set-Apart Name in any way, means
or form!
The pattern of the priesthood of ministering before יהוהis the clear pattern for us as believers
in יהושעtoday; for by His life, death and resurrection the way was made possible for all to
approach a Set-Apart Elohim; and therefore the ‘ministry’ of the Tabernacle is still the same, for
we ‘in Messiah’ are the Tabernacle of the Most High and now that we have entered through
the ‘Door’, which is Messiah, we have a strict protocol to follow in how we are to draw near our
Set-Apart Elohim and walk upright in His Kingdom.
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The Bride of יהושעwalks obediently ‘in’ the Covenants of Promise b which we have been
brought near, by His Blood and therefore it is vital that we continually remind ourselves to live
set-apart lives unto Messiah!
Verse 7 speaks of how marriage is held in the highest regard, especially for the priesthood.
A priest was not allowed to marry a whore or defiled woman, or one who has been put away by
her husband.
Marriage is a picture of that union between יהוהand His Chosen Bride, Yisra’ĕl and is also
referred to as the mystery, for what we must realise is that every single marriage has the
opportunity to represent the true Marriage between us and our Elohim.
The Hebrew word for ‘whore’ is ָזנָהzanah – Strong’s H2181 which means, ‘be a harlot,
commit fornication, adulterous, prostitute, unfaithful’, and herein lies the very clear call for
true Set-Apart believers – do not be joined to a whore!
This is a literal command as well as being a clear metaphor for not being joined to following the
luring ways of the sinful world and the wicked temptations of Satan!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:27 “For a whore is a deep pit, and a strange woman is a narrow well.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 29:3 “He who loves wisdom gladdens his father, but a companion of whores
destroys wealth.”
Tehillah/Psalm 73:27 “For look, those who are far from You perish; You shall cut off all those
who go whoring away from You.”
Recognising that we are to be a faithful priesthood, we are also able to recognise how we are to
be a faithful bride unto our Master and Husband to whom we have been joined to Him by His
Blood.
A wife of a priest is to be reverent, not false accusers, sober, and trustworthy in every way
(Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 3:11).
Hoshěa was told to do the opposite of this command – why?
To show just how defiled Yisra’ĕl had become and reveal how serious her spiritual condition
was. It is only the Blood of Messiah that can cleanse all unrighteousness, and so by his Blood He
has cleansed for Himself a Bride who was defiled. This is important for us to understand as not
just anybody can be the Bride of Messiah – only those who have been ‘washed’ in His Blood
through immersion in Water and the eating of the Pěsaḥ Meal.
Sha’ul also warned of the union of a believer with a defiled partner and reminds us that we
must not be unequally yoked, for we as children of light must not be yoked with darkness.
Now, what we also must realise is that we have all sinned and fallen short – we have all
‘whored’ and ‘defiled’ ourselves and therefore יהושעhad to die and be raised again in order
to firstly ‘cleanse’ His defiled Bride who had whored after the nations and then be able to take
up an undefiled, set-apart wife, now cleansed in His Blood from all defilement.
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What we also learn from this, today, is that while many of us may query if we can marry
someone who has defiled themselves before marriage, we must note that despite a person’s
past, if they call upon the Name that saves, יהושע, and are immersed in Him and washed and
cleansed by His Saving Blood, sacrificed that was once for all, then that person becomes a new
creature, where the old has gone and the new has come and all defilement is washed away!!!
And so, having said that, we must take marriage very seriously and ensure that we do not enter
into a marriage covenant that is defiled from the start, but make sure that we ensure that the
person we are to become one with is also walking in Messiah, and realise that as one in Him the
responsibility to remain in a set-apart lifestyle is critical.
Sadly, there are many today who have entered into a marriage that is or has become unequally
yoked for varying reasons, so let us see what Sha’ul tells us in these circumstances:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 7:10-16 “And to the married I command, not I, but the
Master: A wife should not separate from a husband. 11 But if she is indeed separated, let her
remain unmarried or be restored to favour with her husband, and let a husband not send
away a wife. 12 And to the rest I say, not the Master: If any brother has an unbelieving wife,
and she thinks well to live with him, let him not send her away. 13 And a woman who has an
unbelieving husband, and he thinks well to live with her, let her not send him away. 14 For the
unbelieving husband has been set-apart in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been setapart in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are set-apart.
15 And, if the unbelieving one separates, let him separate himself. A brother or a sister has
not been enslaved in such matters. But Elohim has called us to peace. 16 For how do you
know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband,
whether you shall save your wife?”
Verse 9 warns that even by the whoring of a daughter a priest is defiled.
Titos/Titus 1:6 tells us that the children of a leader are to be believers that are not to be found
being accused of loose behaviour or unruly.
This is how serious Elohim takes the role of headship of the home and leadership in the
community, for even the priest’s children are to live set-apart lives, as the sons would inevitably
become priests, and daughters are expected to live true set-apart lives.
If a daughter is found to be whoring, she would have profaned her father who would not be
able to serve in the Tabernacle and therefore she would be burned with fire.
Now, when we see this picture, we must recognise that as harsh as it sounds, we shall see the
punishment of this at the end of the judgement after the second resurrection where those
‘daughters’ (nations) who are not found in the book of life and have whored shall be burned
with fire!
It is only through fire that the lineage of the one who whored can be purged. What we must
recognise is that the mother harlot has had many ‘daughters’ who are not walking set-apart
lives and are whoring after man’s ways and defile the set-apart name of Elohim and will face
their just punishment should they not repent.
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Once again, Hoshěa is a picture of the daughter who was born to him and was called LoRuḥamah, which means ‘not loved or have no compassion’ and represents the ‘daughters’ of
whoring, who are to strive with their mother and come out from her and remove the name of
the ‘Ba’als’ off of her lips and call upon יהוה, Her husband and he will take her who had no
compassion as a Bride to Himself in righteousness as He shows compassion upon His repentant
Bride!
Verse 10 – The High Priest ordained to wear the garments and who has had the anointing oil
poured on his head was not allowed to unbind his head or tear his garments.
Unbinding of the head, speaks of having the anointed authority loosened from one’s head and
was a strict command for the High Priest to not take the anointing for granted and so allow His
anointing and authority to be trampled upon; and tearing of the garments, was a sign of
mourning and as we know, not even Aharon was permitted to mourn for the loss of his two
sons, who were killed right before his eyes!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘unbind’ comes from the root word פָ ַרעpara – Strong’s
H6544 which means ‘let go, let alone, lack of restraint, uncover, naked, neglect, out of
control’, and is the same word that is translated as ‘let loose’ in:
Shemoth/Exodus 32:25 “And Mosheh saw that the people were let loose, for Aharon had let
them loose, to their shame among their enemies.”
We see the clear picture of the state of the people – they were ‘naked’ and lacked restraint as
they simply followed after the flesh and what initially to Aharon may have seemed like a
‘keeping the peace’ in camp by allowing them to do what they wanted actually turned out to be
the reality of him not standing up for what is right and so many fall into this trap today, as they
prefer to keep quiet for the sake of peace – and this we cannot do.
We must stand up for truth and guard it all costs and allow no breach in the camp so to speak!
At the time of the trial of יהושע, the presiding High Priest, Qayapha, tore his garments and
declared that Messiah had blasphemed and so, by his actions, Qayapha broke this very
command, and what becomes very clear, is that he may have, in fact, been an illegitimate high
priest, which was supposed to be passed down from father to son, however, at the time of
Messiah, the position often went to the highest bidder, as the Romans controlled, and had
usurped authority over, the Temple and would appoint whom they wanted.
This tearing of the garments of the high priest, is a powerful picture of the change of the
priesthood that took place! By Qayapha tearing his garments, rendered him unfit to be in the
position of high priest and this can certainly explain a part of the ‘changing of the priesthood’ to
the order of Malkitseḏeq, as described clearly in the book of Iḇ’rim/Hebrews!
In Verse 11 we are further told that the high priest was not to come near any dead body nor
defile himself for his father of mother, and we are further able to understand the words of
Messiah who told one of his taught ones to let the dead bury the dead in:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 8:21-22 “And another of His taught ones said to Him, “Master, first let
me go and bury my father.” 22 But יהושעsaid to him, “Follow Me, and leave the dead to
bury their own dead.”
11
In this teaching, it is clear that this taught one who wanted to follow Messiah, was not
mourning the death of his father, but rather that he wanted to return home and stay there until
his father died, so that he could get an inheritance!
This taught one’s father may still have lived for many years to come, which would have delayed
the taught one from following the Master straight away, and when Messiah tells him that he
should let the dead bury the dead, He was making it clear that the cost of following Him means
forsaking all – even one’s inheritance!
We are the body of Messiah, and so being His Body, we recognise that we, as being a member
of the body of the High Priest, we too need to recognise that we must not become defiled for
our natural relatives!
This means that when we follow and serve the Master in Spirit and Truth, that we must count
the cost and realise that we cannot go back to old ways or try to hold on to those things that
may cause us to be unfit for complete set-apartness!
Verse 12: With this instruction given, to not go out of the set-apart place and not to profane
the Name of Elohim, for the sign of dedication is upon him, we are once again reminded that
we can never stop being set-apart, as our lives must be continually set-apart as we hear, guard
and do His instructions without compromise!
His sign of dedication is upon us, as we are told that His Sabbath is a sign between us and Him
forever; therefore, we recognise that we are to never compromise the Sabbath, not even for
family!!!
We have seen today, how one’s own family may call for a set-apart believer to compromise the
Sabbath or any other commands, for the sake of a family event or crisis, and in doing so, they
are calling for a set-apart priest of the Most-High to take off the sign of dedication, which is
clearly forbidden, and it is time for true worshippers to take heed of this clear instruction, to
not take of the sign of their dedication to the Master and His truth!
The rest of the chapter gives clear instructions of how we as priests in His Kingdom are to be
found to be spotless in Messiah, in whom there is no defect or deformity.
And what this again pictures for us, is the wonderful work of Messiah, the Perfect Lamb, who
has enabled us to draw near to Elohim.
No offspring of Aharon the priest who had a defect was able to draw near to Elohim and bring
the required offerings made by fire or the bread of Elohim.
A son with a defect may eat of the bread of Elohim but was not allowed to bring it near.
This is a marvellous picture for us in showing us that we, who are found to have defects and
deformities due to our sinful nature and have fallen short, are unable to draw near in our own
strength; however, as we partake in the Bread of Elohim – that is Messiah – we are brought
near as we remain ‘in Him’ our perfect High Priest.
The only way to draw near to Elohim and present our bodies as living sacrifices is by Messiah,
and again this chapter proves clearly that there is only One way – and only by that which is
perfect – יהושעour Messiah!
In verse 17-23 we are given a clear instruction of who is not able to draw near to bring the
bread of his Elohim, and this further emphasises our need for the redemptive and atoning work
of Messiah, through whom we have been given access to boldly come to the throne of favour is
our time of need.
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The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘defect’ is מּוםmum – Strong’s H3971 which
means, ‘blemish, defect, spot, stain’ and can represent both a physical defect as well as a moral
stain.
This root word is used here 5 times between verses 17 and 23 and is translated as ‘defect’ in
the ISR Scriptures 2009 edition.
There is another Hebrew word that is also translated as ‘defect’, in this passage, and is found in
verse 20, which is the Hebrew root word ְּתבַ לֻּ לteḇallul – Strong’s H8400 which means,
‘defect (in vision), confusion, obscurity’, and comes from the root verb balal – Strong’s H1101
meaning, ‘to mingle, mix, confuse, confound’.
This clear restriction on who is able to draw near to Elohim is not a cruel command, but rather
separates the clear distinction of who is serving and who is not, and if the animals that were
brought as an offering were not to have any defects in them, then neither should the one who
is offering them!
Verses 18-20 expand on what is considered as a defect, and we are told that no blind, lame,
disfigured or deformed may draw near. Even if a man had a broken foot or hand was not
permitted to draw near.
No hunchback, dwarf or one who vision has been impaired, or one who has a skin problem, or a
eunuch is permitted to draw near.
This clear instruction is clear on who may not draw near, and when we consider these, on both
a physical and a metaphoric level, then we are able to recognise that we have all fallen short of
the esteem of Elohim, and none of us are able to draw near to Elohim, on our own physical and
moral attributes!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘blind’ comes from the root word ִעּוֵרivver – Strong’s
H5787; and the Hebrew root word for ‘lame’ is ִפסֵ ַחpisseaḥ – Strong’s H6455 which comes
from the root verb פָ סַ חpasaḥ – Strong’s H6452 which means, ‘to limp, hesitate, become
lame, leaped’; and it is from this root that we get the Hebrew word פֶ סַ חPěsaḥ – Strong’s
H6453 which is the word for ‘Passover’.
The Hebrew word translated as ‘disfigured’ is חָ ַרםḥaram – Strong’s H2763 means ‘to ban,
utterly destroy’, and the word translated as ‘deformed’ is שָ ַרעsara – Strong’s H8311 which
means, ‘to extend, stretch, overgrown, deformed’.
We know that there are some tribal traditions still today, that stretch and extend the neck of
women with wire bands, as a form of worship and identity, which is clearly prohibited in
Scripture, for this would render one unable to draw near to Elohim!
The Greek word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint) for ‘defect’ is μῶμος mōmos – Strong’s
G3470 which means, ‘blemish, blame, disgrace, insult, of mean who are a disgrace to society’,
and this word is only used once, in the Renewed Writings, when speaking of the term used, in
the objective and concrete sense, of false teachers, who by reason of their moral libertinism are
felt to be “defacing blemishes”, as they revel in their own deceptions, while feasting with setapart ones!
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Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 2:12-13 “But these, like natural unreasoning beasts, having been born to
be caught and destroyed, blaspheme that which they do not know, shall be destroyed in their
destruction, 13 being about to receive the wages of unrighteousness, deeming indulgence in
the day of pleasure, spots and blemishes, revelling in their own deceptions while they feast
with you”
The Greek word used in the LXX (Septuagint) here in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 21:18 for ‘lame’ is
χωλός chōlos – Strong’s G5560 which means, ‘lame, halt, limping, cripple’, and the Greek
word used for ‘blind’ is τυφλός tuphlos – Strong’s G5185 which can mean physically or
mentally blind and comes from the word τυφόω tuphoō – Strong’s G5187 which means, ‘to be
conceited, foolish, arrogance, vanity, to be lifted up with pride, high-minded’.
It can also render the understanding of being enveloped with smoke and blinded, so as not to
see.
Both of these Greek words for ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ we find in:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 11:5 “Blind receive sight and lame walk, lepers are cleansed and deaf
hear, dead are raised up and poor are brought the Good News.”
These were the words that יהושעMessiah told the two taught ones of Yoḥanan to report
back to him, for he was in prison.
Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:30-31 “And large crowds came to Him, having with them those
who were lame, blind, dumb, crippled, and many others. And they laid them down at the feet
of יהושע, and He healed them, 31 so that the crowd marveled when they saw the dumb
speaking, the crippled well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the
Elohim of Yisra’ĕl.”
With Messiah healing the lame and the blind, He was clearly revealing to the crowds that He
was the Saviour and Elohim that Scripture prophesied of, who would come to save and heal;
and those who believed could be strengthened and filled with great shalom!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 35:4-6 “Say to those with anxious heart, “Be strong, do not fear! See, your
Elohim comes with vengeance, with the recompense of Elohim. He is coming to save you.” 5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf be opened. 6 Then the
lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing, because waters shall burst forth
in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”
The Hebrew word used in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 21 for ‘draw near’ is קָ ַרבqaraḇ – Strong’s
H7126 which means ‘to come near, approach, appear, bring near, come forward, draw near’,
and it is from this word that we get the Hebrew word קָ ְּרבָ ןQorban – Strong’s H7133 which is
understood as ‘offerings’.
The Greek word used in the LXX (Septuagint) for ‘draw near’ is προσέρχομαι proserchomai –
Strong’s G4334 which means, ‘to approach, draw near, agree’, and comes from the 2 words:
1) - πρός pros – Strong’s G4314 which is a primary preposition meaning, ‘advantageous for, at
(denotes local proximity), toward (denotes motion toward a place)’, and
2) - ἔρχομαι erchomai – Strong’s G2064 which means, ‘to come, go, arrive, brought’.
This word προσέρχομαι proserchomai – Strong’s G4334 is used in:
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Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 4:16 “Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of favour, in order to
receive compassion, and find favour for timely help.”
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to
Elohim through Him, ever living to make intercession for them.”
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:19-22 “So, brothers, having boldness to enter into the Set-apart Place by
the blood of יהושע, 20 by a new and living way which He instituted for us, through the veil,
that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the House of Elohim, 22 let us draw near
with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked
conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.”
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 11:6 “But without belief it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
Elohim has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.”
The reason for quoting all these verses from Iḇ’rim/Hebrews, is simply to highlight the clear
reality of what this powerful letter expresses to us, as we are able to identify the new and living
way that the Blood of Messiah, who is the High Priest forever in the order of Malkitseḏeq, has
brought to us who were ‘lame, blind, deformed, crippled, and had many blemishes or defects’!
In Berěshith/Genesis 48:10 Yosĕph’s sons were brought near and Ya’aqoḇ kissed them and
embraced them.
The Hebrew word translated as ‘drew near’ is ָנגַׁשnagash – Strong’s H5066 which means, ‘to
draw near, approach, come closer’.
As they drew near, they were kissed and embraced by Ya’aqoḇ, now considered as their
‘father’ by adoption!
The Greek word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak), in this
verse, for ‘drew near’ is ἐγγίζω eggizō – Strong’s G1448 which means, ‘to make near, come
near, approach, draw near, come close’, and we see this word used in:
Ya’aqoḇ/James 4:8 “Draw near to Elohim and He shall draw near to you. Cleanse hands,
sinners. And cleanse the, you double-minded!”
Ya’aqoḇ/James 5:8 “You too, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Master
has drawn near.”
Menashsheh and Ephrayim were brought near to Ya’aqoḇ by Yosĕph, and here we see the
clear picture of how we are able to draw near to Elohim by no other means than by the Blood
of our High priest and King, יהושעMessiah.
No one comes to the Father except through the Son:
Yoḥanan/John 14:6 “ יהושעsaid to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me.”
This is powerfully illustrated here, in the metaphoric picture of Yosĕph and Ya’aqoḇ, and
further emphasises how יהושעMessiah has no beginning or end and has existed for all time!
There are some who try to deny that Messiah is Master and Elohim and make the false claim
that He never existed before He came in the flesh, and is simply a Messenger of Elohim.
15
This Scripture above makes it very clear that no one can come to the Father except through the
son – metaphoric language of course – but what makes it very clear is that everyone who came
to Elohim in the times of the Tanak (before the birth of Messiah), would not have been able to
do so without יהושעactually being there and being the One whom they would see, in order to
‘see’ the Father!
The vital lesson that we are able to take from the ending of this chapter in Wayyiqra/Leviticus
21 is that it is יהוהwho sets us apart, and without Him setting us apart, through the Blood of
Messiah, we are unable to be set-apart and therefore unable to draw near to Him!
CHAPTER 22
This chapter further emphasis the need for a priesthood to be completely set-apart and not
profane the Name of יהוה, by treating the set-apart matters of Elohim as common.
There are many ‘worldly habits’ that we all still need to get rid of and here, we see the
instruction that reminds us of just that.
A small example, yet very critical in understanding for us today on a practical level, is how we
conduct ourselves in everyday circumstances; and even more importantly, how we conduct
ourselves when we are gathered together, as an assembly/community in Messiah, as a set-part
gathering.
All too often we sadly see that very presence of יהוהduring a set-apart gathering is profaned
in more ways than one when people use coarse joking or when people slander others and lose
total regard for the sanctity of His presence, when gathering to hear His set-apart counsel of His
Word.
What we can also glean from these instructions, regarding true set-apartness, is the fact that
we need to make a concerted effort to ‘pull our lives out of’ those circumstances or events that
most would consider normal; as we recognise that having been in exile for so long, we still have
many ‘gentile-like’ habits and thought patterns that we desperately need to overcome, for if we
are not careful, we will end up defiling the set-apart living standards that we are supposed to
uphold!
The Sabbath is the first major change in living out a new set-apart life, that others in the world
may consider strange, yet we must do our utmost to guard an active set-apart lifestyle that
must not be compromised in the least and when we truly delight in His Shabbat, we will find
that the rest of the week our ability to remove ourselves from the common/unclean matters
will becomes a lot easier.
We also learn from these passages that we are to walk in the fear of יהוה, which is the
beginning of wisdom and not treat those set-apart matters of יהוהas common.
We are a set-apart people and therefore would not find ourselves engaging in what is not setapart, lest we find ourselves profaning His Name which is upon us and be found guilty of
profane living!
These instructions remind us that we are to be constantly aware of where we find ourselves
and be sure that we do not ‘touch’ or engage in that which can render us unclean and unable to
serve as a priesthood.
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Praise Elohim that we have an intercessor who intercedes day and night for us and when we sin
or are made unclean, in any way, we can come and confess our sins to Him and be cleansed
from all unrighteousness!
This, of course, does not give us the license to sin and be lawless, but rather, this should drive
us to being ever aware of making sure that we live our lives in total set-apartness unto our
Saviour and Redeemer and King!
This chapter also pictures for us the work of Messiah, as the Pěsaḥ Lamb, of which no stranger
may eat of unless the priest buys a being with silver (verse 11).
יהושעMessiah has bought us with silver, as He has paid the price of our redemption and now,
we are no longer strangers or foreigners to the Covenants of Promise and without Elohim in the
world, but, have now been brought near by the Blood of Messiah (Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2).
Silver is also a picture of the purity of the Word:
Tehillah/Psalm 12:6 “The Words of יהוהare clean Words, silver tried in a furnace of earth,
refined seven times.”
We know that Messiah, the pure and clean Word made flesh, bought us and paid the price by
His Blood and now, we see in verse 11 that the one bought is not only ‘allowed’ to eat the setapart offering, but rather he is ‘required’ to.
We must partake in the Pěsaḥ Meal each year or we have no part in Him; and we are then
further able to eat our daily Lawful Bread, having been ‘born’ in His House!
From this chapter, it is clear that the requirements for the offering by fire was to be without
defect and picture for us Messiah, being our perfect ascending offering.
In verse 23 we are told that a bull or lamb that has any deformed limb or is dwarfed may be
prepared as a voluntary offering, but not as a vow offering.
What is this saying for us here?
Romiyim/Romans 12:1 “I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of
Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your
reasonable worship.”
We offer up our lives daily as a living offering, as we continue to live set-apart lives that is well
pleasing to Elohim and this we are able to do as we voluntarily surrender our lives unto Him.
So, while we in and of ourselves can never be the ascending offering required, due to our
inherent defects and sin, we can offer up our lives as a voluntary offering each and every day!
What this also speaks to us is that we can give gifts to Elohim that is not perfect from our
excess, yet that which is promised we cannot bring that is not perfect!
Set-apart living calls for a service that seeks to please Elohim and so, when reading of all the
offerings that are acceptable and those which are not, we can deduce from these that what we
offer up, in rendering our lives being set-apart, must not be done with a half-hearted attempt
but rather we must give our all.
What you offer represents yourself and so, if your intention is not to bear fruit in the kingdom
and let others eat of the good fruit that you are supposed to bear; but you only serve when it is
beneficial to yourself and you will only give of yourself when it suits and only you can enjoy the
fruit of that which you give of yourself, then do not offer yourself for service in His House!
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CHAPTER 23 – HIS FEASTS – OUR REHEARSALS!
What is very interesting to note, is the clear placement of this chapter, in laying out for us the
Appointed Times of Elohim, as it fits in well in the flow of the instructions for set-apart living,
for by observing these Appointed Times, we further become established as His set-apart Bride!
This is, in my opinion, one of the most critical chapters in Scripture and while I do not, in any
way, attempt to diminish the importance of ALL Scripture; what I mean, is that in these last
days, when many of the returning children of Elohim are coming out of Mitsrayim and Baḇelon,
and are stripping away the inherited lies of false traditions, we see the great need to get our
timing of pure worship in order, so that we can truly be a people who worship the Father in
Spirit and Truth.
This is a chapter that many exiles need to study in great depth, and not only study but apply
and allow the great understanding of the Feasts of יהוהto further our love for Him and grow
in intimacy with our King, whose times are set, as we eagerly await in great anticipation the
return of our Redeeming King, in accordance to the fulfilment of these very Feasts that we see
recorded in this chapter.
Let us now glean through this chapter, as we discover the wonder in His appointed times!
Verse 1 – an often-repeated verse throughout the Torah – ‘And יהוהspoke to Mosheh,
saying’. Mosheh was the one whom יהוהchose to speak to and is a picture of Messiah who is
our intercessor. Inevitably the words that often followed this phrase would be, as it is in this
chapter, speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl.
What we clearly understand is that our instructions from יהוהcome to us through Mosheh –
or rather the Torah (first 5 books of the Tanak).
What we can realise is that if we only had this chapter of the Torah available for us, we would
actually have enough to be able to ‘draw near’ to Elohim – so listen up!
Verse 2 – The Appointed Times of יהוה.
Like I have already said – the listed appointments given here in this chapter are ’יהוהs
appointments.
Appointments that we are to rehearse each year.
The Hebrew word for ‘appointed times’ is: מֹוע ֲֵדיmo’eḏey which is the plural of the root
word מֹועֵ דmoeḏ – Strong’s H4150 which means, ‘appointed time, place or meeting’.
We see this root word מֹועֵ דmoeḏ – Strong’s H4150 being used in:
Berěshith/Genesis 1:14 “And Elohim said, “Let lights come to be in the expanse of the
heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed times,
and for days and years”
Right in the beginning, during the Creation Week, Elohim announces to us that He will have
‘appointed times’ and the way we are to know when these times are would be determined by
the lights in the expanse of the heavens which were given for us to not only determine the
season and day and night but also for His All-important Appointed Times.
What makes these ‘Appointed Times’ different and special from other times?
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They are to be ‘proclaimed’ as ‘set-apart gatherings’!
The Hebrew word for ‘proclaim’ comes from the root word קָ ָראqara – Strong’s H7121 which
means, ‘proclaim, call, read, summons, invite, to be called out’,
Set-Apart Gatherings:
Let us look briefly at these terms, in order to get a clearer understanding of what is
commanded of us:
1 – Set-Apart:
Hebrew Word: ק ֶֹדש- qoḏesh/ko-desh – Strong’s H6944 – and it means ‘apartness/
consecrated/ dedicated/ that which is dedicated and separated unto ’יהוה.
The word is really self-explanatory and carries with it, great weight in its identification of truly
setting something or someone apart from another with a clear distinction of being marked as
separate and apart from the rest.
Set-apartness in the Greek is ἁγιασμός hagiasmos – Strong’s G38 – ‘consecration,
sanctifying’, and the noun is the word ἅγιος hagios – Strong’s G40.
To ‘consecrate’ means ‘to make or declare to be set-apart and be devoted to a purpose with
the deepest irrevocable dedication’.
We, as a chosen, set-apart and royal priesthood unto Elohim, declare and make our lives solely
devoted to the purpose of serving and worshipping יהוהour Elohim, and as we have certainly
learnt through the Torah portions of ‘drawing near’ to Elohim, that we can only do so by the
Blood of Messiah, as we are continually being set-apart in Him through an on-going process of
being sanctified as a people for a possession.
In most cases the term ‘set-apart’ or ‘qoḏesh’ is used in a positive sense, a good sense in terms
of being set-apart for good use or set-apart unto יהוה, describing the nature of a believer
living a set-apart life having thrown off the things of the flesh that hinder and walking set-apart
according to the spirit.
However, set-apart can also be used in a negative sense too in that just as much as someone or
something can be set-apart unto יהוהso can someone or something be set-apart unto evil and
wicked cultic prostitution.
Understanding that ק ֶֹדשqoḏesh – Strong’s H6944 and ἅγιος hagios – Strong’s G40 both
mean set-apart, we must ask ourselves where the term, in English, ‘holy’ comes from and is this
a correct term that we should be using?
Holy – a term that is frequently used in ‘Christian’ language, is used by many as a means for
speaking of being ‘qoḏesh’ or ‘hagios’ and for most this is used simply because they have been
taught that the word ‘holy’ means set-apart. However, when you dig a little further into the
root of a word to understand its intended meaning, then certainly more surfaces than what
many would care to consider.
According to G. Jobes, Dictionary of Mythology and Folklore and Symbols, page 781 for the
word ‘Holy’ it says: In practically all languages, the word for holy has been derived from the
‘divinely honoured sun’.
What is also interesting to discover is that the word ‘HOLI’ refers to:
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“the Great Hindu festival and is a spring festival celebration held in honour of Krishna, as the
spring sun-god… a personified woman called ‘Holi’ … Holi also tried to kill the babe Krishna…”
According to the Strong’s Concordance we find the G1506 – a word that refers to being judges
by the sunlight and comes from the word ‘heile’ (which is the sun’s ray).
And this root form is very similar and almost identical to the German and Dutch equivalents of
the English ‘holy’, realising that many of our English words today are in fact from German and
Dutch descent.
There is just too must similarity for us to not recognise and acknowledge the reference to the
sun and the worship of sun-gods. For instance, the word ‘halo’ in referring to the ‘ring’ above a
‘saint’s’ head starts to make a clearer picture of deliberate sun-worship as it represents the
‘sun-disk’.
The German and Dutch word for ‘holy’ is ‘heilig’ derived from the word ‘heil’.
Now, you have to just ask yourself who or what is ‘Heil’.
Heil was a Saxon idol!!!
How disturbing this becomes for us, when we recognise that in fact the lies we have inherited
in accepting words and names that have their root in pagan worship as clearly the origin of heil
or heilig, shows and reveals to us how mixed many of our ancestor’s worship was as many of
our German and Dutch ancestors were calling or referring to the Set-Apart Spirit of Elohim by
the name of their ancient idols that they worshipped.
This is shocking I know, but do the math and see that it is clear that we cannot, and should not,
be referring to Elohim by any other names or titles, other than that which He Himself has given
us in Scripture – original Scripture as given in the Hebrew language!!!
Satan’s plan is to redirect any form of worship toward Elohim back to him and sadly many, and I
mean many are falling to his trickery, hence the need for writing this book among many others
that are exposing the lies in order to set captives free and allow the very Truth of the Living
Elohim to set free the prisoners who are in darkness (ignorance).
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel Chapter 8 tells us how Elohim in fact shows the prophet the very
abominations of mixed sun-worship that was going on in the Temple.
Many images are made as supposed pictures of Messiah and Mary and many other apostles
and prophets with a sun-disc behind their heads in a wicked attempt at identifying them with
sun-worship.
It is clear that when we see the overriding evidence that is available for us all to see, as to just
where the word for ‘holy’ comes from and what its derivatives actually refer to, then we must
take action in not using this very pagan rooted word, in referring to the Spirit of Elohim or any
other aspects of set-apart living, for if we do, we are simply in great error and are giving
homage to the Sun, which no matter how sincere is may be … it is sincerely wrong and an
abomination in the eyes of יהוה.
יהוהmakes it very clear for us that we are not to adopt the worship practices and forms of the
pagan nations and apply their forms and practices unto Him.
He has given us His instructions in His Torah and we are not to add or take away from them!
The English word Sacred, is another word that is frequently used in Christianity, in its attempt
at referring to that which is ‘set-apart’ – ‘qoḏesh’ in Hebrew and ‘hagios’ in Greek.
Interestingly, you will find that this word, sacred, is in fact not seen in the King James Version,
but it used in later translations of the Scriptural text.
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Many words in English, as I have said, are traced back to Germanic and Dutch roots, and many
also come from Latin and some come from even earlier languages, known as Sanskrit.
The word ‘sacred’ can be traced back to the Sanskrit ‘Sakra’.
Indra was one of the twelve forms of sun-deity and he was also known as Sakra and in the
twelfth form he is known as Mitra – the origin of the Roman Mithras, who was associated with
sun-deity and apparently became the Sun-deity known as ‘Sol Invictus’ – the unconquered Sundeity.
Wow, many of you are thinking that this sounds much like the Roman Catholic Church – and
you are right – Mithras was worshipped by the first Pope – Constantine who sought a way of
blending the Truth with pagan worship as a means to gain the control of the world – he birthed
Christianity giving it all its pagan rooted forms of worship – and it is time for the children of
Elohim to come out of this wicked whore!
I encourage you to test all that you read, as you go through this commentary, as it becomes
very evident that we are to have a speech renewed and a pure tongue restored as we strip
away pagan rooted words linked to pagan sun-deity worship.
Therefore, we cannot use the terms ‘holy’ or ‘sacred’ when referring to that which is ‘set-apart’
and separated unto Elohim.
Therefore, know that in referring to the Spirit of Elohim – the Ruaḥ haQoḏesh – we cannot and
must not use the pagan terminology of ‘Holy’ Spirit but rather ‘Set-Apart’ Spirit of Elohim.
We are to live set-apart lives – separated unto Elohim. We are to set-apart and treat as
separate the Sabbath – set-apart from the rest, let us look at the term gathering;
2 – Gatherings:
The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘gathering’ is – ִמ ְּק ָראmiqra – Strong’s H4744,
meaning: assembly/ group/ convocation/ a collective of people gathered for a purpose/a
calling together, which comes from the root word קָ ָראqara – Strong’s H7121 which we have
already noted in the calling together to read.
We can glean some further insight and clarity, when looking at these words in the pictographic
script.
The Hebrew word ִמ ְּק ָראmiqra – Strong’s H4744 is pictured in the ancient pictographic script
as follows:
Mem - ִמ:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the
meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or
massive as well as the unknown.
We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often
likened to the seas in Scripture.
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Knowing that this letter represents ‘water’, we are also able to see how this can render for us
the meaning of ‘washing’ or ‘cleansing’.
Quph – ְּק:
This is the letter ‘quph’, which is pictured as
, and is a ‘horizon’ and depicts the
elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the
meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well
as eternity and speaks of continual adherence to the Appointed Times.
Resh – ָר:
The ancient script has this letter ‘resh’ as –
– and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’
and has the meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first.
This letter can mean ‘top’ – as in the top or head of a body; and ‘chief’ – as in head of a tribe or
people, as well as the one who rules the people.
Aleph – א:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘the head of an ox’, and
represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals.
This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a
heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that
יהושעMessiah fulfilled!
This word, as mentioned, is derived from the root verb קָ ָראqara – Strong’s H7121, which is
pictured in the ancient pictographic script as follows:
In his AHLB (Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible) Jeff Benner explains how each 3 letter root
word comes from a 2 letter parent root and the parent root of this word is – קַ רwhere he
explains that the pictograph
is a picture of the sun at the horizon and the gathering of the
light, and the pictograph
is a picture of the head of a man.
Combined these mean "GATHER THE MEN" or “GATHER TO THE HEAD” and can have
the understanding of the meeting, or bringing together, of people or objects, by arrangement.
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What we can therefore see, through the ancient pictographic rendering of the word ִמ ְּק ָרא
miqra – Strong’s H4744, is that, in terms of this giving us the understanding of having a
proclaimed calling together, or gathering, we can see the following meaning, for us, who are in
יהושעMessiah, our Head:
CLEANSED TO CONTINUALLY GATHER TO OUR HEAD
WHO IS OUR STRENGTH!
Having been cleansed and redeemed from all lawlessness and sin, we who have been grafted in
to the Covenants of Promise, through the blood of Messiah, are now called to guard His
commands and gather as we should, on His proclaimed set-apart gatherings!
The reason I am emphasising these words here, is to help us clearly understand, before
proceeding into each appointed time, that these are set-apart times that we are to take careful
note of!
If there are any appointments that you should never miss or be late for in life, it is these!!!
Sadly, what we see in the world today is a total neglect of these very clear appointments we are
to have with our Creator, while the enemy has ‘attempted to change’ the times and seasons of
Elohim and establish his own, as well as keeping people so preoccupied with their own busy
lifestyles and schedules that they neglect that most important appointments for the set-apart
people of Elohim. These appointments were firmly established at creation and were always
intended for all to keep.
Now, in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23, the instructions are given to Yisra’ĕl, a chosen nation, who
were to be a light to the nations, teaching them of these appointed times.
So, as a royal priesthood, let us recognise the importance of understanding these appointments
with the Creator of the heavens and the earth, so that we are well equipped to teach the
nations to follow and keep these set appointed times of יהוה.
Each of the listed appointments are to be called out as set-apart gatherings that are to be
rehearsed each year.
A set-apart gathering is exactly what it says – it is a set-apart gathering!
These appointments with our Creator, cannot be kept alone, but rather must be kept together
with the body of Messiah, wherever He chooses.
So, as the body of Messiah is being restored in these last days, it is of vital importance that each
of understand that these appointments are not, ‘if we feel like it’ appointments – NO – they are
set, and have been set from the beginning and will never change and therefore there should
never be an excuse for any child of Yisra’ĕl to miss any of these!
A gathering is where the body comes together to hear the reading of The Word and celebrate
together, as we not only look back to what has already been fulfilled but also look forward to
what will be fulfilled in every way through our Righteous Living King!
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So, I urge all of you that are reading this, to make it clear in one’s mind that, according to the
clear instructions of our Elohim, these appointed Times cannot and must not be missed or
neglected in any way; and I say this to emphasise the importance of hearing such a command,
before even looking at each appointment we have with our Maker!
Verse 3 – The Sabbath
Now that we have established that the appointed times of יהוהare set and will not change,
we see straight away the emphasis that יהוהplaces upon His Sabbath/Shabbat.
Of all the Appointments that He has set, He sets apart the Sabbath from the rest, in a sense, by
giving it first mention and so, we must therefore recognise that this weekly Sabbath carries a
great significance for us!
We are to realise that we must not miss our weekly appointment with our Elohim!
יהוהrepeats, very clearly, that His Sabbath is a set-apart gathering and the repetition of this,
highlights the importance of gathering as commanded.
Sabbath cannot be kept alone and it was never to be kept alone by individual families either.
The Sabbath is the time for us to gather together as communities/assemblies all over the world
and have a set-apart meeting or assembling of set-apart ones and hear the Torah.
The command not to work rules out any excuse for any member of Yisra’ĕl to not be gathered!
The Sabbath is a ‘qoḏesh miqra’ – set-apart gathering and I continue to repeat myself, in this
regard, for good reason, for it is of vital importance that each one of us gets it!
You cannot sit at home alone and read a few verses, say a few prayers and then sleep the day
away and think you are guarding the Sabbath – GATHER is the command!
During a worldwide mandated lockdown, in 2020, that was put in place due to wasting disease,
the ability to have physical gatherings has become restricted in some places and strictly
forbidden in others. Having said that, we do recognise that this does not, in any way, diminish
the ability of guarding the command to have a set-apart gathering, as we, as a fellowship, have
been able to continue to have set-apart gatherings, via our live streaming of our readings and
teachings, as we ‘gather together’ online and set the day apart in the presence of our Master
and Elohim, showing that we have no excuse not to gather and proclaim His Appointed Times
as set-apart gatherings.
Why is the Sabbath so important, you may ask, and does it really matter which day is the
Sabbath?
Well to answer that bluntly – yes it does matter – it matters a great deal and it is of vital
importance for us and that is what I want us to look at – the Truth and validity of the
importance of the Sabbath.
We have seen that יהוהhad set the Sabbath apart already in the Creation week and this
stands firm forever, as we, each week, get to ‘rehearse’ these appointments, by remembering
to ‘keep’ His Sabbath,as it foreshadows our reign with Him.
But just how important is the Sabbath?
What is the significance of us getting it right?
For many it seemingly does not matter which day is the Sabbath as they erroneously regard
‘every day’ as a Sabbath, but is that what Scripture says?
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No – Scripture is clear that it is the 7th day, not the 1st or 2nd or 3rd or any other day but the 7th!
In the hearing of the Ten Words, commonly known today as the Ten Commandments, it is clear
that the Sabbath is set-apart from the rest of the week and the direct command is to remember
it and to set it apart.
Set the whole day apart not just some of it, but the whole day, as in a whole 24-hour period or
rather, from sunset to sunset!
Look at the following verses from the account of the hearing of the 10 Words:
Shemoth/Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. 9 Six days you labour,
and shall do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of יהוהyour Elohim. You do
not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your
female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days
יהוהmade the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the
seventh day. Therefore יהוהblessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.”
As you will notice, that, in terms of the Ten Words, commonly known to us as the ‘Ten
Commandments’, this 4th commandment, regarding the Sabbath, is the longest of the 10.
The longest of the 10 spoken to an entire nation!
In the original King James translation into English, this command contained 97 words – and that
in itself ought to tell us the significance of this day!
This was, and always is, to be a day of rest and a day set-apart unto Elohim.
No work is to be done on this day – no work for you, or your servants or your animals or for any
‘stranger’ or ‘foreigner’ within your gates.
This is a day of rest from your weekly labour – that is that which earns you your wages and
keep!
This is a day set-apart for us to ‘rest’ in Him, יהוהour Elohim and as we see from
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:1-2 in speaking of His Appointed Times and set-apart gatherings, we see
clearly the first of these is in fact the weekly Sabbath.
Sabbath is a day of rest from your daily work, but that does not mean you hide out and sleep it
away – no – it is to be proclaimed as a set-apart gathering.
That means we, as the body of Messiah, are to have a set-apart gathering unto יהוהin all our
dwellings.
Where two or three are ‘gathered’ there He is in the midst of them!
This is a day when we get to spend intimate quality time with our Maker and as His Bride, we
get to engage in fellowship together as a Bride who is preparing herself with her betrothed
Husband.
What we must realise here, is that the Sabbath is a set-apart day from the rest; and it is a day of
gathering together as His body. We are to come together to worship our Elohim.
We are to collectively set-apart the Sabbath as we set-aside our own desires and pleasures and
work that takes up our time for the previous 6 days and delight ourselves as one in Him.
Many today do not see the need for gathering and claim that they are happy to ‘keep’ Sabbath
on their own.
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As well, and easy, as this sounds – according to the Word of Elohim, this is not Scriptural – as
we are required to gather, for they are to be proclaimed as set-apart gatherings.
And it is more than just gathering and having a kind of social – it is a gathering that is especially
set-apart, unto spending the day in fellowship in the Word.
There is not too much I can say to add to the simplicity of understanding this term – the
Sabbath is a set-apart ‘gathering’, and this happens in the world today, in the form of gathering
in various size groups that יהוהestablishes and builds, and as mentioned, with the ability to
live stream and connect with others who can join or watch later, this certainly provides the
platform for all to be able to ‘gather’, even if they have no others within their close proximity
who are guarding the Sabbath as they should.
When one thinks of the term gathering, one automatically can see the picture of more than just
one or two people – it speaks of a body of believers coming together in obedience to Scripture.
I must admit that churches have had a seemingly good way of gathering a crowd – sadly
though, it is not on the correct day and what is even worse – each one attending feels good
about themselves that they gave up an hour or two!!!
We as children of the Living Elohim are to gather – and gather for His Sabbath.
Here at ‘At the Foot of the Covenant Ministries’ we usually gather in our home, from 10:00am
for worship and then sit together and go through our weekly Torah portion together with the
relevant writings form the Prophets and rest of the Tanak (O.T.) and Renewed Writings (N.T.).
We then usually enjoy a ‘bring and share’ lunch together and end the day late in the afternoon,
having truly set-apart the Sabbath and ‘gathered’ together having immersed ourselves in the
wonder and joy of His Word that strengthens us and builds us up in the faith, maturing us in
Him. I say ‘usually’, for this year of 2020 has certainly been an ‘unusual’ one, where restrictions
imposed on social distancing, has restricted our ability to gather as usual, and therefore, we
have ‘gathered online’ for this Scriptural year, as the last physical gathering that we are able to
have was on Rosh Hashanah, which started the year. Then a mandated lockdown was imposed
and as of the time of updating this commentary, we are now in the 5 th month of the Scriptural
year and are still unable to legally have physical fellowship and gatherings. Despite this
mandated lockdown, we have continued to maintain the ‘set-apart gathering’ for Shabbat and
Feasts, through our online streaming platform, which has equipped us to still be able to gather
as a set-apart Bride before the Master and continue to strengthen the need to gather together
in the Master and be encouraged to hold firm His calling and choosing on our lives, as a chosen
and set-apart priesthood that continually offers thanks and praise to Him.
Gathering is critical to the life of the Body of Messiah.
We have also been blessed with the ability to be able to live stream our gatherings, facilitating
the ability for others to be able to ‘gather with us’ from other parts of the world and be a part
of us collectively gathering before our Master.
Ok, so now we have looked at when a day begins and which of these days is in fact the Sabbath
of Elohim and that we are to proclaim the Sabbath as set-apart gatherings; now let us look a
little more at just what the importance of this is for us and just what Scripture instructs us with
in regards to His Sabbaths.
The Sabbath is ’יהוהs set-apart day for us to come together and delight in Him and not do our
own pleasure nor even think our own thoughts:
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Yeshayahu/Isaiah 58:13-14 “If you do turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your
pleasure on My set-apart day, and shall call the Sabbath ‘a delight,’ the set-apart day of יהוה
‘esteemed,’ and shall esteem it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor
speaking your own words, 14 then you shall delight yourself in יהוה. And I shall cause you to
ride on the heights of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Ya’aqoḇ your father.
For the mouth of יהוהhas spoken!”
When looking at the Hebrew word ׁשַ בָ תSabbath - Strong’s H7676, in the ancient pictographic
text, we recognise the importance of our proper observance of His Sabbaths as we see the
following being rendering in the pictographic letters:
Shin - ַׁש:
This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as,
, which is ‘two front
teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do,
and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth as the teeth ‘chew’ or
‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the
understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food.
Beyt – ָב:
The ancient script has this letter as
, which pictures a tent floor plan and means,
‘house’ or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as
opposed to the tent structure itself.
Taw – ת
The ancient script has this letter as
which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can
represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work
of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl
and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the
beginning and the end of all creation!
As we consider this, we can see from the rendering of the word ׁשַ בָ תSabbath - Strong’s H7676
in the ancient pictographic lettering, the following:
THE WORD OF THE HOUSE IS SEALED
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This emphasises how the Sabbath is a sign, that we are the House of Elohim, for it is His Word
that marks us and the sign of that mark, is our proper observance of His Sabbaths!
If we do not guard to keep and observe His Sabbaths then we are not sealed, nor are we
guarding His Covenant that His Blood causes us to be grafted in to and the one who does not
observe the Sabbaths of Elohim shall be cut off from His Everlasting Covenants of Promise!
The Sabbath is a sign
Why the Sabbath is of utmost importance to us, and what we are to quickly realise is that our
sign or mark of our worship unto יהוהour Elohim is in fact our remembering to ‘keep’ His
Sabbath. Sabbath observance is key to worship, in fact it is our definitive sign that sets us apart
from others.
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 20:12 “And I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them,
to know that I AM יהוהwho sets them apart!”
Shemoth/Exodus 31:16-17 “And the children of Yisra’ĕl shall guard the Sabbath, to observe
the Sabbath throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant. 17 ‘Between Me and
the children of Yisra’ĕl it is a sign forever. For in six days יהוהmade the heavens and the
earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”
We as his children are to ‘guard’ and ‘observe’ the Sabbath for all time!
The Hebrew word for ‘sign’ is אֹותoth – Strong’s H226 which means, ‘a sign, banner, pledge,
witness, token, proof’ and comes from the primitive root אָ וָהavah – Strong’s H184 which
means, ‘to sign, mark, describe with a mark’.
יהוהmakes it very clear in the above two passages that the Sabbath is in fact the sign that we
are His!!!
How awesome is that! His Sabbath is a sign of His power to create and His power to redeem.
In the Scriptures, the words seal, sign, mark, and token are used interchangeably.
As we guard to keep the clear calendar of our Master and ensure that we do not miss His
Appointed Times, we have the firm assurance that He has set His seal on us, as we have the
proper observance of His Sabbaths and Feasts (Appointed Times) as a sign on our hands and
foreheads!
Messiah made it clear that the only sign that would be shown to a wicked and adulterous
generation that He was the Messiah, was the sign of Yonah; and so, in the life, death and
resurrection of Messiah, we have the sign of the Covenant promise revealed and secured in His
Own Blood!
The ancient pictographic rendering of the Hebrew word אֹותoth – Strong’s H226 meaning, ‘a
sign, banner, pledge, witness, token, proof’, looks like this:
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Aleph - א:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘the head of an ox’, and represents
‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals.
This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a
heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that
יהושעMessiah fulfilled!
Waw/vav - ֹו:
The Ancient picture for this letter is
, is pictured as a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for
securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it
prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.
Taw - ת:
The ancient for of this letter is
- meaning ‘two crossed sticks’.
It was a type of a mark as being displayed by two crossed sticks and has the meaning of mark,
sign or signature or identification, used as a marker to identify people, places or things.
It can also carry the meaning of ‘seal’ or ‘covenant’.
As we consider these three pictographic letters, for the root word for ‘sign’, we take note that it
is the Aleph - אand the Taw - תthat secures for us His Covenant, showing us the clear sign of
His sealing of the Covenant through His life, death and resurrection, for He took the nails in His
hands and feet in and secured His Covenant for us, in His Own Blood, setting His seal upon
those who guard to keep His Appointed Times.
He is the Beginning of our Strength and He secures for us His Covenant, having set His seal upon
us, by His Spirit, as we observe His Appointed Times
Elohim's sign, the Sabbath, represents His mighty power to rule as Creator and Saviour, and it is
a sign forever between us as children of Yisra’ĕl and Elohim!!!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 4:9 “So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim.”
You cannot get any clearer than this verse, although it has sadly been twisted into teaching that
this Sabbath rest being spoken of only refers to the millennial reign.
The Greek word that is used here for ‘Sabbath-keeping’ is σαββατισμός sabbatismos –
Strong’s G4520 which literally means ‘a Sabbath keeping’ or ‘Sabbath observance’ and is very
clear in its instruction for us today, that to keep Sabbath is still of vital importance – after all it is
an everlasting sign for us – a sign that will prove to be a critical dividing factor in showing who
truly worships Elohim and who does not!
The weekly Sabbath-keeping is not only a sign for us, but it is also the first of His Commanded
Appointed times according to Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:1-2.
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יהוהhas given us this day as a sign of His everlasting covenant and what we must therefore
also realise is that the enemy will always have a counterfeit sign in seeking any means at luring
people into the delusion of false worship, making people believe that they are in fact
worshipping the Creator when clearly, they are in error, by having the wrong ‘sign’ of their
worship.
Verse 4 – יהוהnow repeats once again the emphasis of how His Appointed Times are to be
set-apart gatherings, proclaimed at the correct appointed times and not at man’s inherited
appointed lies of tradition.
After understanding the vital significance, the Sabbath plays and is for us each week, we are
then further equipped to gather on the rest of our Creator’s Appointments!
Let us now take a look at the yearly cycle of the appointed Times of יהוה:
Verse 5 – 14:
PĚSAḤ – MATZOT – OMER RĚSHIYTH:
PASSOVER – UNLEAVENED BREAD – WAVING OF THE FIRST SHEAF
In the first new moon, on the 14th day between the evenings, is the Pěsaḥ to יהוה.
Here we see, that right at the beginning of the year, the first of the yearly appointed times, and
what we must first understand, is when he year begins, because if we do not know that then
we will be unable to correctly keep this feast of Pěsaḥ; and if that be the case, the rest of the
year would be out of sync too – Timing is extremely important!
So, when does the year begin for us?
The answer is found in:
Shemoth/Exodus Chapter 12:2 “This new moon is the beginning of new moons for you, it is
the first new moon of the year for you.”
A highly critical verse for a nation being delivered from many generations of slavery – one we
today need also take very careful care to hear, guard and do as we also have come out of many
years/centuries of inherited lies.
You will also notice that in Shemoth/Exodus 12: 1 that יהוהspoke to Mosheh in Mitsrayim –
that is to also show us today just how He also clearly spoke to us while we were still in
Mitsrayim (Church) so to speak and it is now clear that a new way of things was truly about to
begin.
What we must take careful not of here is that יהוהdid NOT at this point change His own
established order and calendar of His Appointed Times.
What He was doing was telling His called-out nation to strip away all that they had followed
under an enslaved regime and return now to His Way and His reckoning of time!
For over 400 years or so, Yisra’ĕl were under the influence of a sun/solar calendar which was a
direct worship unto the pagan deity Ra, which יהוהhad now clearly shown by His Mighty
wonders and power that Ra was no mighty one at all and destroyed the seeming evidence of
such erroneous beliefs.
In order for Yisra’ĕl to be on their wonderful journey of freedom, having been set free from
bondage, by the Mighty work Hand of Elohim, they had to get back to the beginning!
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This was, always has been, and is the beginning of the year, according to ;יהוהand Yisra’ĕl
had lost this, under the Mitsrayim way of calendar keeping, that was centred around sunworship.
יהוהwas setting back, in order, His timing and calendar that was instituted at Creation.
This was the first instruction that was given to a nation and the essence was simply this, “have
nothing to do with sun-worship and get in line with My Word!”.
For us who have come out of Mitsrayim, we too may have found it very confusing at first, when
trying to start keeping track of ’יהוהs Scriptural calendar that begins in this month of Aḇiḇ,
when the barley is ripe in the ear. Months begin at the sighting of the renewed moon (first
sliver) and it is the moon that ‘renews’ every month.
There are many in the Torah walk that have sadly missed the mark with this vital truth – and
why I say vital, is because if we get the beginning wrong then the rest of the year will be out
and we may find ourselves celebrating His Feasts at the wrong times due to ignorance of the
True starting point!
Many Torah observant believers claim to follow what has been labelled the ‘Enoch calendar’,
which sets aside the renewal of the moon for determining the months and holds that the moon
is merely there for various ‘planting’ seasons of various plants and vegetables.
I will quote a couple of verses from Ḥanoḵ which clearly speaks of the moon giving the marker
for months:
Ḥanoḵ chapter 78:
: 6-7 “When the moon begins its cycle, it appears in the sky one half of a seventh part; it will
become fully illumined from the fourteenth day; 7 it completes its illumination the fifteenth,
becoming fulfilled according to the sign of the year and becoming fifteen parts. Thus the
moon waxes in fifteen parts.”
Here we see the description of how the moon ‘waxes’ – that is to become full which is
completed on the 15th of the month and then begins to ‘wane’ – which is to decrease in its
illumination from the sun.
: 11 “During all the seasons when the moon is made to run its cycle, the light is being beamed
into it the moon facing the sun until the illumination of the moon is completed in the course
of fourteen days; and when it is lit completely, it radiates light in the sky.”
During all the seasons, the moon is made to run its cycle of illumination – so it clearly not only
appointed for seasons but also for the marker of the monthly cycle!
This next verse is the one that I like to show as it is clear when the month begins and lines up
with our text in Shemoth:
: 12 “On the first day, it is called the new moon because on that day the illumination begins
to set upon it.”
The first day of the month is when we ‘SEE’ the illumination begin and so it is also clear that the
month cannot begin on what some call the ‘dark moon’ either.
Other arguments to whether our text here in Shemoth/Exodus is referring to the moon, are
that moon and month are not the same, and so I briefly want to explain a couple of key Hebrew
words or terms, with Scriptural evidence that show that when speaking of the new/renewed
month it is clearly speaking of the cycle of the moon.
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For many of you this may seem insignificant, but I want to briefly present to you from Scripture
when our year begins and this is very significant.
So please bear with me!
The Hebrew root words that are used for the translated phrase, ‘beginning of new moons’, in
the Scriptures 2009 translation or, in other translations as, ‘beginning of months’, which is
transliterated as ‘rosh ḥoḏesh’ is:
1) ראֹׁשrosh – Strong’s H7218 which means, ‘head or beginning or source’ – that is: the
beginning point. It speaks of the starting point and also carries the meaning of ‘head’ as in the
crucial part of the body and is also translated as chief. In the context of the passage in question
it is a clear beginning point of the year.
2) ח ֶֹדׁשḥoḏesh – Strong’s H2320 which means, ‘month’ and by extension also translated and
understood as moon
Many argue that this word does not mean moon as the word for moon in Hebrew is:
י ֵָר ַחyareaḥ - Strong’s H3394 which is the word that is used for moon, as is first used in
Berěshith/Genesis 37:9.
In the Scriptural text, it is understood that the word ḥoḏesh also refers to the moon.
In fact, there is another word that also describes the moon, when it is full as in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 7:20 “He took a bag of silver with him; He comes home on the day of the
covering.”
This is a wonderful pointer to our Messiah coming to be united with His Bride for
Sukkot/Tabernacles which begins on the 15th of the 7th month (which is the full moon).
The Hebrew root word that is translated here as ‘covering’ is: כֶ סֶ אkese – Strong’s H3677
which means ‘full moon’ or ‘the full covering of the moon’ – that is, when it is fully illumined!
Another Hebrew word that is used also for moon is: ְּלבָ נָהleḇanah – Strong’s H3842 which
refers to the full moon when it is fully ‘white’, coming from the root word which means to be or
become white and is used in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 24:23 “And the moon shall blush, and the sun shall be ashamed, for יהוה
of hosts shall reign on Mount Tsiyon, and in Yerushalayim, and before His elders, in esteem!”
This speaking once again of His second coming when the ‘white moon’ will be turned red –
Blood Moon – at His Appointed Time!!!
Now, why I am showing you these, is to show you the various words that are used to describe
the moon and therefore, through a couple of Scriptures, I will too show you why month and
moon are interchangeable and are clearly thought of as the same, in the Hebraic mind:
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 6:38 “And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, the eighth month,
the house was completed in all its matters and according to all its plans. Thus he built it for
seven years.”
Month – this is the Hebrew word י ֵָר ַחyareaḥ - Strong’s H3394, while the next word for month
– is ח ֶֹדׁשḥoḏesh – Strong’s H2320.
Here in the same verse we have both words being used to describe the month, showing us that
month and moon are interchangeably used in Scripture.
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Another example is seen in:
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 8:2 “And all the men of Yisra’ĕl assembled to Sovereign Shelomoh at
the festival in the month of Ěythanim, which is the seventh month.” (colour coded as above)
Another witness that shows 2 verses referring to the same reference to a specific month/moon:
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 6:1 “And it came to be, in the four hundred and eightieth year after
the children of Yisra’ĕl had come out of the land of Mitsrayim, in the fourth year of the reign
of Shelomoh over Yisra’ĕl, in the month of Ziw, which is the second month, that he began to
build the House of יהוה.”
The reference or definitive marker of time here for us, is the month of Ziw – with the word
month being used here coming from the word - ח ֶֹדׁשḥoḏesh – Strong’s H2320, while in
reference to the same month in:
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 6:37 “In the fourth year the foundation of the House of יהוהwas
laid, in the month Ziw.”
Same month name, but this time the word for month is י ֵָר ַחyareaḥ - Strong’s H3394.
If that is not enough for you, just one verse later I have a 3rd witness of both words being used
in the same verse for the month:
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 6:38 “And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, the eighth month,
the house was completed in all its matters and according to all its plans. Thus he built it for
seven years.”
Both י ֵָר ַחyareaḥ - Strong’s H3394 and ח ֶֹדׁשḥoḏesh – Strong’s H2320 are used in reference
to the clear meaning of month, showing us that the understanding of moon and month are the
same!
Now in clearing all that up, verse 2 here in Shemoth/Exodus 12, tells us that this month/new
moon of their departure from Mitsrayim will be the beginning of new moons and it is the first
of the year – in other words this is the beginning of the year.
The root word for ‘Year’, in Hebrew is ׁשָ נָהshanah – Strong’s H8141 and usually has a ( הhey)
before it to make it ‘the year’: הַ שָ נָהHashanah.
In Hebrew, the New Year is known as Rosh Hashanah – the ‘head’ of the year!
In this verse2 the phrase ‘it is the first new moon of the year for you’ is written as follows:
ִראׁשֹון הּוא לָ כֶ ם ְּלחָ ְּדׁשֵ י הַ שָ נָה
‘rishon huw laḵam l’ḥaḏshey hashana’
This phrase is broken down as follows:
1) – ִראׁשֹוןrishon – Strong’s H7223 which means, ‘former, first, chief, before, beginning’ and
this is from the root word ראֹׁשrosh – Strong’s H7218 meaning, ‘head, beginning, top’ as
already discussed.
2) – הּואhuw – Strong’s H1931 which is a pronoun that means, ‘he, she, it’
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3) – לָ כֶ םlaḵam – this is from the word אַ תָ הattah – Strong’s H859 which means, ‘you
(masculine singular)’, and with the ‘lamed – ָ – לbeing used as a preposition meaning, ‘to, for’,
the construct of the word changes to the plural rendering it as meaning, ‘for you (plural)’.
4) – ְּלחָ ְּדׁשֵ יl’ḥaḏshey is from the root word ח ֶֹדׁשḥoḏesh – Strong’s H2320 meaning, ‘new
moon, month’ as already discussed.
5) – הַ שָ נָהhashana – ‘the year’ from ‘ ׁשָ נָהshanah Strong’s H8141 meaning, ‘a year, annual,
yearly, annually’.
The reason for breaking this down in this manner, is to simply show that the clear instruction
being given to Yisra’ĕl is that this first month will be for you (Yisra’ĕl) the month that begins
the year!!!
In Rabbinical Judaism, there are errors in their man-made calendars that call Rosh Hashanah at
the 1st of the 7th month, when it is Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets).
In fact, some rabbinic teachings have 4 ‘new years’ in the year to signify different seasons and
agriculture.
This is simply crazy and very confusing, which the Word of יהוהis not to those who will but
just hear and obey!
The Rabbinic way of naming the 7th month as the head of the year is in no way different to the
major error that Christianity has done in replacing the 7th day Sabbath with the sun-worship
practice of worshipping on the 1st day of the week, hence the pagan name of the day called
after its man-driven purpose of falsified worship – Sun-Day!
Both have tried to change – and I say tried to because no one can change ’יהוהs order of
Appointed Times as set in the Creation Week – Both Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity has
attempted to change 7 for 1!
Rosh Hashanah always was, and always is, at the 1st month – the month known as the month of
Aḇiḇ - the month Yisra’ĕl came out of Mitsrayim!
Aḇiḇ is referred to as the clear marker of which month will be the first in Chapter 13:4 and will
briefly explain it in the context of where we are at in discussing the timing of the New Year:
What is Aḇiḇ (Aviv)?
Aḇiḇ refers to a stage that occurs in the development of the barley crops.
The meaning of the word Aḇiḇ is the stage in the growth of grain when the seeds have reached
full size and are filling with starch, but have not yet dried.
Shemoth/Exodus 9:31 “And the flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was in the
head and the flax was in bud.”
The Hebrew root word that is used for ‘in the head’ is אָ ִביבAḇiḇ - Strong’s H24 which means,
‘fresh young ears, fresh heads of grain’, and indicates for us the stage of the barley at the time
of the plague of hail.
What is interesting for us to notice here, is that the barley was damaged, but as you read the
next verse, we see that the wheat and the spelt were not.
This gives us clear indication that ‘Aḇiḇ’ is a stage of growth that has passed the early
development of ‘green ears’, for as they develop, they become lighter in colour and more
brittle.
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The reason that the barley was destroyed and the wheat was not, is that the barley had
reached the stage in its development called Aḇiḇ and, as a result, had become brittle enough to
be damaged by the hail.
In contrast, the wheat and spelt were still early enough in their development, at a stage when
they were flexible and not susceptible to being damaged by hail.
The first month of the year begins at the sighting of the first sliver of the new moon, when the
barley is ‘Aḇiḇ’ or ‘ripe in the ear’.
The first month of the year begins at the sighting of the first sliver of the new moon that is
closest to the equinox, when the barley is ‘Aḇiḇ’ or ‘ripe in the ear’.
We have certainly taken note, over the past decade, in our own observations, that the barley is
ALWAYS ‘Aḇiḇ’ after the equinox (spring in Northern Hemisphere and autumn in Southern
Hemisphere).
The timing of the beginning of the year is crucial, so that the rest of the year can be in sync with
'יהוהs correct seasons and that His Feasts take place at the correct times.
What many fail to recognise, is that by going simply according to a barley report alone, is
incorrect and not 100% Scriptural.
While barley plays a significant role, it is not the deciding factor alone that determines the year
start, but is rather a sign of confirmation of the season.
Berěshith/Genesis 1:14 clearly tells us that the two lights in the expanse (sun and moon) are
for signs and appointed times, and for days and years; which teaches us our need to recognise
the cycles of the sun and moon.
The sun divides the year into its four seasons and the moon is renewed monthly, which give us
the months.
The timing of the first new moon must line up with the correct season, which is Aḇiḇ, when the
ripening starts. Understanding that the sun divides the seasons, we are therefore able to take
note that the new moon closest to the equinox (fall equinox here in southern hemisphere and
spring equinox in the northern hemisphere) will be the beginning of months for us, in the
season on Aḇiḇ.
At the ‘turn of the year’ is when Sukkoth is held, as it is the time of bringing in the fruit harvest
(according to spring equinox in northern hemisphere).
The ‘turn of the year’ is the time of the year when the sun ‘turns’ in its cycles and changes the
seasons.
What the barley report does do for us, is simply confirm the season that we are entering into,
or have entered in to, and this not only marks for us the clear starting point, but also carries
great symbolic significance for us, as we know that a phrase used very often in Scripture is, ‘he
who has an ear to hear’, and what this shows us is the following:
That when you are ripe in the ear – that is that when your ear is attentive to the very Living
Word – the Torah (instructions) of יהוה, then you are able to begin your ‘journey’ of faith in
the Living Word!
2-3 weeks after the beginning of the first month the barley moves on from being ‘Aḇiḇ’ and is
ready to be brought as a ‘wave-sheaf’ offering, which is an offering that is brought from the
first stalks that are cut in the harvest and is brought on the day after the weekly Sabbath that
takes place during the Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread).
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This will always be on the 1st day of the week, known as the wave offering of the first – which is
a wave offering of the sheaf of the first, as described in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:10-11.
So, now that we have established when a year begins, and that it is on the 14 th of the first
month that we keep the Pěsaḥ “between the evenings”, let us look at this term:
"Between the evenings":
The Hebrew root word that is used for "evening" is ‘ עֶ ֶרבereḇ’ and from its root it carries the
idea of ‘the time of day when it is becoming or growing dark (sunset/dusk)’, so it is done
between the time we can first notice the decline of daylight and the time daylight transitions
into night, at sunset and so, between the evenings can be better translated as between the
sunsets, which is a wonderful proof text for us as to the beginning and end of day – from sunset
to sunset.
Sunset of the 13th day, which would begin the 14th day, to sunset on the 14th day, which would
begin the 15th! Here, the Pěsaḥ is slaughtered as the 14th of the month is fading into the 15th.
By the time of the second Temple, it was offered between the first and second evening
oblation, which translates to the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) on the 14 th, which is exactly when
יהושעwas slain on Passover.
Why the 14th?
The way to write the number 14 in Hebrew ( )ידis with the letters yod ( י10) and dalet ( ד4),
which actually spells the word for "hand" יָדyaḏ – Strong’s H3027.
Indeed, we are able to recognise that יהוהhad said He would stretch out His hand over
Mitsrayim:
Shemoth/Exodus3:20 “And I shall stretch out My hand and smite Mitsrayim with all My
wonders which I shall do in its midst. And after that he shall let you go.”
And lay His hand on it:
Shemoth/Exodus 7:4 “And Pharaoh is not going to listen to you, and I shall lay My hand on
Mitsrayim, and bring My divisions and My people, the children of Yisra’ĕl, out of the land of
Mitsrayim by great judgments.”
The Pěsaḥ/Passover lamb was therefore to be kept until the fullness of 'יהוהs hand (Messiah)
comes. יהושע, thus, is the one who strikes Mitsrayim down!
All the assembly of the congregation shall slay it – we are all guilty for His death, yet He lay
down His own life showing His intense love for us – taking our sin upon Himself. He died
because of our sinfulness.
He took our sins upon Himself and died our death. He is the Pěsaḥ/Passover Lamb.
He is our redemption. No other sacrifice is needed for our sins. It is finished.
So, when do we eat the Pěsaḥ meal?
The Meal is eaten at the beginning of the 15th which starts the Feast of Matzot/Unleavened
Bread – as Shemoth/Exodus 12:8 confirms this for us:
Shemoth/Exodus 12:8 “And they shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire – with
unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”
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On that night is referring the 15th of the 1st month (in the month the barley is Aḇiḇ), which
marks the beginning of the Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread).
When the Lamb has been prepared, on the 14th, then after sunset, which starts the new day of
the 15th, we have the Pěsaḥ/Passover Meal.
For more on when we are to eat the Pěsaḥ Meal, please see the notes of a message called,
PASSOVER MEAL – ON THE 14TH OR 15TH OF THE 1ST MONTH? Which can be found on our
site (https://atfotc.com) under the ‘sermons 2020/2021 menu or by simply clicking on the
following link:
https://atfotc.com/passover-meal-on-the-14th-or-15th-of-the-1st-month/
Matzot – No leaven for 7 days!
The 15th of the 1st month marks not only for us when we eat the Pěsaḥ Meal, but also the
beginning of the Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread), and it is during this week that we eat
bread without leaven and there is to be no leaven found within our borders before the feast
begins and is a picture of getting rid of sin, which is often pictured in Scripture as leaven.
On the 1st day there is a set-apart gathering and then on the 7th day too.
What we normally do on every other day, is gather for a time of worship and fellowship and so
‘bring an offering made by fire’ for 7 days, as we come each day with a burning passion to
rejoice together as a body being knit and having been cleansed of all leaven!
Waving of the first sheaf – omer rěshiyth
The waving of the ‘first sheaf of barley’ takes place during Matzot.
It takes place on the 1st day of the week, and always will!
Why? Because the command is clear – ‘on the morrow after THE Sabbath the priest waves it’.
It is very clear here in Scripture that the Sabbath is the key marker for the waving of the first
sheaf of barley.
Remember, in verse 3, how Elohim makes it very clear that the Sabbath is set-apart and by
doing so, sets the tone for the rest of the chapter and any reference thereafter is clearly
referencing the weekly Sabbath.
I want to make it abundantly clear that there is only one Sabbath of יהוה, which is on the 7th
day each week, besides there only being one other day in the Feasts that is referred to as a
Sabbath – and that is Yom Kippur, which we will look at shortly.
It is critical in understanding this wave offering taking place on the 1st day of the week; for if we
miss this we will certainly miss the work of our Messiah, who became the firstborn among the
dead and offered up the first fruit offering of a sure and promised harvest to come at the end of
the age!
In the process of revealing His plan of salvation for mankind, יהוהestablished His Annual
Appointed Days around the harvest seasons in the Middle East.
Just as His people harvested their crops around these three Festival seasons, ’יהוהs Appointed
Days show us how He is harvesting people for eternal life in His Kingdom.
The Appointed Feasts have meanings that build upon each other.
Together they progressively reveal how יהוהworks with humanity.
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The fifteenth of Aviv (1st month) begins the Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread).
It is a seven-day feast to יהוה.
The day following the Sabbath during Matzot, which will always be on the 1 st day of the week, is
called the Feast of Omer Rěshiyth – The Waving of the Sheaf of the First.
In 2012 the beginning of Matzot (15th of Aḇiḇ) and the eating of the Pěsaḥ Meal happened to
fall on the weekly Sabbath and therefore the 16th of Aḇiḇ was reckoned as the day we see in
Scripture in reference to: “on the morrow after the Sabbath”, which falls during Matzot where
we bring a wave offering of the first fruits/Bikkurim.
The wave offering is always done on the day after the weekly Sabbath during Matzot and
therefore Shaḇuoth will always be on a 1st day of the week.
In Yehoshua/Joshua 5 we see an example of this timing that we are following this year where
the Pěsaḥ meal was also eaten on the weekly Sabbath and the roasted grain was eaten the day
after Pěsaḥ:
Yehoshua/Joshua 5:10-11 “And the children of Yisra’ĕl camped in Gilgal, and performed the
Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening on the desert plains of Yeriḥo. 11
And they ate of the stored grain of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened
bread and roasted grain on this same day.”
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23: 11-15 makes it clear that no roasted grain was to be eaten until the
same day that the sheaf of the wave offering was brought which can only be on the morrow
after the weekly Sabbath!
Sadly, many follow the erroneous rabbinic teaching that states the counting of the omer begins
on the 16th every year as they claim that the morrow after the Sabbath is referring to the first
day of Unleavened Bread, while this day is never referred to as a Sabbath.
Although this happens from time to time, like 2012 and as recorded in Yehoshua, where we will
begin the count on the 16th because it falls on the day after the Sabbath during Matzot and the
counting of the omer must begin on the first day of the week and to assume that it will always
fall on the 16th regardless of what day of the week it is, simply denies the work of Messiah!
יהושעwas 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth and what we celebrate on this day is
His offering up of the first fruits of those who were raised after His resurrection, giving us a
guarantee of a harvest to come.
So, while Messiah fulfilled the requirements of this Feast, we will always have, as commanded,
the wave offering of the sheaf of the first, which has commonly become known as Bikkurim, on
the day after ‘the’ Sabbath during Matzot and begin to count the omer on this day!
In 2015 the Pěsaḥ Meal was eaten at the end of the weekly Sabbath, where the 15th of the 1st
month fell on the 1st day of the week, and therefore the waving of the sheaf of the sheaf of the
first took place on the morrow after the Sabbath that would follow, meaning that the Feast of
Matzot lasts for 7 days and ended at the end of the Sabbath, making the day after the Feast
(the morrow after the Sabbath) as being the day of the waving of the sheaf and the beginning
of the count to 50.
When the barley harvest was ready to be reaped, a sheaf of the first grain would be brought to
the priest who would wave it before יהוה.
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This was called the ‘the sheaf of the first fruits’ and would take place on the day after the
weekly Sabbath that would fall during or, as in 2015, at the end of Matzot!
There will always be a weekly Sabbath during Matzot and it is on the morrow after that Sabbath
that the waving of the sheaf of the first fruit takes place!
Sheaf of the first fruits:
This is the command as seen in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:10 – on the morrow after the Sabbath
during Matzot – you wave the sheaf of the first fruits.
First fruits is typically understood as referring to ‘bikkurim’ yet what we see here, in the
Hebrew text, is the following wording for ‘sheaf of the first fruits’:
אׁשית
ִ ‘ – עֹ מֶ ר ֵרomer rěshiyth’.
The word translated as ‘sheaf’ is עֹ מֶ רomer – Strong’s H6016 and the word that is translated
as ‘first-fruits’ is אׁשית
ִ ֵרrěshiyth – Strong’s H7225 which means, ‘beginning, chief, first fruits,
foremost’ and comes from the primitive root word ראֹׁשrosh – Strong’s H7218 which means,
‘head, beginning, top, chief’.
The term ‘Bikkurim’ is found in verse 17, when commanded to wave the two loaves of bread on
Shaḇuoth, as the word here for ‘first fruits’ is כּורים
ִ ִבbikkurim – Strong’s H1061 which
means, ‘first fruits, early ripened thing, ripe fruit’, and comes from בָ כַ רbaḵar – Strong’s
H1069 which means, ‘to bear new fruit, to constitute as first born’.
So, while the ‘bikkurim’ is waved on Shaḇuoth, it is on the morrow after the Sabbath during
Matzot that we in fact wave the sheaf of the first, or better understood as the first of the first,
or the first of the bikkurim; and this gives us the full assurance of the fullness of the harvest to
come.
What is vitally important for us to realise is that without this day there is no assurance that
there will be a first fruit harvest and offering and if no first fruit harvest and offering then there
is no assurance for the end-time harvest, making the remembrance and celebration of this day
extremely important.
יהוהcommanded the people to bring a sheaf of the harvest.
The term ‘sheaf’, in the Hebrew, is the word ‘omer’, which was the dry measure of food stuffs,
and was a 1/10th part of an ephah – a dry measurement of grain equalling to the approximate
amount of 22 litres, therefore an omer was around 2,2 litres dry equivalent.
It is described as the measure of the seed resulting from one sheaf of grain.
An omer was also deemed by יהוהto be the sufficient measure of ‘manna’ that an average
person could eat in one day.
Therefore, an omer or sheaf also symbolises a single person and is in fact a picture of oneself
being turned over to יהוהfor the process of becoming useful to His community – His Bride!
Let us discover further, the value of an omer:
Shemoth/Exodus 16:36 “And an omer is one-tenth of an ĕphah.”
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Wayyiqra/Leviticus 27:16 “And if a man sets apart to יהוהa field he owns, then your
evaluation shall be according to the seed for it – a ḥomer of barley seed at fifty sheqels of
silver.”
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 45:11 “Let the ĕphah and the bath be of the same measure, so that the
bath contains one-tenth of a ḥomer, and the ĕphah one-tenth of a ḥomer. Let their measure
be according to the ḥomer.”
From these verses, we are able to see something very significant in the sheaf that is waved as a
first of the first!
Here we see the terms omer, ĕphah and ḥomer.
We know that the sheaf is an omer, yet we take note that Wayyiqra/Leviticus 27:16 tells us
that the evaluation of a field that is set apart to יהוהis done according to the seed for it and a
ḥomer of barley seed is 50 sheqels of silver!
That being said, we take note that an ĕphah is 1/10th of a ḥomer, which would make an ĕphah
of barley seed to be valued at 5 sheqels.
Are you with me so far?
With an omer being 1/10th of and ĕphah that would make an omer of barley seed to be valued
at half a sheqel of silver!
Why is the half a sheqel of silver important for us to understand?
Shemoth/Exodus 30:12-14 “When you take the census of the children of Yisra’ĕl, to register
them, then each one shall give an atonement for his life to יהוה, when you register them, so
that there is no plague among them when you register them. 13 “Everyone among those who
are registered is to give this: half a sheqel according to the sheqel of the set-apart place,
twenty gĕrahs being a sheqel. The half-sheqel is the contribution to יהוה. 14 “Everyone
passing over to be registered, from twenty years old and above, gives a contribution to
יהוה.”
The half sheqel was the price of atonement for each one who was registered in Yisra’ĕl and
this atonement price was to be taken as a remembrance before יהוה. The grain that was
associated with the ‘sheaf’ (omer) of first fruits was barley as it was the first grain that would be
harvested each year.
The Hebrew word for ‘barley’ is שעֹ ָרה
ְּ seorah – Strong’s H8184 and comes from the root
word שֵ עָ רsear – Strong’s H8181 which means, ‘hair, hairy’; and from this root word we get
the word for goat which is שָ ִעירsaiyr – Strong’s H8163.
Why am I mentioning this?
The sheaf of barley that is waved was estimated at the price of atonement for each person
registered and we are able to therefore see the relationship between the goat that is
slaughtered for the sin offering in order to make atonement being a shadow picture of the
atonement that our Master bought for us by His Own Blood, in order that we can be counted in
Him!
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What I also found very interesting and certainly a significant nugget of truth, is that when
looking at another word that has similar lettering to the root word, from which we get the
words for goat and barley.
The root word שֵ עָ רsear – Strong’s H8181 is spelt with a ‘sin’( ֵ)ש, ‘ayin’ ( ָ )עand ‘resh’ ()ר.
A word that has the similar letters, is the word we get for ‘gate’, which, in Hebrew, is the root
word ׁשַ עַ רsha’ar – Strong’s H8179 which means, ‘gate, door, entrance’ and comes from the
root verb ׁשָ עַ רsha’ar – Strong’s H8176 which means, ‘to think, split open, reason out,
calculate, reckon, estimate’.
These words are spelt with a ‘shin’( ַ)ׁש, ‘ayin’ ( ָ )עand ‘resh’ ()ר.
So, when looking at these two root words, for hairy and gate, we take note that one has a ‘sin’
( ֵ )שand the other a ‘shin’( ַ!)ׁש
Why did I find this interesting and significant, in terms of this day?
Well, the Hebrew word for gate - ׁשַ עַ רsha’ar – Strong’s H8179 – is the word that is used for
the ‘gate’ of the courtyard of the Tabernacle.
The Greek equivalent that is used in the LXX (Septuagint), is the word πύλη pulē – Strong’s
G4439 and this word is used in describing the narrow gate that we are to strive to enter
through:
Luqas/Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, because many, I say to you, shall
seek to enter in and shall not be able.”
Ok, so what does this have to do with barley and atonement and the sheaf (omer)?
A great deal… and I will show you why I say this!
We all know that Messiah is the Door, and we also know that it was at the gates of a city where
right-ruling and justice was administered and where a proper check was done before anyone
could enter in.
Our Master, therefore, has provided for us the entrance into His Reign, according to His proper
right-ruling and justice.
As I began to ponder on these various words and the significance thereof, I searched the Word
and found a very powerful passage, which echoes the news of deliverance, which some will not
hear, while others will.
Melaḵim Bět/2 Kings 7:1 “And Elisha said, “Hear the word of יהוה. Thus said יהוה, ‘About
this time tomorrow a seah of fine flour for a sheqel, and two seahs of barley for a sheqel, at
the gate of Shomeron.’”
Here in this verse, we see both of the root words for barley: שעֹ ָרה
ְּ seorah and gate: ׁשַ עַ ר
sha’ar, being used in Elisha’s words.
Elisha was proclaiming ‘the good news of deliverance’ to the people in Shomeron.
They were surrounded by the Arameans and were facing a severe famine and a lack of
provision, as they were under the immense attack and threat of the enemy.
One of the officers of the sovereign did not believe this good news and died in the gate, as he
was trampled underfoot!
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I encourage you to go and read this account, of how it took four leprous men, who went to see
if they could find food and when they came to the enemy camp the enemy was gone, but all
the provisions had been left behind!
What you will notice, from the words of Elisha, is that the price that was being declared for
wheat and barley, was a lot lower than it had been and this is why some did not believe.
What is worth taking note of here, is the relationship between the barley and the gate.
The price of two measures of barley was 1 sheqel, making the price of one measure of barley a
half of a shekel, which is the price for atonement for each person, as one measure, or omer, of
barley is a half a sheqel!
This is a clear parable of deliverance, being proclaimed through the events that took place
here!
Who has believed our report, we might say, as we consider these events, especially in light of
this day of the waving of the sheaf of the first that we gather in His Name in order to celebrate
and proclaim as Good News!
For entrance into the reign of our Master has been opened to us, by His life, death, resurrection
and the waving of the sheaf of the first!
The omer price has been paid and we can legally be grafted into Messiah, as His Body, in order
to serve Him forever – and have the assurance that if we stay in Him, we shall be lifted up when
He comes again!!!
Therefore, an omer, or sheaf, also symbolises a single person and is, in fact, a picture of oneself
being turned over to יהוה, for the process of becoming useful to His community – His Bride!
Shemoth/Exodus 16:16 “This is the word which יהוהhas commanded: ‘Let every man gather
it according to each one’s need, an omer for each being, according to the number of beings.
Let every man take for those who are in his tent.’”
Shemoth/Exodus 16:36 “And an omer is one-tenth of an ĕphah.”
In the Hebrew text the phrase, ‘Wave the sheaf before ’יהוהis written as follows:
– וְּ הֵ נִ יף אֶ ת־הָ עֹ מֶ ר ִל ְּפנֵי יהוהveheyniyph eth haomer liphney יהוה
This phrase can literally be expressed as –
“…and wave/present the sheaf/omer before the face of ”יהוה
The Hebrew root word for wave is נּוףnuph – Strong’s H5130 and its fuller meaning is to,
‘move to and fro, shake back and forth, sprinkle, wave’ and is essence carries the broader
meaning ‘to present’.
It is from this root verb that we get the word for the ‘wave offering’ which is ְּתנּופָ הtenuphah
– Strong’s H8573 which means, ‘a swinging, waving, offering’, which is done to the first fruits
on Shaḇuoth.
This waving of the sheaf offering of the first of the first, was a public acknowledgement of the
great and perfect goodness, provision and protection of יהוה, and was done with a sure belief
in the One who is the provider for all we need!
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This day of the omer rěshiyth is a day where each one gets to publicly declare their
acknowledgment of Elohim, their Redeemer and Saviour and Provider, and they get to do it
physically with their goods!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 3:9-10 “Esteem יהוהwith your goods, and with the first-fruits of all your
increase; 10 then your storehouses shall be filled with plenty, and your vats overflow with
new wine.”
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 44:30 “And the first of all the first-fruits of all, and every contribution of all,
of all your contributions, belong to the priests. And the first of your ground meal you give to
the priest, so that a blessing rests on your house.”
In fact, I will even go so far as to say that if you are not bringing a wave offering to the priest
then you are not guarding this day as commanded.
What we are to remember and celebrate, is that Messiah, as High Priest, offered up, on this day
of omer rěshiyth, the wave offering the first of the first fruits, when He presented those who
were raised after His resurrection!
This offering of the sheaf of the first fruits, secures for us the fullness of the harvest to come,
for without this wave offering of the sheaf of the first, we would not have complete assurance
of the promise!
And so, what took place on this day assures us that we have an expectation that is sure and will
not fail, as it is waved before the face of the One in whom we put our trust and who is our
trust!
In Bemiḏbar/Numbers 8:11 we see how Aharon was to ‘wave’, that is: ‘to present’ the Lěwites
before יהוה, as a ‘wave offering’ from the children of Yisra’ĕl, and from this very clear
picture, we are able to see how Messiah, as High Priest and first of the first, being first born of
all creation and first born from among the dead, presented the first fruits of the new
priesthood in the order of Malkitseḏeq – on this day!!!
This, in itself, is a powerful revelation, as to the great significance of this day, as we recognise
that when Qayapha, who was high priest at the time of Messiah’s death, tore his garments just
before the sentencing and death of Messiah, that he, in a manner of speaking, tore away his
office of high priest in this act of rebellion and, in the process, a clear change of the priesthood
would take place and Messiah could therefore become the True High Priest forever, in the
order of Malkitseḏeq, after His death and resurrection and His Blood would be used to cleanse
and set-apart His own priesthood forever!
By His life, death and resurrection, He, as High Priest, presented the first of the first fruits
before the Father, and symbolically therefore, presents us as a royal set-apart priesthood that
is able to serve and worship the Father in Spirit and Truth!
When we consider this, we realise how significant this day was, and is for us to continually
remember – causing us to remember that we are a royal, chosen and set-apart priesthood and
should therefore live as such!
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As a called out and set-apart priesthood that has been cleansed by the Blood of Messiah, we
get to present our lives, as a wave offering, before the Master and publicly declare our lovingcommitment to Him, shown in the wave offering that we present before His face, in total faith!
This day of the omer rěshiyth reminds us very clearly that we are to put יהוהfirst, and in
putting Him first, we declare our all unto Him!
יהושעhas fully met the requirements for these Feasts that we are celebrating and speaking of
right now – we remember that He is our Passover Lamb – the Bread of Life and He is the First
Fruit offering and The One who waves the omer rěshiyth (First of the first) of souls to
everlasting life!
יהושעwas resurrected at the end of Shabbat and at the start of the first day of the week (at
sunset), offering Himself as the first of the first fruits to all generations, by fulfilling the sign of
Yonah (Jonah) – 3 days and 3 nights, and becoming the first born among those who sleep!
יהושעis the head of the first fruit of the Barley Harvest that was ripe and ready to be
presented and waved before the face of Elohim!
Let us look at a few other Scripture references that speak of Messiah, as the ‘first’:
1. יהושעis the firstborn of Miryam/Mary:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 1:23-25 ““See, a maiden shall conceive, and she shall give birth to a
Son, and they shall call His Name Immanu’ĕl,” which translated, means, “Ěl with us.” 24 And
Yosĕph, awaking from his sleep, did as the messenger of יהוהcommanded him and took his
wife, 25 but knew her not until she gave birth to her Son, the first-born. And he called His
Name יהושע.”
2. יהושעis the first-born of the Father:
Iḇ‘rim/Hebrews 1:6 “And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, “Let
all the messengers of Elohim do reverence to Him.”
3. יהושעis the firstborn over all creation:
Qolasim/Colossians 1:15 “who is the likeness of the invisible Elohim, the first-born of all
creation.”
4. יהושעis the firstborn from the dead:
Ḥazon/Revelation 1:5 “and from יהושעMessiah, the trustworthy witness, the first-born
from the dead, and the ruler of the sovereigns of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed
us from our sins in His own blood,”
5. יהושעis the firstborn of many brethren:
Romiyim/Romans 8:29 “Because those whom He knew beforehand, He also ordained
beforehand to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, for Him to be the first-born among
many brothers.”
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6. יהושעis the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, and
has become the first-fruit of those having fallen asleep.”
7. יהושעis the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Aleph and the Taw:
Ḥazon/Revelation 22:13 “I am the ‘Aleph’ and the ‘Taw’, the Beginning and the End, the First
and the Last.”
8. יהושעis the head of the body, the assembly – First in all:
Qolasim/Colossians 1:18 “And He is the Head of the body, the assembly, who is the
beginning, the first-born from the dead, that He might become the One who is first in all.”
He is the Most Set-Apart One of ELOHIM and He is both the first born of ELOHIM and the first
fruit unto ELOHIM.
In Messiah, the assurance that we have, is that ‘in Him’ we are redeemed:
Pěsaḥ speaks of our redemption, Matzot or Unleavened Bread speaks of our sanctification –
that is – being set-apart and cleansed from leaven of sin; and the waving of the sheaf of the
First Fruits is the assurance of our promise of eternal life and resurrection in Messiah.
Blessed are those who have part in the first resurrection for the second death has no power
over them!!!
Ḥazon/Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and set-apart is the one having part in the first resurrection.
The second death possesses no authority over these, but they shall be priests of Elohim and
of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 15:20-24 “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead,
and has become the first-fruit of those having fallen asleep. 21 For since death is through a
man, resurrection of the dead is also through a Man. 22 For as all die in Aḏam, so also all shall
be made alive in Messiah. 23 And each in his own order: Messiah the first-fruits, then those
who are of Messiah at His coming, 24 then the end, when He delivers up the reign to Elohim
the Father, when He has brought to naught all rule and all authority and power.”
A wonderful passage that Sha’ul is writing to describe what we are truly celebrating on the
waving of the sheaf of the First Fruits – Messiah is the first fruit among those who have fallen
asleep (died) and it is in Messiah that we are made alive.
This passage is read, as a commentary on the order of resurrection, but Sha’ul is also referring
here to the waving of the sheaf of the First Fruits: in that יהושע, in being the first to be raised,
has fulfilled this Feast – securing the future harvest.
So, at this Feast, we celebrate the resurrection of יהושעand in doing so, we also celebrate the
assurance of the future completed resurrection of His Bride, that is to come when He comes
again, as each are made alive in Messiah, each in his own order!
’יהושעs resurrection was, in effect, a sheaf wave offering that was presented before the
Father, as first fruits of the harvest to come!
He also, as High Priest, presented His sheaf of the first-fruits offering, as High Priest, to the
Father on this day:
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Mattithyahu/Matthew 27:52-53 “and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the setapart ones who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after His
resurrection, they went into the set-apart city and appeared to many.”
These verses from Mattithyahu/Matthew 27 is a scripture that is not often understood and
even very quickly skipped through due to a lack of understanding.
יהושעpresented a waving of the sheaf of the first fruit offering of souls unto the Father, as He
presented those who were raised as a sheaf of the first fruits.
Those graves, that were opened when He died, lay open for 3 days and 3 nights and after His
resurrection, the dead from the tombs that were opened came out of the tombs and appeared
unto many!
Can you picture the scene for a moment and imagine what this must have been like?
At His death the temple veil was torn and there was a huge earthquake and the tombs of many
were opened and they stayed open for 3 days and 3 nights until יהושעwas raised, after which
the dead of those who were in those tombs came out and appeared to many.
These raised ones were then taken up the next day when יהושעascended and presented the
sheaf of the first fruit offering unto the Father, on the morrow after the weekly Sabbath during
Matzot – fulfilling this Feast and its requirements:
Wayyiqra 23:12 “And on that day when you wave the sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a
year old, a perfect one, as a burnt offering to יהוה.”
He is our High Priest who presented the wave offering, being the ‘year old perfect lamb’ who
ascended up to the Father!
Yoḥanan/John 20:17 “ יהושעsaid to her, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended
to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your
Father, and to My Elohim and your Elohim.’”
That day, He ascended and presented the sheaf of the first fruit offering and the next evening,
He came and stood in the midst of His taught ones and breathed on them and they received the
Set-Apart Spirit – a first fruit of the Spirit that would later be poured out on many at Shaḇuoth!
A first fruit of the bride of Messiah, and a commissioned and equipped priesthood, in the order
of Malkitseḏeq!
It is also on this day of omer rěshiyth that we are also commanded to begin our COUNT TO
50!!!
We are commanded to count 7 completed Sabbaths – until the morrow after the 7th Sabbath –
50 days from omer rěshiyth – where we will celebrate Shaḇuoth!
COUNTING OF THE OMER – Verse 15-16
From the morrow after the Sabbath, during Matzot, we begin counting off 50 days until we
come to the Feast of Weeks or Shaḇuoth.
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What is critical, as I said, in understanding this timing and the beginning of the count, is that the
time between the waving of the sheaf of the first and Shaḇuoth there must be ‘7 completed
Sabbaths’.
If one begins counting strictly on the 16th of the first month, regardless of what day it is, it is
possible to count 50 days and have only 6 “completed” Sabbaths (7 full weeks – from 1-7)
within the 50 days. 7 completed Sabbaths – 7 weeks = 49 days and then the morrow after the
7th Sabbath will bring us to the 50th day being Shaḇuoth!
Before we look at Shaḇuoth, I want to highlight the significance of counting these days and
what they symbolise for us:
Counting to Shaḇuoth is not a time to sit back and relax and in a sense, have the misconceived
idea of a ‘once saved always saved’ mind-set, no – this is a time of diligent preparation and
humble obedience to walking in and becoming more effective as part of His Bride who has
prepared Herself.
The Hebrew word that is used for ‘count’, in our instruction to count 50 days to Shaḇuoth, is the
word סָ פַ רsaphar – Strong’s H5608 – which means, ‘to score, mark as a tally, record, inscribe,
recount, celebrate, commune’.
This word is used 161 times also being translated into English as, ‘tell, told, number, tell me,
declared, numbering’.
From this root verb סָ פַ רsaphar – Strong’s H5608 we get the word סֵ פֶ רsepher – Strong’s
H5612 which means, ‘a missive, document, writing, book, scroll, letters’, and is used to
describe the Book of the Torah!
As we consider the clear importance of this commanded ‘counting period to 50’ we recognise
how this is a great season that teaches us to continually be a ‘counting people’, who daily
‘count the cost’ of following our Master and Redeemer, יהושעMessiah.
And to be faithful in being a ‘counting people’, we need to realise that we cannot do this
without the Word of Elohim – as we are to meditate on His Torah day and night and allow this
סֵ פֶ רsepher or Book of the Torah to lead us each and every day:
Yehoshua/Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you
shall meditate on it day and night, so that you guard to do according to all that is written in it.
For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely.”
If we do not count, we cannot be cleansed!
To count means to reflect on where we are and repent of our sin.
This word is used 161 times, also being translated into English as, ‘tell, told, number, tell me,
declared, numbering’.
This Hebrew word סָ פַ רsaphar – Strong’s H5608 (spelt from right to left) is with a ָ ס- samek,
ַ פ- pey, – רresh).
Now, when we see these symbols as written in the ancient pictographic script, we get a
wonderful picture of what it means to truly count the cost of being built up in righteousness:
THE ANCIENT FORM OF WRITING THE WORD “COUNT/RELATE/TELL” – SAPHAR!
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Samek - ָס:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is a thorn and has the meanings of
‘pierce and sharp’ and can also carry the meaning of ‘a shield’, as thorn bushes were used by
shepherds to build a wall to enclose their flock in the night against the attack of predators.
Another meaning would be ‘to grab hold of’ as a thorn is a seed that clings to hair and clothing.
The Word of Elohim is sharper than a doubled edged sword and when we find that we do not
grab hold of His Word and allow His Word to be our shield of faith, we may find ourselves being
pierced through with sin and compromise! Our praise we have for our Master is that in Him we
are upheld forever, for He is the shield of our Help, as He Himself took the crown of thorns
upon His head, bearing our sin and shame that we may be found to be shielded in Him! It can
also give a meaning of ‘turning’, for it is the thorn that turns us away from danger to that which
is secure.
Pey – ָפ:
This is the letter ‘pey’, which is pictured as
, which is an ‘open mouth’ and carries
the meaning of ‘speak and blow’, from the functions of the mouth, and can have the meaning
of ‘scatter’ by blowing. It can also mean sword or beard as in things with edges, as well as a
region in depicting a place with edges or boundaries. It also can represent that which has been
spoken forth from the words of one’s mouth, as being established!
Resh - ר:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is ‘the head of a man’ and carries
the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a
tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the
chief. Our true life of praise unto יהוה, our Head, begins when we fear Him, for He is the
beginning of our strength, and true separated praise entails a true fear of the One who is Chief
over us!
When seeing the construct of this word for count in its ancient form we have a clear picture of
how cleansing entails true repentance through being able to correctly count and relate the
Truth to others!
This ancient grouping of letters can carry various meanings for us, and in terms of being a
people who count and who relate the Truth of the Word to our children, we realise that this
can only be done when we:
GRAB HOLD OF THE WORD OF THE HEAD!
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This picture, in terms of counting, teaches us that our shield and refuge is in our Head and
Master, who teaches us through His Word to number our days and we recognise the following:
When we bring our sins (pictured by the thorn) and confess them (open mouth) to יהושע
our Messiah (head of a man); then He is the one who cleanses us!
On the morrow after The Sabbath during Matzot a wave offering of the first sheaf of barley is
waved and at Shaḇuoth we see 2 loaves of ‘leavened bread’ being waved before Elohim as
Bikkurim – first fruits.
Now, what is interesting for us to note is that there is a process of being made into a bread
(community) of people that is pleasing and acceptable as a wave offering to יהוהand
understanding 10 steps of making bread helps understand just how He gathers, refines and
shapes us into His Body:
10 steps:
1 – SOWING OR PLANTING:
The Hebrew term that is used for sowing or planting also carries with it the meaning of
‘scattering’ – which is a picture of a farmer who ‘scatters his seed’.
The ancient practice of scattering, was called to ‘broadcast’ the seed from a bag that was hung
over one’s shoulder. We as a people of Elohim have been scattered over the whole earth and
long to be replanted, if you will, into our native soil.
I am sure we are all aware of the sowing and reaping principle – nothing can be reaped from
what was not sown and you cannot reap something different from what has been sown – you
reap what you sow – be it attitudes, thoughts, actions or even priorities – do not expect to get
something out from that which you did not sow!
You want an intimate growing relationship with יהוה- then sow the time and effort in seeking
Him!
יהוהscattered Yisra’ĕl and we get a greater understanding of this from the book of Hoshěa
which I encourage you to read.
Scattered but watched over – for this scattered seed will bring in a bountiful harvest for
reaping!
The Hebrew root word for sow or sowing is ז ֶַרעzera – Strong’s H2233 and means, ‘a sowing,
seed, offspring’ and comes from the primitive root ז ַָרעzara – Strong’s H2232 meaning, ‘to
sow or scatter seed’.
Hoshěa/Hosea 2:23 “And I shall sow her for Myself in the earth, and I shall have compassion
on her who had not obtained compassion. And I shall say to those who were not My people,
‘You are My people,’ while they say, ‘My Elohim!’”
Hoshěa/Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap according to kindness, break up
your tillable ground, it is time to seek יהוה, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”
The beginning process of being made into the Body of Messiah is critical in our sowing
righteousness and seek !יהוה
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2 – GROWING:
There is always a season or period between sowing and reaping – it never happens
immediately.
It is during this time where growth occurs and this season of growth is a time in a sense for us
to think about what was done wrong and how we can do better.
One of the keys to overcoming the period of growth or period of ‘exile’ if you will, is simply just
that – grow and grow and grow – and to grow we have to realise that we have inherited some
lies – ok more than just some – a whole lot!!!
But in realising this we also begin to grow and realise and know ’יהוהs power and more
importantly – His NAME!!!
To ‘know’ is to walk in His Torah – for as Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3 says that we know that we
know Him when we guard His commands!
And as love for יהוהand one another grows through obediently guarding his commands we
can ‘outgrow’ our ‘exile’ from the Promised Land – the more the world grows dim before our
eyes and has no effect on pulling us away from obedience and therefore be ready to be lifted
up when He comes and be replanted where we belong – together with Him in His Land!!!
Two root words that are translated as grow or growing are
1) הָ לַ ְךhalaḵ – Strong’s H1980 meaning, ‘walk, to go or come, grow, wander, travel’ and
2) צָ מַ חtsamaḥ – Strong’s H6779 meaning, ‘to sprout, spring up, grow’ – we know that a
derivative of this word is used in prophetically referring to Messiah who shall come forth from
the Branch of Dawiḏ.
When looking at these two words it makes the verse in Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:6 very clear:
The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked. – as we stay
in and walk in Messiah we will grow!
For more on Messiah, the Branch of יהוה, please see the notes of the message called,
‘YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS – THE BRANCH REVEALED!’ under the sermons 2017/2018 on
our site (https://atfotc.com) or by clicking on the following link:
https://atfotc.com/yahweh-our-righteousness-the-branch-revealed/
The Greek word for ‘walk’ is περιπατέω peripateō – Strong’s G4043 and carries the meaning,
‘to walk, behaviour, to conduct one’s self, to make one’s way, to tread with the feet, to make
one’s life’.
Miḵah/Micah 6:8 “He has declared to you, O man, what is good. And what does יהוהrequire
of you but to do right, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim?”
Miḵah tells us that we are required to walk ‘humbly’ with Elohim. The root word used here for
humble is צָ נַעtsana – Strong’s H6800 meaning, ‘to be modest or humble’.
In Miḵah/Micah 6:8 it is expressed as follows:
וְּ הַ ְּצנ ֵַע לֶ כֶ תve-ha-ts’nea leḵet
This literally expresses ‘a making humble to walk’ or ‘showing a humble walk’, again
emphasising that our humility is seen in our walk – that is our walk of obedience.
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3 – REAPING:
This reaping process is simply a separating of the harvest from the field that it grew in.
Grain must be reaped or else it cannot be used.
We too, just as Aḇraham, may have to be reaped out of our circumstances and even our
families.
Grain, when reaped, is gathered into storehouses – and this is a wonderful picture of what we
see happening more and more, in these last days – pretty much the equivalent of Him
gathering, or assembling, His grain into communities – because, to put it plainly – a single
kernel of grain cannot make much bread - and certainly not enough for an offering unto !יהוה
Once gathered together, this is when the real preparation begins – say what – yes, this is when
it begins!
What has erroneously been taught in the church today, is that this is the final stage for those
blinded hopefuls and they do not realise what lies ahead in the process of making bread!
This is only the beginning and the next steps are what shape us into what we need to become
in order to be presented to יהוהas a prepared Bride!
This is His storehouse, or rather, one of His storehouses, where He will gather together much
grain – grain that is ready to be prepared to be made into an acceptable offering of bread unto
!יהוה
The word ‘reaping’ is translated from the Hebrew root word קָ צַ רqatsar – Strong’s H7719 –
‘to reap, harvest’
4 – THRESHING:
Ouch – the sound of this word already makes you realise why the church chooses to stop
blindly at reaping, and why they developed a false rapture teaching that sadly for them
seemingly removes them from the rest of the bread making process!
Admittedly most would prefer to stay at the reaping stage – sitting quietly in a barn being no
use to anyone at all and it is easy to understand why – nobody likes to be ‘threshed’.
It almost sounds like ‘thrashing’ and guess what – it is!!!
Boy – many who have left the reaping stage into threshing or thrashing soon want to jump back
to the safe old barn of no good premature stop!
The Hebrew word for ‘teach’ literally means to ‘prod with a stick’; and so, it is with threshing –
which is simply the applying of pressure to grain – be it from beating it or grinding it or letting
heavy animals trample on it – with the purpose in mind to loosen the shells and separate the
grain from the chaff – or the stalks from the husks – which is still pretty much useless at this
stage.
It is the stalk that represents that which attached us to the field that we came out of and we do
not want that to be an ingredient in the bread!!!
Most of what we bring in from the field – be it dogmas of Rome, doctrines of man, theologies,
misguided moral codes and even wrong priorities that we have picked up along the way – is no
longer useful to us once we have grown enough and been separated from the system –
threshed out in other words – not always painless I might add – and are now threshed out
enough to begin studying the Torah.
The omer basket is filled with kernels and each one has a husk that has to be removed.
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All too often though we don’t want this to happen as we can so often find ourselves hiding
from one another behind the husks so to speak – those very things that need to go! We cannot
be a part of the bread if we hang on to the ‘hull’ – the ‘hull’ is the outer part of a seed or fruit.
We must begin to be honest and give an account for ourselves and ask,
“What am I still attached to that is useless to the Kingdom?”
In this threshing process, we must allow other trusted brothers and sisters in the body to
‘loosen’ our kernels – after all in the process of making bread it is people who do the job!!!
Each of us is responsible to help one another in these processes – and is a great honour and
privilege that requires faithfulness and trustworthiness!
For we are, in effect, taking what ‘protects’ people into our hands and whatever we learn about
them in the process must be used to help them and build them – not harm or destroy them!
We need to be ‘threshed’ out of the field from which we have come from and we must realise
that we cannot keep holding on to those things that previously shaped our thinking, especially
when it contradicts the Torah!
All we can do is repent, which is a critical step in being able to move on – threshing is a must –
not easy but a must – those husks and hulls must be loosened off of us and we need to let go of
those things that we thought gave us security as we realise that in our vulnerable state our only
security is in !יהוה
The Hebrew word for threshing’ is ַדיִ ׁשdayish – Strong’s H1786 and comes from the primitive
root דּוׁשdush – Strong’s H1758 meaning, ‘to tread, thresh or trample’, and this root word we
see being used in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 25:4 “Do not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.”
Sha’ul teaches us the meaning behind these instructions is making it clear to us that a worker is
worthy of his wages – a worker that is threshing that is – those who are out there teaching and
calling many out of Babel and Mitsrayim so to speak!
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 9:9 “For it has been written in the Torah of Mosheh, “You
shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it about oxen Elohim is concerned?”
Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 5:17-18 “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of
double respect, especially those who labour in the word and teaching. 18 For the Scripture
says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer is worthy
of his wages.”
To ‘muzzle’ is to put a stop to one’s mouth and this is exactly what man-made traditions and
dogmas have enforced through their twisted theologies – putting a stop to the speaking of the
Truth, yet the Word of Truth must be proclaimed, and anyone who is proclaiming the Truth
must not be muzzled – especially when it is treading out the grain – a clear picture of very
sobering and often deep cutting words that most do not want to hear but would rather gather
around themselves those who tickle the ears!
The sharp Word spoken in Truth will tread out the grain and separate the chaff from the wheat
and many will do their utmost to stop this process from happening as they would rather remain
in their ‘shells’ of chaff that renders them useless in terms of being made into a set-apart
Bread/community that is acceptable before Elohim!
The muzzle was an object placed over the mouth of the ox to prevent it from eating the grain as
it was treading on it.
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In treading out the grain the ox would either be walked across the threshing floor, thus
separating the grains from the ears, or else it would pull a threshing sledge across the floor (or,
platform).
According to this law, the ox should be allowed to eat some of the ears of grain as it worked.
Alternative ways of expressing this verse are:
A) You shall not put anything on the mouth of an ox to prevent it from eating while it is
treading out the grain.
B) You must not prevent an ox from eating while ….
In other words. when understood that this refers to those who are teaching the Truth, we see
that those who are teaching must be able to eat from the ‘threshing floor’ they are treading!
There is a duty for those who are being taught the Truth to make sure that the one teaching has
sufficient provision and does not lack in any way!
5 – WINNOWING:
Another step in the process, that involves a ‘fork’ that looks like a rake.
The threshed grain is thrown up into the air in order to expose it to the wind which will blow
away the lightweight particles and the heavier – that is the more important – will be left
behind!
This process worked better on a hill top and so you find many threshing floors being on higher
ground to allow this process to take place after threshing.
This process reflects to us an elevating of one another – lifting one another up in prayer and
edifying each other up into the presence of the Almighty where the ‘wind’ or Ruaḥ blow away
the unneeded stuff in our lives as we immerse in His presence – letting that which is useless be
blown away and what will simply be left is better refined kernels with no chaff!
Sha’ul said to the Corinthians that he desires that they all speak in tongues but he would rather
prefer that they all prophesy – why?
Because prophesy builds up the body – tongues is for the individual unless there is an
interpretation for the body but prophesy in itself is there to edify others – edify the body and in
so doing elevates others to a place where the Spirit can remove the chaff!
Winnowing is translated from the word ז ָָרהzarah – Strong’s H2219 meaning, ‘scatter, fan or
winnow’.
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 41:16 “You winnow them, the wind lifts them up, and the whirlwind
scatters them; but you, you rejoice in יהוה, and boast in the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.”
6 – PARCHING:
After being separated from the lighter elements – all that airy-fairy fluffy junk that just clogs up
our lives and is actually of no use – all the ‘hot puffed up air’ so to speak – once that is gone
guess what? The heat is turned up!!!
What – seriously? Yes – it gets hotter!
Once we are a taught people who have been elevated, we can be exposed to things that we
would never have considered before.
It is interesting to note at this stage that is would be useless to ‘parch’ a single kernel – so we
are all parched together!
No one has to go through this alone!
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This is not a ‘burning’ of the grain but rather a process of removing moisture from the kernels
and makes the grain even lighter, and what this pictures for us is that at this stage we begin to
give less weight to the ‘me, myself and mine’ attitude and rather consider what is best for one
another and the whole bread, so to speak!
You know it is so difficult to ‘give up’ individual rights – but we can when we are in it together!
Parching may cause tears – in fact more often than not it will as one lets go off selfishness and
pride – the removal of moisture!
To parch, in Hebrew, comes from the root word קָ לָ הqalah – Strong’s H7033 which means, ‘to
toast, parch, and scorch slowly’.
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 29:22 “And because of them all the exiles of Yehuḏah who are in Baḇel
shall use a curse, saying, “ יהוהmake you like Tsiḏqiyahu and Aḥaḇ, whom the sovereign of
Baḇel roasted in the fire,”
7 – CRUSHING:
Come on Craig, crushing… when does it stop?
This is even a scarier process I know!
In Ancient times, all bread was what you would call, ‘stone ground’.
In fact, at many archaeological sites many ancient ‘millstones’ were found.
A millstone is where two huge concrete stones are used from crushing – grains were crushed
between two stones – the two stone of a millstone picture the two stone tablets upon which
the Torah was written.
The kernels are not destroyed in this process – far from it – they in fact now become very useful
and fully useable – for now all the kernels have actually become part of one flour mix –
inseparable – a picture of a people with the same purpose.
It is at this stage where we can safely say that a bird cannot come and snatch away a single
kernel as there is no way to identify the part of a single kernel as they are now so mingled and
mixed in together.
You see it is like this – as we obey the Torah, love יהוהand love one another – what happens?
We become inseparable and become as one!
To crush or grind, is the Hebrew word טָ חַ ןtaḥan – Strong’s H2912 which means, ‘to grind’
and the word חנָה
ֲ ַ טtaḥanah – Strong’s H2913 is translated as a grinding mill!
8 – SIFTING:
In the 2nd Temple times the wheat for the offering at Shaḇuoth was sifted 13 times!!!
Each time becoming finer and finer!
13 is the numerical value for the Hebrew word ‘eḥaḏ’ – meaning one or unified and יהושע
Himself prayed that we would be one!
The closer we get together through obedient living and fellowship, the more refined we
become. Those who are crushed with us are our true neighbours!!!
One thing we must realise is simply that if I do not bring my part and am causing disruption in
the body causing the refining of the body to stumble then as it is sifted again, I may just be
sifted out!!!
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Here we have the Hebrew word for sift as נּוע
ַ nua – Strong’s H5128 and means, ‘to quiver,
wave, waver, tremble, totter, disturb, move to and fro, shake’,
Amos 9:8-9 “Look, the eyes of the Master יהוהare on the sinful reign, and I shall destroy it
from the face of the earth, except that, I do not completely destroy the house of Ya‛aqoḇ,”
declares יהוה. 9 For look, I am commanding, and I shall sift the house of Yisra’ĕl among all
the gentiles, as one sifts with a sieve, yet not a grain falls to the ground.”
Here, in verses 8-9 of Amos 9, יהוהmakes it abundantly clear that He is going to destroy
sinners, and in doing so, He will sift the nations and preserve His Seed – which are those who
are found to be ‘in’ Messiah, who is the Seed, and not one grain will fall to the ground.
The body of Messiah will be preserved and delivered form destruction!
This is clear covenant language and is a severe warning against those who may claim to be in
covenant, while their works of darkness, which is lawlessness, will reveal that they will fall to
the ground and not be found to be hidden in יהוה, in The Day of His wrath!
’יהוהs sifting process has begun, as we are able to see a clear picture of His reproving
judgement that is causing the remnant to return to Him, while the lawless are being preserved
for destruction.
9 – TESTING:
Then comes the testing – as a body or as a loaf!
The Temple treasurer would come at this stage and plunge his hands into the refined flour and
it needed to be so fine that no flour was to be seen on his arms.
In fact, they were so strict that if any adhered to his flesh it would have to be sifted again.
This, although seemingly a strict procedure, pictures for us that we are in this together – it is
not a case of ‘well that is their problem’ or ‘it is someone else’s problem’ – no – until all of us
are sufficiently refined together none of us can become the bread – this is everyone’s
responsibility to become a part!
If you do not bring your part into the body or for sake of this teaching the loaf and the batch is
failing the test due to your inconsistency then you may, as I have said, be simply sifted out.
Satan is the one who desires to sift us out – he asked יהושעif he could sift Kěpha! Let us be
careful that we are not sifted out by continually failing the tests!
נָסָ הnasah – Strong’s H5254 – ‘to test, prove, try’:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 13:3 “do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of
dreams, for יהוהyour Elohim is trying you to know whether you love יהוהyour Elohim with
all your heart and with all your being.”
10 – BAKING:
Once tested it can now be baked and presented fresh unto יהוהas the first fruit of wheat. It is
at the feast of Shaḇuoth leavened bread – why?
Because it has been permeated with the Kingdom:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:33 “Another parable He spoke to them, “The reign of the heavens
is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until all was leavened.”
This bread is leavened with the Kingdom – not with sin as leaven represents for us at this feast
we are in of Unleavened Bread.
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At Shaḇuoth 2 loaves are presented representing the 2 houses of Yisra’ĕl which once were
scattered but now are being brought back and the promise of this is seen in the fulfilment of
both these first fruit offerings of the barley and the wheat.
There are a couple of different Hebrew words that are used for what we translate as ‘bake’ and
3 of these are:
1) אָ פָ הaphah – Strong’s H644 meaning ‘bake, cook’;
2) בָ ׁשַ לbashal – Strong’s H1310 which means, ‘bake, boil, seeth, ripen, grow ripe’ and
3) שָ ַרףseraph – Strong’s H8313 which means, ‘burn or to be set on fire’.
I find that all of these collectively give us a great idea of how the ultimate process of bringing us
together, as being presentable as an acceptable offering of Bread before the Father, is that we
are to grow and ‘be on fire’ for Him.
Another word, which, for me, carries wonderful significance in the baking process, is the
Hebrew word לָ בַ ןlaḇan – Strong’s H3835 which means ‘to make bricks’ and in its primitive
root form it means, ‘to make white’.
This word was used in Berěshith/Genesis 11:3 when the men wanted to build a tower to the
heavens and wanted to make bricks and bake them.
This was a wicked time and a wicked plot, which caused יהוהto come down and confuse the
languages!
But when we see these words in use in reference to how the bricks would be made through
baking, I reflect on who we have been called to be as living stones being built up in Messiah as a
Living Tabernacle/Dwelling Place for the Most-High and Messiah tells us that those who
overcome shall be given a white stone:
Ḥazon/Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
assemblies. To him who overcomes I shall give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I shall
give him a white stone, and on the stone a renewed Name written which no one knows
except him who receives it.”
The process of making bread carries great significance for us, in understanding how we are to
be overcomers in Messiah and be on fire for Him, aměn!
This period of counting to 50 is a season that teaches us how important it is for us to be a
counting Bride who is preparing herself!
This commanded period of counting is truly a time of assessing our own lives, as we become
more and more integrated into His Body being able to be presented before Elohim.
From Pěsaḥ to Shaḇuoth we see several progressions in Scripture:
1 – From barley to wheat
2 – From מַ צָ הmatstsah – Strong’s H4682 ‘unleavened Bread’ to לֶ חֶ םLeḥem – Strong’s
H3899 ‘Bread with leaven’
3 – From impurity to purity
4 – From Mitsrayim to Mount Sinai/Mountain of ( יהוהsee Torah notes from Wayyiqra/Leviticus 25
on the Mountain of )יהוה
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What we see, is that this truly is a significant time for us to remember and recollect on how we
have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light, how we have been delivered from
bondage to slavery in Mitsrayim/Egypt – that is: the world’s systems and enslaved dogmas, and
we have been set free to live according to the very Torah of freedom!
It represents for us a time of recognising how the impurity of sin is removed from our lives and
how we are then filled with the good leaven of His Torah that brings us together as a body that
is pleasing and presentable before Elohim.
Let us take a closer look at a few more words that highlight for us the necessity of being able to
count, as we should!
The English word ‘count’ you will find being used 31 times in the Scriptures 2009 Edition, and is
translated from 4 different Hebrew words, which are
1 - מָ ָנהmanah – Strong’s H4487 which means, ‘weigh out, allot, enrol, appoint, number,
prepare, set, tell’.
It is used 28 times and is also translated as number, appointed, prepare. It is first used in the
promise given to Aḇram in:
Berěshith/Genesis 13:16 “And I shall make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that, if a
man could count the dust of the earth, then your seed also could be counted.”
2 - סָ פַ רsaphar – Strong’s H5608 which means, ‘to score, mark as a tally, record, inscribe,
recount, celebrate, commune’, which we have already taken a look at in the ancient script. It is
used 161 times also being translated into English as tell, told, number, tell me, declared,
numbering.
3 - כָ סַ סkasas – Strong’s H3699 which means, ‘estimate, compute, divide, make your count’.
It is used only once, which is in:
Shemoth/Exodus 12:4 “And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his
neighbour next to his house take it according to the number of the beings, according to each
man’s need you make your count for the lamb.”
4 - חָ ׁשַ בḥashaḇ - Strong’s H2803 which means, ‘to plait, weave, plot, think, regard, value,
compute’.
It is used 124 times and is also translated into English as intended, thought, the designer.
Why am I expanding on all of these various root words, that we often translate as ‘count’?
It is important for us to gain a greater understanding as to what it means ‘to count’.
The Hebrew word that is used for ‘count’, in our instruction to count 50 days to Shaḇuoth,
comes from the root word סָ פַ רsaphar, as already discussed.
This same word is used in the command to count 7 days for the cleansing of the being who has
any discharge:
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 15:13 “And when he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge,
then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and shall wash his garments, and
shall bathe his flesh in running water, and be clean.”
Notice how the command is given to count, after he has been ‘cleansed’ of his discharge.
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He has been cleansed of his discharge, yet must still count 7 days and then wash his garments
and bathe in water and then be clean.
This is a wonderful picture for us here, as we understand the thing that Kěpha/Peter told us not
to be hidden from us:
Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that
with יהוהone day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
We have been cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb, and we have been cleansed of our
‘discharge’ of sin/lawlessness, yet we must still ‘count’ 7 days - as it is only on the 7th day (7th
Millennium) when we will finally be clean and our deliverance made complete!!!
In our ability to learn how to count, we will continually guard ourselves from becoming defiled
during the counting time!
If the one who had been cleansed from his discharge had not ‘counted’ or had forgot to count,
how will he have known when his being declared fully clean would come and if he did not
count, he may have easily found himself in a place where he contaminated his cleansed state
and had more discharges which would render the 7th day of no effect for him and this is a
picture warning for us, as described in:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins.”
If we do not count, we cannot be cleansed!
In the Greek text, we also see various words being used to translate into English as ‘count’.
The first Greek word that I would like to look at is the word ψηφίζω psēphizō – Strong’s
G5585 which means, ‘to count or calculate, to compute’ and this root word is used only 2 times
in the Renewed Writings and helps understand our need to be able to count with
understanding.
On the topic of counting, and taking up and bearing our stake as we should, יהושעuses the
following imagery in the following parable:
Luqas/Luke 14:28-30 “For who of you, wishing to build a tower, does not sit down first and
count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid the
foundation, and is unable to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man
began to build and was unable to finish.’”
When we become followers of יהושעwe may even ask,
“Do I have what it takes to finish?”
And typically, the answer is always no!
But it is not our resources that are necessary, for Elohim provides all we need for life and
reverence.
What יהושעis talking about here is total commitment – an enduring persevering heart – not
giving up when the times get bad and the going gets rough.
Do not be one who gives up on following wholeheartedly after ;יהושעfor if you do others will
then look on and say that you began but couldn’t finish it or follow through.
Let me tell you, that a true follower of יהושעdoes not shrink back and get destroyed, even
when setbacks come, but a true follower is one who believes and is saved, and is one who lives
by faith, with works (Torah observance), even when it is rough and the chips are down!
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Often people are committed, but only for a while then, through various reasons, they drift away
and walk away from following the Truth and walk away from יהוה.
Do not be one of those.
Are you willing to pay the price for true discipleship?
The other time that we see this word ψηφίζω psēphizō – Strong’s G5585 being used is in:
Ḥazon/Revelation 13:18 “Here is the wisdom! He who has understanding, let him calculate
the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”
This is pretty awesome stuff!!!
Our need to count properly requires us to have wisdom and understanding, and as we know,
we are instructed to get wisdom and understanding:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 4:5 “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, and do not turn away
from the words of my mouth.”
We now begin to grasp a little more of our need to be able to ‘count’ and ‘count’ correctly, so
as to gain a proper and clear understanding of the Word, so that we are able to calculate and
discern what is the number and mark of the beast, who has attempted to change the
Appointed Times (Feasts of )יהוהand Laws (which would amount to lawlessness), and caused
so many to be drunk and unable to count correctly, causing them to not be properly grafted in
to the True Body of Messiah!
If we do not properly count the cost of following our Master then we may end up being unable
to finish what we so eagerly started!
And this is why this season of counting to 50 is extremely important in teaching us to number
our days and walk in the wisdom of Elohim!
Another Greek word that is translated as ‘count’ is ἡγέομαι hēgeomai – Strong’s G2233 which
means, ‘to lead, command, consider, account, suppose, think carefully upon, count’.
This is used 30 times and is also translated as ‘governor, think, thought, esteem’.
It is the word that is used in a verse that we all have heard many times, especially when facing
tough times:
Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:2 “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”
Ya’aqoḇ did not waste time in his letter to make it clear we are to be a counting people; and
when we link the concept of counting to Shaḇuoth – a joyful harvest feast of the wheat being
brought in and the joy of the bread being made, as a pleasing wave offering unto Elohim, we
see how Ya’aqoḇ encourages us to count it joy – the end result is worth it and we ought to go
through the counting period, until our Messiah comes again, with great joy and perseverance!
When we look more closely at our Master’s commands, to count the cost of following Him, we
recognize that it does come with some real heavy decisions to consider!
In fact, He tells us that if any one of us comes to Him and does not hate father and mother, and
wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and his own life too, is unable to be His taught
one; and whoever does not bear his stake and follow after Him is unable to be His taught one.
Hard words they may be, but what He is saying in effect is that we are to put our total trust in
Him and not in others and to do that may cost us some things that we will find hard to count as
lost!
When we count the cost of walking in Him, we will be hated!
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Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:22 “And you shall be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But he who
shall have endured to the end shall be saved.”
As much as none of us like to or want to be hated – we must consider the cost of being made
into the Bread/Body of Messiah, which is presented before Elohim; and Shaḇuoth is a picture of
the Yoḇel release, that will be fulfilled at The Second Coming of Messiah, on Yom Kippur, where
He will take up His ready Bride, and we have this very assurance by the fact that the sheaf of
the first fruit offering has already been given as a guarantee of the full harvest that will be
brought in.
While we are to be counting during this period, we find, and start to see, how this is a great
training for us to readily be a counting people, every single day, who will gladly ‘work out our
deliverance’ with fear and trembling!
In the process of counting we also see the need for us to be an alert, and active people in our
counting.
The time of counting to 50, is about having been rid of sin and lawlessness, as pictured through
Pěsaḥ And Matzot; and now, in this period of counting, we are being permeated with the good
leaven of the Kingdom that many will taste and see that יהוהour Saviour is Good!
Shaḇuoth – The Feast of Weeks
Shaḇuoth is the Feast of the Wheat Harvest and is one of the 3 major feast times when all men
were to go up to Yerushalayim to celebrate – each of the 3 major Feasts were Harvest Feasts –
Pěsaḥ and Unleavened Bread was at the time of the barley harvest, Shaḇuoth the Wheat
harvest and Sukkoth the fruit harvest and all these are a picture of His Harvest of redeeming
that which are His own.
There are great parallels between Mount Sinai and Mount Tsiyon, in relation to Shaḇuoth, and
they are:
At Mount Sinai
Shaḇuoth marks the day when יהוהentered into a covenant relationship with His people.
When He gave the Torah in written form the people heard the trumpet of His voice – known as
the 1st shofar which we will discuss on Shaḇuoth and they saw and heard the thunder and
lightning and the mountain in smoke – they heard and saw the fire of His voice announced with
the first trumpet.
At this sound, they trembled and stayed at a distance and after hearing the first 10 Words they
told Moshe to hear the rest and that they would do all he heard from יהוה.
At Mount Tsiyon
Shaḇuoth marks the establishment of the Renewed Covenant where he wrote the Torah on the
tablets of the hearts of the talmidim/disciples of יהושעMessiah.
This event marks and celebrates the fulfilment of the prophecy in Yirmeyahu 31 which speaks
of a day when His Torah would be written upon the hearts of His Children, Yisra’ĕl!
What they saw that day was what seemed to be ‘tongues of fire’ and they too heard the sound
of a violent rushing wind from heaven and seeing the very fire of His voice resting upon them.
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This time they did not stand at a distance as they received the Spirit of Elohim and spoke in
tongues and in essence this event was a reversal of the experience at Baḇel where the language
of the people was confused by יהוהas a result of their disobedience in using their unity as a
means for self-gain and wicked purposes.
The people at Baḇel had a wrong form of unity – worshipping themselves and what יהוהdid at
Mount Tsiyon on Shaḇuoth was to cause the languages that had separated the people to now
be brought together and understand what was being spoken resulting in praise and awe of
– יהוהthe correct use if unity bringing worship unto יהוה.
It is through our worship and fellowship together unto יהוהthat He causes us by His Spirit to
understand His Word which is no longer foreign or confusing.
At Baḇel, they were confused due to disobedience and at Mount Tsiyon on Shaḇuoth the
confusion was now broken and they understood as a result of obedient worship – the people
were obedient in keeping His Feast, enabling them to now receive His Marriage Covenant
(Ketuḇah) on their hearts.
At Mount Sinai – in the Wilderness the people rebelled and in one day 3000 were killed
At Mount Tsiyon - on Shaḇuoth 3000 people heard the message and believed and were added
to the body of believers – A picture of renewal and restoration through obedience!
We now, as believers, are ministers of the Renewed Covenant!
A covenant that יהושעHimself restored and repaired through His Blood, writing His very love
letter on our hearts!!!
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 3:3 “making it obvious that you are a letter of Messiah, served
by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living Elohim, not on tablets of stone but
on fleshly tablets of the heart.”
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 8:10 “Because this is the covenant that I shall make with the house of
Yisra’ĕl after those days, says יהוה, giving My laws in their mind, and I shall write them on
their hearts, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”
I want to make it very clear, at this point, that Shaḇuoth is a celebration time – in fact, we are
also commanded to rejoice!
It is time to celebrate His Covenant with us and Him writing His Torah upon our hearts – we
have His Marriage Covenant with us written on our hearts – we are betrothed to Him – and so
this is not a ‘birthing of the church’ this is a wedding anniversary!!!!
It was at Mount Sinai that יהוהbetrothed His Bride – Yisra’ĕl was now legally married and
were the first fruit of His Harvest – they were the first fruit of the fullness of His Bride that was
to make herself ready.
It is at this time when we also recollect and recognise our need to make ourselves ready – not
on our own that is – but as a body unified as one in Him found to be blameless and without
spot by ridding ourselves of the leaven that kills – that is sin and being permeated with the
good leaven of His Word that brings life.
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יהוהhad saved His Bride, offered her salvation through the Blood of the Lamb on the
doorposts at Passover and then He delivered her and washed her through the Sea of Reeds
which had walls of water on both sides signifying full immersion and cleansed her and offered
the Marriage covenant to His Bride to which she said, ‘I do’ before even hearing what the
requirements for the marriage would be!!!
In Shemoth/Exodus 19 the nation responded as one body “we shall do” and so they then
received the Ketuḇah/Marriage Contract!
We know that Yisra’ĕl committed whoring and adulterated herself with the world and יהוה
issued a certificate of divorce (Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 3).
According to the Torah – a divorced woman was not permitted to remarry until her husband
had died.
This is important for us to understand as here you had a divorced wife who could not re-enter
the marriage covenant unless her husband died. יהושעcame down Himself and died for His
adulterous Bride that she would no longer be considered an adulterous woman if she
remarried.
He took up His Life again in order to renew the Marriage Covenant which His Bride had
previously broken, but now could be renewed through His very own Blood that has washed His
Bride.
This is what יהוהdid with Aḇraham when he cut Covenant with in in that he put Aḇraham to
sleep and the fire of יהוהcame down and passed through the sacrifices declaring that if
Aḇraham or any of His descendants would break Covenant that He Himself would come down
and pass through the sacrifice and take the punishment for our sins!
What great love He has for us and it is here at Shaḇuoth that we remember and rehearse this
very truth that He has now written His Renewed Marriage Covenant on our hearts that we are
presented as a pleasing Bride!
This is a celebration of His Love for His Bride!
And one of the major themes of Shaḇuoth is revival – a time to truly reflect that which is to be
upon our hearts – is His Torah upon your heart and do you walk obediently according to it – this
is often a time for many to recognise and realise their need for renewal and cleansing and a reestablishing of His ways in their lives!
Shaḇuoth is a picture of Yoḇel (Jubilee) for the Yoḇel cycle consists of 7 weeks of 7 years each.
Every 7th year is a Sabbatical year where the land is to rest and in the 50th year – (The year after
49 years – 7 completed 7’s) in the year of Yoḇel/Jubilee where debts are cancelled and land
and property is returned to the original owners.
Yoḇel serves to bring freedom to captives and the land would lie fallow in order to produce
food for the poor.
Shaḇuoth/Feast of Weeks was when the first fruits that had been picked between the barley
and the wheat harvest was brought and presented as a freewill offering before יהוהand was
presented as a wave offering with great joy and trust for יהוהto provide for the rest of the
harvest to come.
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So, the sanctification of the first fruit harvest unto יהוהconsecrates the entire harvest as
being His – it is all His!
The first represents the whole and so it is with those who were resurrected with יהושעand
presented as a first fruit offering to Elohim represents and guarantees for us the whole harvest
of souls upon the return of Messiah.
Shaḇuoth, and its meaning, is to be lived out daily in our lives as we daily are inwardly renewed
by His Word leading us in Spirit and Truth enabling us to continue to bear fruit – good fruit that
lasts – the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness,
gentleness and self-control which we are daily able to offer back to Him in a life of obedient
living according to His Marriage Covenant – His Torah.
This harvest festival is a harvest of freewill offerings and rejoicing and we come before Him
giving ourselves completely to Him – which includes our time, talents, resources and present
them to Him with a cheerful heart.
As we know, from the records recorded for us in Ma’asei/Acts, we can clearly see the effect of
living this life of an obedient Marriage out as we see that the true believers were devoted to
the apostles teaching – that is to the Torah – they were devoted to fellowship – and this is
critical as this is too what Shaḇuoth represents – the two loaves of Bread being waved symbolic
of the two houses coming together – Yehuḏah and Ephrayim as bread leavened with the
“Besorah” – Good News and it is critical that we recognise this especially at this time of year
that fellowship is critical in the life of the body.
They broke bread and prayed together – they lived for one another and when there was need it
was taken care of by all – this is what Shaḇuoth also speaks to us of – a unified body living as
one in Messiah!
They met every day – you know the world tells you that if you see too much of each other you
will irritate each other and ruin the friendship – well I want to say that is not Scriptural – for
those filled with the Spirit of Elohim can fellowship daily and the relationship never weakens –
it only strengthens!!!
Can the Spirit of Elohim be seen in your life – does your life represent that of a Spirit filled
Believer who has the Torah upon their heart?
This feast of Shaḇuoth is not only a historical event that took place in the desert or in
Yerushalayim – this is His Appointed Time – a Feast that has been fulfilled by the work of
יהושעMessiah and it shows us how we are to walk and live before יהוהtoday.
Most have understood this day as being the day called ‘Pentecost’, which comes from the
Greek word πεντηκοστή pentēkostē – Strong’s G4005 which is an ordinal number which
means, ‘fiftieth’.
In Hebrew, this day is known as ׁשָ בֻּ עֹותShaḇuoth, which is the plural of the word בּוע
ַ ָׁש
shaḇua – Strong’s H7620 which means, ‘a period of 7 (days, years)’, which comes from the
denominative verb ׁשָ בַ עshaḇa – Strong’s H7650 which means, ‘to swear, exchange oaths,
take an oath, vow’.
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It is from this root verb that we get the Hebrew word for ‘seven’, which is the word ׁשֶ בַ ע
sheḇa – Strong’s H7651.
Having said that, we recognise then that this is, in a manner of speaking, the Feast of Oaths or
Feast of Sevens, where we are able to joyfully celebrate the Covenants of Promise, that we
were once excluded from and had no expectation and were without Elohim in the world, have
now, in Messiah, been brought near, by His blood!
We have not only been brought near, by His blood, as celebrated by the blood of the Passover
Lamb that was slain, but in celebrating this Feast of Oaths/Sevens, we rejoice in the fact that
His Covenants of Promise have now been written on our hearts, giving us a firm expectation in
our Master, as we work out our deliverance, each and every day, with fear and trembling!
In order for you to get a clearer understanding of the significance of this Feast of ׁשָ בֻּ עֹות
Shaḇuoth, I will show you a few Hebrew words and their meanings, along with the ancient
pictographic rendering of these words that give us some wonderful insight into the perfect
work of our Master and Elohim, along with our responsibility as a Bride that is making Herself
ready for the soon return of our Coming Husband, Redeemer and King, יהושעMessiah.
This word – ׁשָ בֻּ עֹותShaḇuoth – is the first word that I would like to show you, and as we look
at this word in the ancient pictographic text, we are able to glean a powerful understanding of
our reason for rejoicing!
In the ancient pictographic script, the word ׁשָ בֻּ עֹותShaḇuoth which means, ‘sevens, oaths’,
looks like this:
Shin - ָׁש:
This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as,
, which is ‘two front
teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do,
and this also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth, as the teeth
‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp!
It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food.
This can give us the meaning of WORD or Words.
Beyt – ֻּב:
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The ancient script has this letter as
, which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’
or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed
to the tent structure itself.
Ayin - ע:
The original pictograph for this letter is
and represents the idea of ‘seeing and
watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’. as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’ and can also render
the concept of knowledge revealed!
Waw/Vav – ֹו:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as
, which is a
peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying down of the tent or other items. The
possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root
meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.
Taw – ת:
The ancient script has this letter as
which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can
represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work
of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl
and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the
beginning and the end of all creation!
When we look at these pictographic symbols of the word ׁשָ בֻּ עֹותShaḇuoth, we can see the
message being made clear, through this Feast, as it can render for us the following meaning, in
terms of the requirements of the Covenants of Oaths being secured by the Blood of Messiah, by
which we have now been sealed, by His Spirit:
THE WORD OF THE HOUSE HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN AND SEEN
(WORD MADE FLESH) IN ORDER TO SECURE US AND SEAL US (FOR THE
DAY OF REDEMPTION)!
In order for us to get to this Feast day of Shaḇuoth we are commanded to count to 50!
In other words, we take note that our Master and Elohim requires us to be a people who can
count.
We are to be a ‘counting people’ and as we understand how we are continually reminded that
we are to know how to count or else we may be in great danger of being in a place of not
understanding His great plans for us, we see how He has taught us to count to 3,which we
previously were unable to do when enslaved by false traditions; and He also taught us to count
correctly to 7 in order to keep His Shabbat and so establish the sign between us and Him
forever (Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 20:12,20). Now that we can count to 3 and 7 – it does not stop there
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– we learn to take a great step forward in our counting ability by being able to count to 50! All
these are very important numbers that any child of Elohim ought to be able to correctly count
to as they all point us toward His work of Redemption and Deliverance for us!
Counting requires a concentrated effort and it requires a daily choice of choosing life over
death, blessing over curse and the joy that this responsibility brings must result in our alert
ability to call many out of darkness – for we know the times – after all we can now count!
The Hebrew word used for ‘count’, in our instruction to count 50 days to Shaḇuoth, is the word
סָ פַ רsaphar – Strong’s H5608 which means, ‘to score, mark as a tally, record, inscribe,
recount, celebrate, commune’, as already discussed in this commentary.
As we count the cost of following our Master and surrender and submit our lives to His Word
that leads us, we then recognise how we are to be hearers and doers of His Word and not
simply hearers only!
“Doing” the Word implies a proper obedience, that does what the Master commands us to do
and here, at Shaḇuoth, we are commanded to:
‘PERFORM’ the FESTIVAL OF WEEKS to יהוה.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘perform’, comes from the root word עָ שָ הasah –
Strong’s H6213 which means, ‘to do, work, make, produce, to act with effect, to observe, to
bring about, institute’ and can also mean, ‘celebrate’, which I think is very fitting, as it is truly a
great ‘joy’ TO DO the laws and right-rulings, as prescribed!
So many today, think that it is a huge burden to do what is commanded, yet that is so far from
the truth – for, when we diligently observe and guard to do all He commands us to do, it is a
great joy and a delight and is not heavy at all!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:2-4 “By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we
love Elohim and guard His commands. 3 For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His
commands, and His commands are not heavy, 4 because everyone having been born of
Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the overcoming that has overcome the world: our
belief.”
A derivative of this root word עָ שָ הasah – Strong’s H6213 is the word מַ עֲשֶ הma’aseh –
Strong’s H4639 which means ‘a deed, work or acts, accomplishments’.
The Acts of the Apostles speaks of the deeds or acts that the Apostles did and records their
‘acts’ of obedience. Our obedience, in ‘doing’ or ‘performing’ this Feast, should be evidenced
with great commitment and joy!
We shall be known by our fruits, based on our proper reverence and submission to our Master,
which shall be evidenced in our “acts of obedience”, as we walk in righteousness, guarding to
do all He has commanded us to do, all the time!!!
We are to be doers of the Word and not just hearers only!
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Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:22-25 “And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who
looks at his natural face in a mirror, 24 for he looks at himself, and goes away, and
immediately forgets what he was like. 25 But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of
freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one
shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.”
The obedience of celebrating The Feasts of יהוה, as commanded, is a declaration of our active
belief that causes us to overcome and stay in Messiah!
As we consider this root verb word עָ שָ הasah – Strong’s H6213, in terms of our need to
‘perform’ this Feast and be doers of the Word, we recognise that we can only be proper doers,
if we are, in fact, looking intently into the Word, and when we see this word, in the ancient
pictographic script, we gain further understanding of what it is to be a proper doer of the
Word!
In the ancient pictographic script, the verb עָ שָ הasah – Strong’s H6213 which means, ‘to do,
work, make, produce, to act with effect, to observe, to bring about, institute, celebrate’ looks
like this:
Ayin - ָע:
The original pictograph for this letter is:
and represents the idea of ‘seeing and
watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’ as the eye is the window of knowledge.
Sin - ָש:
This is the letter ‘sin/shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as:
, which is ‘two
front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the
teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth, as the teeth
‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the
understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food.
Hey - ה:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as a man standing with his arms
raised up and out as if pointing to something, and in essence carries the meaning of ‘behold’ as
in when looking at something very great.
It can also have the meaning to ‘breath’ or ‘sigh’ as when looking at a great sight and having
your breath taken away so to speak! It also has the meaning of revelation or to reveal
something by pointing it out, as well as ‘praise’ through the lifting up of our hands in complete
awe and surrender.
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When looking at this word עָ שָ הasah in the ancient pictographic form, we are able to further
understand how critical it is for us to be doers of the Word and so perform and do that which is
instructed for us to do. From this picture, we can see the meaning of:
LOOKING AT THE WORD THAT HAS BEEN REVEALED!
This teaches us that we are unable to DO or PERFORM the Word if we are not looking intently
at the Word!
Ok… so we have counted diligently… and having come to Shaḇuoth, we are now commanded to
perform this Feast!
As we look intently into the clear instructions that are given to us, in regards to the proper
performing the Feast of Shaḇuoth, we take note that a key component of our performing this
Feast, is one of rejoicing!
Yes… Rejoicing!!!
The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘feast’ is the noun חַ גḥag – Strong’s H2282 which
means, ‘a festival, feast, sacrifice, festival gathering, solemnity’, which comes from the root
verb חָ גַגḥagag – Strong’s H2287 which means, ‘to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrimage,
celebrate a feast, observe a feast, dance’.
This word חַ גḥag – Strong’s H2282 which means, ‘a festival, feast, sacrifice, festival
gathering, solemnity’, in the ancient pictographic text looks like this:
Ḥet – ַח:
The ancient script has this letter as
which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of
‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside
walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise
protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside.
Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, and separated from’.
As a tent wall, we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a
complete wall, having been separated from the world and built up in the master!
Gimel – ג:
This is the letter ‘gimel’, which in the ancient script in pictured as –
–which is ‘a foot’
and carries the meaning to ‘walk, gather, carry’, as clearly referring to the functions of a foot;
and it can also give the meaning of a gathering of people, and we know that ‘feet’ in Hebrew
speaks of one’s walk and ability to keep the Feasts of יהוה, and represents one’s ‘walk’, and
therefore also pictures for us the idea of ‘gathering’.
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This word, in its ancient pictographic form, can have the meaning of:
SEPARATED GATHERING
This teaches us the necessity of being gathered together as commanded, in order to properly
celebrate and perform the Feasts of יהוה.
This Feast is a formal observance of this event, done so with great joy, and can even be done
with dancing!!!
This Feast is also a ‘solemn event’, reminding us that this is not just some regular get together,
but rather, it is a formal occasion that calls for our utmost respect, attention and reverent
observance!
And this is what all His Feasts are to be for us, which includes the weekly Sabbath!
The Feasts of יהוה, which includes His Sabbaths, are separated gatherings and cannot be
properly performed alone!
As mentioned, this year is certainly a unique way for us, as we are ‘gathering together online’
and so, despite our ability of being able to be physically gathered in the same place, we are
gathered together, in Messiah, being seated with Him in the Heavenlies!
We are gathering together today, be it online, to remember and celebrate our Master’s great
love for us:
Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2:4-7 “But Elohim, who is rich in compassion, because of His great love
with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together
with Messiah – by favour you have been saved – 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit
together in the heavenlies in Messiah יהושע, 7 in order to show in the coming ages the
exceeding riches of His favour in kindness toward us in Messiah יהושע.”
In celebration of His great loves for, we are commanded to rejoice before יהוה.
The Hebrew word for ‘rejoice’ is שָ מַ חsamaḥ – Strong’s H8055 which means, ‘to rejoice, be
glad, be joyful, delight in and be elated’, and can also carry the meaning ‘to brighten up’,
giving us the picture how we are to carry His joy, as the light of the world and let praise and
rejoicing abound!
A derivative of the verb שָ מַ חsamaḥ is the adjective שָ מֵ ַחsameaḥ - Strong’s H8056 and
carries the meaning, ‘glad, joyful, merry, pleased, rejoicing’.
In the ancient pictographic script, these words שָ מַ חsamaḥ and שָ מֵ ַחsameaḥ both look like
this:
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Shin - ָש:
This is the letter ‘sin/shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as:
, which is ‘two
front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the
teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth, as the teeth
‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the
understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food.
This pictograph can give us the meaning of WORD or Words.
Mem – ַמ:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘water’, and also
carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is
mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as
representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. This also
carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being that which
cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the Living Waters
of the Word! This letter can also represent any liquid, especially blood!
Ḥet – ח:
The ancient script has this letter as
which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of
‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside
walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise
protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside.
Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’.
As a tent wall, we are also able to recognise the picture of living stones being built up to make a
complete wall or dwelling place, having been separated from the world and built up in the
master!
When looking at this word, in its pictographic form, in terms of our command to rejoice, we are
able to see why we are able to rejoice, as we recognise the following:
THE WORD THAT WASHES US
HAS SEPARATED US AND SECURED US!
This is a clear reason to rejoice, is it not?
For as long as we allow the Word to wash us and keep us clean, we are able to confidently
make our boast in Elohim, as we make our boast in Him, whom we praise and rejoice in, as we
are built up as living stones in the Master; living stones that offer up our lives, as a daily living
offering, with rejoicing praise and giving thanks for all!
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Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:10-12 “And you shall perform the Festival of Shaḇuoth to יהוה
your Elohim, according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as יהוה
your Elohim blesses you. 11 “And you shall rejoice before יהוהyour Elohim, you and your son
and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lěwite who is
within your gates, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are in your midst,
at the place where יהוהyour Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell. 12 “And you shall
remember that you were a slave in Mitsrayim, and you shall guard and do these laws.”
This Feast has a clear commanded call for a formal observance of this event, done so with great
joy, and even dancing!!!
The text here, in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:11, further emphasises this, by giving us more
insight into how we are to keep this Feast, as it tells us that we ‘shall rejoice before יהוהour
Elohim’, which, in the Hebrew text, is written as follows:
וְּ שָ מַ ְּחתָ ִל ְּפנֵי יהוה אֱֹלהֶ יָך
vesamaḥta liphney YAHWEH Eloheyḥa
This phrase literally renders the following meaning:
AND YOU SHALL REJOICE IN/BEFORE THE FACE OF יהוהYOUR ELOHIM
Rejoicing in the face of יהוה
This is a great celebratory command – and is one which is to be carried out with great
enthusiasm and joy!
There is absolutely no grumbling allowed!!!
Rejoicing in the face, or before the face, of יהוה, is done as a great expression of praise and
thanksgiving for His loving-kindness and favour; and as we celebrate that which He has given
us, through the Blood of Messiah, we have much to celebrate!
When seeing this expression ‘in the face of יהוה, in terms of it being a rejoicing and joyous
occasion, I am reminded of Dawiḏ, who danced before the face of יהוה:
Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 6:14 “And Dawiḏ danced before יהוהwith all his might. And Dawiḏ
was wearing a linen shoulder garment.”
This event took place as they were bringing back the Ark of יהוהto Yerushalayim.
The Ark had been captured by the Philistines some 60 years before, and they kept it for 7
months after returning it to Yisra’ĕl, because יהוהhad plagued all the cities that the
Philistines had sent the Ark of יהוהto.
The Ark of יהוהwas taken to the house of Aḇinaḏab in Qiryath Yeʽarim, after 70 people died in
Bĕyth Shemesh, for foolishly looking into the Ark, when it returned from the Philistines.
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Some 60 years later, Dawiḏ went to fetch the Ark of יהוה, and Uzzah was struck dead for
touching the Ark, which caused Dawiḏ to place it in the House of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom, and after 3
months He went to fetch it and bring it back, with great rejoicing!
We are told that Dawiḏ danced ‘before’ יהוה, which is the same expression as we see in the
command to rejoice ‘before’ יהוהat Shaḇuoth!
Why I am mentioning this, is to emphasise the need for us to be a rejoicing people, and a
people who are ready to dance before, or in, the face of יהוהour Elohim, and not being
worried about what others may say about our rejoicing before !יהוה
The Hebrew word that is used to describe Dawiḏ’s ‘dancing’, comes from the root word כָ ַרר
karar – Strong’s H3769 which means, ‘dance, whirl’.
This word is only used twice in Scripture and both of these times it is used in reference to
Dawiḏ’s dancing on this day!
The other time that we see it, is two verses later:
Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 6:16 “And it came to be, when the ark of יהוהcame into the City of
Dawiḏ, that Miḵal, daughter of Sha’ul, looked through a window and saw Sovereign Dawiḏ
leaping and dancing before יהוה, and she despised him in her heart.”
Dawiḏ was filled with such joy, in celebrating the presence of יהוהbeing returned to
Yerushalayim, that he danced with all his might, and did not worry what onlookers would have
to say!
Those who are unwilling to rejoice with us, will possibly despise us, as we rejoice in the face of
our Elohim, by joyfully guarding His Feasts and Appointed Times!
Dawiḏ was dancing and leaping!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘leaping’ is פָ זַזpazaz – Strong’s H6339 which means, ‘to
be supple or agile, made strong, leaping’, and this word also implies, ‘one’s physical abilities
to accomplish an intended task’!
We see this root word only being used twice in Scripture and is also used in reference to the
blessing on Yosĕph, as seen in:
Berěshith/Genesis 49:24 “But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were
made strong by the hands of the Mighty One of Yaʽaqoḇ – from there is the Shepherd, the
Stone of Yisra’ĕl”
Being made strong and able to leap with great joy!
This concept reminds me of the verse that we see in:
Ḥaḇaqquq/Habakkuk 3:18-19 “Yet I exult in יהוה, I rejoice in the Elohim of my deliverance.
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יהוהthe Master is my strength. And He makes my feet like those of deer, and makes me
walk on my high places. To the chief singer with my stringed instruments.”
Have your hands been made strong in the Master? Our answer should be a resounding yes!
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Then, having faithfully counted to Shaḇuoth, we are gathered in His Name, to celebrate and
rejoice before the face of our Master and perform this celebratory Feast
While this may sound obvious, many still battle with the ‘HOW’ part of faithfully observing this
Feast.
So ‘How are we to perform this Feast?’
The text here in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:10-12 tells us ‘how’!
Firstly, we are told that we perform this Feast to יהוהour Elohim, ‘according to the voluntary
offering from your hand, which you give as יהוהyour Elohim blesses you’!
Other translations render this as, ‘with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand which
you shall give as יהוהyour Elohim blesses you’.
The Hebrew word used here for ‘according to’ or ‘with the tribute’ is from the root word ִמסָ ת
missath – Strong’s H4530 which means, ‘sufficiency, enough, tribute, full amount, proportion
affordable’.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘voluntary offering’ comes from the root word נְּ ָדבָ ה
neḏaḇah – Strong’s H5071 which means, ‘voluntariness, freewill offering, volunteer freely,
willingly’ which comes from the root verb נ ַָדבnaḏaḇ – Strong’s H5068 meaning, ‘to incite,
impel, make offerings willingly, volunteers’.
Tehillah/Psalm 54:6 “Voluntarily I slaughter to You; I praise Your Name, O יהוה, for it is
good.”
Tehillah/Psalm 119:8 “Please accept the voluntary offerings of my mouth, O יהוה, and teach
me Your right-rulings.”
This speaks of our willing choice to offer up our lives in wholehearted devotion to serving our
Master – and to do so voluntarily is a great expression of our joy in loving Him as we should,
with praise and thanksgiving.
This speaks of our eagerness and willingness to freely offer up our lives as a living offering and
incite others to do so too!
Therefore, we are able to see the ‘how to’ of keeping this Feast being clearly explained:
YOU BRING WITH YOUR HAND A SUFFICIENT VOLUNTARY OFFERING!
One’s ‘hand’ speaks of that which you do, or that which you have been equipped and enabled
to work with, and this Feast therefore, calls for one’s hand to be moved, to bring a
tribute
unto – יהוהa tribute that is in accordance to His blessing upon your life!
So, in terms of the quantity or quality of the tribute that one brings before the face of יהוה,
with their hand, can be answered in the ability of answering the question of:
How has יהוהblessed you?
This is a Feast where one gets to show the answer to this question, by the voluntary offering of
your hand, according to how He has blessed you!
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To do so ‘voluntarily’ is to do so with great joy and not under compulsion:
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 9:7 “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not of grief
or of necessity, for Elohim loves a joyous giver.”
So, the measure of one’s tribute is in accordance to one’s recognition of the blessing of our
Master upon one’s life, and this is a part of the ‘how we are to keep this Feast before His face’!
Each one therefore, should give the tribute as he purposes in his heart, as a reflection of the
blessing of Elohim and all that He has done for you.
In a nutshell, this is a commanded voluntary offering, which is brought as each one deems to be
sufficient, according to the measure of their own estimation of ’יהוהs blessing upon their lives.
At the beginning of our count to Shaḇuoth, the waving of the sheaf of the first, or the first of the
first, that was brought before the face of Elohim and waved, was done as a declaration of
complete trust and belief in our Master’s provision, before a harvest would begin. And now
here at Shaḇuoth, one gets to bring a tribute of the celebration, in celebration and
remembrance of what יהוהhas done!
In Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:16 we are told that a new grain offering was to be brought on
Shaḇuoth and the Hebrew word that is used for ‘grain offering’ is ִמנְּ חָ הminḥah – Strong’s
H4503 and means, ‘a gift, tribute, meal offering, present’.
This ‘minḥah’ does not always require blood and is most frequently referred to as the ‘grain
offering’ which represents the gift being offered, that was prepared by the hands of the one
bringing the gift, and given to the High Priest, to present before יהוה, and a remembrance
portion was taken from the offering and offered up to יהוה, and the rest was set-apart for the
priests only.
At Shaḇuoth we wave two loaves of bread as the ‘wave offering’ – and this offering of bread is
baked with leaven – and this is the ‘Bikkurim’ to !!!יהוה
However, we take note that no portion of this offering was burnt on the slaughter place for a
remembrance offering, for no leaven was to be burnt in an offering unto יהוה, and this leaven
that is in the bread being waved is a picture of the ‘good leaven’ of the Kingdom that has
permeated the whole body of Messiah, as the old leaven of sin has been cleansed and washed
away!
Luqas/Luke 13:20-21 “And again He said, “To what shall I compare the reign of Elohim? 21 “It
is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until it was all
leavened.”
This parable teaches us that these three (3) measures of flour that leaven has been hidden in,
until all is leavened, is a great picture of the three (3) times a year all men were to go up to
Yerushalayim to celebrate the Feasts of יהוה, which collectively would cover all seven (7)
Feasts.
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And this wave offering of the ‘Leavened bread’ at Shaḇuoth is a clear picture of the
establishment of a ‘renewed’ Covenant, sealed in the Blood of Messiah and confirmed by the
outpouring of His Spirit, so that the 3 witness together – that is the water, blood and spirit which can also represent the 3 measures of flour:
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5: 6-8 “This is the One that came by water and blood: יהושע
Messiah, not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness,
because the Spirit is the Truth. 7 Because there are three who bear witness: 8 the Spirit, and
the water, and the blood. And the three are in agreement.”
In the ancient pictographic script, the word ִמנְּ חָ הminḥah – Strong’s H4503 which means, ‘a
gift, tribute, meal offering, present’, is pictured as:
Mem – ִמ:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the
meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or
massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the
nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture.
This also carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being
that which cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the
Living Waters of the Word! This letter also can represent any liquid, especially blood!
Nun – ְּנ:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as
, which pictures a ‘sprouting
seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which
sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life
expectancy, and can carry the meaning of ‘new life or renewal, rebirth’.
Ḥet – ָח:
The ancient script has this letter as
which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of
‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside
walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise
protection and security to those inside, while picturing a ‘cutting off’ of those who are outside.
Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’.
As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a
complete wall, having been separated from the world and built up in the master!
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Hey – ה:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is ‘a man standing with his arms
raised out’.
This word can also mean “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”; from the idea of
revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we
lift up our hands and submit to יהוהas we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority
under which we humbly submit!
As we look at this word in the understanding of a gift offering or tribute, we can see how this
can represent our joy in bringing our lives daily before our Master and Redeemer, as a daily
living sacrifice; for here in the ancient script we can see by this Word the Truth of how:
WE, WHO ARE IMMERSED IN MESSIAH, HAVING DIED TO SELF, ARE
RAISED TO NEW LIFE IN HIM TO BECOME A PART OF HIS BODY, THAT
IS – HIS TABERNACLE, AS PICTURED BY THE TENT WALL, IN ORDER TO
OFFER UP THE DAILY PRAISE DUE TO HIS NAME!!!
This can also be understood as:
BY THE BLOOD OF MESSIAH, WE (HIS BODY) HAVE BEEN WASHED,
RENEWED AND SEPARATED UNTO HIM AND WE SUBMIT AND GIVE
OUR LIVES AS A DAILY LIVING OFFERING!
The ִמנְּ חָ הminḥah – Strong’s H4503 clearly pictures for us today how we are to be a ‘daily
living offering’ and with it being a ‘new’ minḥah, we also recognise that from the Hebrew word
for ‘new’ being חָ ָדׁשḥaḏash – Strong’s H2319 which means, ‘new, new thing, something
new’ and in its primitive root form means, ‘to renew, repair, restore’, how we are to be
continually reminded, as Sha’ul teaches us in Romiyim/Romans 12:1-2, to offer our lives as a
daily living offering and be transformed by the ‘renewing of our minds’.
The Wave offering:
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘wave offering’ comes from the root word ְּתנּופָ ה
tenuphah – Strong’s H8573 and means, ‘wave offering’.
This describes ‘the offering that was lifted up and waved and presented before ’יהוה, in a
figurative way of giving it, or releasing it fully, to ;יהוהand this carries great significance for us,
as we too need to realise that our lives are to be lifted up as a wave offering before יהוה.
And that includes everything that we have, as we lift up our hands, in the declaration that all
we have is presented to ;יהוהand that we now belong to Him, having been bought at a price
and betrothed by the Blood of the Lamb!
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We have been sealed with His Set-Apart Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance,
until the redemption of the purchased possession!
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “But He who establishes us with you in Messiah and
has anointed us is Elohim, 22 who also sealed us, and gave the Spirit in our hearts as a
pledge.”
On Shaḇuoth, we wave the two loaves of Bread which represent the two Houses of Yehuḏah
and Yisra’ĕl being brought together, as one, in the Hands of our Redeemer, High Priest and
King, and it is also symbolic of the two tablets of the witness of the Ten Words, that the entire
nation of Yisra’ĕl heard in the Wilderness, which were then written on stone as a witness.
With the first two stones having been broken by Mosheh, when he came down and saw the
perverted worship in the camp, he was required to make two new stones like the first, upon
which יהוהwould, again, write the 10 Words.
This was a powerful shadow picture of the renewal that we celebrate on Shaḇuoth!
With Yisra’ĕl, a called out, chosen and betrothed Bride, who broke her marriage vows and
covenant with יהוה ;יהוהwas already declaring His promised provision, by Mosheh having to
make two stones like the first, that יהוהhad made, and upon which יהוהwould once again
write His 10 words!
This prophetically declared that the very Word of Elohim would be made flesh and come down,
in order to be broken for us, taking on the form of the flesh, in order to redeem us from the
sinful nature, and ‘make new’ the true witness of His Covenant seal and pledge over us, as His
called out and chosen Bride in Messiah, who has now made it possible for His Torah to be
written upon the fleshly tablets of our hearts, by His Spirit through the Blood of Messiah!
The ‘wave offering’ celebrates the promise of renewal or rather the making of a renewed
covenant.
The ‘wave offering’ celebrates the promise of renewal or rather the making of a renewed
covenant.
In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word ְּתנּופָ הtenuphah – Strong’s H8573 which
means, ‘wave offering’, looks like this:
Taw – ְּת:
The ancient script has this letter as
which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can
represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work
of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl
and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the
beginning and the end of all creation!
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Nun – נ:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as
, which pictures a ‘sprouting
seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which
sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life
expectancy, and can carry the meaning of ‘new life or renewal, rebirth’.
Waw/Vav – ּו:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as
, which
is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying down of the tent or other items. The
possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root
meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.
Pey – ָפ:
This is the letter ‘pey’, which is pictured as
, which is an ‘open mouth’ and carries the
meaning of ‘speak and blow’, from the functions of the mouth, and can have the meaning of
‘scatter’ by blowing. It can also mean sword or beard as in things with edges, as well as a region
in depicting a place with edges or boundaries. It also can represent that which has been spoken
forth from the words of one’s mouth, as being established – ‘The Spoken Word’!
Hey – ה:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is ‘a man standing with his arms
raised out’. This word can also mean “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”;
from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of
surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוהas we lift our hands in praise, declaring
His authority under which we humbly submit!
Therefore, we can see that this wave offering of the two loaves is a proclamation of that which
has been renewed, made new, and by the rendering of these pictures, we can see that it
declares to us:
THE COVENANT OF LIFE HAS BEEN SECURED BY THE REVEALED WORD WHO IS
TO BE PRAISED,
or:
BEHOLD THE SEAL OF THE COVENANT THAT IS RENEWED AND SECURED BY THE
WORD WHO WAS LIFTED UP AND WHO IS TO BE PRAISED!
Or:
BEHOLD THE COVENANT HAS BEEN RENEWED AND WE HAVE BEEN ADDED AND
SECURED BY THE REVEALED WORD WHO IS TO BE PRAISED!
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Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 31:31-33 “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall make
a new covenant with the house of Yisra’ĕl and with the house of Yehuḏah, 32 not like the
covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them
out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to
them,” declares יהוה. 33 “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl
after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on
their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”
These verses are quoted in Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 8, and what we celebrate on Shaḇuoth is this very
promise that has been given by יהוה, our Mighty Elohim – His Torah now on our hearts!!!
At Mount Sinai 3000 died as a result of rebellion and on this day at Mount Tsiyon, and the
renewal of the Covenant, sealed by the outpouring of the Spirit, 3000 were added to the
number of the body that day – a complete restoration of death to life, that His Word proclaims
for us who call upon His Name and guard to do His commands!
Messiah has renewed the Covenant in His own Blood and secured for us the promise of
everlasting life, sealing us by His Spirit and continually intercedes for us as He lifts us up,
equipping us to be the wave offering of set-apartness and a faithful Bride!
Shaḇuoth celebrates our Marriage/Betrothal with our Kinsman Redeemer - יהושעMessiah,
and the account of Ruth and Boaz is a very powerful and great shadow picture of us being
redeemed and betrothed to the King!
It was around the Feast of Shaḇuoth that Ruth lay herself at Boaz’s feet to ask for his protection,
and in the same way we come to the feet of the Messiah, the very Bread of Life, and receive His
protection.
Bo‘az gave her enough food for her and Na‘omi to see them through until he returned from
making arrangements to redeem them together.
This is very symbolic for us, as it is through יהושעMessiah, Our Redeemer, that we are given
His Spirit and Word to see us through while He is away making final arrangements for our
complete redemption.
All of these words are certainly ancient pictures to remember!
We have looked at 7 words in the ancient pictographic script, that are used in the instructions
regarding the Feast of Shaḇuoth:
1 – – ׁשָ בֻּ עֹותSHAḆUOTH (SEVENS/OATHS/WEEKS)
2 – – סָ פַ רSAPHAR (COUNT)
3 – – עָ שָ הASAH (PERFORM)
4 – – חַ גḤAG (FEAST)
5 – – שָ מֵ ַחSAMEAḤ (REJOICING)
6 – – ִמנְּ חָ הMINḤAH (GRAIN OFFERING)
7 – – ְּתנּופָ הTENUPHAH (WAVE OFFERING)
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All of these words are certainly ancient pictographic pictures to remember!
I would like us to look at another Hebrew word that I feel is pictured prophetically in this Feast,
despite it not being used in the instructions of this Feast.
That word, is the Hebrew word יֹובֵ לYoḇel – Strong’s H3104 which means, ‘a ram, ram’s horn
(a wind instrument) or trumpet’, and is also translated as ‘jubilee’, as it is used to mark, or
signal, the year of release, which would be every 50th year, which is prophetically pictured
through the counting of 49 days, with Shaḇuoth being the 50th day, upon which the Spirit was
poured out and the promise of release was sealed upon the hearts of the body of Messiah!
In the ancient pictographic script this word Yoḇel - – יֹובֵ לStrong’s H3104 looks like this:
Yod – י
The ancient script has this letter as
which is ‘an arm and hand’ and carries the meaning
of ‘work, make, throw’, from the primary functions of the arm and hand, and it also represents
worship or giving thanks in the extending of hands as a gesture of this.
The work of one’s hands is the basic meaning of this letter!
Waw/Vav – ֹו:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as
, which is
a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying down of the tent or other items. The
possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root
meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.
Beyt – ֵב:
The ancient script has this letter as
, which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’
or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed
to the tent structure itself.
Lamed - ל:
The ancient script has this letter as
, and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the
meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction,
and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to
bring back by Authority.
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As we consider this word in terms of the announcement of the release that our Master and
Elohim came to proclaim, we are able to see the following:
THE WORK OF THE ARM AND HAND OF יהוה
SECURES THE HOUSE OF THE SHEPHERD!
With the House of the Shepherd being secured by the work of our Master we have the ability to
hold fast to the expectation we have in Messiah, as we faithfully wait for the His soon return at
the sounding of the Trumpets of Elohim.
The Yoḇel sounded long on Shaḇuoth in the Wilderness of Sinai when Yisra’ĕl heard the voice
of יהוהspeaking the 10 Words of the Marriage Covenant and on Shaḇuoth in Yerushalayim
there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, as the Spirit of Elohim was
poured out on the believers!
We are the Dwelling Place of Elohim, which has been secured by the work of His Outstretched
Arm and Hand and are no longer slaves to sin but are sons and daughters of the Most-High
Elohim!
Galatiyim/Galatians 4:6-7 “And because you are sons, Elohim has sent forth the Spirit of His
Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a
son, also an heir of Elohim through Messiah.”
On Shaḇuoth we gather together and celebrate the assurance we have in Elohim, as being a
secured Dwelling Place where He will come and dwell in the midst of; and on Shaḇuoth we
collectively celebrate our betrothal to Him, having been sealed with His Spirit in our hearts,
giving us the ability to be the continual daily living offering that counts the cost of following our
Redeemer, equipped to perform the set-apart service of a faithful priesthood that rejoices in
our Master and King!
Shaḇuoth marks the celebration of the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit that we are able to receive by
faith, through the Blood of Messiah, being made one in Him. Our responsibility as a called out
and chosen Bride, is to walk steadfast in being a daily living offering, and offer up our lives as a
voluntary sacrifice, giving Him, who has redeemed us, our all in all!
As we enjoy the Bread Feast of Weeks together, we are reminded of the sure and promised
hope of His soon return and hold fast to that which we have been brought near to….!
May we be faithful as a Bride who continues makes Herself ready – for all of who guard this
Feast, have said the ‘I do’ – therefore let us remember our ‘Marriage vows’ and live accordingly
as we walk by His Torah/Marriage covenant now written upon the fleshly tablets of our heart,
sealed by His very breath – His very Set-apart Spirit.
In Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:12 we are given further insight in ‘how’ we are to keep this
Feast, and in doing this helps us embrace the true heart of voluntary rejoicing!
We are told to ‘remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim and we shall guard and do these
laws’.
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The Hebrew word for ‘remember’ is ‘ זָכַ רzaḵar’ H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be
mindful, or bring to remembrance’, from which we get the word ‘ זִ כָ רֹוןzikkaron’ H2146
meaning ‘memorial, commemoration or remembrance’.
We are to remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim – in other words we remember that we
were once not a people, but now are a people of Elohim!
We were bought at a price, by the Blood of Messiah, our Passover Lamb; and this call to
remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim, is for the clear purpose of remembering who we
are NOW!
We were once a people who were enslaved to the world and were held fast under the heavy
burdens of the false dogmas and vain traditions of man, but now, we have been delivered from
the house of bondage and set free, in order to obey the True Master of all creation!
This verse is very clear, in telling us to remember that we were once a slave in Mitsrayim, so
now we shall obey the Torah!!!
You were once lawless – but now having been redeemed – you shall obey!!!
It was on Shaḇuoth that the children of Yisra’ĕl heard the voice of יהוהfrom Mount Sinai and
entered into a Marriage Covenant with the Most-High; and after hearing the Ten Words they
said to Mosheh that they would die if they continued to hear the voice of יהוהand said that
Mosheh should hear the rest and come and tell them the commands and instructions, which
they said they would guard to do!
They too had been delivered from slavery and on Shaḇuoth were called to be a ready bride that
would guard the Marriage Covenant!
We know that this did not happen and after Messiah came to die for us and set us free from
our sin and enslavement to the world, we continue to come cyclically to Shaḇuoth, where we
remember that were once nations in the flesh, without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship
of Yisra’ĕl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without
Elohim in the world, but now in Messiah יהושעwe who once were far off have been brought
near by the blood of the Messiah. With this remembrance is the clear reminder that we are to
guard and do His Word!
Romiyim/Romans 6:17-18 “But thanks to Elohim that you were servants of sin, yet you
obeyed from the heart that form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 And having
been set free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.”
Set free to serve!
Set free from sin and enslavement to sin and lawlessness, in order to serve in righteousness –
which is to guard to do all He commands us to! Shaḇuoth is a time to remember and rejoice in
our freedom, and do not use our freedom as a cloak for evil, but rather to serve Elohim:
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:16 “as free, yet not using your freedom as a cloak for evil, but as
servants of Elohim.”
Galatiyim/Galatians 5:13 “For you, brothers, have been called to freedom, only do not use
freedom as an occasion for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Shaḇuoth marks the celebration of the Torah written on our hearts and we who were once
enslaved, now have a law to live by!
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It was on Shaḇuoth that the taught ones in Yerushalayim received the Spirit that they were told
to wait for; and so, we rejoice in the assurance we have as having received a spirit of adoption –
and we now have a Father who loves us and has set us free from sin and lawlessness!
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now יהוהis the Spirit, and where the Spirit of יהוהis,
there is freedom.”
יהושעtells us in Yoḥanan/John 8 that if we stay in His Word then we are truly His taught
ones and we shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set make us free, for if the Son makes us
free, we will be free indeed!
Free to obey – for His Spirit is given to us as a pledge and assurance that we are His:
Romiyim/Romans 8:15-16 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but
you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim”
We who have turned to the Master and have had the veil of deception removed from our eyes
are now able to look intently into His Torah – a Torah of Freedom – and not be hearers only but
also doers of His Torah of Freedom!
Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:25 “But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and
continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be
blessed in his doing of the Torah.”
Remembering that we were slaves in Mitsrayim and having been delivered from bondage to sin
and lawlessness, we are reminded to not go back to that which we have been delivered from:
Galatiyim/Galatians 5:1 “In the freedom with which Messiah has made us free, stand firm,
then, and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery.”
Do not go back to Mitsrayim!!!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to those who go down to Mitsrayim for help, and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but who do not look to the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, nor seek ”!יהוה
We do not shrink back but press on in the Truth as we fix our eyes on our Master, by staying in
His Word and guarding the Torah with joy!
This feast is not only a historical event that took place in the desert or in Yerushalayim – this is
His Appointed Time – a Feast that has been fulfilled by the work of יהושעMessiah and it
shows us how we are to walk and live before יהוהtoday.
REMEMBER!
This is a big part of properly celebrating this great day of Shaḇuoth!
It is with this call to ‘remember’ in mind, that I would like us to take a look at one more word, in
its ancient pictographic form… and that is, of course, the Hebrew word זָכַ רzaḵar – Strong’s
H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be mindful, or bring to remembrance’, which is pictured
as follows:
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Zayin – ְּז:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as
, which is a mattock (a sharp
digging tool such as an axe or pick) and carries the meaning of ‘a weapon or tool that cuts,
farming instrument’. A mattock would be a tool that was also used to dig up the soil so that
seed could be planted. This picture clearly pictures a tool that is used to work and therefore can
also render for us the meaning of work or a work that is done, and more specifically, the
harvest that is brought forth!
Kaph - ְּכ:
The ancient form of this letter is
- meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning
behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or
subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises
submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The
hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!
Resh - ר:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is ‘the head of a man’ and carries the
meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe
and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the
chief.
Our true life of praise unto יהוה, our Head, begins when we fear Him, for He is the beginning
of our strength, and true separated praise entails a true fear of the One who is Chief over us!
As we consider this root word that is understood as ‘remember’, in its pictographic form, we
are able to glean the following:
THE HARVEST WORKED BY OUR HEAD!
This is such an awesome picture for us to consider, in our remembering that we were slaves in
Mitsrayim, with the acknowledgment and acceptance that we shall guard the Torah of our
Master and Elohim!
There are a number of powerful images that we can glean from this root word, in its
pictographic form, as we take note that the harvest has been secured by the work of the Hand
our Elohim, our Head, יהושעMessiah!
This is exactly what we are celebrating today!
Our Head and Saviour has worked redemption for us and He is the Master of the harvest!
This day calls for us to remember that we were once slaves to sin and destruction, but now, we
are free and ready to serve, as workers in the harvest.
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In our remembrance, we recognise that He, who has begun a good work in us, shall perfect it
until the day of יהושעMessiah, Our Head and Master of the Harvest, who is coming for His
redeemed and ready Bride!
This call to remember, is a call to not turn back to old ways, but to keep our eyes fixed on our
Head and be diligent in working out our deliverance with fear and trembling, not shrinking
back, but pressing forward in great joy, as we fix our eyes upon Him, working unto Him and
being His workers in His harvest field!
We, as ambassadors of His reign have a clear commission to go and make taught ones, and in
our remembrance that we are no longer slaves but servants, we also must remember that the
harvest is ripe!
Mattithyahu/Matthew 9:37-38 “Then He said to His taught ones, “The harvest truly is great,
but the workers are few. 38 “Pray then that the Master of the harvest would send out
workers to His harvest.”
This day of remembrance must remind us of the work that is still to be done!
Yoḥanan/John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and the harvest comes’?
See, I say to you, lift up your eyes and see the fields, for they are white for harvest – already!”
These words are extremely important for us to remember, as we take note that we are now in
the 3rd month and from the 3rd month to the 7th is what…4 months!!!
From Shaḇuoth to Yom Kippur, when the harvest will be gathered, is 4 months and in our
remembrance, we should not sit back and wait for better days, as we have a clear mandate and
commission to work the fields!
This picture of remembrance teaches us to not give up!!
Luqas/Luke 9:62 “But יהושעsaid to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the reign of Elohim.”
This pictographic rendering of the word that means ‘remember’, teaches us that we are to put
our hand to the plough and keep our eyes on our Head!
This is how we remember that we were once slaves, so that we remember who we are now, in
Him, our Head!
And this is what this day celebrates, in remembrance of His work of deliverance over your life!
This day, as you remember who you NOW are in Messiah, is a day where you can now
appropriate your remembrance, as you present a ‘HARVEST OF YOUR HAND TO THE HEAD!’, by
presenting a voluntary offering of your hand before the face of יהוה, in accordance to how He
has blessed you!
How has יהוהblessed you?
The harvest of your hand to Him, our Head, declares the ‘how’!
These pictographic words that I have presented to you, in regards to this Feast, are certainly
wonderful ancient pictures to remember, helping us to celebrate with understanding, this great
day of Shaḇuoth!
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On Shaḇuoth we also wave the two loaves of Bread before יהוה, symbolising the two Houses
of Yehuḏah and Yisra’ĕl, coming together as a perfect Bride – a body being made whole
through the Blood of Messiah – rid of sin and filled with the Good News – His Torah that has
permeated the entire batch and is now presentable as a Bride ready for her King; as a
body/community of Believers living in unity in His Word and are so mixed in to each other,
living as One.
Shaḇuoth is also considered as being a reference to the ‘First trumpet’, as the announcing of
the betrothal is sounded, and is connected with the marriage union between יהוהand His
people!
The Last trumpet will sound on Yom Kippur, when our Husband, Master, Redeemer and King
shall come out of the Most Set-Apart Place to trample the winepress and destroy His enemies,
and then gather His Bride to Himself!
It is on Yom Teruah that we hear the sound of the awakening blast and have a ‘remembrance
of Teruah’ – that is – a remembrance of the Trumpet sound that we are betrothed and that the
Bride had better be ready, dressed and have our lamps filled with oil!
It is on Shaḇuoth that we celebrate the renewal of the Marriage Covenant and how we are now
called to stay in the Word and guard to do His laws, for this is how we live set-apart lives unto
the Master and declare our love for Him!
Yom Teruah is also considered as being referred to as the ‘First trumpet’, or rather, a
remembrance thereof, as the announcing of the betrothal is sounded, and is connected with
the marriage union between יהוהand His people!
The Last trumpet will sound on Yom Kippur when our Husband, Master, Redeemer and King
shall come out of the Most Set-Apart Place to trod the winepress and destroy His enemies, and
then gather His Bride to Himself!
It is at Yom Teruah that we hear the sound of the awakening blast and have a ‘remembrance of
Teruah’ – that is a remembrance of the Trumpet sound that we are betrothed and the Bride
had better be ready, dressed and with lamps filled with oil!
It is on Shaḇuoth that we celebrate the renewal of the Marriage Covenant and how we are now
called to stay in the Word and guard to do His laws, for this is how we live set-apart lives unto
the Master!
Yom Teruah – Verse 23-25
Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are the people who know the sounding! They walk, O יהוה, in
the light of Your face.”
This verse is such a powerful declaration of how blessed the people are who know the
sounding!
The sounding of what, you may ask?
Well, the Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘the sounding’ is the noun ְּתרּועָ הTeruah Strong’s H8643 which means, ‘a shout or blast of war, alarm or joy’, which comes from the
root verb רּוע
ַ
rua – Strong’s H7321 meaning, ‘to raise a shout, give a blast, sound the alarm,
shout for joy’, and it is on the 1st day of the 7th month day that we certainly raise a shout and
blow the shofar/trumpets as we have a remembrance of Teruah!
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This day of Yom Teruah, is a day where we have a qoḏesh miqra (set-apart gathering) – and on
this day, we are to have a ‘remembrance of Teruah’.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘remembrance’ is ‘ זִ כָ רֹוןzikkaron’ – Strong’s H2146
meaning ‘memorial, commemoration or remembrance’ and comes from the root word זָכַ ר
‘zaḵar’ – Strong’s H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be mindful, or bring to
remembrance’, which we have already looked at, when discussing Shaḇuoth.
It is therefore a day for to remember Teruah.
As we consider the command to have a ‘remembrance of Teruah’ we also must take note that
this is a command to be mindful of and therefore we can see how true blessed are those who
‘know the Teruah’!
What are we to know and what are we to remember?
The Teruah!!!
The first thing that we are to most certainly remember is what took place at Mount Sinai when
Yisra’ĕl ‘heard the sounding of the Yoḇel and the voice of the shofar’ on the third day.
They were given two days to get ready and on the third day יהוהcame down and spoke the 10
Words of the Marriage Covenant.
The Bride was given ‘two days’ to get ready and on the third day they were to ‘meet’ with
!יהוהThis is a clear prophetic shadow picture of when He is coming down to be with us, His
Bride. Therefore, on Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets we remember that we are betrothed and
recognise our need to be a ready and spotless Bride.
We can also go back and be reminded about what took place in Yerushalayim in Ma’asei/Acts 2
on the Feast of Shaḇuoth/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost, when the 120 believers who were
gathered for this Feast were filled with the Set-Apart Spirit and the Torah was written upon
their hearts, as the Marriage Covenant that was given at Mount Sinai, was now renewed in the
Blood of Messiah and written on the hearts of the obedient believers!
On this day, there was the sound of fire that was similar to what was ‘heard’ at Mount Sinai,
and so we therefore remember how the Marriage Covenant has been
renewed/repaired/restored in the Blood of Messiah; which we who were once far off from are
now able to be grafted back in to.
In understanding that we are to remember that we are ‘betrothed’ to יהושעwe must
recognise the need to keep our garments of righteousness clean as we wait for our soon
coming Bridegroom.
To put it plainly, it is a day that we are to guard in remembering that we are betrothed to our
soon coming Master, Elohim and King!
This day is also typically referred to by many as ‘The Day of the awakening blast’, and for good
reason I might add, especially as we consider the clear use of this word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah Strong’s H8643.
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The Hebrew word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 is used to signify an alarming sound that
signals a distinctive sound that must be heard and properly responded to!
The Hebrew word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 is used 36 times in 33 verses, and in order
for us to get a better understanding of the call for us to remember the Teruah and how those
who know the Teruah are blessed, I thought it best to take a look at each of the verses where
this word is used and recognise how important it is for us to recognise the blessing of
remembering the sounding!
I have already quoted 2 of the 33 verses that contain the Hebrew word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah Strong’s H8643 (Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 & Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:24).
Let us now take a look at the rest, before coming back to Tehillah/Psalm 89:15, where we will
be able to recognise and understand the blessing of knowing the sounding (Teruah) and the
resulting action that comes to those who are blessed!
I will simply be going through Scripture in the order in which we find this word, based on the
order of the books as found in the ISR Scriptures 2009 edition, which has followed the Hebraic
order of the TaNaK (Torah (law/instructions), Neḇi’im (prophets), Kethuḇim (writings)),
numbering the headings in the order in which they are found:
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah – (2):
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 25:9 “You shall then sound a shofar-sound on the tenth day of the
seventh new moon, on Yom haKippurim cause a shofar to sound through all your land.”
Here we are given the clear instruction regarding the shofar sound that is to be sounded on
Yom haKippurim (Day of Atonement).
It is used to signal the distinctive sound of the shofar on the day of Yom Kippur that would fall
in the 49th year, in order to announce that the following year would be the Yoḇel (that is ‘the
Jubilee’ – ‘the year of release’) and therefore proclaim the release with the Teruah sound of
the shofar, giving people enough time to prepare for the release.
Please take note that the year of release does not start on the day of Yom Kippur, in the
49thyear, as it is only proclaimed on this day, as there would still be another 5 months before
the beginning of the Yoḇel (year of Jubilee)!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(3&4):
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 10:5-7 “And when you blow a shout, the camps that lie on the east side
shall depart. 6 “And when you blow a shout the second time, then the camps that lie on the
south side shall depart – they blow a shout for them to depart. 7 “And when the assembly is
to be assembled, you blow, but do not shout.”
Here in this passage we take note that the Hebrew word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 is
used 3 times (once in verse 5 and twice in verse 6) and is translated as ‘shout’.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘shout’ in verse 7 is the verb רּוע
ַ rua – Strong’s H7321,
from which the noun ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 is derived.
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The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘blow’ is תָ קַ עtaqa – Strong’s H8628 that means,
‘to thrust, strike or clap hands, blow, give a blast, trumpeter, pledge oneself’.
This word is often used in describing the ‘blast’ or ‘blow’ of the trumpet call, and in terms of
praise we are able to see how we are to blow the shofar in praise!
Tehillah/Psalm 81:3 “Blow the ram’s horn at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on
our festival day.”
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 10:10 “And in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed times,
and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings
and over your peace offerings. And they shall be a remembrance for you before your Elohim.
I am יהוהyour Elohim.”
What we can learn from the instructions given to blow a Teruah in Bemiḏbar/Numbers 10:5-6
regarding the proper order of departures is that this distinct sound had to be known by all, so
that no camp would be left behind or out of order in any way and highlights for us the blessing
of knowing the distinct sound that calls for the camps to move as commanded. This sound was
blown from the two silver trumpets that was to be made for the calling the congregation and
for breaking camp.
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(5):
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 23:21 “He has not looked upon wickedness in Yaʽaqoḇ, nor has He seen
trouble in Yisra’ĕl. יהוהhis Elohim is with him, and the shout of a Sovereign is in him.”
The Hebrew word ּותרּועַ ת
ְּ – uteruath is translated as ‘and the shout’ and here it is used in the
construct state with ‘Sovereign’, signifying that it is ‘the Sovereign’s shout’.
When a feminine noun ending with the letter ( הhey), such as Teruah () ְּתרּועָ ה, is used in the
construct state, the letter הis converted to a ( תtaw), and in this case it becomes ‘torath’
() ְּתרּועַ ת.
These were the words that Bilʽam spoke as part of him blessing Yisra’ĕl when Balaq had hired
him to curse Yisra’ĕl, and no matter how much Balaq, the wicked king of Mo’aḇ, wanted to
curse Yisra’ĕl by hiring Bilʽam, the false prophet, Bilʽam could not curse but could only speak
that which he was given to speak by יהוה.
In this blessing of Yisra’ĕl he declared that the ‘shout’ of a Sovereign is in Yisra’ĕl; and so, we
see a clear prophetic pointing to Yom Teruah, when the Trumpets will sound and the wrath of
Elohim will begin to be poured out; and this will certainly be the time when the most intense
efforts of the enemy to curse Ya’aqoḇ will be exercised.
Those who know the sounding have the assurance of being under the shelter of the Most-High!
For though Yisra’ĕl was, in a manner of speaking, in the ‘valley of death’ they did not need to
fear the evil cursing of the enemy for the shout of יהוהis in Yisra’ĕl!!!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(6):
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 29:1 “And in the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon,
you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work, it is Yom Teru’ah for you.”
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This verse is another clear command regarding the feasts that are to be kept as this chapter 29
of Bemiḏbar/Numbers deals primarily with the instructions regarding the Feasts of the 7 th
month.
This verse gives us the same clear instruction regarding the set-apart gathering we are to have
on Yom Teruah as already discussed with the verse from Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:24!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(7):
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 31:6 “And Mosheh sent them on the campaign, one thousand from each
tribe, them and Pineḥas son of El‛azar the priest on the campaign, with the set-apart utensils
and the trumpets for sounding in his hand.”
Here the word – הַ ְּתרּועָ הhateruah is translated as ‘for sounding’.
Mosheh sent 12 000 armed ones (1 000 from each tribe) to go and take vengeance on the
Miḏyanites, along with Pineḥas who went with the set-apart utensils and the trumpets for
sounding.
This was a sure way to make sure all the surrounding nations would see the power of יהוה
whose vengeance it is to put to death and keep alive!
So, 12 000 armed men against 5 kings and their armies would be a very powerful display of the
mighty and power of יהוה. Each tribe had a 1 000, showing that each tribe is equally
responsible in their role of guarding safety in the body and refuting all forms of strife, no matter
how big or small you are!
Pineḥas was sent with the 12 000 and this is a powerful picture of Messiah who is our Captain
and Chief Priest who leads us and fights for us and Pineḥas is certainly a picture of being an
agent of salvation as it was through his boldness of standing up and putting to death the
whoring in the camp that the plague of death had stopped, therefore representing for us the
need for us to always be armed for battle with Messiah as our head.
To try to fight any battles without our Master and Elohim leading us by the sound of His voice
would be to do so in vain – but with Him we need not fear the size or strength of the enemy!
Pineḥas had the trumpets for sounding in his hand and this too is a picture of Messiah, who
calls us to battle:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 14:8 “For indeed, if the trumpet makes an indistinct sound,
who shall prepare himself for battle?”
We are told in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 20:4 “for יהוהyour Elohim is He who goes with you, to fight for you
against your enemies, to save you.”
Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 4:20 “In whatever place you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, join us
there. Our Elohim fights for us.”
Pineḥas represents for us a physical and visible sign of the presence of יהוהwho leads us and
fights for us!
What we must also take very clear not of here is that not one of the 12 000 armed men were
injured!!!
Blessed are those who know the sounding – that is the distinctive Teruah vice of Elohim, who
calls us to stand and be armed in His Truth and not be found without oil when He comes!
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ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(8&9):
Yehoshua/Joshua 6:5 “And it shall be, when they make a long blast with the horn of a yoḇel,
and when you hear the voice of the shofar, that all the people shout with a great sound. And
the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before
him.”
Shout with a great sound! The word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah is also used to signal the shout of a great
sound that would cause the enemies walls to come down and the Hebrew root word translated
as ‘shout’ is רּוע
ַ
rua – Strong’s H7321; and the Hebrew word translated as ‘great’ is גָדֹול
gaḏol – Strong’s H1419 and means, ‘great, highest, mighty, marvellous’; and the Hebrew word
translated as ‘sound’ is ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643. This was the great sound of victory
that was shouted by all the people at the sound of the shofar, as the walls of Yeriḥo came
crashing down!
This was the instruction that was given and in verse 20 we see that it was carried out:
Yehoshua/Joshua 6:20 “And the people shouted when the priests blew the shopharot. And it
came to be when the people heard the voice of the shofar, and the people shouted with a
great shout, that the wall fell down flat. And the people went up into the city, every man
straight before him, and they captured the city.”
What we can learn from this is that when we remember what happened at Yeriḥo we can be
reminded to remember that we are to be strong and courageous and be a praising people as
we shout a shout of victory, for then the ‘walls’ that we may be facing will come crashing
down!
Walls do not just fall down by themselves, however when we are obedient to the
Instructions/Torah of Elohim, remembering daily to hear, guard and do His commands and keep
His Appointed Times, then we will see how He fights for us and will cause the strongest walls
that lie ahead of us to fall!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(10&11&12&31):
Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 4:5-7 “And when the ark of the covenant of יהוהcame into the
camp, all Yisra’ĕl shouted so loudly that the earth shook. 6 And when the Philistines heard
the noise of the shout, they said, “What is the noise of this great shout in the camp of the
Hebrews?” And when they knew that the ark of יהוהhad come into the camp, 7 the
Philistines were afraid, for they said, “Elohim has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe
to us! For it has never been like this before.”
Here in this passage we see word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah being used 3 times. This event has both a
positive and negative lesson for us. Yisra’ĕl had gone out to battle against the Philistines and
were struck heavily as they lost about four thousand men, and when they camp into the camp
the elders called for the Ark of The Covenant of יהוהfrom Shiloh; and when the ark entered
the camp all Yisra’ĕl lifted their voices and shouted so loudly that the Philistines feared at the
sound of Teruah!!!
While we can certainly learn that the enemy will tremble at the sound of our ‘shouting’ of
praise, we can see that from the events that followed that Yisra’ĕl were struck down and thirty
thousand foot soldiers were killed and the ark of Elohim was captured, and the two sons of Ěli,
Ḥophni and Pineḥas also died!
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That same day Ěli, the high priest died at the news of the capture of the ark of Elohim; and his
daughter in law, the wife of Pineḥas, who was pregnant died upon giving birth after hearing the
news that her husband and her father-in-law had died and that the ark had been captured!
Before she died, she named the child she bore Iḵaḇoḏ - – ִאי־כָ בֹודStrong’s H350 which
means, ‘no esteem’ as the esteem of יהוהhad departed from Yisra’ĕl!!!
The great lesson we can learn and remember is that we cannot ‘manufacture’ the presence of
יהוהin order to get our way!
The sons of Ěli were wicked priests and therefore did not bear the Ark of Elohim or serve Him
in the correct manner, and this cost the nation greatly!
We must remember that while the enemy will most certainly tremble at the sound of our praise
and rejoicing of Elohim, the enemy will still come at us and attack; and if we have not been
serving in faithful obedience to His commands then the enemy will strike us down.
This is a picture of the many who claim, with their lips, praise unto Elohim, yet their hearts are
far from Him as they disregard the Torah and the remembrance of keeping His Sabbaths and
Feasts and as a result will face a great destruction and be caught speechless due to their
lawlessness that wrongfully assumed a rightful standing, based on an empty confession of a
dead faith!
We can learn from this that while there may be a sound of truth, if the Truth is not in the heart
and has no love expressed through obedience then that sound simply becomes a sounding
brass or a clanging cymbal!!!
Therefore, as we ‘remember Teruah’ we must ask ourselves if there is a true ‘sound of
obedience’ being expressed in our lives, where our mouths and hearts match up, reflecting that
the Torah is in our hearts and mouths to do it, or has the sound of our faith just become a big
noise that does not adhere to the score sheet of the music of the Torah of Elohim that we are
to be ‘playing’ to???
In the next use of the word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 we are able to see contrasting
events where the true sound of victory is heard at the return of the Ark of Elohim
In Shemuʼěl Bět we read of the account of the return of the ark of Elohim and learn great
lessons in the correct manner of carrying His presence and serving Him with every step!
Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 6:15 “Thus Dawiḏ and all the house of Yisra’ĕl brought up the ark of
יהוהwith shouting and with a voice of a shofar.”
In the above verse, we see that Yisra’ĕl brought up the ark of יהוהwith ‘shouting’, which is
translated from the Hebrew word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643; and we also take note that
it was ‘with the voice of a shofar’.
This account is also recorded in:
Diḇre haYamim/1 Chronicles 15:28 “So all Yisra’ĕl brought up the ark of the covenant of
יהוהwith shouting and with a voice of a shophar, with trumpets and with cymbals, sounding
with harps and lyres.”
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The ark of Elohim was returned to Yisra’ĕl after it had been with the Philistines for 7 months,
as they had been struck with deadly tumors and destruction from יהוה.
The ark of יהוהwas sent to Bĕyth Shemesh and was then sent to Qiryath Yeʽarim and
remained there for twenty years in the house of Aḇinaḏaḇ.
Dawiḏ then went and brought the Ark of Elohim from the house of Aḇinaḏaḇ and they set it on
a new wagon!
As they were dancing along the way the oxen stumbled and Uzzah took hold of the ark of
Elohim and was struck dead. The ark then remained in the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom and remained
there for 3 months and his entire household was blessed!
Dawiḏ then came to fetch the Ark of Elohim; only this time they carried it correctly!!!
They went six steps and stopped and slaughtered bulls and sheep – and this is a picture of us
carrying the presence of יהוהwith joy each and every day, working and walking in accordance
to His Torah each and every day and then coming to Shabbat on the 7 th day and offering up a
set-apart gathering of praise!
What we are able to remember and learn, from these accounts, is that we are to carry the
presence of יהוהcorrectly and not in any corrupted man-made formula! He has given us His
clear instructions/Torah on how we are to walk in Him and when we walk in the straight path of
His Torah, we can do so with great joy and raise a true shout or ְּתרּועָ הTeruah.
What is also worth taking note of here, in this account given to us in Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel
6:15, is that we see connection between ‘shouting’, which is ְּתרּועָ הTeruah, being done
alongside the ‘voice of a shofar’.
In the previous example in Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 4:5-7 you will notice that there is no
‘voice of a shofar’! The voice of a shofar points us back to Mount Sinai and the giving of the
commands:
Shemoth/Exodus 19:16 “And it came to be, on the third day in the morning, that there were
thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain. And a voice of a shofar was very
strong, and all the people who were in the camp trembled.”
The link is very clear – True shouting of ְּתרּועָ הTeruah is in regards to being lined up with, and
in obedience to, the Torah of Elohim.
The way we ‘carry’ His presence and are able to ‘shout’ is by guarding to do all His commands
and remembering to keep His Sabbath and His feasts, for without this remembrance to obey
the shouting is incomplete!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(13):
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 4:19 “O my inward parts, my inward parts! I am in pain! O the walls of
my heart! My heart pounds in me, I am not silent. For you have heard, O my being, a voice of
a shophar, a shout of battle!”
Here we are able to take note that ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 also speaks of the
alarming sound of the judgement that is coming upon the disobedient. The Hebrew word
translated as ‘shout’ is ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643!
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Despite the urgent call given to a backsliding Yisra’ĕl to return to יהוהand wash their hearts
from all defilement, we see that even though a voice of judgement and trouble that was
coming had been made very clear, they refused to listen and here Yirmeyahu cries out in
anguish that the voice of a shofar and the shout of battle has been heard!
Yisra’ĕl were not listening to the ‘shout’ of battle and were not taking heed of the awakening
blast of battle that was coming upon them as the wrath of Elohim was about to be unleashed!
יהוהthen says that His people are foolish and do not know Him:
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are
stupid children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good
they have no knowledge.”
This is a very sobering reality of what we see happening today!
Many people are not hearing this sound of the shout of war and due to a lack of knowledge
they shall die!
The day of the wrath of יהוהis coming and those who have ears and are not hearing are going
to be in severe trouble! Blessed are those who know the sounding!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(14):
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 20:16-17 “And let that man be like the cities which יהוהoverthrew,
and repented not. Let him hear the cry in the morning and the shouting at noon, 17 because I
was not slain from the womb, so that my mother should have been my burial-site and her
womb forever great.”
Here in this verse Yirmeyahu is using the picture of being like the cities that did not repent and
were overthrown, giving us a possible reminder of Seḏom and Amorah that was overthrown for
its wickedness and depravity and refused to hear any call to repentance.
Yirmeyahu is expressing deep emotions due to the intensity of the situation and not just of his
own, but of the whole world as the ramifications of what was about to happen to Yerushalayim
was extremely crippling for all.
Yirmeyahu was gripped by the fact that many refused to hear the shouting of destruction that
was coming and sadly we see the same thing today as many refuse to repent from their
crookedness and sin and are not taking heed of the warning cry of the Day of the wrath of
יהוהthat is coming.
Despite feeling helpless and alone amongst a wicked generation Yirmeyahu knew that while
everyone had betrayed him, יהוהhad not!
In remembering the Teruah and knowing the sounding we can take comfort in eth refuge we
have in our Master and therefore must do our utmost in guarding ourselves against the
influences of corruption and sin.
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(15):
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Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 49:2 “Therefore see, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall
sound a battle cry in Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be a heap, a wasteland, and her
villages shall be burned with fire. Then Yisra’ĕl shall dispossess those who dispossessed
him,” declares יהוה.”
These were words that Yirmeyahu was given concerning the Ammonites who had distressed
Yisra’ĕl and that their day of destructions was coming from יהוה.
The remembrance of this ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 musty encourage us to know that
our Master and Elohim is coming to destroy our enemies and all those who have oppressed the
Bride of Elohim.
The Hebrew word ַרבָ הRabbah – Strong’s H7328 was the name of the capital of the
Ammonites and means, ‘great’, and what we can learn from this is that sure truth of how יהוה
is coming to bring low the great and lofty ones as He is coming to destroy the proud and
therefore we need not fear those in the world who are seemingly ‘great’ in worldly stature, for
their days are numbered!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(16):
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 21:22 “In his right hand shall be the divination for Yerushalayim: to set up
battering rams, to call for murder, to lift the voice with shouting, to set battering rams
against the gates, to heap up a siege mound, to build a wall.”
In this Chapter 21 we take note of the very stern words of warning that the prophet Yeḥezqěl
was to speak and prophesy against Yerushalayim and the land of Yisra’ĕl and how יהוהwas
going to use the sovereign of Babel to bring destruction upon Yerushalayim and while using
divination the sovereign of babel would come up against Yerushalayim and lift up a voice with
shouting!
This shouting is the voice of destruction that was coming because of disobedience!
This sounding was not a good and pleasant sounding as it was the sounding of war and
destruction that was coming, bringing the crookedness of Yehuḏah to remembrance, so that
they would be taken into captivity.
As we remember this ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 we must be on guard against any form
of crookedness that hinders our called for set-apartness and recognise the dangers that
crookedness and sin can bring when the ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 sound is not
remembered!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(17):
Amos 1:14 “So I shall kindle a fire upon the wall of Rabbah, and it shall consume its palaces,
with a shout in the day of battle, with a storm in the day of the whirlwind.”
As in the words of יהוהthat we see in Yirmeyahu we are also able to see ’יהוהs word of
destruction against the Ammonites and their capital Rabbah as they will be consumed with a
shot in the day of the battle of יהוה.
The destruction of the ‘great’ is made very clear as we also take note of the words we see in:
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Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 25:2-7 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites, and prophesy
against them. 3 “And you shall say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Master !יהוה
Thus said the Master יהוה, “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My set-apart place when it was
profaned, and against the land of Yisra’ĕl when it was ruined, and against the house of
Yehuḏah when they went into exile, 4 therefore, see, I am giving you as a possession to the
men of the East, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings
among you – they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 “And I shall make
Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. And you shall know that I
am יהוה.” 6 ‘For this is what the Master יהוהsaid, “Because you clapped your hands, and
you stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all the scorn of your being against the land of
Yisra’ĕl, 7 therefore see, I Myself shall stretch out My hand against you, and give you as
plunder to the nations. And I shall cut you off from the peoples, and make you perish from
the lands. I shall destroy you, and you shall know that I am יהוה.”
As we remember this ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 (shout) in Amos 1:14 we can be greatly
encouraged in knowing that יהוהis coming to bring swift destruction upon those who have
scorned at His land and His people, and that which was once cities of the great men of the
world will become pastures for camels and resting places for flocks, signifying the peace that
our Master and Elohim is bringing for His people!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(18):
Amos 2:2 “But I shall send fire upon Mo’aḇ, and it shall consume the palaces of Qeriyoth. And
Mo’aḇ shall die amid uproar, with a cry and with a voice of a shophar.”
The word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 is also used to sound the destruction that is coming
on the enemies of Elohim!
The word translated as ‘cry’ is ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643, and the Hebrew word
translated as ‘uproar’ is ׁשָ אֹוןsha’on – Strong’s H7588 which means, ‘a roar (of waters), an
uproar, tumult, crash, big noise, clamour, destruction’, and comes from the root verb ׁשָ אָ ה
sha’ah – Strong’s H7582 which means, ‘crash into ruins, devastate, lay waste, cause to be
desolated’.
This root verb ׁשָ אָ הsha’ah – Strong’s H7582 is translated as ‘laid waste’ in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 6:11 “Then I said, “יהוה, until when?” And He answered, “Until the cities
are laid waste and without inhabitant, and the houses are without a man, and the land is laid
waste, a ruin”
You will recall that this was the answer יהוהgave to Yeshayahu when he asked יהוהhow
long he was to speak to a people who would not listen!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(19):
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Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1:14-16 “Near is the great day of יהוה, near and hurrying greatly,
the noise of the day of יהוה. Let the mighty man then bitterly cry out! 15 That day is a day of
wrath, a day of distress and trouble, a day of waste and ruin, a day of darkness and
gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of a shofar and sounding – against
the walled cities and against the corner towers.”
It is a day of a shofar and ְּתרּועָ הTeruah!!!
This is the sound of warnings that we see being given in the prophets and the question we must
always be asking ourselves is, “Am I listening?”
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 10:11-12 “And all these came upon them as examples, and
they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come, 12 so that he
who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.”
We need to ‘take heed’ and be sober and watchful as we make ourselves ready for our coming
King!
As we consider the call to take heed, lest we fall, we must realise the real dangers that we face
each and every day!
We must take heed against false teachers and those who mix their teachings with false
traditions, teaching as teachings the commands of men while forsaking the Torah of Elohim!
Messiah warns us in Mattithyahu/Matthew 24:4 that we must take heed that no one leads us
astray and in Marqos/Mark 8:15 He tells us to beware against the leaven of the Pharisees and
in Marqos/Mark 12:38 He tells us to beware of false scribes who love to be seen and make a
show and be popular with the people!
Sha’ul warns us in Pilipiyim/Philippians 3 to watch out for those who are falsely teaching
others to get physically circumcised and calls them ‘evil workers’! He also warns us in
Qolasim/Colossians 3:8 to not let anyone make a prey of us through philosophy and empty
deceit, according to the tradition of men and elementary matters of the word that are not of
Messiah!
As we take heed and remember the shouting and remember how we are all unique parts of the
body of Messiah, we must not find ourselves neglecting our required set-apartness and
responsibility to the body, and not be found hiding the talents He has given but make sure that
we are building each other up in the Most Set-Apart faith and make sure that we do not stop
running as we fix our eyes on our Master and Elohim!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(20):
Tehillah/Psalm 27:6 “And now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me; and I
slaughter in His Tent with slaughters of sounding; I sing, yes, I sing praises to יהוה.”
From the image of the psalmist saying that he slaughters in His tent with slaughters of
sounding, we are able to grasp and understanding the picture of true obedience and worship as
understood by the design of the Tabernacle, which we learn a great deal from in how we are to
draw near to Elohim.
This ‘sounding’, therefore, can help us to remember His Feasts and recognise what a joy it is to
draw near to Elohim on His Appointed Times!!!
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While we are certainly called to be a daily living sacrifice and offer up daily a slaughter offering
of praise, we also recognise that we are to do this collectively as a body on His Sabbaths and His
Feasts!
It is יהוהwho fights for us and delivers us from our enemies all around and we are to walk in
the victorious procession in Messiah as we praise and declare His praises and raise a shout to
our King!
Here in this Tehillah/Psalm 27 the verb translated as ‘slaughter’ is the word זָבַ חzaḇaḥ Strong’s H2076 which means, ‘to offer a sacrifice, sacrificed’, from which we get the noun that
is translated as ‘slaughters’, which is ֶזבַ חzeḇaḥ - Strong’s H2077 and both of these are also
used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 4:5 “Offer slaughterings of righteousness, and trust in יהוה.”
We ‘offer’ up our lives as a living ‘sacrifice’ with joy and thanksgiving, and we take note that
with the זֶבַ חzeḇaḥ offering, there is to be a pure expression of appreciation:
Tehillah/Psalm 107:22 “And let them bring slaughterings of thanksgiving, and relate His
works with rejoicing.”
Tehillah/Psalm 116:17 “I bring You a slaughtering of thanksgiving, and call upon the Name of
יהוה.”
In these two verses, we see again the two root words being used, and so we can begin to
understand the following text:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 13:15 “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a slaughter offering of
praise to Elohim, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.”
Kěpha Aleph/ 1Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a
people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvellous light”
Our ability to slaughter a slaughtering of sounding must never be hindered and as we consider
the blessing of knowing the sounding and remembering the sounding is that we must
continually offer up a slaughter offering of praise to Elohim!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(21):
Tehillah/Psalm 33:3 “Sing to Him a new song; play sweetly with a shout of joy.”
Here the word – ִב ְּתרּועָ הbiteruah is translated as ‘with a shout of joy’.
This verse is pretty much self-explanatory as we recognise that singing to our Master carries the
distinct sound of ְּתרּועָ הTeruah and the joyous remembrance of what He has done for us!
The Hebrew word used here in this psalm for ‘sweetly’ is יָטַ בyataḇ – Strong’s H3190 which
means, ‘to be good, well, glad or pleasing’ and can carry the understanding of what it means
to be in a state of having proper characteristics or performing an expected function.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘play’ is ָנגַןnagan – Strong’s H5059 which is used 15
times in Scripture and has the meaning, ‘to touch or play a stringed instrument, minstrel, pluck
the strings’:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 38:20 “יהוה, come to save me! And let us sing my songs with stringed
instruments all the days of our life in the House of יהוה.”
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Making songs and singing songs to stringed instruments is a great expression of praise
boastfully praising in יהוה, which we are blessed to enjoy here at ATFOTC, together!
What we can see here in terms of knowing the sounding and remembering the Teruah is that
we are to make our boast in Elohim with good and pleasing praise done with instruments and
voice, carrying the clear distinct sound of true praise and worship for our Mighty Elohim!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(22):
Tehillah/Psalm 47:5 “Elohim shall go up with a shout, יהוהwith a voice of a shophar.”
Here the word – ִב ְּתרּועָ הbiteruah is translated as ‘with a shout’.
Our Master and Elohim is to be held in awe and is to be greatly feared because He is the MostHigh!
The Hebrew word for ‘Most High’ is עֶ ְּליֹוןelyon – Strong’s H5945 which means, ‘high,
exalted’, and is used a title for יהוה, and comes from the root word עָ לָ הalah – Strong’s
H5927 which carries the meaning of, ‘to go up, ascend, climb, offer, exalted’!
This root verb עָ לָ הalah – Strong’s H5927 is used in verse 5 (verse 6 in Hebrew text) in telling us that
Elohim ‘shall go up’ ( עָ לָ הalah – Strong’s H5927) with a shout.
Then we are told that it is יהוהwith the sound of a shofar.
This is clear covenant language, as we are reminded again of the voice of a shofar that we have
spoken of and recognise that it sounded very loud and the people trembled in:
Shemoth/Exodus 19:16 “And it came to be, on the third day in the morning, that there were
thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain. And a voice of a shofar was very
loud, and all the people who were in the camp trembled.”
Shemoth/Exodus 19:19 “And when a voice of the shofar sounded long and became very
strong, Mosheh spoke, and Elohim answered him by voice.”
The ‘Last trumpet’ will be blown on Yom Kippur when our Master and Elohim shall come out of
the Most Set-Apart Place, take off His High Priestly garments and put on His Kingly Robe and
come and trample the winepress in His wrath and then fetch His Bride.
The ‘first’ of the last 7 trumpets will sound on Yom Teruah with the 7th trumpet being sounded
on Yom Kippur.
The Hebrew root verb עָ לָ הalah – Strong’s H5927 is also used in a clear riddle that is found in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 30:4 “Who has gone up to the heavens and come down? Who has gathered
the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who established all the ends
of the earth? What is His Name, and what is His Son’s Name, if you know it?”
The answer is clear as we take note in verse 9 that the writer of this proverb recognised the
danger of seizing the Name of Elohim by saying ‘who is ’יהוה, and therefore answers this
powerful riddle that many refuse to understand, by stating that the one who has gone up and
come down is !יהוה
Sha’ul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians:
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Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:8-10 “That is why it says, “When He went up on high, He led captivity
captive, and gave gifts to men.” 9 But what does “He went up” mean, except that He also first
went down into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who went down is also the One who went
up far above all the heavens, to fill all.”
Recognising that יהושעMessiah is the One who went up on High, after He first went down,
we recognise that He is the Most-High – He is עֶ ְּליֹוןelyon – Strong’s H5945!
In Tehillah/Psalm 47 we are told why יהוהMost High is awesome! It is because he has
subdued all peoples and nations under us and has chosen our inheritance. Do you see what this
means?
Our Mighty Saviour and King has destroyed the power of the enemy and secured for us our
inheritance, for the meek shall inherit the earth, as the righteous shall be left in it while the
wicked shall be plucked out! יהוהis to be worshipped because He is fearful –which describes
His awe and majesty that inspires a proper praise!
In a song of Asaph, we see the clear declaration that יהוהis Most High over all the earth:
Tehillah/Psalm 83:18 “And let them know that You, whose Name is יהוה, You alone are the
Most High over all the earth.”
He is has gone up with a shout and with the voice of a shofar sits on High and is the One unto
whom all praise is due and as we remember the sounding, we are reminded to continually
praise the Most-High Elohim, who is our Saviour and King!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(23):
Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are the people who know the sounding! They walk, O יהוה, in
the light of Your face.”
We will look at this verse after going through the others!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(24):
Tehillah/Psalm 150:5 “Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with resounding
cymbals!”
This second last verse in the Psalms reminds us of the resounding praise we are to be giving to
our Master and here it emphasises the distinct sound of cymbals or percussion instruments,
which are instruments that are sounded by striking, shaking, or scraping in a skillful manner.
The picture we get here, is one of a unified orchestral sound where all the instruments blend to
make a powerful praise unto our King and while this has a literal call to play instruments awe
also recognise how awesome the sound of true united praise is before our Master when done
with both instruments and voices that are in unity!
What this verse reminds us of in terms of making a resounding sound of praise with cymbals is
that we are to be bold in our praise and not be held back or intimidated in any way, as we make
a confident boast in our Elohim and Saviour!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(25):
Iyoḇ/Job 8:21 “While He fills your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing”
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The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘rejoicing’ is ְּתרּועָ הTeruah and we are reminded that
it is יהוהwho fills us and it is He who fills our mouth with laughter and our lips with the true
ability to praise, through His life-giving Word that is our daily and lawful bread!
What we are to remember in terms of this is that we are to be a people who ‘rejoice always’,
and so at the ‘remembrance of ְּתרּועָ הTeruah’ we find that it is a good time to reflect on our
attitudes!
Are we truly rejoicing always and do we rejoice when we face all kinds of trials, or do we find
ourselves moaning and groaning at some of the pressures and hardships we face along the
way???
Let us be reminded to be a rejoicing people – for we have truly nothing to moan about as we
walk in Messiah who gives us abundant life!
Those who know the sound remember to rejoice, no matter the circumstances!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(26):
Iyoḇ/Job 33:26 “He prays to Eloah, and He accepts him. And he sees His face with joy, and He
restores to man his righteousness.”
Here the word – ִב ְּתרּועָ הbiteruah is translated as ‘with joy’.
In these words of Elihu to Iyoḇ he spoke much about the relationship between man and Elohim
and here he makes it clear that the one who prays to Eloah and is accepted by Him shall see His
face with ‘joy’ as He restores man to righteousness!
The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘accepts’ comes from the root word ָרצָ הratsah –
Strong’s H7521 which means, ‘to be pleased with, accept favourably, delight, take pleasure
in’, which we see being used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 147:11 “ יהוהtakes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who wait for His
loving-commitment.”
He clearly ‘accepts favourably’ those who ‘fear’ Him, and the Hebrew root word here for ‘fear’
is י ֵָראyare – Strong’s H3373 meaning, ‘to fear, be afraid, reverence, respect’, and also is used
as an adjective to describe one who is wise, and therefore giving us the better meaning of, ‘to
stand in awe of, be awed, to reverence, honour, and respect’.
The use of the word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah here in Iyoḇ/Job 33:26 can cause us to be reminded of
the fact that one day we shall see our Master and Elohim face to face!
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to
face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, as I also have been known.”
What a joyous day this will be!!!
Having said that, we take note of the joy that we are to walk in now, as we look intently in to
the mirror of the Word and do not forget what we look like, as we put on the full armour of
Elohim and are dressed in the righteousness that He has restored unto us through the Blood of
Messiah!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(27):
Iyoḇ/Job 39:25 “At the blast of the shophar he says, ‘Aha!’ And from afar he smells the
battle, the thunder of commanders and shouting.”
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The Hebrew word ּותרּועָ ה
ְּ – uteruah is translated as ‘and shouting’.
From the beginning of Chapter 38 we see יהוהspeaking directly to Iyoḇ by asking him a series
of 50 questions from Chapter 38:1-40:1, after which Iyoḇ answered by saying that he was
insignificant and there was nothing that he could do but put his hand over his mouth.
This verse is speaking about the splendour of a horse that is described from verse 19-25 and is
one of the animals that יהוהasks Iyoḇ if he had given the horse its strength or covered its
neck with a mane or if he was able to make it leap like a locust.
When one takes an in-depth look at the closing chapters of Iyoḇ and the series of questions
that יהוהasks and leaves Iyoḇ speechless we take note that we too must never presume to
know how יהוהhas made everything the way it is, for His ways are higher than ours and in
terms of the description of the fearlessness of a horse and how it smells the battle from afar
and can hear the sounding, we take note that we too are to know the sounding, which can only
do when we are walking according to the functional design of our Creator and guarding to do
what He commands us to do from His Word!
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(28&29&30):
Ezra 3:11-13 “And they responded by praising and giving thanks to יהוה, “For He is good, for
His loving-commitment towards Yisra’ĕl is forever.” And all the people shouted with a great
shout, when they praised יהוה, because the foundation of the House of יהוהwas laid. 12
And many of the priests and Lěwites and heads of the fathers’ houses, the old men who had
seen the first House, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this House was laid
before their eyes, and many shouted aloud for joy, 13 and the people could not distinguish the
noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted
with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.”
Here again we see the use of the words גָדֹולgadol, רּוע
ַ
rua, and of course - ְּתרּועָ ה
Teruah!!!
This chapter begins with telling us that in the 7th new moon they kept Sukkot and from the first
day of the 7th new moon they began to offer up ascending offerings, while the foundation of
the Hěḵal had not yet been laid, so money and provision was given to the builders and they had
completed laying the foundation in the second new moon of the following year and at the
completion of the foundation of the House they all raised a shout and praised Elohim!
We are reminded that יהושעis the Chief Cornerstone and the foundation has been laid for
the House of Elohim and we are the living stones that are being built up together in Him; and as
we remember this we too can have a remembrance of shouting as we praise our King and shout
a great shout! The shout here was heard far away!!!
We are not to be silent in our walk of faith but must proclaim with a loud voice and so the
remembrance of ְּתרּועָ הTeruah can also cause us to realise that we are not to hide our light
but rather shine it through faithful obedience and tell others of His great Besorah (Good News)!
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ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(31):
Diḇre haYamim/1 Chronicles 15:28 “So all Yisra’ĕl brought up the ark of the covenant of
יהוהwith shouting and with a voice of a shophar, with trumpets and with cymbals, sounding
with harps and lyres.”
Discussed above along with (10&11&12)
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(32):
Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 13:12 “And see, with us as Head is Elohim Himself, and His
priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Yisra’ĕl, do not
fight against יהוהElohim of your fathers, for you are not going to prosper!””
Here the word – ִב ְּתרּועָ הbiteruah is translated as ‘with sounding’.
These were some of the words that were spoken against Yaroḇ’am who was the first king of
the House of Yisra’ĕl and has rejected the Lěwites from being priests and had appointed his
own priesthood.
In this chapter, we see Aḇiyah, who was the son of Reḥaḇ’am and the second king of the House
of Yehuḏah, speaking out against Yaroḇ’am and in this speech he made it clear that the true
priests of Elohim have the sounding trumpets with which to sound the alarm against Yaroḇ’am
and made it clear that for them to fight against יהוהwould not be a prosperous move for
them, for they did not have יהוהas Head and certainly did not have ’יהוהs appointed
priesthood!
From this, we can learn a great deal about listening to those who our Master and Elohim has
appointed to equip His body to maturity, for the true appointed priesthood has the sounding
trumpets with which to sound the alarm against those who go astray!
In a time, where we see so many who are doing whatever is right in their own eyes, we
recognise that many would do well to remember the sounding alarm, against walking contrary
to sound teaching, by being led astray by false ear tickling messages that do not line up with the
plumb line of the Word and certainly carry a different sound that is Not the awakening ְּתרּועָ ה
Teruah sound of Truth!
Yaroḇ’am did not listen to the warning and set an ambush against Yehuḏah and when the men
of Yehuḏah cried out to יהוהand the priests shouted with the trumpets, יהוהsmote
Yaroḇ’am and all Yisra’ĕl before Aḇiyah and Yehuḏah and 500 000 men of Yisra’ĕl were killed!
This is a clear lesson on knowing the sounding, which Yaroḇ’am did not as he did not take heed
of the clear warning and so too, do we recognise how those who do not know the sounding
shall be smitten in the Day of !יהוה
ְּתרּועָ הTeruah –(33):
Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 15:14 “And they swore to יהוהwith a loud voice, with
shouting and with trumpets and with rams’ horns.”
Here Yisra’ĕl was gathered in the third new moon!!!
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What happens in the third new moon?
SHAḆUOTH - FEAST OF WEEKS – PENTECOST!!!
This is the Feast where the renewed Marriage Covenant with Yisra’ĕl was written on hearts of
believers and what is for us a great shadow picture of this event is what we are given by the
accounts we see being spoken of here in Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 15 where it was in
the 15th year of the reign of Asa that they entered into a covenant to ‘seek’ יהוהElohim of
their fathers (Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq, Ya’aqoḇ) with all their heart and with all their being!
In verse 13 it says that whoever would not seek יהוהwould be put to death, no matter your
status in society – big or small if you did not seek יהוהyou died!!!
And as we can see from verse 14, they swore an oath with a loud voice, with shouting – that is
– with ְּתרּועָ הTeruah, with trumpets and with the shofar!!!
Verse 15 goes on to say that they rejoiced concerning the oath that they had sworn with all
their heart and being and that יהוהgave them rest all around!!!
This is a very powerful illustration that helps us remember what יהושעhas given us access
back into, by His Blood – the Covenants of Promise which we were once far off from and
strangers to!
We too, as a restored Bride, must shout and rejoice with all our hearts as we swear an oath to
walk faithfully in Him and to guard to do His commands, for it is a joy for us to do and should
cause us to rejoice – it is not hard or impossible as many false doctrines teach!
Remembering the sounding is to remember the joy of guarding the Marriage Covenant we have
been grafted in to by walking in obedience to the Torah of our Husband and King.
Well there you have it – all 33 verses that contain the 36 times we see the root word ְּתרּועָ ה
Teruah - Strong’s H8643 being used and when we consider the command to have a Zikkaron
Teru’ah - a remembrance of ְּתרּועָ הTeruah we are certainly able to have a lot to remember
and brig to remembrance as we consider each of these passages that contain the word ְּתרּועָ ה
Teruah.
For those who do not know the sounding ( ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643), there is not much
hope, whereas there is a sure blessing for those who know the sounding!
Let us therefore take a deeper look into the verse that I started with, when looking at the
Hebrew word Teruah – which is number 23 in the listed occurrences of the word ְּתרּועָ ה
Teruah.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO KNOW THE SOUNDING!
Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are the people who know the sounding! They walk, O יהוה, in
the light of Your face.”
What a powerful verse this is!!!
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Blessed are those who know the festal trumpet call, is how this could also be translated, as we
certainly recognise that the Appointed Times of Elohim are critical to our understanding of
Scripture and the ability to know and walk in His commands as we follow His cycles and seasons
gives us the blessing of walking in His light!
The Hebrew root word that is used here in Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 for ‘know’ is י ַָדעyaḏa –
Strong’s H3045 and means ‘to acknowledge, clearly understand, to perceive, distinguish and
discern’ and implies the ability to respond to and recognise the Master’s voice and this verb can
also render the ability to know by experience.
Those who know the sounding clearly know יהוהand are known by יהוה, for He knows those
who take refuge in Him!
Naḥum/Nahum 1:7 “ יהוהis good, as a stronghold in the day of distress. And He knows
those who take refuge in Him.”
יהוהchose Yisra’ĕl to be a people for Himself, not because they were more numerous that
other peoples, but because of His loving-commitment to Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq and Ya’aqoḇ with
whom He established the sure Covenants of Promise!
Despite this clear choosing, Yisra’ĕl continually rejected the need to walk in set-apartness and
chose to follow after the ways of the world.
The nation that was chosen to be a light to the nations did not shine the light of the Truth and
as a result were unable to clearly make known to the nations who יהוהis.
Despite Yisra’ĕl’s claim to ‘know’ יהוה, while they were clearly walking in rebellion to His
commands, יהוהmade it clear that despite their lip service, their actions proved that they did
not ‘know’ Him!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 1:3-4 “An ox knows its owner and a donkey its master’s crib – Yisra’ĕl does
not know, My people have not understood.” 4 Alas, sinning nation, a people loaded with
crookedness, a seed of evil-doers, sons acting corruptly! They have forsaken יהוה, they have
provoked the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, they went backward.”
In this rebuke given to a rebellious and apostate people, it is made clear that even an ox
‘knows’ its owner and a donkey knows its master’s crib, yet Yisra’ĕl do not know יהוה.
Here this word ‘know’ is also the Hebrew word י ַָדעyaḏa – Strong’s H3045 and implies the
ability to respond to and recognise the Master’s voice.
Yoḥanan/John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
To ‘know’ יהוהimplies the clear ability to ‘hear’ His voice and guard to do what He
commands, for then He shall know His own!!!
To know His voice implies that one is able to know the sounding and take heed of what is
coming, making sure that they hear His voice and follow Him!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3-5 “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His
commands. 4 The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been
perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 8:3 “But if anyone loves Elohim, this one is known by Him.”
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To love Elohim, gives us the sure promise that we are known by Him! Sadly, many do not
‘know’ what love for Elohim is:
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:3 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and
His commands are not heavy”
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:8 “The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is
love.”
The Greek word used for ‘know’ in Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John is γινώσκω ginōskō – Strong’s
G1097 which means, ‘to perceive, to learn, to come to know, comprehend, understand,
recognise, learn to know, get a knowledge of’.
As we sit under the instructions of our Creator and Redeemer, we learn to know Him and get a
knowledge of who He is and come to know how we are to live in obedience to His clear Torah.
There are so many liars out there today who claim to know Elohim, yet they have no knowledge
of His Torah at all, as they refuse to sit and learn His Word – how can they know Him!!!
It is one thing to claim that you know Him, yet whether we know Him or not, is seen in the fruit
of our obedience to His commands, and all will be clearly revealed when He returns – as many
will come running, claiming that they know Him, yet will be rejected!
Those that know Elohim and know the sounding are blessed!
The Hebrew word that is used here in Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 for ‘blessed’ is – אַ ְּׁש ֵריasherey
which comes from the root word אֶ ׁשֶ רesher – Strong’s H835 which means, ‘happiness,
blessedness, bliss’, and comes from the root verb אָ ׁשַ רashar – Strong’s H833 which means,
‘blessed, lead, guide, to go straight, make progress to be advanced, to be led forth’.
אֶ ׁשֶ רesher – Strong’s H835 is used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that יהוהis good; blessed is the man that takes
refuge in Him!”
A ‘blessed’ - אֶ ׁשֶ רesher – Strong’s H835 – man is one who fears יהוה, takes refuge in יהוה
and who trusts in יהוהcompletely, submitting completely under the authority of His Torah:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people are let loose, but blessed is he
who guards the Torah.”
It is also a blessing for man to not follow wrong advice:
Tehillah/Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who shall not walk in the counsel of the wrong, and
shall not stand in the path of sinners, and shall not sit in the seat of scoffers, 2 but his delight
is in the Torah of יהוה, and he meditates in His Torah day and night.”
The blessing of knowing the sounding is a clear picture of one who guards, meditates and walks
in the Torah of Elohim, and that is why the second part of Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 tells us what
the blessed people who know the sounding do:
THEY WALK, O יהוה, IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR FACE.
The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘walk’ is הָ לַ ְךhalaḵ - Strong’s H1980 which carries the
meaning, ‘to walk, to live, manner of life, cause to live’, and literally speaks of how one lives.
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It is used as a verb indicating that it is an active expression of one’s life and also carries the
meaning, ‘to go, to walk, come, proceed, depart, move, go away, to die, live, manner of life
(figuratively)’.
The root word for walk - הָ לַ ְךhalaḵ - Strong’s H1980 in the ancient pictographic script looks
like this:
Hey – ָה:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is ‘a man standing with his arms
raised out’. The meaning of the letter is “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”,
from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of
surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוהas we lift our hands in praise, declaring
His authority under which we humbly submit!
Lamed - ַל:
The ancient script has this letter as
, and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the
meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction,
and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to
bring back by Authority.
Kaph - ְך:
The ancient form of this letter is
- meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning
behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or
subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises
submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The
hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!
When we look at the letters that spell out the root word that for ‘walk’ we are able to see a
great declaration:
BEHOLD THE STAFF IN THE PALM!
With the picture of the shepherd’s staff and the open palm of the hand we are able to see the
concept of ‘staff in the palm’ and we take note that a nomad that travelled on foot would have
a staff in his hand in order to provide proper support in walking, as well as having a weapon in
his hand to defend against predators and thieves!
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When we walk as we should we submit under the proper authority of our Good Shepherd and
guard to do all he has commanded us to as we give Him the proper praise in all we do, being
armed in His Truth that gives us boldness to walk upright amidst a crooked world, for we are
able to know the sounding of our Good Shepherd as we know His voice!
The Hebrew word used for ‘light’, here in Tehillah/Psalm 89:15, is אֹורoor – Strong’s H216
which we know in Scripture, in being the opposite to darkness, carries with it the clear
significance it has for us in speaking of knowledge and insight and understanding as opposed to
ignorance and confusion.
Walking in the light of His face, is a clear reference to obedience as we also take note of
Dawiḏ’s appeal to יהוהto not turn His face away in displeasure:
Tehillah/Psalm 27:9 “Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in
displeasure; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O Elohim of my
deliverance.”
In Yeshayahu we see the clear call to walk in the light of יהוה:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 2:5 “O house of Ya’aqoḇ, come and let us walk in the light of יהוה.”
When Yeshayahu was describing the coming reign of our King, he urged all to be urgent in their
walking in the Truth and Light of the Torah of יהוה.
The urgency of this command is clear in saying ‘come and let us walk’ and we see the
repetition of the root word to walk in the intensive form literally commanding the following,
‘walk, let us walk!’
This call identifies that there is no time to be sitting still and waiting for The Day to come – we
are to be about walking in Him right now!
This urgency in commanding and calling for an active walk was due to the current
circumstances that had plagued Yehuḏah.
Yehuḏah had grown comfortable in their circumstances and as a result were being filled with all
the wrong stuff!
Yeshayahu was calling the people to walk in the light and as he looked around, he saw what
could be described as ‘dark living’ by a people who claimed to follow !יהוה
In our Master, יהושעMessiah, is life and the life is the light of men!!! (Yoḥanan/John 1:4)
Those who are in the Master and stay in Him have life and life abundantly and need not fear
the darkness of evil.
When we consider the clear picture of Yisra’ĕl having light while Mitsrayim were in thick
darkness we are also able to recognise the joy of having the strength and power of our Master
giving us secure light in our sojourning.
What is worth taking note of, in terms of the Hebrew word for light, we are able to see a
powerful Truth being given to us through the ancient pictographic of this word:
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘light’ – אֹורoor – Strong’s H216 is written in the
ancient pictographic script as follows:
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Aleph – א:
This is the letter ‘aleph’, in the ancient script is pictured as
, ‘the head of an ox’, and
represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This
also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy
load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע
Messiah fulfilled!
Waw/Vav – ֹו:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as
, which is
a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility
of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of
this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’ as well as ‘bind’.
Resh – ִר:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and has the
meaning of the head of a man as well as ‘chief, top, begging or first’. It has the meaning of
‘top’, as in the top or head of a body, and ‘chief’, as in a head of a tribe or people; as well as the
one who rules the people. Every House has a head of the home, and all in the House submit to
the instructions of the One who is head of the home, listening to and obeying the words that
the Head speaks!
When we consider these ancient pictographic letters that render the word for ‘light’ we can
clearly see a powerful lesson, in terms of our Master, the Light of the world, giving us the
rendering:
STRENGTH SECURED IN THE HEAD!
We have great confidence and security in being able to be strong and courageous as we walk in
the Light as our Master, who is our Head, is in the Light and in Him we have been secured into
His Covenants of promise, having called us out of darkness into His marvellous light, for His
Word lights our path in a dark and depraved world!
Yisra’ĕl were therefore given ‘light’ in the darkness, which metaphorically reminds us of how
we need not fear the ‘darkness’ of the world, as יהוהgives us the light of His Word and
illuminates it to us, helping us be led forth in peace as His Word is a lamp to our feet and light
to our path!
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As we consider the blessing of knowing the sounding – that is ‘knowing ְּתרּועָ הTeruah’ we
recognise that the blessing is not just simply a knowledge alone but is an active application of
obedience to the knowledge of Elohim as seen in one’s ability to walk in the light of His face.
Remembering ְּתרּועָ הTeruah and knowing ְּתרּועָ הTeruah, is a blessing when one is actually
taking heed to the voice of Elohim and following His Word and learning from the remembrance
of all the ְּתרּועָ הTeruah that we have looked at, teaching us the blessing of knowing and the
curse for not knowing; and above all, the need to remember that we are a betrothed Bride that
must be ready for our Husband and King’s imminent return!
In closing this section on Yom Teruah, I would like to show you the Hebrew word for Teruah, as
it is written in the ancient pictographic script.
As already mentioned, the Hebrew word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 means ‘a shout or
blast of war, alarm or joy’ which comes from the primitive root word רּוע
ַ rua – Strong’s
H7321 meaning, ‘to raise a shout, give a blast, sound the alarm, shout for joy’, and it is on the
day of Yom Teruah that we certainly are called to raise a shout and blow the shofar/trumpets.
This is how the word ְּתרּועָ הTeruah - Strong’s H8643 looks in the ancient pictographic script:
Taw – ְּת:
The ancient script has this letter as
which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can
represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work
of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl
and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the
beginning and the end of all creation!
Resh – ר:
The ancient script has this letter ‘resh’ as –
– and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and
has the meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first. This letter can
mean ‘top’ – as in the top or head of a body; and ‘chief’ – as in head of a tribe or people, as well
as the one who rules the people.
Waw/Vav – ּו:
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The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is a ‘peg’ or ‘tent peg’, which was used
for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show
that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or
hook’. It is by the work of Messiah, in His own Blood, which has secured for us His Covenants of
promise, to which we are added to; and His righteousness stands forever secured in Him!
Ayin - ָע:
The original pictograph for this letter is
and represents the idea of ‘seeing and
watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’, as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’.
Hey - ה:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as a man standing with his arms
raised up and out as if pointing to something, and in essence carries the meaning of ‘behold’ as
in when looking at something very great. It can also have the meaning to ‘breath’ or ‘sigh’ as
when looking at a great sight and having your breath taken away so to speak! It also has the
meaning of revelation or to reveal something by pointing it out, as well as ‘praise’ through the
lifting up of our hands in complete awe and surrender.
BEHOLD THE SEAL OF THE COVENANT WITH OUR HEAD IS SECURED IN
THOSE WHO KNOW HIM AND WHO FIX THEIR EYES UPON THE ONE TO
BE PRAISED!
As you consider the ְּתרּועָ הTeruah and its significant sounding let me ask you:
DO YOU KNOW THE SOUNDING?
Can your answer be seen in your proper response of an obedient life that runs in the way of His
commands and pursues set-apartness or have you found at times that your ear has been turned
away from hearing the Truth as compromise has drowned out the true sound of the Good
Shepherd?
Yom Kippur – verse 26-32
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:27-32 “On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of
Atonement. It shall be a set-apart gathering for you. And you shall afflict your beings, and
shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה. 28 And you do no work on that same day, for it is
the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before יהוהyour Elohim. 29 For any
being who is not afflicted on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30 And any
being who does any work on that same day, that being I shall destroy from the midst of his
people. 31 You do no work – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32 It is a Sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your beings. On the ninth day of the
month at evening, from evening to evening, you observe your Sabbath.”
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We are reminded to take special note of the following:
1 – It shall be a set-apart gathering for you!
We will be coming together on the 10th of the 7th month (this coming 1st day) and have a SETAPART time of prayer, worship and fellowship – do not miss it! Just to recap on what set-apart
gathering means:
A – Set-Apart:
The Hebrew Word: ק ֶֹדשqoḏesh/ko-ḏesh – Strong’s H6944 means ‘apartness/ consecrated/
dedicated/ that which is dedicated and separated unto ’יהוה.
The word is really self-explanatory and carries with it great weight, in its identification of truly
setting something or someone apart from another with a clear distinction of being marked as
separate and apart from the rest.
B – Gatherings:
Hebrew word: ִמ ְּק ָרא- miqra – Strong’s H4744, as already discussed, means: assembly/
group/ convocation/ a collective of people gathered for a purpose/a calling together, which
comes from the root word קָ ָראqara – Strong’s H7121 meaning, ‘proclaim, call, read,
summons, invite, to be called out’.
2 – You shall afflict your beings!
The Hebrew word used here for afflict is ‘ עָ נָהanah’ H6031 and means, ‘to be bowed down,
afflicted, humbled’ and it can also carry the meaning ‘to be occupied or busy with’.
Busy or occupied with what?
Well the next word tells us – our beings!
That is the word ‘ נֶפֶ ׁשnephesh’ H5315 which is ‘a soul, a living being, the inner being of a
man’.
So then, it is a day that we are to humble ourselves and be busy with our being – that is, to be
spending the time reflecting on our life; and that which needs to be dealt with must be dealt
with.
Typically, this is translated as the day when we deny our flesh of food or drink, and fast, with
the sole focus on humbling ourselves in prayer before our Maker, and then come together as
His body united as One!
The Hebrew word ‘ עָ נָהanah’ H6031 also carries the meaning of ‘giving an account or an
answer’.
This carries the picture of the one who humbles himself and comes to give an account of what
he has done.
This can give us the picture of ‘coming clean’, so to speak, and confessing our sin. In order to do
that one has to be looking at the One to whom you are coming clean to, and herein lies a
powerful lesson in the ancient pictographic lettering of this word when understood in regards
to Yom Kippur.
In the ancient pictographic text, the Hebrew word ‘ עָ נָהanah’ H6031 looks like this:
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Ayin - ָע:
The original pictograph for this letter is
and represents the idea of ‘seeing and
watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’. as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’.
Nun – ָנ:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as
, which pictures a ‘sprouting
seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which
sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life
expectancy.
Hey - ּה:
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as a man standing with his arms raised
up and out as if pointing to something, and in essence carries the meaning of ‘behold’ as in
when looking at something very great. It can also have the meaning to ‘breath’ or ‘sigh’ as
when looking at a great sight and having your breath taken away so to speak! It also has the
meaning of revelation or to reveal something by pointing it out.
When we understand the command for us to be ‘busy with’ our beings, and ‘be occupied or
bowed down and humbled’ before our High Priest and King, we are able to recognise through
these ancient pictographic symbols, the concept of fixing our eyes on Messiah, the Princely
Leader and Perfecter of our faith.
The picture of the eye and the seed gives us the meaning of an ‘eye of continuance’, meaning
that we continue to keep our eyes fixed on the One who is to be praised, for He has covered
and cleansed us in His Blood!
3 – Bring an offering made by fire to !יהוה
We know that the offering made by fire is a whole burnt offering – that is that we come to
surrender all and allow our lives to be presented as a living sacrifice. It is on this day when the
work that we have done in Messiah will be tested through fire!
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 3:11-15 “For no one is able to lay any other foundation
except that which is laid, which is יהושעMessiah. 12 And if anyone builds on this foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work shall be revealed, for
the day shall show it up, because it is revealed by fire. And the fire shall prove the work of
each one, what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work remains, which he has built on, he shall receive a
reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, but
so as through fire.”
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4 – It is the Sabbath of Sabbaths!
It is a Sabbath of rest to you – “ ׁשבת ׁשבתוןShabbat Shabbaton”.
Other feasts are referred to as ‘Shabbaton’ which is a ‘Sabbath like rest’, but this day
specifically is referred to as a Sabbath, irrespective of what day it falls on – because this is the
Day when יהוהfinishes and completes His redemptive work for His Ready Bride!
This 10th day of the 7th month is:
A SABBATH OF REST!
In the Hebrew text, the wording that is translated as ‘a Sabbath of rest’ is written as follows:
– ׁשַ בַ ת ׁשַ בָ תֹוןShabbat Shabbaton.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘rest’ is ‘ ׁשַ בָ תֹוןshabbathon’ - Strong’s H7677 which
means a ‘Sabbath-like’ rest or Sabbath observance’ and the Hebrew word for ‘Sabbath’ is
ׁשַ בָ תSabbath - Strong’s H7676, which is the intensive form of ׁשָ בַ תshaḇath – Strong’s
H7673 which means, ‘to cease, desist, rest, observe, observe the rest, put an end’, which,
when it is expressed as a causative action, can be understood as meaning, ‘to cease or put an
end to, remove, exterminate, destroy, cause to desist from’.
The intensive form ׁשַ בָ תSabbath - Strong’s H7676 refers specifically to ‘the’ Sabbath’, as in
‘the’ 7th day of the week.
This is the only day, outside of the weekly Sabbath, that is actually referred to as a Sabbath, in
Scripture.
Other Feast days are called ‘sabbath-like’ days, yet this day, regardless on which day it falls, is a
Sabbath, marking it as THE SABBATH OF SABBATHS, as it is the day that brings to completion,
the full working of our deliverance!
THIS IS THE SABBATH OF SABBATHS!!!
We have already looked at the ancient pictographic word for Sabbath, which renders for us the
meaning, “THE WORD OF THE HOUSE IS SEALED”.
Taking this a little further, by looking at the word ׁשַ בָ תֹוןshabbathon - Strong’s H7677 in the
ancient pictographic script, we can see the following:
With the extra two letters:
Waw/vav - ּו:
The Ancient picture for this letter is
, is pictured as a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for
securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it
prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.
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Nun – ן:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as
, which pictures a ‘sprouting seed’
and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts
forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy. We
also know that ‘The Seed’ is Messiah!
What we are now able to see from the term ‘ ׁשַ בָ תֹוןshabbathon’ is the following:
THE WORD OF THE HOUSE IS SEALED
AND SECURED IN THE SEED
It is only by Messiah that we are able to be grafted in to His covenants of Promise and equipped
to be marked as His covenant people by the proper observance of His Sabbaths – with Yom
haKippurim being the Sabbath of Sabbaths!
Covered, Cleansed and the Great Reunion is what Yom Kippur is about – a Bride being made
clean and reunited with her Groom forever – Be cleansed in Him as we wait for Him… Put off
the flesh and clothe yourself with His righteousness – walking in obedience to His Torah as we
eagerly await with great anticipation His return!
So, in obedient rehearsals of the good things to come let us certainly be obedient in keeping
this day where we lay aside the flesh and humble ourselves before our Master ready to give
and account and be washed in His presence by His Blood as He has imputed to us his
Righteousness that we must clothe ourselves in daily!
Now, this Sabbath is unlike the others, in that this is the day when we, as I mentioned, ‘afflict
our beings’ and the stern warning we have here in is that anyone who does not afflict their
being on this day, or if anyone works on this day, that being will be ‘cut off and destroyed from
the midst of his people’!
Scripture is very clear on this – so, no excuses!
This day signifies so much for us, and it is so much more than just a day of ‘fasting’, as it is a
culmination of, and the bringing to completion, the work of Messiah in us, as His redeemed
body!
This is the day when the Master is coming out of the Set-Apart Place to begin to “complete His
work on the 7th day”; and on that day we will be able to show Him what we have made with
that which He gave us - the talents which He has given us (each one according to his ability).
Now, for many, this may not be a very pleasing day as they have only viewed the Master from a
viewpoint of being a ‘hard man’, and have not lovingly laboured for Him and have done nothing
with what they had.
But for us who labour daily in Him, working with what He has apportioned each one of us – this
will be a wonderful day of hearing the words we all would like to hear… “Well done, good and
trustworthy servant”.
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The Parable of the Talents is a clear reference to this very day, when the Master comes back
and the servants must give and account, as their ‘offering made by fire’, that is their works, are
tested!
It is on this day when He comes back that we do not want to be found thinking about what we
could have or should have done – for it will be too late.
And so, as we keep this Feast as a shadow picture of what is to come, we should all be aware
that it is certainly a time for us to take account of our walk in Messiah. Are you walking or
running or simply standing still?
Yom Kippur – this day symbolises the complete purification of the Bride of Messiah – the Day
of Atonement.
One might ask why do we have this day separate from Pěsaḥ – isn’t that when we were
redeemed?
This is a good question, yet ’יהוהs Appointed Times are perfect shadow pictures for us, and so
in understanding these great shadow pictures, it could best be explained as Pěsaḥ symbolising
for us personal redemption – it was on that day we were bought at a price and received our
personal deliverance.
Pěsaḥ symbolises for us the personal deliverance from bondage to slavery, as each household
would put the Blood of the Lamb on their doorposts, so would they be saved.
We each must accept, receive and apply the Blood of the Pěsaḥ Lamb personally in our lives.
The Day of Atonement speaks of the national redemption of a nation, as a cleansed Bride has
made Herself ready for Her Husband.
Atonement means ‘to make ransom for or to cover over man’s sins’.
The English word Atonement was derived when the translator wanted best to describe what
‘kippur’ meant as there was not a definitive English word to describe or translate the meaning
of this and so what he translated it to was – ‘At-One-Ment’ – therefore later being called
‘Atonement’.
This was the best way he could express what this day carries for us – it is when we are made to
be ‘one’ with – יהוהbe ‘at one with’ Him and finally be fully restored unto Him as a washed
and purified body together as ‘one’!
So, this is also a day where we truly come and remember the ransom that was paid for us by
the shed Blood of the Pěsaḥ Lamb – יהושעMessiah, once and for all and reflect on our lives as
to how we are living out our covenant relationship with our Saviour.
The Hebrew word for atonement is ִכפֻּ רkippur – Strong’s H3725 and comes from the root
word כָ פַ רkaphar – Strong’s H3722 and means: ‘to cover over, pacify, make propitiation,
atone’.
As a noun, it can also carry the meaning of ‘a ransom’, ‘gift’, or ‘to secure favour’.
It literally means to ‘cover over’ or ‘smear with pitch’ as in the sealing of a ship.
Therefore, ‘kaphar’ or atonement, means to cover that which is bare or naked or shamed, and
also means to ‘smear the ship so that your ship will not sink and drown all those aboard’!
Wow – we are ‘covered’ – Atoned for by His Blood!!!
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Noaḥ was commanded by יהוהto cover the ark inside and out with pitch – he was told to
כָ פַ רkaphar – Strong’s H3722 (cover) the ark with - כֹפֶ רKopher – Strong’s H3724 (pitch):
Berěshith/Genesis 6:14 “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood. Make rooms in the ark, and
cover it inside and outside with tar.”
‘Kaphar’ also means to ransom – and so we know that יהושעhas paid our ransom and atoned
for us.
It also means to reconcile with someone who has the power of death over you, and to pacify
the one who has the power to do you harm!
We must realise that the punishment for sin is death, and no sin goes unpunished.
Through the Atonement of יהושעfor our sins we are reconciled to the One who has the
power to put us to death!
In Wayyiqra/Leviticus, where the priestly service and sacrificial system is presented and
discussed, the very word we have been looking at, ‘kaphar’ is used 16 times in
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16 and 48 times in the entire book!
39 times, however, it is used in Wayyiqra/Leviticus in the specific description of the priestly
service and sacrificial system where the other times are regulation instructions for the Day –
this is a wonderful representation for us – for it was the exact number of stripes that יהושע
took across His back – and it is by His stripes that we are healed!!!
By His Stripes and His sacrifice, we are covered, cleansed, redeemed and reconciled to Him!
In the ancient pictographic script, the word כָ פַ רkaphar – Strong’s H3722 is pictured as:
Kaph – ָכ:
The ancient script for this letter ‘kaph’ is –
– and pictures ‘an open palm of a hand’,
and can have the meaning of ‘bend, curve’ which is seen in the shape of the hand. It can also be
understood to have the meaning of the ability to ‘tame, subdue’, as in the ‘bending of the will’,
as an ‘open hand’ signifies ‘submission’.
Pey – ַפ:
The ancient script for this letter ‘pey’ is –
– and is pictured as an ‘open mouth’ and
carries the meaning of ‘speak and blow’ from the functions of the mouth, and can also have
the meaning of ‘scatter’ by blowing.
In representing the mouth, it can also picture the lips of a mouth, which are the ‘edges of the
mouth’, and can also refer to things with edges, such as a sword or beard!
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Resh – ר:
The ancient script has this letter ‘resh’ as –
– and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and
has the meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first. Top, as in the top
or head of a body and chief, as is head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the
people.
When we understand these pictures, in reference to a ‘covering’, as well as the ability to be
afforded security and protection, we are able to see how we, who submit to our Master and
Messiah, and acknowledge that He is our Head and chief and that He is the Beginning and the
End, realise how, by the Word of His mouth, which He has revealed to us, in His own flesh,
covers us, as He has us written in the palm of His Hand, as His treasured possession!
Scripture clearly teaches us that atonement involves something which is ‘lacking’ (or leaking in
respect to a boat not sealed), and is in danger of judgement (or sinking) – and then having that
‘lack’ (which is caused by sin) ‘covered’ with something that will restore and keep it from
sinking or being destroyed, just as the pitch applied to ancient boats would keep them from
sinking!
It is only by the favour and loving-kindness granted by יהוה, who has the power of life and
death over us, that His liberal smearing or covering us inside and out, that is the covering of the
soul of man with His favour and loving-kindness through the blood of יהושע, our High Priest,
that man can be kept from sinking in a relationship with his Creator. When sin occurs, a price
must be paid.
Yom Kippur is the day when יהוהwill be reconciled with His creation – a day set aside and
appointed for Him to pardon, to cleanse and to forgive.
It was only on this one day of the year that ‘one’ among the children of Yisra’ĕl were able to
come ‘face to face’ so to speak with יהוהand live!
This occurred when only the high priest in office entered the Most Set-Apart place where the
Ark of the Covenant was kept.
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16 gives us the entire ceremony that was instructed by יהוה, for the High
Priest to perform, and clearly shadow pictures for us the perfect cleansing and atoning work of
Messiah, our High Priest forever in the order of Malkitseḏeq.
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16:29-34 “And this shall be for you a law forever: In the seventh month,
on the tenth day of the month, you afflict your beings, and do no work, the native or the
stranger who sojourns among you. 30 “For on that day he makes atonement for you, to
cleanse you, to be clean from all your sins before יהוה. 31 “It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and
you shall afflict your beings – a law forever. 32 “And the priest, who is anointed and ordained
to serve as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and shall put on the linen
garments, the set-apart garments, 33 and he shall make atonement for the Most Set-apart
Place, and make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar, and make atonement
for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 “And this shall be for you a law
forever, to make atonement for the children of Yisra’ĕl, for all their sins, once a year.” And he
did as יהוהcommanded Mosheh.”
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This day of Yom Kippur was the day that was set-apart each year for the nation to be cleansed
from all their sins before יהוה, and this is what we come to carefully consider, as we ‘afflict
our beings’ each year, and recognise the perfect work of our High Priest and King, who has
perfected for us the cleansing we need, in His own Blood.
The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin, and so was only a covering each year until
the perfect Blood of Messiah that can take away sin, would come to cleanse us!
This Hebrew word that is translated as ‘cleanse’ comes from the root word טָ הֵ רtaher –
Strong’s H2891 and means the following: “to be clean; to cleanse; purify’ made clean”,
“properly to be bright; to be pure – that is physically sound, clear, unadulterated, morally
innocent”, “to be purged, purify, to declare something or someone clean.”
You get the picture; He makes us clean – really clean – by His Blood!
This Word טָ הֵ רtaher – Strong’s H2891 is used in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16:19, where the high
priest would sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the horns of the altar and all around,
seven times.
The number 7, as we know, signifies perfection, and so by the Blood of יהושעthere is a
perfect cleansing, and a perfect reconciliation! It is also used twice in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16:30,
telling us that the atonement that is made for us is to cleanse us from all sin before !יהוה
And so, we can clearly see how the picture of Atonement is fully met by His sacrifice, and our
cleansing in His Blood is sufficient in cleansing a Bride that makes Herself ready for His soon
return, equipping His Bride to be cleansed from dead works and ready to serve the Living
Elohim.
Iḇ‘rim/Hebrews 9:11-14 “But Messiah, having become a High Priest of the coming good
matters, through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands, that is, not of this
creation, 12 entered into the Most Set-apart Place once for all, not with the blood of goats
and calves, but with His own blood, having obtained everlasting redemption. 13 For if the
blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the
cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the
everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead
works to serve the living Elohim?”
It is through the one-time atoning sacrifice of Messiah that He makes His Bride ‘taher’.
Because of this we have the full assurance that when we come to Him and confess our sins, He
is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive
us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The Hebrew word for cleansing is טה ֳָרה
ָ tahorah – Strong’s H2893 meaning, ‘purifying,
cleansing, becomes clean, purification’ and comes from the primary root verb טָ הֵ רtaher –
Strong’s H2891.
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As we look at the Hebrew word טה ֳָרה
ָ tahorah – Strong’s H2893, we see a wonderful picture
in this word alone that speaks of our need to come to Messiah who cleanses us from all sin.
Why I say this is because, when we look at the ancient symbols of these letters, we get a clearer
picture of the very message of this total and complete cleansing that is given to us by the Blood
of Messiah, contained in just one word!
This word טה ֳָרה
ָ tahorah – Strong’s H2893, read from right to left, are the letters: ט-tet; הhey; ר-resh; – הhey; and when you see this word as written in the ancient pictograph script
we see the message clearly:
The original pictograph of these letters are as follows:
Tet – ט:
The original pictograph for this letter is
, which is ‘a container made of wicker or clay’.
Containers were a very important item among the nomadic Hebrews. They were used for
storing grains and other items. Wicker baskets were used as nets for catching fish. The
meanings of this letter are ‘basket, vessel, contain, store, clay vessel’.
Hey –ה:
The original pictograph for this letter is
, which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised
out’. The Modern Hebrew and original name for this letter is “hey”. The meaning of the letter is
‘behold, look, breath, sigh’ and ‘reveal or revelation’ from the idea of revealing a great sight by
pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of ‘surrender’ as we lift up our hands and
submit to יהוהas we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly
submit!
Resh - ר:
The Ancient picture for this letter is
, which is ‘the head of a man’. This letter has the
meanings of ‘head or man’ as well as ‘chief, top, beginning or first’.
Now in terms of the cleansing we have in the Blood of Messiah, we see through this pictograph
lettering of טה ֳָרה
ָ tahorah – Strong’s H2893 the following message:
We, as ‘clay baskets’ come and surrender to Him, and ‘raise our hands’ in acknowledgement of
His perfect atonement and confess our sins/lawlessness before our ‘Head’ and High Priest,
יהושעMessiah; and put our lives into the hands of Him who ‘lifts us up’ from the miry clay
and makes us clean and purifies us from all unrighteousness!
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We have been covered and cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb and we will soon be with Him
forever. Yom Kippur is a time for us to reflect and remember what our High Priest has done for
us, and be reminded that we are to walk as His Spotless Bride, as He cleanses us through the
washing of His Word.
This is a day to afflict your beings – why?
Well it is a day to realise and remember that we are to lay down our lives – to put to death the
flesh and intercede for the rest of the lost Bride, as we embrace His work of salvation that will
be made complete on this Day of Yom Kippur, and so as we continue to work out our salvation
with fear and trembling, may we not take lightly the importance of this Great Day that pictures
for us the work of Messiah יהושעwho took His Blood into a temple not made with human
hands and offered His Blood on the altar, perfecting for all time those who are set apart.
Covered and Cleansed is what Yom Kippur pictures and proclaims for us, as a Bride being made
clean and ready to be reunited with her Groom forever!
As we wait for Him, we are cleansed in Him by the putting off of the fleshly, and clothing
ourselves with His righteousness, which is to be walking in obedience to His Torah as we
eagerly await His imminent return with great anticipation!
Sukkoth – Verse 33-44
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:13-15 “Perform the Festival of Sukkot for seven days after the
ingathering from your threshing-floor and from your winepress, 14 and you shall rejoice in
your festival, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female
servant, and the Lĕwite, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within
your gates. 15 “For seven days you shall celebrate to יהוהyour Elohim in the place which
יהוהchooses, because יהוהyour Elohim does bless you in all your increase and in all the
work of your hands, and you shall be only rejoicing!”
The Hebrew word for ‘booths’ is סֻּ כֹתSukkoth which is the plural of the root word סֻּ כָ ה
sukkah – Strong’s H5521 which means, ‘a thicket, booth, shelter, hut, temporary shelter,
canopy, tent’ which comes from the noun סְֹךsoḵ – Strong’s H5520 which means, ‘a thicket,
lair, hiding place, booth, den’.
This noun comes from the primitive root verb ‘ סָ כַ ְךsaḵaḵ’ H5526 which means, ‘to
overshadow, screen, cover, hedge or fence about or to entwine as a screen, weave together,
knit together’, and helps us understand a little more of just how important this performing of
the Feast of Sukkoth is, for we are being knit together as a body of Messiah, under whose wings
we find rest, shelter and safety!
Now that is something to rejoice about!
This root verb is translated as ‘shelter’ in:
Tehillah/Psalm 5:11 “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy,
because You shelter them; and let those who love Your Name exult in You.”
Other translations have translated this word ‘ סָ כַ ְךsaḵaḵ’ in this verse as ‘defend’ or ‘protect’,
which speaks not only of יהוהbeing our defender and protector but also pictures for us how
His Booth or dwelling with us brings that protection in which we can freely rejoice.
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The Hebrew noun סְֹךsoḵ – Strong’s H5520 which means, ‘a thicket, lair, hiding place, booth, den’, is
written in the ancient pictographic script, as:
Samek - ס
ֹ :
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is a thorn and has the meanings of ‘pierce
and sharp’ and can also carry the meaning of ‘a shield, protection’, as thorn bushes were used by
shepherds to build a wall to enclose their flock in the night against the attack of predators. Another
meaning would be ‘to grab hold of’ as a thorn is a seed that clings to hair and clothing.
Kaph - ְך:
The ancient form of this letter is
- meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning behind this
letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been
bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. The picture of the
palm of the hand also represents ‘covering’.
When we look at these two pictographic letters, we are able to see that the thorn that represents
protection and the hand that represents covering, we get a combined meaning of:
PROTECTED COVERING!
Having said that, when we look further at the word סֻּ כֹתSukkoth, we take note of the
additional letter – ‘ – תtaw’ that is added and looks like this:
Taw – ת
The ancient script has this letter as
which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can
represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work
of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl
and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the
beginning and the end of all creation!
Can you see the clear significance of Sukkoth? With the additional of this letter ‘taw’ that has
the meaning of covenant or seal we take note that the Word סֻּ כֹתSukkoth, in the ancient
pictographic lettering, can render for us the following:
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PROTECTED COVERING OF THE COVENANT!
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:42-43 tells us that we are to dwell in booths for 7 days, so that we know
that יהוהmade Yisra’ĕl dwell in booths when He brought them up out of Mitsrayim, and also
that it is a joyous reminder how He has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light:
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart
nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvellous light, 10 who once were not a people, but now the people
of Elohim; who had not obtained compassion, but now obtained compassion.”
The Greek word that is translated as ‘you should proclaim’ is ἐξαγγέλλω exaggellō – Strong’s
G1804 which means, ‘tell out, proclaim, publish, declare, make known by praising or
proclaiming’, and we see this word being used in the LXX (Septuagint) and translated as ‘we
show forth’ in:
Tehillah/Psalm 79:13 “And we, Your people and the sheep of Your pasture, we give thanks to
You forever; from generation to generation we show forth Your praise.”
The Greek word that is used in Kěpha’s letter for ‘praises’ is ἀρετή aretē – Strong’s G703 and
it carries the meaning of ‘moral excellence, virtue, purity, praise etc.’
In essence, this can carry the understanding of being faithfully set-apart, as well as our ability to
bring the proper rejoicing praise to Elohim in declaring the excellence of Him who has called us
out of darkness into His marvellous light and are now the sheep of His pasture, who hear His
voice and gather and rejoice at His command!
Just one thing I need to clear up, in terms of keeping Sukkoth!
Many often question whether they should stay in a tent/temporary booth for 7 days, as they
claim that this command given in verse 42 is only for ‘native born’ and therefore does not apply
to all.
Well, for those who think so, I am going to burst your bubble!
What is a native born or better put, what makes one a native born?
Shemoth/Exodus 12:48 “And when a stranger sojourns with you and shall perform the
Passover to יהוה, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and perform
it, and he shall be as a native of the land. But let no uncircumcised eat of it.”
Do you see what this verse tells us?
First of all, what we must recognise is that only those who are circumcised may eat the Pěsaḥ
Meal (that is, those who have been immersed in Messiah, and we all need to be immersed as
there is no slave nor free, Greek, male or female in Messiah), and by eating this Meal we
become as a native of the land!!!
There you have it – By eating of the Pěsaḥ Meal we become as a native born and there is one
Torah, so all who are in Messiah must keep this feast by dwelling in ‘booths/temporary
dwellings’ for 7 days. And just a quick note – a hotel is not regarded as a ‘booth’!
This Chapter 23 of Wayyiqra/Leviticus is an extremely important chapter for us to learn and
meditate on, so that we can be diligent in guarding to do what is commanded and keep the
Sabbaths and Appointed Times of יהוהas we should!
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While I have expanded on each of the Feasts and the clear significance that each represent,
below you can find the notes of individual messages, pertaining to each of these Feasts, as well
as an article on the defence of proper Sabbath observance.
Much of what is in this Torah Portion notes, will be in the individual teachings, along with
possible further insights, yet the reason for me giving these links here along with this portion is
for quick reference markers to each Feast.
RESPONSE TO AN ATTACK ON SABBATH OBSERVANCE:
https://atfotc.com/response-to-attack-on-sabbath-observance/
1 - PASSOVER MEAL – ON THE 14TH OR 15TH OF THE 1ST MONTH?
https://atfotc.com/passover-meal-on-the-14th-or-15th-of-the-1st-month/
2 - EXTERMINATE THE LEAVEN AND NEVER LACK SALT! A brief look at the Feast of
Unleavened Bread
https://atfotc.com/preparation-for-matzot-exterminate-the-leaven-and-never-lack-salt/
3a – OMER RĚSHIYTH AND DAY 7 OF MATZOT!
https://atfotc.com/omer-reshiyth-2020/
3b – DAY 7 OF MATZOT!
https://atfotc.com/7th-day-of-matzot-2020/
4 - THE FESTIVAL OF WEEKS – SHAḆUOTH
https://atfotc.com/the-festival-of-weeks-sha%e1%b8%87uoth-2020-2021/
5 - BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO KNOW THE SOUNDING! An in-depth look at the word ‘Teru‘ah’
https://atfotc.com/blessed-are-those-who-know-the-sounding-2/
6 - YOM HAKIPPURIM – THE DAY OF COVERINGS!
https://atfotc.com/yom-hakippurim-the-day-of-coverings-2/
7 - SUKKOTH – BOOTHS OF REJOICING AND BLESSING! – An overview of Sukkoth
https://atfotc.com/sukkoth-2019-booths-of-rejoicing-and-blessing/
8 - HASHEMINI ATSERETH – THE LAST GREAT DAY!
https://atfotc.com/hashemini-atsereth-the-last-great-day-2/
CHAPTER 24
In verse 1, we see the word ‘command’ being used in almost a militaristic way, emphasising the
importance of doing what is being called for and here we see the clear instruction give to
Yisra’ĕl in making sure that clear oil of pressed olives for the light is brought in so that the
lamps burn continually!
There is a responsibility for all of Yisra’ĕl (that includes you and me) to be bringing clear oil and
allowing the lamp of His word to continually burn in us.
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We must not be found to be without oil like the 5 foolish maidens who were shut out for not
having oil in their lamps.
The high priest was to arrange it day and night before יהוהand we see some very important
lessons and picture contained herein.
Firstly, clear oil could only be obtained by going through the process of being crushed under the
weight of a millstone and then put in a mesh bag and placed under an olive press (gethsemane)
where the oil would be squeezed out under the immense pressure of the weight of the olive
press.
יהושעMessiah, our High Priest, intercedes for us day and night before the throne and He is
the One who walks in the midst of the Lampstand, and we can understand from this that there
is still a great requirement from each of us to bring the clear oil before our high Priest in order
that the lampstand is continually lit!
The Hebrew word translated as ‘clear’ is זְַךzaḵ – Strong’s H2134 which means, ‘pure, clean,
clear’ and comes from the root verb זָכַ ְךzaḵaḵ – Strong’s H2141 meaning, ‘to be pure, clean,
to be bright’.
This root word זְַךzaḵ – Strong’s H2134 is used in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 21:8 “The way of a guilty man is perverse; but as for the innocent, his work
is right.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘pressed’ is כָ ִתיתkathith – Strong’s H3795 which
means, ‘beaten’ and comes from a word that means ‘to be or crush by beating’, and this word
for ‘pressed’ is only used 5 times and is always used in conjunction with the ‘pure’ oil that was
to be brought with the offerings or for the lampstand.
The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘light’ is מָ אֹורma’or – Strong’s H3974 which means, ‘a
luminary, light, shining’, and comes from the root word אֹורor (oor) – Strong’s H215
meaning, ‘to be or become light, give light, shine’.
The Word of Elohim – is both a lamp to our feet and a light for our path:
The word used here for ‘lamp’ is נֵרner – Strong’s H5216 meaning, ‘lamp, candle, light’.
Now, a lamp in ancient times would primarily be a vessel with a wick for burning a liquid such
as oil in order to produce light; and as one would walk the lamp would typically be carried in
one’s hand!
The picture here is that as we take each step, our hand (which speaks of our works) needs to
hold up (that is to do) the lamp (which is the Word) in order to let our eyes, see the path before
us!
In the ancient pictographic script, the word for נֵרner – Strong’s H5216 – lamp, would look as
follows:
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Nun - ֵנ:
This is the letter ‘nun’ () ֵנ, which in the ancient text is pictured as
, which is a ‘spouting
seed’, and gives the idea of ‘continuation or an offspring or an heir’, speaking of that which
sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life
expectancy.
Resh - ֶר
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and has the
meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first. Top as in the top or head of
a body and chief an is head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the people.
In terms of us seeing these letters, being expressed as ‘lamp’, we are able to clearly identify
who it is who gives us our light and who is our lamp – יהושעMessiah, The Word made flesh,
who is our Head and is The Seed!
This pictograph rendering of the word for lamp, נֵרner – Strong’s H5216, can have the
following meaning:
LIFE IN THE HEAD!
In terms of us seeing these letters, being expressed as ‘lamp’, we are able to clearly identify
who it is that gives us our light and who our lamp is – it is יהושעMessiah, who is our Head and
we know that He is The Seed!
Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 2:8 “Remember that יהושעMessiah, of the seed of Dawiḏ, was
raised from the dead according to my Good News”
Galatiyim/Galatians 3:16 “But the promises were spoken to Aḇraham, and to his Seed. He
does not say, “And to
seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Messiah.”
We who are grafted in to Messiah by His blood become the seed of Aḇraham:
Galatiyim/Galatians 3:29 “And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Aḇraham, and
heirs according to promise.”
יהושעMessiah, The Light of the world, has caused us to be equipped to shine His truth and be
a light to the nations, as we walk according to His commands. As we, the remnant seed who are
guarding the commands of Elohim and possess the witness of יהושעMessiah, and shine the
Truth will be under severe attack from the enemy who will try to put out the Light of Elohim in
our lives:
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Ḥazon/Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight
with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Elohim and possessing the
witness of יהושעMessiah.”
This word for lamp - נֵרner – Strong’s H5216 – is also used in:
Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 22:29 “For You are my lamp, O יהוה, and יהוהmakes my darkness
light.”
Shemoth/Exodus 25:37 “And you shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall mount its
lamps so that they give light in front of it.”
This was part of the instructions given for the construction of the Tabernacle and the lampstand
with its seven lamps that were to be in the Set-Part Place giving light over the table of
showbread, and this is also a clear pointing to the seven lampstands as seen in
Ḥazon/Revelation 2 & 3, and how יהושעwalks in the midst of these!
To the assembly in Ephesos in Ḥazon/Revelation 2 יהושעreveals Himself as the One who
walks in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands and warns the assembly at Ephesos that if they
do not repent and return to their first works (that of walking in the Torah – the good works
prepared beforehand for us to do!) then He would remove their lampstand!
Now, we understand that Tehillah/Psalm 119:105 tells us that The Word of יהוהis a lamp for
our feet. And as we understand that, in the Hebraic mind-set, ‘feet’ is a term that is often used
in reference to the keeping His Feasts and His commands, which speaks of actively walking out
our belief in obedience in doing the works of faith, then it becomes clear that the ‘clear oil’ that
we bring, is a clear picture of our ‘belief/faith with works’ – that is – works of obedience to the
commands of Elohim, in being a set-apart people who guard His commands and keep His
Feasts; and this we do as we walk ‘in’ Messiah’. For then we are able to ‘bring our oil’, as we
walk in the Spirit, to Him that He can continually keep our lampstand alight!
We have been instructed on how we are to be a set-apart people and we have seen that as a
royal priesthood, set-apart and chosen, we are to be even more urgent in our daily lives in
being continually set-apart in Him as we guard His charge and keep His Feasts – for this is well
pleasing to Him and it comes at a price as the world and its ways may crush us and persecute us
for His Name’s sake yet we rejoice in our trials that we may grow, become mature and be filled
with oil and not lack anything as we faithfully serve our High Priest and King!
The lamp was to burn ‘continually’ which is translated from the word תָ ִמידtamiyḏ – Strong’s
H8548 which means, ‘continuity, all times, always, constantly, regularly, continually’.
This is a clear picture for us in the command to keep our lamps burning continually:
Tehillah/Psalm 119:44 “That I might guard Your Torah continually, forever and ever”
How we keep our lamps burning continually is to be a people who are guarding His pure and
clear Torah, day and night!
The Hebrew root word translated as ‘burn’ is עָ לָ הalah – Strong’s H5927 meaning, ‘to go up,
ascend, climb, approach, go’.
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A derivative of this root is the term used for ‘whole burnt offering’ - עֹ לָ הolah – Strong’s
H5930 meaning, ‘whole burnt offering, ascent, staircase, stairway’.
The olah offering represents a giving totally of oneself to יהוה, just as Messiah offered up His
Body as an ‘olah’ offering, so too are we to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice and our lives are
to be given totally up unto service and worship to יהוה.
This instruction was to be given to the congregation – in other words the congregation was to
totally be moved away from the tents of the wicked and be given totally up to יהוה.
This עֹ לָ הolah – Strong’s H5930 offering speaks of that which ‘goes up’ or ‘ascends’ and in the
essence of these offerings unto יהוהthis carries the meaning of, ‘to cause to ascend up to
יהוהas a flame and smoke ascent by burning’.
The עֹ לָ הolah – Strong’s H5930 offering symbolises complete dedication and a giving of our all
as we offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice, so that we can be pleasing in presenting to Him
our reasonable worship that is due:
Romiyim/Romans 12:1-2 “I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of
Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your
reasonable worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect
desire of Elohim.”
In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word for ‘ascending offering’ - עֹ לָ הolah –
Strong’s H5930, as well as the root word for ‘burn’ - עָ לָ הalah – Strong’s H5927 – looks like
this:
Ayin - ֵע:
The original pictograph for this letter is
and represents the idea of ‘seeing and
watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’. as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’.
Lamed - ַל:
The ancient script has this letter as
, and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the
meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction,
and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to
bring back by Authority.
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Hey – ָה:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as
, which is ‘a man standing with his arms
raised out’.
The meaning of the letter is “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”, from the
idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender,
as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוהas we lift our hands in praise, declaring His
authority under which we humbly submit!
When considering the ascending offering and the clear Torah of this offering that requires the
fire to never be put out, we are able to recognise the clear lesson portrayed in the pictograph
rendering of this word עֹ לָ הolah – Strong’s H5930, which teaches us how we are to have our
eyes continually fixed upon our Shepherd who is to be praised!
In terms of the ascending offering, these letters can render the meaning:
LOOKING TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD
WHO IS TO BE PRAISED
With the eye representing knowledge and experience we can also see how this can render our
need to continually experience the staff as we lift our hands in surrendered praise, and this
ought to be reflected in our lives being a daily living offering that is well pleasing to our Master
and Good Shepherd!
The lamp is for our feet!
The root word for ‘feet’ in Hebrew is ‘ ֶרגֶלregel’ Strong’s H7272 and means ‘a foot/feet or to
walk’, and in Scripture this often speaks of one’s obedience to walking according to the
commands of יהוהand obeying His call to keep His feasts as commanded; as this same word is
used in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23 and translated as ‘times’ in reference to the 3 times a year all
males were to appear before Elohim at Yerushalayim which would collectively cover all 7
Feasts/Appointed Times of Elohim, marking out the clear need to walk according to His word
and guard the Appointed Times or Feasts of !יהוה
The Feasts were not limited to just 3 but rather all His Feasts were grouped in three – Pěsaḥ and
Matzot were the one time you would celebrate in the 1st month; Shavuot the second time in
the 3rd month and in the 7th month – Yom Teruah (Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Atonement) and
Sukkot (Tabernacles) being the 3rd time.
The term ‘celebrate’ in the Hebrew carries the implication of dancing and literally to dance in a
circle or cycle – speaking that we keep this cycle every year with great rejoicing. Three is also
symbolic of stability as a 3-legged stool is the most stable.
In the ancient script the Hebrew word ֶרגֶלregel is written as follows:
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Resh - ֶר
The ancient script has this letter as
and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and has the
meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first. Top as in the top or head of
a body and chief an is head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the people.
Gimel - ֶג:
This is the letter ‘gimel’, which in the ancient script in pictured as –
–which is ‘a foot’ and
carries the meaning to ‘walk, gather, carry’, as clearly referring to the functions of a foot; and it
can also give the meaning of a gathering of people, and we know that ‘feet’ in Hebrew speaks
of one’s walk and ability to keep the feasts of יהוה, and represents one’s ‘walk!
Lamed – ל:
In the ancient script, this is pictured as
, which is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’,
representing ‘authority’ and can give the meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that
which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction, and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to
lead and guide, as well as the ability to bring back by Authority, as well as be submitted under
the Authority of the Good Shepherd!
When looking at these pictographic letters, in terms of understanding our needed obedience to
keeping the Feasts of יהוה, we are able to clearly understand the message in these, as:
IN OUR WALK OF OBEDIENCE, WE GATHER AS COMMANDED,
AS WE ARE LED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF OUR HEAD
The beginning of our walk of obedience is to submit under the authority of our Good Shepherd
and guard His Appointed Times of gathering!
In the parable of the ten maidens, we also see the clear need to have our lamps filled with oil
and not dare to be found with empty lamps, on the day of His visitation.
Lamp and light – we need them both!
Lamps filled with pure and clear oil!
There are many today, who have lamps in their hand and presume to be walking on a sure path,
while they have been misguided by inherited lies and tradition, as the confusion of man has
mixed the clear and pure oil of the Truth with false worship practices, and as a result, have
contaminated the oil, to the point of it becoming a wicked counterfeit that leads many on a
path to destruction, under the guidance of a false light as its source, which will be proved to be
darkness when the True Light appears before all!
The following two verse make it very clear:
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Mishlĕ/Proverbs 13:9 “But the lamp of the wrong is put out.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:20 “For there is no future for the evil-doer; the lamp of the wrongdoers
is put out.”
What we can notice, from these two verses, is that we see the use of the word ‘lamp’ - נֵרner
is used, yet we see no connection of this lamp to the True Light - אֹורoor of יהוה.
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 21:4 “A haughty look, a proud heart, the lamp of the wrong, are sin.”
The wrongdoers have a lamp and that lamp claims that the Torah is not necessary, as they
allow their lamps of tradition to set their feet on a path of falsehood that intends to change the
Appointed Times and laws of Elohim, which I remind you cannot be changed!
Those who have lamps without the Torah will find out that the light that is in them is darkness
and their lamps will be put out!
The lamp of the wrongdoers have a lamp that keeps a different day for assembled worship and
celebrates different feasts, while claiming to have a right to the Covenant Promises of Elohim,
while casting His Words and instructions on how to walk in the path of light behind them – and
this is what the Master יהוהsays to the wrong who have changed His times and laws as a
lamp for their paths:
Tehillah/Psalm 50:16-17 “But to the wrong Elohim said, “What right have you to recite My
laws, or take My covenant in your mouth, 17 “While you hated instruction and cast My Words
behind you?”
Dawiḏ declared that יהוהwas His lamp – and we too must declare this clear Truth as The
Word of Elohim being evident as our lamp and light. If יהוהis not your lamp then who is?
We cannot serve two masters, and sadly today we can clearly see how so many, especially in
light of the corrupt season of man-made tradition of worship that we find ourselves in the
midst of, will hold fast to the traditions of man, while they neglect the commands of Elohim.
Their lamps have a wrong source and so they actually have no true light!
Lamp and Light – we need them both – and both are contained in the revelation of His Word
and our submission to walking in His Word!
In the renewed heavens and earth there will be no need for lamp and light, for יהוהHimself
will give light:
Ḥazon/Revelation 22:5 “And night shall be no more, and they shall have no need of a lamp or
the light of the sun, because יהוהElohim shall give them light. And they shall reign forever
and ever.”
His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; and as a true set-apart, chosen, royal
priesthood and a people for a possession, we are to continually proclaim the praises of Him
who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous Light, as we hear, guard and do all He
commands and walk in His Torah with joy and gladness of heart, keeping our lamps burning
with the pure clear oil of His Truth in us, unhindered by traditions and dogmas of man, so that a
pure language and speech may be restored to us, His people!
As you walk from day to day, what lamp is guiding you?
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Is His Word your lamp and are you guarding to keep His Appointed Times and laws or are you
walking in the paths of traditions that run contrary to the plumb line of His Word?
As we follow Messiah and walk as He walked, we shall possess the light of life and be able to lift
up a tended lamp that will lead our every step.
Have you found at times that your lamp has been soiled with self and as a result found yourself
in a dark place?
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 50:10-11 “Who among you is fearing יהוה, obeying the voice of His
Servant, that has walked in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the Name of יהוהand
lean upon his Elohim! 11 See, all you who light a fire, girding on burning arrows: walk in the
light of your fire and in the burning arrows you have lit. From My hand you shall have this:
you shall lie down in grief!”
What is being said here, is that if you try to ‘light your own fire’, or carry your own man-made
lamp then you will be snuffed out, and if you have found yourself in a dark place then put your
trust in יהוה, and not in the confusion of man-made traditions that have resulted in a false
language and speech!
As we walk in Messiah, doing our utmost to walk diligently in His commands, may we be careful
in making sure that we tend our lamps daily and keep His Light in us burning brightly and allow
Him to bring to us daily deliverance from darkness.
And the command here in verse 21 of Wayyiqra/Leviticus 24, for the priests to tend the lamps
from evening until morning – a law forever – once again tells us how we too are to keep our
lamps burning in these ‘dark times’ until the morning comes!
Romiyim/Romans 13:12 “The night is far advanced, the day has come near. So let us put off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines ever
brighter unto the perfect day.”
Now, if our lamps are to be tended continually then we see the need to constantly be on guard
as to what we set our eyes upon – for our eyes are to be looking to יהושעMessiah
(Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:2)!!!
Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, all
your body shall be enlightened.”
Our eyes are to be upon the Torah and we are to not be found sleeping and without oil!
Sleep is a reference to a believer having the principles of Torah but not appropriating them into
their lifestyle or walk, thus scripture references them as one who is sleeping. We are reminded
that the bride is to be “watchful” and to keep her lamp burning continually. The decorations on
the lampstand/menorah in the tabernacle were fashioned after the almond blossom.
The Hebrew word for ‘almond’ is ׁשָ קֵ דshaqeḏ – Strong’s H8247 which comes from the root of
the same spelling ׁשָ קַ דshaqaḏ – Strong’s H8245, which means ‘to watch, keep watch, and lie
awake’.
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Thus, to keep our menorah burning oil continuously we are to remain active in His word and
not be found sleeping or our lamp may go out.
Verse 5-8 – the Bread
The two rows of bread to be arranged every Sabbath, is again a picture of the emphasis being
placed on us to make sure that we are coming together as a body on His Shabbat!
The two rows of 6 cakes represent the 12 tribes of Yisra’ĕl being made up from the two Houses
of Ephraim and Yehuḏah.
The Bread is that of community but also speaks of the Word – The Bread of Life – the Living
Torah – that we eat each week, in a set-apart place, as we have a set-apart gathering!
The clear frankincense on each row, would provide a pleasing aroma before Elohim, and the
term literally means in its root form ‘clear/transparent whiteness’ and it reminds us that we
are the Bride of Messiah, who each week comes together to eat of the set-apart Bread and are
continually being made more transparent and able to shine His Bright light as we spend more
and more time in his set-apart presence together!
To the assembly in Sardis, we see that a remnant will walk with Messiah in white, and we do
this as we keep oil in our lamps and hold fast to our work of faith in love for Him and His Torah:
Ḥazon/Revelation 3:4-5 “Nevertheless, you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled
their garments. And they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy. 5 “He who
overcomes shall be dressed in white robes, and I shall by no means blot out his name from
the Book of Life, but I shall confess his name before My Father and before His messengers.”
Verse 10-14 – get rid of the immoral
As we continue to shine His presence and be set-apart we find that the things of the world grow
dim and we see clearly that we are to have no part of any darkness for what union does light
have with darkness and straight after these commands we see the effect of unequal yoking.
A child who had a Yisra’ĕlite for a mother and a Mitsrian for a father blasphemed the Name of
Elohim, and all who heard him had to lay their hands upon him and the entire nation then
stoned him to death.
This laying hands upon the one who cursed is a picture of the goat for Azazel upon which the
sins of Yisra’ĕl were placed and sent outside the camp.
Anyone who had witnessed the cursing and refused to put their hands upon the boy would
have rendered themselves guilty of partaking in his sin.
Mattithyahu/Matthew 12:32 “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Aḏam, it shall
be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Set-apart Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him,
either in this age or in the age to come.”
יהושעmade it clear here, that there is a sin that is unforgiveable and that is to blaspheme and
curse and speak against the Set-Apart Spirit, which is what this boy did, in Wayyiqra/Leviticus
24!
This example is also a stern warning for us as spoken of in not listening and guarding to do the
commands of Elohim, especially after we have heard:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 10:26 “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins”
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Verse 16 makes it clear – do not blaspheme the Name of יהוה, and so in a Torah portion
where we see further instructions for us as a royal, set-apart priesthood, not to blaspheme the
Name of יהוה, we are given an example of what will happen if we do!
The closing verses, emphasises that there is to always be right-ruling and justice according to
the commands of Elohim in our midst.
The command given for an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, was not done away with
when יהושעwas here in the flesh!
This command speaks of making a right restitution for what has been done; in other words, a
fair payment should be given for the loss a victim incurs from another who harms him and the
right compensation should be given.
If a tooth is lost then the injured could not expect to get more than a tooth.
Today, we see people trying to get more than what they have suffered the loss of and when
יהושעquoted this verse, He was not replacing it but rather, He was emphasising it!
Mattithyahu/Matthew 5:38-39 “You heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for
a tooth,’ 39 but I say to you, do not resist the wicked. But whoever slaps you on your right
cheek, turn the other to him also.”
What is interesting to note here is that יהושעdoes not say, ‘It has been written’, but rather,
‘You heard that it was said’, which implies that He was referring to the attempt of some who
were trying to apply this passage here when someone offends our pride by teaching us a
lesson.
A slap on the cheek was often the prerogative of a master or teacher to his servant or student
and we see in:
Ěḵah/Lamentations 3:30 “Let him give his cheek to the one who smites him – he is filled with
reproach.”
What is being said here is that when one is filled with reproach and is rebellious then give your
cheek to the one who leads you or teaches you; and so, what יהושעwas in essence saying, in
quoting this verse from Wayyiqra/Leviticus 24, is that "an eye for an eye" did not fit the
context of rebellion against authority, and a servant could in no way use this ‘eye for an eye’
concept to get back at their boss or teacher who disciplined or reprimanded them!
This is not a time to retaliate and strike back and so, the correct response would be to drop
one’s offended pride and humbly ask for more teaching, so as to be able to understand why the
slap came in the first place and learn from there.
This was not about compensation for injury or harm, and so we see the clarity of yet another
passage that many had twisted in His day and still do today to fuel their own rebellion against
His Supreme Authority!
There is to be one right-ruling!
There are not different rulings or regulations for different people!
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The Hebrew root word for ‘RIGHT-RULING’ is ׁשפָ ט
ְּ ִמmishpat – Strong’s H4941 – ‘judgement,
ordinance, regulations’ and comes from the word ׁשָ פַ טshaphat – Strong’s H8199 – meaning,
‘to judge, govern, rule, pronounce judgement, give law’.
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 33:22 “for יהוהis our Judge, יהוהis our Lawgiver, יהוהis our Sovereign,
He saves us”
There is only One who gives us the Law by which we must live and by which we are governed
and these judgements and right-rulings and regulations given by Him we must DO!!!
There is one right-ruling for the native and stranger – therefore: let us be set-apart!!!
Shalom!
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