angela hormberg

Tag: Hewbrew Alphabet

  • Psalm 119: Lamed

    Psalm 119: Lamed

    Part 12:Lamed verses 89-96

    The twelfth part is Lamed, which is the twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey or Hebrew4Christians

    “The letter LAMED is equivalent to 30 in numerical terms. It is known as the majestic letter, symbolic of the King of Kings, towering higher than all the others in the Hebrew alphabet.

    The number 30, as represented by the LAMED, signifies the number of days in a full month according to the Jewish calendar.

    LAMED refers to the word ‘lamad’, signifying both teaching and learning in the biblical sense.

    LAMED is an acronym of lev mevin daat (a heart that understands wisdom)” (“Lamed”, BJE).

    This reference to teaching and learning is echoed in the information given for Lamed on the Hebrew4Christians website.

    “…the goal of learning and teaching (lamed) is heart knowledge. Moreover, since it is the only letter allowed to ascend above the other letters in the sacred writings, Lamed represents the prominence of learning and understanding to the Jewish heart” (“Lamed”, Hebrew4Christians).

    Finally, on the Hebrew4Christians, we learn that Lamed, which resembles a staff or goad, is not calling us to learning as an end in itself.

    “Learning in the Jewish tradition is not an end in itself, but should spur us on to action” (“Lamed”, Hebrew4Christians).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Lamed”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/lamed/, Accessed 25 June 2025.

    “Lamed”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons, https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Lamed/lamed.html, Accessed 25, June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Kaf or Khaf or Caph

    Psalm 119: Kaf or Khaf or Caph

    Part 11:Kaf or Khaf or Caph verses 81-88

    The eleventh part is Kaf or Khaf or Caph, which is the eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey

    “Having a numerical value of twenty, the letter KAF is the first of the double-figured letters in the Hebrew alphabet.

    The letter KAF symbolises the keter (crown) of accomplishment that God places upon one who has achieved all the tasks that are collectively set out by the previous letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

    As the initial letter of the word crown, KAF alludes to the three crowns in Judaism: priesthood, kingship and Torah.

    The word KAF means ‘the palm of the hand’, implying productivity and potentiality. It also means ‘coerce’, implying the power of man to suppress nature with his physical labour.

    There are two forms of the letter KAF, one being bent and the other long. The bent version can appear anywhere in a word besides at the end. The long KAF is used to end a word.

    The kippah (skullcap headcovering worn by Jewish men) is derived from the root word of KAF.

    KAF means cloud, symbolic of the physical power of nature” (“Kaf”).

    The website Hebrew4Christians provides further information regarding the letter “Kaf”. Following are a few excerpts regarding the meaning of Kaf:

    “The word Kaf means “palm” of a hand and also what might be contained within the palm of the hand. The word “spoon” in Hebrew is the word Kaf, which is a natural extension of the palm as a container. The gematria for the letter Kaf is 20, the same value for the word Yod (hand), and twice the value of the the letter Yod. Kaf comes from a root word (shoresh) Kafah meaning to bed or bow down, suggesting the concave shape of the body or the shape of a crown on a king’s head” (“Kaf/Khaf”).

    Additionally, Hebrew4Christians dives into the “mystery of Kaf”.

    “In Jewish Mysticism, the two letters of the word “kaf” are the initial letters of the two Hebrew words: koach (“potential”) and poel (“actual”), suggesting that Kaf enables the latent power of the spiritual (the potential) to be made actual in the physical…

    The literal meaning of Kaf is “palm” which is considered the location where potential of the Yod (hand) is actualized (interestingly, the gematria for the word Yod is the same for the letter Kaf). For this reason we bless children with palms facing them and we envision God as having His palms over us, for this image suggests the calling forth of the latent power of the spirit within for manifestation in the physical world” (“Kaf/Khaf”).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Kaf”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/kaf/ , Accessed 24 June 2025.

    “Kaf/Khaf”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons. https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Kaf/kaf.html, Accessed 24 June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Yud or Jod

    Psalm 119: Yud or Jod

    Part 10: Yud or Jod verses 73-80

    The tenth part is Yud or Jod, which is the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey

    “The letter YUD signifies the number ten. It is the only letter that is suspended in midair and singular in form.

    In its singularity, YUD signifies the Oneness of God, who is indivisible.

    YUD, being the smallest of all the letters in the Hebrew alphabet, signifies the importance of humility.

    The number ten denotes the ten Divine forces (sefirot) that form the Tree of Life. It is believed that these forces are the essence of all created matter.

    Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, is heavily associated with the letter YUD. It falls on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei. It marks the end of the Ten Days of Awe, further emphasising the significance of the YUD, so small and yet so powerful.

    YUD is the first letter of yom (day). In reference to the Creation story, this signifies the power of a single unit to turn one day into a whole week, demonstrating that greatness is achieved through humility.

    The name of God and Israel both begin with the letter YUD. It is said that the people of Israel, the Chosen people, were the smallest and most humble of nations” (“Yud”).

    On the Hebrew4Christians website is the following information regarding this fascinating letter.

    “Suspended in mid air, Yod is the smallest of the Hebrew letters, the “atom” of the consonants, and the form from which all of the other letters begin and end…

    In the Jewish mystical tradition, Yod represents a mere dot, a divine point of energy. Since Yod is used to form all of the other letters, and since God uses the letters as the building blocks of creation, Yod indicates God’s omnipresence.

    In fact, the word [Yod] itself depicts something of the geometry of creation. It begins with the Yod itself, as a dot, and then moves downward from the Divine towards the created order to form Vav (the “hook” of creation). Finally, it moves outward in the horizontal realm as Dalet (the “doorway” of creation).

    Since Yeshua upholds the world by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3), and Yod is part of every Hebrew letter (and, therefore, every word), Yod is considered the starting point of the presence of God in all things – the “spark” of the spirit in everything” (“Yud”).

    Works Cited

    “Yod”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons, https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Yod/yod.html , Accessed 21 June 2025.

    “Yud”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/bet/ , Accessed 27 May 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Tet or Teth

    Psalm 119: Tet or Teth

    Part 9: Tet or Teth verses 65-72

    The ninth part is Tet or Teth, which is the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “The letter TET, as the number nine numerically, represents general goodness.

    The Hebrew word ‘tov’ (good) begins with the letter TET. The first time TET appears in the Torah is in Genesis 1:4, in the word tov.

    The numerical value of the letter TET signifies truth and eternity. This is due to its unique feature that all multiples of the number nine are equal to nine in their reduced value. According to Gematria (Jewish numerology) the word for truth (’emet’), equals nine when reduced, as do many other words pertaining to these Divine qualities.

    TET is the central consonant in the word ‘mateh’ (staff), signifying the twelve tribes of Israel who were referred to as staffs.

    The word for pure (tahir) as well as impure (tamah), both commence with the letter TET. This suggests that only God, symbolising Divine goodness, has the power to produce pure from impure. In this way the TET unites both pure and impure to create one entity” (“Tet”, BJE).

    The website Hebrew4Christians notes that “Tet represents the two possibilities of man” (“Tet”, Parsons).

    Works Cited

    “Tet”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/tet/ , Accessed 17 June 2025.

    “Tet”. Hebrew4Christians. John Parsons, https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Tet/tet.html, Accessed 17 June 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Cheth or Chet

    Psalm 119: Cheth or Chet

    Part 8: Cheth or Chet verses 57-64

    The eighth part is Cheth or Chet, which is the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “The word CHET means ‘sin’ as well as ‘life’. The significance of the CHET is affirmed in the expression chayeh chaim (Life of Life), meaning God. This refers to the highest of the three levels of loving God, where the Divine Presence is fully revealed” (“Chet”).

    There was also a reference to the written form of the letter “Chet” as the combination of the two preceding letters of the Hebrew alphabet: Vav and Zain. “VAV, the plainest in appearance of all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, signifies the basic common link between all Jewish people: a love of and will to serve God” (“Vav”, BJE). The appearance of “Vav” is like that of a hook, which is said to represent a connection between God and man. Zain is considered a “crowned Vav” (“Zayin”), which, like a woman being a crown to her husband, so, Zayin represents the crown of Vav, or the connection between the people and God. The connection of Zayin and Vav represents the relationship between God and his people, the church.

    Works Cited

    “Chet”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/chet/ , Accessed 10 June 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Vav”. https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/vav/, Accessed 31 May 2025.

    “Zayin”. Hebrew for Christians. John J. Parsons, https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Zayin/zayin.html , Accessed 10 June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Zayin or Zain

    Psalm 119: Zayin or Zain

    Part 7:Zayin or Zain verses 49-56

    The 7th part is Zayin or Zain, which is the seventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “The letter ZAYIN has a numerical value of seven, alluding to the seven days in which the world was created.

    As the number seven, ZAYIN signifies the seven days of the week, especially the seventh, which is Shabbat.

    ZAYIN symbolises the seventh day of creation.

    The number seven signifies the seven weeks of the Counting of the Omer. The counting of grain starts on the second day of Pesach, lasting for seven weeks, to mark the period in which the harvest fruits and offerings were brought to the Temple.

    Tishrei, as the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, is one of the most significant months of the year, in that the holiest of holy days fall within it. Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Tabernacles) and Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah) all occur within Tishrei. Tishrei means ‘to look’, highlighting that this is a time of self-assessment” (“Zayin”).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Zayin”. https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/zayin/ , Accessed 2 June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Vav or Vau

    Psalm 119: Vav or Vau

    Part 6:Vav or Vau verses 41-48

    The sixth part is Vav or Vau, which is the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “The letter VAV is equal to the number six and is the symbol of connection, portraying a bridge in structure.

    As the number six, the VAV denotes physical completion. The world was created in six days, as explained in Genesis: The first word of Genesis, Bereishit, (‘in the beginning’), can be broken up to form ‘He created six’ (Barah Shit).

    The letter VAV, as symbolic of the number six, signifies physical space. Every self-contained object has six dimensions: right, left, front, back, up and down. It is said that the six days of creation also relate to these six dimensions.

    The word VAV means ‘hook’, alluding to the connection between the inherent symmetrical and asymmetrical states in nature which maintain equilibrium. On a deeper level, the VAV is said to be the link between every Jew in their will to serve God, found in the core of every Jewish person’s heart.

    The letter VAV, the plainest in appearance of all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, signifies the basic common link between all Jewish people: a love of and will to serve God” (“Vav”).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Vav”. https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/vav/, Accessed 31 May 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: He or Heh or Hey

    Psalm 119: He or Heh or Hey

    Part 5:He or Heh or Hey verses 33-40

    The fifth part is He or Heh or Hey, which is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “HEY represents the number five. It appears twice in the sacred Name of God, deeming it a symbol of Divinity.

    The letter HEY is comprised of the letters dalet and yud. The vertical and horizontal lines of the dalet represent the physical world, while the yud signifies the world to come. Therefore the HEY is symbolic of the combination of the physical and spiritual realms.

    The letter HEY signifies the creation. The Hebrew word ‘behibaram’ means ‘when they were created’. When divided, this word becomes bah baram (He created them with the letter HEY). This reinforces the notion that God did not create the world as merely a physical entity, as HEY signifies Divinity.

    HEY means ‘take’ in Hebrew, specifically referring to the taking or giving of oneself. As it is said: “Take for yourselves seed.” It is implied that taking for yourself is an act of self-revelation to others, which is the ultimate form of giving.

    The Hebrew language is gender-based, hence the masculine and feminine form of most words. The letter HEY denotes femininity, as it is the suffix that makes a word feminine. The Divine presence in the letter HEY, signifies the Shechinah, (the feminine aspect of God).

    HEY alludes to the Five Books of Moses, which were given to the Jews by God in five separate voices. The Hebrew word for light (or) is mentioned five times in the description of the first day of Creation. The Five Books of the Torah are regarded as a means of restoring the entire world in the way of Divine Unity” (“Hey”).

    Works Cited

    “Hey”. https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/heh/ , Accessed 30 May 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Daleth or Dalet

    Psalm 119: Daleth or Dalet

    Part 4:Daleth or Dalet verses 25-32

    The fourth part is Daleth or Dalet, which is the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    The letter DALET is the fourth in the Hebrew alphabet. It is equivalent to the number four and is said to symbolise selflessness.

    The First commandment of the Torah is “Be fruitful and multiply.” In order to do so, one must give birth to at least two children, implementing the foursome of mother, father, daughter and son. This is the primary revelation of the significance of the number four in Judaism.

    The DALET is symbolic of the poor man (the dal), who is chased by the letter gimmel, which represents acts of kindness. Together, the two letters form the mitzvah (commandment) of gimol delim, being kind to the needy.

    As the Hebrew word for door (‘delet’), is derived from DALET the letter gimmel is portrayed as knocking on the door of the poor man.

    The number four symbolises the four components of the physical world in many ways. There are four dimensions of the physical world (north, south, east and west), four elements that compose the world (fire, air, water and earth), and four basic chemical elements (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen).

    Metaphysically, the number four alludes to the Four Worlds as explained in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). These are comprised of Atzilut (Emanation), Beriah (Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), and Asiyah (Action). These Four Worlds are said to describe the creation of the universe respectively, as descending stages of holiness, beginning with the stage that is closest to God and beyond human comprehension, and ending with the realm of tangible reality.

    The Name of God is referred to as ‘the Name of four letters’, each letter signifying a different stage of the process of creation. There are also four levels of Torah interpretation: the literal, the allusion, the allegory and the secret. It is said that the relevance and significance of the number four in the Torah in general is in direct correspondence with the four letters in God’s Name.

    The DALET is considered to be a gateway to the physical and metaphysical worlds that shape our existence.

    Works Cited

    “Dalet”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/bet/ , Accessed 27 May 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Gimel or Gimmel

    Psalm 119: Gimel or Gimmel

    Part 3:Gimel or Gimmel verses 17-24

    The third part is Gimel or Gimmel, which is the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “GIMMEL is equal to the number three and is said to denote kindness.

    The number three symbolises the three divisions of the Jewish people – Kohanim, the Priests, Leviim, the Levites, and the Israelites. These stem from the three Patriarchs, to form the three divisions of souls. The harmony that is a product of the unification of these three emphasises the equilibrium that is needed to find balance on a cosmological level.

    GIMMEL is a form of the word ‘gamol’, meaning ‘to nourish until completely ripe’, or ‘to bring to maturity’. From this notion comes the expression gemilut chessed – an act of great kindness.

    GIMMEL is comprised of a vav and a yud. As a whole the GIMMEL represents a rich man running after a poor man, being the letter dalet. The yud symbolises a foot which implies the giving of oneself to another. The yud is seen as the charity that is given to the dalet by the GIMMEL.

    GIMMEL echoes the word for camel, ‘gamal’. The camel symbolises the gamol chessed – performer of kindness, as it carries with it the burdens of life on its journey through the desert, equipped with sustenance to help those travelling with it. Its name comes from the word ‘to wean’ and ‘a nursing infant’, signifying its independence as well as its need for nourishment” (“Gimmel”).

    Some questions/thoughts after reading this section:

    What is the difference between priests, Levites and Israelites? The priests, who were in the tribe of Levi, were specifically from Aaron’s line. The Levites represent the rest of the tribe of Levi, who were not specifically descended from Aaron’s line and who assisted the priests. The Israelites refers to the entire nation of Israel.

    What is meant by “GIMMEL represents a rich man running after a poor man, being the letter dalet”? Hebrew is a symbolic or logographic language, where symbols are used to also represent an entire word, in addition to a sound. So the Gimmel has a sound, but the picture of Gimmel also is meant to represent a man running, in this case a rich man running after a poor man, which will be represented by the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet, Daleth or Dalet.

    Works Cited

    “Gimmel”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/gimmel/ , Accessed 28 May 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg