Valorous

Self-Control - Fruit of the Spirit

This is our final episode of season 2, the last fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5, self-control! This word doesn't have a Hebrew equivalent, so we did our best using the Greek word Enkratia. Check out our show notes below, and enjoy the episode.

 

Enkratia (ἐγκράτεια)

“Self-Control”

 

Why start with the Greek?

• • Some Greek words are connected to concepts in Hebrew but not directly to a Hebrew word. This is the case with enkratia. We have to work backwards to understand where Paul is coming from, and be careful not to read our western thought into the scriptures.

• Note: Some of the concepts Paul talked about were for Greeks and there was no 1:1 comparison to the words in Hebrew. They connected multiple moral concepts into one word.  Paul must be understood as a Jew writing to non-Jews, applying Torah to their moral framework.  We are not Rome, so how we apply Torah may look different from how Paul wrote... and this is OK! 

 

Strongs translates Enkratia:

• Temperance, self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)
• From the root, enkratos
  • strong, robust, having power over, possessed of (a thing), mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining, controlling one's self, temperate, continent 
  • En – in, by, with. Kratos – power, dominion, strength
• Plato thought enkratia was a paradox: 

“Now the phrase ‘master of himself’ is an absurdity, is it not? For he who is master of himself would also be subject to himself,” (Plato Republic, 430e)

• Aristotle considered enkratia to be a word in need of a qualifier, 

“As therefore we do not call bad doctors and actors bad men, because neither kind of incapacity is actually a vice, but only resembles Vice by analogy, so in the former case it is clear that only self-restraint and lack of restraint in regard to the same things as are the objects of Temperance and Profligacy are to be deemed Self-restraint and Unrestraint proper, and that these terms are applied to anger only by analogy; and so we add a qualification, ‘unrestrained in anger,’ just as we say ‘unrestrained in the pursuit of honor’ or ‘gain.’” (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 7.4.6)

• From this we learn that the Greeks felt enkratia was either insufficient without a qualifier (Aristotle), or applied to the whole scope of existence (Plato).  It was seen both as a quality of restraint and of mastery.

 

Hebrew concepts

• Self-Governance (Mashal – Rule)

• • • Go to the ant, you slacker—consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or mashal. 8 Yet it prepares its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)
    • If you do well, it will lift. But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the doorway. Its desire is for you, but you must mashal it. (Genesis 4:7)
    • Also keep Your servant from willful sins. May they not have mashal over me. Then I will be blameless, free from great transgression. (Psalm 19:14)
    • Better to be slow to anger than a mighty warrior. One who has mashal over his temper is better than one who conquers a city. (Proverbs 16:32)
    • Ruling over one’s own self is seen as a moral imperative.  The scriptures are clear that “every man doing right in his own eyes” is disastrous, but ruling over your own body with God’s priorities is life-giving.

• Set-Apart Life (Palah – Severed/separated)

• • • But know that Adonai has set apart (palah) the godly for His own. Adonai will hear when I call to Him. (Psalm 4:4)
    • “But on that day I will palah the land of Goshen, where My people are dwelling—except no swarm of flies will be there—so that you may know that I, Adonai, am in the midst of the earth. (Exodus 8:18)
    • I praise You, for I am awesomely, wonderfully palah! Wonderful are Your works— and my soul knows that very well. (Psalm 139:14)
    • Being set apart means being used for a specific purpose.  This does not mean the purpose is evident, nor that the purpose can be chosen by our own will.

• Singleness of Purpose (Chanak – Dedication)

• • • When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he rallied his trained (chanak) men, those born in his household… (Genesis 14:14a)
    • “The officers are to speak to the troops saying, ‘What man has built a new house but has not chanak(ed) it? Let him go back to his house—otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would chanak it. (Deuteronomy 20:5)
    • King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people chanak(ed) the House of God.
    • Chanak a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
    • Every aspect of a set-apart asks the question, “Set apart for what?” The one doing the separating is the one who has the authority to make that declaration.

• Surrender of Will (Bachar – Chosen)

• • Who is this man who fears Adonai? He will instruct him in the way he should choose (bachar). (Psalm 25:12)
  • He bachar our inheritance for us,… (Psalm 47:5a)
  • Then He detested Joseph’s tent and bachar not the tribe of Ephraim. 68 Instead He bachar the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved. (Psalm 78:67, 68)
  • But there will be a crushing of transgressors and sinners together. Forsaking Adonai, they will be consumed. 29 For they will be ashamed of the sacred oaks that you desired, and embarrassed because of the gardens that you have bachar(ed). (Isaiah 1:28, 29)
  • Resignation to the will of God means setting our will aside.  That means what the flesh wants to do is set aside in favor of doing what the Spirit wants.  (Note: if we allow ourselves to continually choose our will over His will, we are in bondage to the flesh just as the Israelites were still in bondage in their hearts.)

(Note: Transaction of the Table)

(Note: Power of the tongue: James, Psalms, ‘self talk’, etc.

Bibliography

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Humble - Fruit of the Spirit

In the seventh episode of our series on the Fruit of the Spirit, we analyze the characteristics of the word Humble or Humility in Hebrew, 'Anav'. Follow along with our show notes and review any references at the bottom. Enjoy!

 

Anav (עָנָו) 

‘Humble’

 

Defining Anav (עָנָו):

• How anav is translated according to Strongs:
  • meek (13x), humble (5x), poor (5x), lowly (2x), very meek (1x). 
  • poor, humble, afflicted, meek, needy, weak

(Strong, 2022)

• Afflicted/downtrodden in the sense that one who is anav is in a humble place and may be walked over.

 

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3) וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה ענו מְאֹד מִכֹּל הָֽאָדָם אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָֽה

הָאֲדָמָֽה	עַל־פְּנֵי	אֲשֶׁר	הָֽאָדָם	מִכֹּל	מְאֹד	ענו	מֹשֶׁה	וְהָאִישׁ
Ha’adamah	al-panim	Asher	Ha’adam	M’kol	M’od	Anav	Moshe	V’ha’ish
[of] the earth	[were] on the face	which	the man[kind]	[among] all	very	[was] humble	Moses	And the man

• This should direct our memory immediately to the Genesis 1-3 story, and the first of humankind “Adam” and the fact that in that story the man (Note: Ha’adam, ish v’isha shows up in ha’adam’s poem)
• Adonai Elohim sent him away from the Garden of Eden, to work the ground from which he had been taken. (Genesis 3:23)
• Moses is the only human that is specifically called anav in this way by the Lord.

 

“The nature of this process is perhaps best summed up in the singular description the Torah gives of him: “Moses was very humble, more than any human being on the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3). The Hebrew formulation—kol ha-adam—suggests not simply that he was the humblest man, but that his humility transcended the human range. Moses’ essential difference from the whole of humanity lay in his “humility,” his anava.” (Zornberg, 2016)

• Moses is the only human that is specifically called anav in this way by the Lord.

 

Significance of the Hebrew “avon” (עֲוֺן) as a “twisting” of anav (עָנָו).

• The man was placed in the garden to be representative of God, but he twisted his purpose.

 

Use in the Psalms:

• Sing praises to Adonai, who dwells in Zion. Declare His deeds among the peoples. 13 He who avenges blood remembers. He will not forget the cry of the anavim… 19 For the needy will not forever be forgotten, nor the hope of the anavim perish forever. (Psalm 9:12, 13, 19)
• Let the anavim eat and be satisfied. Let them who seek after Him praise Adonai. May your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:27)
• But the anavim will inherit the land, and delight in abundant shalom. (Psalm 37:11)
• From heaven You pronounced judgment. The earth feared and was still— 10 when God rose up to judgment, to save all the anavim of the land. Selah (Psalm 67:9, 10)
• The Ruach of Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the anavim. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, (Isaiah 61:1)

All these references show us that God has a special consideration for those who are anav.  Also that they are uniquely able to receive what He gives

 

New Covenant 

 

The word “meek” comes from the word Praus/Prautes

• Xenophon of Athens (c. 430 BC) primarily used praus in various forms to describe the behavior and training of horses, but also described men having the same quality.  It seems that he used it to mean “even-tempered” or “tame”
• Aristotle (384–322 BC) also used praus in various forms to describe the character of man:

“Now we praise a man who feels anger on the right grounds and against the right persons, and also in the right manner and at the right moment and for the right length of time. He may then be called gentle-tempered (praus), if we take gentleness (praotēs) to be a praiseworthy quality—for ‘gentle’ (praus) really denotes a calm temper, not led by emotion but only becoming angry in such a manner, for such causes and for such a length of time as principle may ordain although the quality is thought rather to err on the side of defect, since the ‘gentle-tempered man’ (praus) is not prompt to seek redress for injuries, but rather inclined to forgive them.” (Rackhman, 1934)

 

• “Blessed are the praus, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am praus and humble in heart, and ‘you will find rest for your souls.’ (Matthew 11:29)
  • (Take my yoke as your yoke and learn of me that I am anai and good and pure of heart and you shall find rest for your souls,…)(Matthew 11:29) (Howard, 1995)
• “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King is coming to you, humble and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” (Matthew 21:5)
• Don’t let your beauty be external—braiding the hair and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Instead let it be in the hidden person of the heart, with the unfading beauty of a praus and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. (1 Peter 3:3, 4)
• “But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 anav/prautes, and self-control—against such things there is no law. “ (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Reference Material

 

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Rackhman, H. (. (1934). Aristotle in 23 volumes, volume 19. London: Harvard University Press.

Strong, J. (2022, 07 21). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Zornberg, A. G. (2016). Moses, A Human Life. New Haven: Yale University Press.

 

Faithfulness - Fruit of the Spirit

After a long break, we're back with another episode in the Fruit of the Spirit series! Faithfulness, or Emunah, is the next word we will be discussing. Join us with a cup of coffee or on your drive home and learn about the roots of faithfulness and how to walk in step with Holy Spirit and bear good faithful fruit.

 

Show Notes:

 

Aman, Emunah (אֱמוּנָה ,אָמַן) 

‘Faith, Faithfulness’

 

(Note: Hebrew words that are active words, not passive: Shema)

Defining Emunah (אֱמוּנָה):

• How Emunah is translated according to Strongs:
  • faithfulness (18x), truth (13x), faithfully (5x), office (5x), faithful (3x), faith (1x), stability (1x), steady (1x), truly (1x), verily (1x).
  • Adjective: firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness

 

• Emunah comes from the root “Aman” (אָמַן), where we also get the word “Emet” (אֱמֶת)

• • Aman: to support, confirm, be faithful
    • (Qal)
      • to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish, foster-father (subst.) foster-mother, nurse, pillars, supporters of the door
    • (Niphal)
      • to be established, be faithful, make firm, to be carried by a nurse, lasting, confirmed, established, sure, verified, confirmed, reliable, faithful, trusty
    • (Hiphil)

• to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in, trust, believe

• Emet: firmness, faithfulness, truth, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance, faithfulness, truth, as spoken, of testimony and judgment, of divine instruction, truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge, true doctrine, 
• adverb: in truth, truly

(Strong, 2022)

(Note) Branches of aman – (Emunah +Emet)

Ancient Semitic context for Aman

(Note: Ancient Hebrew, pictorial relationships)

	Strength, power, authority
	Water, chaos,
	Seed, continuation, next generation

• From this we can visualize aman as a strength that provides assurance of continuation through chaos and disorder

 

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• • Then [Abraham] emin in Adonai and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

• This teaches us that aman is a precursor for imputed righteousness.

• • “…And your youngest brother, bring to me so that your words can be y’amnu—and you won’t die.” So they did. (Genesis 42:20)
  • Then Moses said, “But look, they will not ya’aminu me or listen to my voice. They will say, ‘Adonai has not appeared to you.’” (Exodus 4:1)

• This shows us that aman is an act of confirmation, or information that requires direct action: If Joseph’s brothers, or if Moses could prove their claims, that would necessitate action.

• Moses’ hands grew heavy, so they took a stone, put it under him, and he sat down. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands were emunah until the sun went down. (Exodus 17:12)
• Adonai will repay everyone his righteousness and his emunah. For Adonai gave you into my hand today, but I refused to lay my hand on Adonai’s anointed. (1 Samuel 26:23)
  • This suggests that we should understand emunah as the physical outworking of aman. (Note: If “aman” necessitates action, “emunah” is the action that flows from it.)
• Behold, the puffed up one – his soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his emunah. (Habakkuk 2:4) (Note: He does not say “aman” here, but “emunah”. Habakkuk links faith with works here)
  • Emunah – physical manifestation of the reality. Emunah is a godly attribute, but one that humans are called to as a way of life.

 

Use in the Psalms:

• “Help, Adonai! For no one godly exists. For the emunim (aman) have vanished from the children of men.” (Psalm 12:1)
• For the word of Adonai is upright and all His work is done in emunah. (Psalm 33:4)
• Trust in Adonai and do good. Dwell in the land, feed on emunah (Psalm 37:3)
• I will sing of the love of Adonai forever. To all generations I will make known Your emunah with my mouth. 3 For I said, “Let your lovingkindness be built up forever!
• The heavens—let Your emunah be made firm there!” (Psalm 89:2, 3)

New Covenant 

The word for aman and emunah in Greek is pistis (πίστις)

• • We see a challenge in a New-Covenant rendering of “faith” because there is only one word that is used for two Hebrew words.

• (Note: also a complicating factor is that in the Church, when we say “Faith” sometimes we’re just using shorthand to say “Christianity”)

 

Charis and Pistis

• In 1st century Rome, society often ran on a patron/client system.
  • “Patronage had its own vocabulary. Words we usually consider particularly Christian terms, “grace” and “faith”, were common parlance before Paul commandeered to them. The undeserved gifts of assistance the patron offered were commonly called charis (grace and gift). The loyalty the client offered the patron in response was called pistis (faith and faithfulness).” (O'Brien, 2012)

 

• (Centurion) Now when Yeshua heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Amen, I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great pistis! (Matthew 8:10)
• (Paralytic) Just then, some people brought to Him a paralyzed man lying on a cot. And seeing their pistis, Yeshua said to the paralyzed man, “Take courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2) 
• (Woman with the issue of blood) But then Yeshua turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” He said, “your pistis has made you well.” That very hour the woman was healed. (Matthew 9:22)
• …So also pistis, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have pistis and I have works.” Show me your pistis without works and I will show you pistis by my works. (Jacob 2:17, 18)
• But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, emunah, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Eternal life is a free gift, received without works, but the “way” of that life is emunah!

Reference Material

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

O'Brien, E. R. (2012). Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes. London: IVP Books.

Strong, J. (2022, MM DD). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Goodness & Kindness - Fruit of the Spirit

Hello Friends! In this fifth episode, we discuss goodness & kindness, two for one!

The fifth and sixth fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is Goodness and Kindness. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of goodness and kindness, or tov. Tov literally translates to 'good.' We also cover the Hebrew words and concept of Kli - vessel and ra - evil. 

 

Tov (טוֹב) 

‘Good’

רַע (ra) – evil, wickedness. Expressed as an opposite to “tov”

כְּלִי (kli) – a vessel, implement, created thing, tool

 

Defining Tov (טוֹב):

• How Tov is translated according to Strongs:
  • good (361x), better (72x), well (20x), goodness (16x), goodly (9x), best (8x), merry (7x), fair (7x), prosperity (6x), precious (4x), fine (3x), wealth (3x), beautiful (2x), fairer (2x), favour (2x), glad (2x), miscellaneous (35x).
• Adjective
  • good, pleasant, agreeable (to the senses, to the higher nature), good, excellent (of its kind), rich, valuable in estimation, appropriate, becoming, better (comparative), glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature), understanding (of man's intellectual nature), kind, benign, right (ethical)
• masculine noun 
  • a good thing, benefit, welfare, prosperity, happiness, good things (collective), benefit, moral good
• Feminine noun 
• welfare, benefit, good things, prosperity, happiness, collective good, bounty

(Strong, 2022)

• Hirsch adds to this list: ‘being purposeful’ (Clark, 1999)

 

Ancient Semitic context

(Note: Ancient Hebrew, pictorial relationships)

	Tet – Basket, Container, Vessel
	Peg, Stake, Ligature
	Tent, House, Household

• From this we can visualize Tov as vessel that is connected to the functioning of the home

 

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was tov, and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3, 4) 
  • (Tov is then used to describe God’s work in creation six more times in verse 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31)
  • This is God’s way of explaining in Chapter 1 that everything that He created was complete in goodness.  His created order did not lack in anything necessary for functioning the way He intended
• Two more notes: 
  • “Out of the ground Adonai, God, caused to grow every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of tov and ra. … 16 Adonai, God, gave the person this order: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden 17 except the tree of the knowledge of tov and ra. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.” (Genesis 2:9, 16, 17)
  • This teaches us that God himself possesses the knowledge of what is tov and what is ra.  It is not within our capacity to understand the fullness of what is ultimately good or evil, and we were not intended to make that choice independently of God’s word.
  • “Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t tov that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” (Genesis 2:18)
  • This teaches us that the functioning of man is incomplete “not tov” without the ability to procreate and fill the earth with the image of God. 

 

Use in the Psalms:

• Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile, not one does what is tov. 2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind to see if anyone has understanding, if anyone seeks God. 3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt; no one does what is tov, not a single one. (Psalm 14:1-3)
• I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord; I have nothing tov outside of you.” (Psalm 16:2) (Lit. “My tov-ness doesn’t reach to you”)
• God looks out from heaven upon the human race to see if even one is wise, if even one seeks God. 3 Every one of them is unclean, altogether corrupt; not one of them does what is tov, not a single one. (Psalm 53:2, 3)
• This reinforces our understanding that apart from God anything we try to do, contributes to an increase or ‘ra’ in the earth, not ‘tov’
• Adonai is tov, and he is fair; this is why he teaches sinners the way (Psalm 25:8)
• …turn from ra, and do tov; seek peace, go after it! (Psalm 34:14)
• Teach me to do your will, because you are my God; Let your tov Spirit guide me on ground that is level. (Psalm 143:10)
• David understood and proclaimed that a relationship with the Spirit of God made it possible to do tov and turn from ra.

A note about “Kli”

• Kli is the Hebrew word for a created or useful item, so it can apply to a basket, shovel, sword, dinnerware, etc.  A sword that functions might be called a tov sword, etc.
• “But understand this, that in the last days hard times will come— 2 for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 hardhearted, unforgiving, backbiting, without self-control, brutal, hating what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) They, like many before look like a “kli”, but they are not empowered to do what is tov.

 

New Covenant 

Gentleness – chrēstotēs, Septuagint for Osay-Tov (does good) 

Goodness – agathōsynē, Septuagint for Tov (good) Quality of being good

 

• • “But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, [a doer of tov], [who is tov], faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. “ (Galatians 5:22, 23)

• (Note: “You become the Vessel that God uses in the home”)

• With the filling of the Spirit, one becomes empowered to do what they were created to do, and be who they were created to be!

Reference Material

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Strong, J. (2022, 07, 06). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Patience - Fruit of the Spirit

Hello Friends! In this fourth episode, we discuss patience.

The fourth fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is Patience. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of patience, or erech aph. Erech Aph literally translates to 'slow of nose.' How does that translate to patience?! Take a listen and find out... also follow along with the show notes below! 

 

Erech Apayim (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם) 

‘Slow to Anger’

Two words together, Erech (אֶרֶךְ) and Apayim (אַפַּיִם)

• Erech
  • slow (9x), longsuffering (with H639) (4x), longwinged (with H83) (1x), patient (1x).
• Aph/Apayim (Sing/plural. Fey vs pey, latter vs ladder)
  • anger (172x), wrath (42x), face (22x), nostrils (13x), nose (12x), angry (4x), longsuffering (with H750) (4x), before (2x), countenance (1x), forbearing (1x), forehead (1x), snout (1x), worthy (1x).
    • nostril, nose, face
    • anger
• Aph is believed to be from the root “Anaph”
  • to be angry, to be displeased, to breathe hard
    • (Qal) to be angry (of God)
    • (Hithpael) to be angry (always of God)

 

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• • Aph, first and significant uses:
    • Then Adonai Elohim formed the man out of the dust from the ground and He breathed into his aph a breath of life—so the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7)
    • By the sweat of your aph will you eat food, until you return to the ground, since from it were you taken….” (Genesis 3:19a)
      • This teaches us that aph is related to the attributes of the face and breath

• …until your brother’s aph turns away from you and he forgets what you’ve done to him. (Genesis 27:45a)

• • • But Jacob’s aph was hot against Rachel and said, “Am I, instead of God, the one who withheld from you the fruit of the womb? (Genesis 30:2)
      • This shows us the writers considered anger to be connected with a hot sensation and/or hard breathing.  This is also where we get the idea that the aph can be interpreted as “anger”

• Erech, first and significant uses:

• • Then Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God, erech apayim, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth,… (Exodus 34:6)
  • ‘Adonai is erech apayim and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Still, He does not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations.’ (Numbers 4:18)
  • “…But You are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, erech apayim, and abounding in love. Therefore You did not abandon them,” (Nehemiah 9:17b)
    • Almost all pre-exilic uses of erech are directly connected to aph/apayim

Erech Apayim 

• “long suffering;” displaying patience with the wicked, instead of punishing them immediately. (Zekenim, 1100-1300 CE)
• God is erech aph to “…both to the righteous and to the wicked. The reason? To encourage them to do teshuvah (repent).” (Sforno, 1500-1550 CE)

 

Use in the Psalms:

• • But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, erech apayim, full of love and truth. (Psalm 86:15)
  • Adonai is compassionate and gracious, erech apayim, and plentiful in mercy. (Psalm 103:8)
  • Adonai is gracious and compassionate, erech apayim and great in lovingkindness. (Psalm 145:8)

• David Quotes the Lord back to the Lord

Use in the Proberbs

• One who is erech apayim shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered* one exalts folly. (Proverbs 14:29) *kitzar-ruach. Lit. hasty of spirit/ hasty of breath
  • Therefore, erech apayim and kitzar ruach are understood as opposed to one another.

 

New Covenant 

Septuagint uses μακροθύμως “makrothymos” for slow to anger. 

Makrotymos is translated:

• Compound word:
  • Makro = long/far, 
  • Tymos = wrath, fierceness, indignation

 

Makrotymos in the New Covenant:

• • “…do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you belittle the riches of His kindness and tolerance and makrotymia—not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:3b, 4)

• “Now what if God, willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much makrotymia vessels of wrath designed for destruction? 23 And what if He did so to make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory? 24 Even us He called—not only from the Jewish people, but also from the Gentiles— 25 as He says also in Hosea, ‘I will call those who were not My people, “My people,” and her who was not loved, “Beloved.” 26 And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there they shall be called sons of the living God.’”

• • Bear in mind that the makrotymia of our Lord means salvation—just as our dearly loved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom given to him. (2 Peter 3:15)

• Makrotymia is a godly characteristic, and the only way to truly have makrotymia is to be in tune with the Holy Spirit so you do not find yourself getting bent out of shape when He seems to be taking too long.

• “But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, makrotymia, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

 

Reference Material

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Sforno, O. b. (1500-1550 CE). Sefaria.org. Retrieved from mobile.tora.ws: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.34.6?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Sforno_on_Exodus.34.6.6&lang2=bi&w2=About&lang3=en

Strong, J. (2022, July 1). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Zekenim, D. (1100-1300 CE). Sefaria.org. Retrieved from https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.34.6?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Daat_Zkenim_on_Exodus.34.6&lang2=bi&w2=About&lang3=en

 

Peace - Fruit of the Spirit

Shalom friends! In this episode we discuss the fruit of the Spirit of peace. 

The third fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is peace. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of peace, or shalom. 

 

Referenced Material: 

70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know - Matthew Richard Schlimm

The Bible Project - Shalom word study

 

Notes:

 

Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) 

‘Peace’

Strongs translates שָׁלוֹם as: (over 200 uses in the TNK)

• completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
  • completeness (in number)
  • safety, soundness (in body)
  • welfare, health, prosperity
  • peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment
  • peace, friendship
    • of human relationships
    • with God especially in covenant relationship
  • peace (from war)
  • peace (as adjective)

From the root שָׁלַם translated as: 

• pay (19x), peace (11x), recompense (11x), reward (10x), render (9x), restore (8x), repay (7x), perform (7x), good (6x), end (4x), requite (4x), restitution (4x), finished (3x), again (3x), amends (1x), full (1x), miscellaneous (8x).
• Hirsch defines Shalom
  • Being complete and harmonious, being whole, compensating, being full, exacting retribution, being well, peace, prosperity, complete cover, as with a garment. (Clark, 1999)
• Shalom “…refers to a peace of mind, body, spirit, and relationship. A person who feels shalom is complete and whole…” (see Leviticus 26:6) The presence of shalom means not only the absence of swords and wild beasts, but also the presence of worry-free rest.” (Schlimm, 2018)

 

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• • Root, “Shalam” first use: “They left the city and did not get far, when Joseph said to the one over his household, “Get up, go after the men. When you catch up to them, say to them, “Why have you Shilam evil for good?” (Genesis 44:4)
    • This teaches us that the root of shalom is connected with a payment/a settled account
  • “Then He said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and oppressed 400 years. 14 But I am going to judge the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will go out with many possessions. But you, you will come to your fathers in shalom. You will be buried at a good old age.” (Genesis 15:15)
    • This suggests that shalom can be a state of being in life that is distinct from other options.  Abram’s descendants would suffer and be enslaved, but Abram would experience shalom during his days. 
  • “Then Jacob made a vow saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this way that I am going, and provide me food to eat and clothes to wear, 21 and I return in shalom to my father’s house, then Adonai will be my God.” (Genesis 28:20, 21)

• This teaches us that the process of restoring a relationship can be fraught with problems, but it is acceptable to pray for the process to be marked by shalom.

• • “When [Jacob’s] brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak to him in shalom.” (Genesis 37:4)
    • This teaches us that shalom is inhibited by hatred.
  • “Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, ‘It’s not within me. God will answer with shalom for Pharaoh.’” (Genesis 41:16)

• That is, “God’s answer will give Pharoah shalom”. Even though the interpretation provided good news and bad news, it was for shalom that the Lord spoke through Joseph

• “I will bring shalom in the land, and you will lie down, with no one making you afraid. I will remove dangerous beasts from the land and no sword will pass through your land.” (Leviticus 26:6)

Use in the Psalms:

• “I will lie down and sleep in shalom. For You alone, Adonai, make me live securely. (Psalm 4:9)
• “Do not drag me away with the wicked and with doers of iniquity, who speak shalom with their neighbors, while evil is in their hearts.” (Psalm 28:3)
• Depart from evil and do good. Seek shalom and pursue it. (Psalm 34:15, & see 1 Peter 3)
• May they shout for joy and be glad, those who delight in my righteous cause. May they always say: “Exalted be Adonai, who delights in His servant’s shalom.” (Psalm 35:27)
• Notice the man of integrity and watch the upright— for the end of that man is shalom. (Psalm 37:37)
• There is no health in my flesh because of Your indignation. There is no shalom in my bones because of my sin. (Psalm 38:3)
• David passed on His love of the Torah to his son, who wrote, “Her (The Torah) ways are pleasant ways, and all of her paths are shalom. (Proverbs 3:17)

 

In fact, David even named his son “Shalom” Solomon’s name in Hebrew is “Shlomo”.  

 

Antithesis: Strife, war, tumult, chaos, brokenness

 

New Covenant 

Septuagint uses εἰρήνη “Eirene” for shalom.  

Eirene is translated:

• peace (89x), one (1x), rest (1x), quietness (1x).

And defined:

• a state of national tranquility 
• exemption from the rage and havoc of war 
• peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord 
• security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous) 
• of the Messiah's peace 
  • the way that leads to peace (salvation) 
• of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is 
• the blessed state of devout and upright men after death.

 

Eirene in NT:

• “Whatever town or village you shall enter, find out who in it is worthy and stay there until you leave. 12 As you come into the house, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your shalom come upon it. But if it’s not worthy, let your shalom return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you leave that house or that town, shake the dust off your feet.” (Matthew 10:11-13)
• 34 “Do not think that I came to bring shalom on the earth; I did not come to bring shalom, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.’ (Matthew 10:34-36) Shalom is not for those that reject Him
• “Therefore, having been made righteous by trusting, we have shalom with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.” (Romans 5:1)
• “…for God is not a God of confusion, but shalom.” (1 Corinthians 14:33a)
• “But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, shalom, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. “ (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Reference Material

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

 

Joy - Fruit of the Spirit

Season 2, episode 2, we talk all about the fruit of the Spirit quality of Joy.

The second fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is joy. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of joy, or sason. There are many words that can be used, but based on our study, this one seems to fit well!

Referenced Material:

The Rational Bible - Dennis Prager

Shem Tov, The Hebrew Gospel of Matthew - George Howard physical book 

Shem Tov Hebrew Gospel of Matthew free PDF download

Notes:

Sason, Simeach, and Rinah

(שָׂשׂוֹן, שָׂמַח, רִנָּה) 

‘Joy’

Though they look much the same in Strongs, the rabbinic sources generally understand simcha as ‘happiness’ and sason as ‘joy’

 

Strongs translates שָׂשׂוֹן as:

• joy (15x), gladness (3x), mirth (3x), rejoicing (1x).
• 1 gladness, joy, exultation, rejoicing
  • A) exultation, joy
• Also associated with welcome and restoration, as שֶׁמֶן שָׂשׂוֹן (“Oil of Gladness”) was used to anoint the bridegroom, but also promised as an end to mourning (Isaiah 61:3)
• Rabbinic sources typically understand Sason as “Joy”

Strongs translates שָׂמַח as:

• rejoice (95x), glad (45x), joy (5x), joyful (2x), merry (2x), miscellaneous (3x).
• to rejoice, be glad
  • (Qal)
    • to rejoice
    • to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at)
    • to rejoice (religiously)
  • (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
  • (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
• Rabbinic sources typically understand Samach as “Happiness”
• Related to the Assyrian “Samachu” meaning to flourish.

Strongs translates רִנָּה as:

• cry (12x), singing (9x), rejoicing (3x), joy (3x), gladness (1x), proclamation (1x), shouting (1x), sing (1x), songs (1x), triumph (1x).
• Rabbinic sources typically understand Rinah as a prayer, a cry, or a proclamation.
• “the mountains y’RaNainu together — RiNah connotes prayer, as is written (1 Kings 8:28), ‘Hearken to the rinah and to the prayer.’” (Likutei Mohran 5:7) Yet turn, O LORD my God, to the prayer and supplication of Your servant, and hear the cry and prayer which Your servant offers before You this day. (1 Kings 8:28)
• For this reason, even though many Bibles translate Rinah as singing, rejoicing, etc, we will focus our attention on Samach and Sason

 

Sason and Samach – Twin Sisters?

 

Apropos [Isaiah 12:3], the Gemara relates: There were these two heretics, one named Sason and one named Simḥa. Sason said to Simḥa: I am superior to you, as it is written: “They shall obtain joy [sason] and happiness [simḥa], and sorrow and sighing shall flee” (Isaiah 35:10). The verse mentions joy first. Simḥa said to Sason, On the contrary, I am superior to you, as it is written: “There was happiness [simḥa] and joy [sason] for the Jews” (Esther 8:17). Sason said to Simḥa: One day they will dismiss you and render you a messenger [parvanka], as it is written: “For you shall go out with happiness [simḥa]” (Isaiah 55:12). Simḥa said to Sason: One day they will dismiss you and draw water with you, as it is written: “With joy [sason] you shall draw water.” (Sukkah 48b)

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• First (and thematic) use of Samach:

• • Then the anger of Adonai was kindled against Moses, so He said, “In fact, Aaron the Levite is your brother. I know that he can speak well. Moreover, he is on his way to meet you! When he sees you, he will be samach in his heart. (Exodus 4:14) 
    • This means samach is a natural response to felicitous circumstances.
  • On the first day you are to take choice fruit of trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and rejoice before Adonai your God for seven days. (Leviticus 23:40) 
    • We are commanded to have gladdened hearts during Sukkoth. This suggests that samach is a feeling we can kindle in ourselves. A gratitude or joy that we choose to feel.
  • “There you and your households will eat before Adonai your God and rejoice in every undertaking of your hand, as Adonai your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 12:7)
  • “So you will rejoice before Adonai your God in the place Adonai your God chooses to make His Name dwell…” (Deuteronomy 16:11)
  • References to samach abound throughout the Deuteronomy, either as promises that we will be samach, or commands to samach.  It seems that samach is connected to a conditional response or a choice.  

• Usage in the Psalms: 

• I will be glad and esmecha in Your (chesed), for You saw my affliction. You knew the troubles of my soul. (Psalm 31:7)
• For I said: “Don’t let them yismechu over me or exalt themselves over me, when my foot slips.” (Psalm 38:16)
• But the king will rejoice in God.
• All who swear by Him will yismach, when the mouth speaking lies is shut. (Psalm 63:12

 

• First (and thematic) use of Sason:

• • Root “sus” is seen as early as Deuteronomy:
  • “Now just as Adonai sas over you to do you good and to multiply you, so Adonai will yasis over you to ruin and destroy you; and you will be uprooted from the land that you are going in to possess.” (Deuteronomy 28:63)

• “Adonai your God will make you prosper in all the work of your hand—in the fruit of your womb, and the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your soil—for good. For Adonai will again Lasus over you for good, as He sas over your fathers…” (Deuteronomy 30:9)

• “…who are filled with gladness (hasmechim) and yasisu when finding the grave?” (Job 3:22) 

• • This suggests that sason is connected with things being in their right place, or fulfilled to a degree of finality or rest.
• The form “sason” is seen later in the scriptures:
• “Let me hear sason and simcha, so the bones You crushed may rejoice… Restore to me the sison of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10, 14)
• “…to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of sason for mourning,…” (Isaiah 61:3)
  • David seems to treat sason as a result of a fruitful search.  Joy as a result of obtaining or possessing a desired result or object. Most often as a man who has been satisfied in relation to the Lord. It is a natural outflow of joy, and it is bestowed by the Lord

 

New Covenant 

• • “Sisu and simchu, for your reward in heaven is great! For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12,) (Howard, 1995)
  • “chairo and agalliao, for your reward in heaven is great! For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12)

• Comparing Shem Tov’s Hebrew gospel of Matthew, we see that Matthew 5 is understood this way:

• Sason = Chairo

• Samach = Agalliasis 

 

• “And you will have chairo and agalliasis, and many will rejoice at his birth.” (Luke 1:14)
• “Day by day they continued with one mind, spending time at the Temple and breaking bread from house to house. They were sharing meals with agalliasis and sincerity of heart” (Acts 2:46)
• “But the fruit of the Ruach (Spirit) is love, chairo, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galations 5:22-24)

 

Reference Material

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Love - Fruit of the Spirit

And we're back for season 2! This season we're coming the Fruit of the Spirit... but in Hebrew!

The first fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is Love. In this episode We sit down to discuss the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the spirit, specifically love, or Chesed. There are many words that can be used, but based on our study, chesed is the best one that fits.

Also referenced in this episode is C.S. Lewis's book The Four Loves. Find it here on Amazon. 

Chesed (חֶסֶד)

Strongs translates חֶסֶד as:

• mercy (149x), kindness (40x), lovingkindness (30x), goodness (12x), kindly (5x), merciful (4x), favour (3x), good (1x), goodliness (1x), pity (1x), reproach (1x), wicked thing (1x)
• Strongs concordance is usually a good place to start to investigate a basic understanding of a word, because it is available for free from sites like BlueLetterBible.org. It’s not foolproof, as it is based off of the King James Bible, and manuscripts available at the time of its compiling

Definitions:

• Strongs (Strong, 2022): 

1. goodness, kindness, faithfulness
2. a reproach, shame

Hirsch (Clark, 1999): 

1. Devote oneself entirely; Give oneself to needs
2. Being selfless, shaming, sinful devotion, stork sharing prey

LXX translates chesed at least 10 different ways, making it difficult to trace chesed into the New Covenant writings. (But we’ll find it, with God’s help)

 

Gematria number:

ד	ס	ח	חסד
4	60	8	72

 

What is Gematria?

In simple terms it is an alphanumeric code, where the 1st letter of the alphabet equals 1, the second letter equals 2, etc. See the graphic on right. Evidence of this type of code can be found in some form since before the time of David, so it is reasonable to suspect that it is encoded into the language.  Much of the specific meaning of this encoding has either been lost or is muddied by mysticism and new-age. Using it as a Biblical hermeneutic is not generally recommended but in some cases, it can help us tie concepts together. (More on this later)

Usage and lessons of the word from Genesis:

• Some consider Chesed not to be translatable into English by word or concept but we’re going to try anyway.
• First usage is in Genesis 19:19
  • Lot expresses his thankfulness to the visitors that they had warned him of the coming doom instead of allowing him to perish with the rest of the people.  This teaches us that chesed involves unmerited kindness
• Next we see Abraham use the word when he is recounting how he asked his wife to deceive on his behalf: Genesis 20:13
  • This suggests that chesed is related to a benefit to one and a cost to the other. Her act of deception was for the purpose of Abraham’s well-being.
• Next Abraham reminds his servant of his own chesed towards the servant: Genesis 21:23
  • This teaches us that chesed invites faithful service from the recipient.
• Next, Abraham’s servant repeatedly speaks of God’s chesed for Abraham, and invites the family of Nahor to do the same: Genesis 24:12-14, 24:49
  • This teaches us that human beings are invited to imitate God by having chesed for those for whom He has chesed.
• In the Joseph story, we see that God has chesed for him and prospers his work, and that he asks the fellow prisoners to show him chesed by remembering him before pharoah, and asks his brothers to show him chesed by taking his bones with them when they eventually leave Egypt. Genesis 39:21, 40:14, 47:29

 

Checkpoint:

• In most of these stories so far, we have seen that chesed is linked to covenants, not necessarily to “love” of “affection”, and yet we often see chesed translated as “steadfast-love”.  As we move into Exodus, we see chesed become more than just an interaction between God and humans, but as a key component of who He is.
• In Exodus we find that the reason God delivers Israel al all is because of His chesed, and we find that chesed is one of God’s self-proclaimed 13 attributes: Exodus 15:13, 34:6, 7a
  • God was willing to let His reputation rest squarely on the shoulders of a misfit nation who regularly forgot Him and had their heads turned by any of the latest and greatest gods they encountered.
• Over ¾ of the occasions that chesed is used, it is describing God’s relationship to humanity (Schlimm, 2018, p. 125)
• By the time David started writing psalms, he had about a thousand of years of history to prove that God maintained chesed for His people.  It is for this reason that David continually appealed to God’s chesed: Psalm 6:5, 13:6, 23:6

 

Complicated passage to note:

• One of the reasons chesed is difficult to translate is a verse in Exodus:
• “If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she his, it is chesed. They are to be cut off in the sight of the children of their people, for he has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, and will bear his iniquity.” Leviticus 20:17
• Our discomfort with this usage of chesed can be lessened if we remember that even Lot recognized that chesed was unreasonably kind, crossing the boundaries of propriety.  In this case we understand that the regard that the two individuals in question have for one another is inappropriate and crosses a line.  God is the only one capable of transcending all boundaries to make His unreasonable regard for humanity a holy, beautiful thing.

 

We have seen that God’s chesed represents a commitment to His promises, commitment to our wellbeing, and self-sacrifice and personal risk to a laughable degree.  This is all in keeping with His character. It is just what we would expect from a God who would send His son to die a shameful and ridiculous death in front of humanity and all of the divine beings.

 

Mystical and Other Writings:

• • Chesed in Hebrew has a gamatria number of 72.  In Kabballah there is a tradition of the 72 “names” of God, which supposedly are all the words He used in creation.  Thus linking God’s work in creation to “72” 
  • In Deuteronomy we read:
    • “When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.  But the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.” Deuteronomy 32:8
    • According to Judaism, the number of nations that arose from Shem, Ham, and Japheth was 70 which means there are 70 principalities over the nations.  They then add Israel and God Himself, making the total number of the Divine Council 72.
  • In Numbers, we see this again:
    • “So Moses went out and told the people Adonai’s words. He gathered 70 of the elders of the people and had them stand around the Tent. 25 Adonai descended in the cloud and spoke with him. He took some of the Ruach that was on him and placed it on each of the 70 elders. It so happened that when the Ruach first rested on them, they prophesied—but never again. 26 Two men, however, had remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad and the name of the other was Medad. The Ruach rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the Tent. So they prophesied in the camp.” Numbers 11:24-26
    • And now you know why Jesus sent out 72 disciples in Luke 10 “and why some manuscripts say 70).  It is theologically important that Jesus established the same authority as Moses, and that God’s chesed is reaching out to all the nations.

• Recall that John often referenced some of the more mystical texts in Judaism when he was explaining the work of Jesus.  I believe he is thinking about chesed when he describes the love of God.

• • Loved ones, let us love one another, for love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7, 8
  • “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Bibliography

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

EP 08 Woman of War (True Feminist Series)

This is the final episode of the True Feminist Series, where we discuss wearing the armor of God, carrying the presence of the Lord with you, and being a Woman of Valor. 

To wear the full armor of God, we first have to take off our old armor that we have gathered throughout our lives. It's time to shake off the old and put on the new! Taharah Katherine shares her testimony of what God had to take off before putting on His armor.

Dawn, Kathryn, and Paul join as they share their testimony of going to battle wearing their armor and what it looks like to war in the spirit fully dressed for war. 

To be a woman of valor, put on your armor and carry the presence of the Lord with you! 

Woman of War blog can be found here. 

Just a Mom of Valor blog with the teachings for all pieces of armor can be found here.

EP 07 Woman of the Word (True Feminist Series)

This week we have a special guest join us who is a man of the Word, Dr. Austin Spruill. A published author and disciple of Jesus, he talks with us about wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 

Austin discusses the importance of opening our mouths to declare the Truth, the Word of God, in situations of oppression and attack to gain freedom and learning to walk in that freedom. 

Book:

Life in a Spiritual Warzone: Living and Dying by our Choices by Dr. Austin Spruill 

Available wherever books are sold.

Closing Music:

The Outcast by Paul Burton, Songs for Healing During the Shadowlands

Available on all streaming platforms. Hardcopy CDs can purchased by emailing pb3ministries@gmail.com