Hebrew Root Word Studies - Nature

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Day Nest
Serpent

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The Ancient Pictograph Definition
of the Hebrew word

Day


Ancient
Letter
Yud
Modern
Letter
Yud
Name of
Letter
Yud

Picture: The Hand and forearm

Meaning: The work or activity of someone or something





Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Mem

Picture: Waves or ripples of water

Meaning: Water





Ancient
Word
Modern
Word
Trans-
literation
Yam

Pictures: Working water

Meaning: The sea, a place where water works and is active

Culture:

Yam can be any large body of water, but very often refers to the mediteranian which lies to the west of Israel. There are two other words used in the Bible which are derived from this root word.



aYoM - The sea was seen as a place of chaos because of the great and turbulent storms which formed over it. For this reason, this word was used for fear, terror and chaos.

YoM - This word is usually translated as "day". What do "day" and the "sea" have in common? We must remember that the Hebrew day ends when the sun sets and a new day begins. Where does the sun set when in Israel? Over the sea (yam). Yom then literally means, "the time between the setting of the sun over the sea". It is my opinion that the idea of the seven "days" of creation are "ages" or "eons" can not be supported because of this realtionship between the sea and a day.



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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 sun which causes the gathering of light and darkness when rising and setting.

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.





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
Word
Modern
Word
Trans-
literation
Qen

Pictures: A gathering for the seeds

Meaning: The gathering of materials for the building of a nest for the seeds (eggs)

Culture: Before a bird lays her eggs, she goes around acquiring and gathering materials to build her nest.

There are several words which come from the root word "QeN" (nest), all related in meaning to the original root.



picture of a nest

QoNeh - One who builds a nest such as a bird or G-d as in Bereshiyt (Genesis) 14.19;

"G-d most high creator (qoneh) of sky and earth".

The English word "create" is an abstract word which is a foriegn concept to the Hebrews. While we see G-d as one who makes something from nothing (create), the Hebrews saw G-d like a bird who goes about acquiring and gathering materials to build a nest (qen - the sky and earth). Who did the Hebrews see as the eggs that G-d built the nest for? Man.

QaNa' - Jealous. A bird watches over the eggs and young with jealousy and will defend them from the enemy and prevent any other bird from entering the nest. This is the picture that the Hebrews had of G-d as in Shemot (Exodus) 34.14;

"Do not worship any other god, for the L-RD, whose name is jealous (qana'), is a jealous (qana') G-d".

Just as a bird watches over her eggs from predetors, G-d also watches over his children in his nest protecting them from predetors - other gods.



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The Ancient Pictograph Definition
of the Hebrew word



Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Shin

Picture: Teeth

Meaning: The two front teeth which are sharp.




Ancient
Letter
Modern
Letter
Name of
Letter
Phey

Picture: A MOUTH

Meaning: An open mouth





Ancient
Word
Modern
Word
Trans-
literation
Shaph

Pictures: Teeth - Mouth

Meaning: Sharp teeth in the mouth.

Culture: The two letter root word Shaph has the meaning of "a sharp toothed mouth". Several Hebrew words are dereived from this word.



The Hebrew word Shephiyphon is a poisonous serpent with fangs or a snake with sharp teeth in the mouth.





The Hebrew word ash'pah is an archers quiver. The arrows (the sharp teeth) are inserted into the opening (mouth) of the quiver. A quiver is a mouth for sharp teeth.




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