Hebrew Root Word Studies - Agriculture

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Light Call
Spirit

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The Ancient Pictograph Definition
of the Hebrew word

Lamp


Ancient
Letter
Nun
Modern
Letter
Nun
Name of
Letter
Nun

Picture: A plant shoot

Meaning: A continuation of life from a seed

Culture:

A shoot is the beginning of new life which came from the parent plant. This cycle will continue for generation after generation.






Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Resh

Picture: A head of a man

Meaning: The head, top or beginning of anything

Culture: The head is seen as the top of the body and can be the top or head of anything such as the body, time, mountaintop, rank, etc. This letter can also represent a man.





Ancient
Word
Modern
Word
Trans-
literation
Ner

Pictures: Seed beginning

Meaning: The beginning of the germination of the seed by water in the soil

Culture:

The word "NeR" literally means "a bringing forth of light". This word is often translated as "a freshly plowed field" because to the ancient Hebrews, plowing is seen as "the bringing forth of light in the soil".



Picture of ancient Plowing

In order for a seed to grow/begin, there must be water in the soil. When the ground is plowed the moist soil from underneath, surfaces and shines from the water in the soil which is a sign that the life giving water is present. The word "NeR" is also translated as "lamp" because it "brings forth light".

There are several words which come from the root word "NeR";

m'NoRah - the lightstand in the Temple which brings light.

NahaR - a river that can flood or is in the act of flooding such as the Euphrates or Nile Rivers. The flooding of these rivers are not catastrophes, but rather blessings from G-d. Since there is very little rain in the area around these rivers, they are dependent upon the water from far away places. The river "brings" the water down the river and floods the soil in order for crops to grow.

There is another interesting meaning in the pictographs of the word NeR. The picture of the Nun also means a "son" as he is the one who "continues" the family line. Though the Resh is a picture of a head, it can also mean a "man". Therefore the word "NeR" is also a "Son of Man". Yeshua the Mashiach (Messiah) said in Yochanan (John) 8.12;

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".

Yeshua oftens refers to himself as the "Son of Man". Yeshua is also the mayim hayim "living water" which brings life into our lives so that we will grow.



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The Ancient Pictograph Definition
of the Hebrew word



Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Quph

Picture: A rising and setting sun

Meaning: The circling sun which causes the gathering of light and darkness.

Culture: When the sun sets, the light is gathered to the sun. When the sun rises the darkness is gathered at the opposite horizon of the sun. This rising and setting of the sun is also seen as a circling of the earth.





Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Lamed

Picture: A Shepherds Staff

Meaning: The shepherds staff of authority for the leading and discipline of the sheep.

Culture: The staff was used to direct a sheep toward the correct direction, or the curved end could be used to pull the sheep toward him. At times it was also used to chastise a disobedient sheep. With the staff in his hand, the shepherd would lead his sheep to pastures, water and fold in the evening.





Ancient
Word
Modern
Word
Trans-
literation
Qal

Pictures: Bringing in to the staff

Meaning: A swift gathering of the sheep to the shepherd's staff.

Culture: When the Shepherd calls the sheep which are scattered around the field, they all swiftly come running to him.

From the two consonant ancient root "qal", three consonant root words are formed, which are related in meaning, such as these below.



picture of shepherd

qol - A "qol" is the voice of the Shepherd which is very familiar to his sheep.

qahal - The qahal is a gathering of the sheep which come to the shepherd when they hear his voice. This word is often used in the Bible for the community or assembly of Israel who are the sheep who hear the voice of G-d.

Devariym (Duet) 5.22-24; These words the L-RD spoke to all your ''qahal'' (a gathering flock) from in the midst of the fiery cloud on the mountain and the cloudy darkness, with a great ''qol'' (the voice of the shepherd).



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The Ancient Pictograph Definition
of the Hebrew word



Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Resh

Picture: A head of a man

Meaning: The head, top or beginning of anything

Culture: The head is seen as the top of the body and can be the top or head of anything such as the body, time, mountaintop, rank, etc. This letter can also represent a man.





Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Chet

Picture: A Wall or Fence

Meaning: What is outside of the wall

Culture: The wall of a tent or corral separates and protects what is inside from what is outside such as inclimate weather and predators. (The sound of the "chet" is "ch" as in the German "ich").





Ancient
Word
Modern
Word
Trans-
literation
Rach

Pictures: A Man Outside

Meaning: The daily routine of man outside.

Culture: The responsibilities of the nomadic man outside of the tent include the feeding, watering and caring for the livestock. Livestock are healthier and more productive when on a routine, therefore the man follows a routine or "a prescribed path" each day when caring for his livestock.



Though the word "Rach" is not used in the Bible, Several words which come from this root are and also share the meaning of "a prescribed path".

yeRe'aCh - Moon. The moon follows a prescribed path each night from horizon to horizon.

RuaCh - Wind. The Hebrew nomads were very familiar with the wind patterns as they would follow a prescribed path indicating the coming season. From this word comes the idea of breath as it is the wind of man which also follows a prescribed path of inhaling and exhaling.

'aRaCh - Traveler. One who follows a prescribed path to arrive at a specific destination.

The breath (ruach) of man can literally mean his breath but also his existence as breath is the life of the man. It is from this idea of existence that is translated into the English word "spirit". The ruach of man is the journey which he takes, both physically and spiritually and can be seen in Psalms 31.6 (5);

"Into your hands I commit my spirit (ruach)".

Here David is committing his existence, life, and path to G-d.

The Spirit/Wind/Breath (Ruach) of G-d is his existence. Just as the wind cannot be seen but it's presence can be sensed through the movement of trees and the sound of its leaves rustling, so is G-d. We cannot see Him but we can sense his presence. When we commit our ruach to him, he gives us a new ruach, His Ruach. With His Ruach in us, our "prescribed path" through life is now accomplished by Him.

Ezekiel 36.26,27; "I will give you a new heart and a new ruach within you, and I will remove from you a heart of stone and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will give my Ruach within you and I will do, through you, what is in my decrees so that you may walk in them and my laws so that you may keep and do them".





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