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Hebrew | Hebrew | Hebrew | Hebrew | |||
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| Pictograph: | Man with arms raised |
| Meanings: | Look, Reveal, Breath |
| Sound: | H, eh |
The Hey is a sacred letter. When I was studying the ancient pictographs, Hey was the letter that made me think - Wow! This has to be temple imagery.
In the ancient Israelite tabernacle, the golden altar of incense, sat in front of the veil curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This altar was smaller than the brazen altar. It was a square with each side measuring 1.5 feet and was 3 feet high. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. Four horns protruded from the four corners of the altar.
God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was made of an equal part of four precious spices (stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense) and was considered holy. God commanded the Israelites not to use the same formula outside the tabernacle to make perfume for their own consumption; otherwise, they were to be cut off from their people (Exodus 30:34-38).
The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him. “…for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7)
After both the daily sacrifice and the incense offering are concluded, the priests will raise aloft their hands and deliver the "priestly blessing" upon the congregation of Israel assembled in the Holy Temple.
The picture of prayers wafting up to heaven like incense is captured in David’s psalm and also in John’s vision in Revelations:
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2)
“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.” (Revelations 8:3-4)
The golden altar, furthermore, is a representation of Christ, who is our intercessor before God the Father. During His days on earth, Jesus prayed for the believers. He was like the high priest of the tabernacle, who bore the names of each of the Israelite tribes on his breastplate before God. Just before He was betrayed and sentenced to death, Jesus interceded for His disciples and all believers, asking God to guard them from evil and sanctify them by His Word, and that they may see God’s glory and be a witness to the world (John 17:1-26). Today, Jesus still is our high priest at the Father’s side, interceding for God’s people.
An additional meaning given for the letter Hey is that of a window. The small side opening lends to this idea:
The sages teach that the windows in the walls of the sanctuary were constructed differently than any other windows in the world. These were just the opposite of ordinary windows, for what is the normally considered the function of windows? To let the light in. But these windows were in order to let the light the out - to disseminate the spiritual light emanating from the Temple menorah out into the world. The Sanctuary's windows allowed the special ethereal light coming forth from the menorah to burst out to the world from within the hallowed hall.
In other thought and meaning, the Hey means breath. Just say the letter, a soft "h" sound and it is basically the sound of your breath.
Several years ago in Hawaii, my husband and I were at the Polynesian Culture Center. The polynesian students perform in a show called "Ha, The Breath of Life". I remember distinctly
the thought that "this must be temple language" perhaps from Hagoth. :)
I don't think it is just a coincidence that both Ha and Hey mean breath.
Genesis 2:7 reads: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Further, the meaning of the name of Adam's son, Abel
which is technically Hebel הֶבֶל, means "breath"
Strongs definition for H1892 הֶבֶל Hebel, heh'-bel; the same as; Hebel, the son of Adam:—Abel.
It is also very interesting that the divine name for Jehovah in Hebrew is Yahweh (יהוה) and that the word hawah in Arabic means to blow or breath.
John 20:21-22 Jesus said to his disciples, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost
Further imagery of breath is found in Ezekiel 37:
1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
My mom had a ceramic kiln when I was growing up, and I often helped her make ceramics. I know a little bit about keeping a big piece from caving in when you release the clay from the mold. I think of how a potter takes a vase and at the end gives a small blow/breath so that the sides form evenly.
“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
I believe the Egyptian Ka is related to the Hey as well. They both have the same ancient symbol, and essential the same meaning.
The ancient Egyptian concept of the soul include the idea of The Ka (kꜣ) which was the Egyptian concept of vital essence, that which distinguishes the difference between a living and a dead person, with death occurring when the Ka left the body. The Egyptians believed that Khnum created the bodies of children on a potter's wheel and inserted them into their mothers' bodies. Depending on the region, Egyptians believed that Heqet or Meskhenet was the creator of each person's ka, breathing it into them at the instant of their birth as the part of their soul that made them be alive.
The Egyptian hieroglyph, like the ancient Hebrew Hey, showed upraised hands. (from hieroglyphs.net)
I believe the Egyptian Ka is related to the Hey as well. They both have the same ancient symbol, and essential the same meaning.
The ancient Egyptian concept of the soul include the idea of The Ka (kꜣ) which was the Egyptian concept of vital essence, that which distinguishes the difference between a living and a dead person, with death occurring when the Ka left the body. The Egyptians believed that Khnum created the bodies of children on a potter's wheel and inserted them into their mothers' bodies. Depending on the region, Egyptians believed that Heqet or Meskhenet was the creator of each person's ka, breathing it into them at the instant of their birth as the part of their soul that made them be alive.
The Egyptian hieroglyph, like the ancient Hebrew Hey, showed upraised hands. (from hieroglyphs.net)
D28:Z1
soul (noun)
kA
The Hey is a feminine letter. The letter is used as an ending to make a word feminine. For example, a male horse is a Sus. A female horse or mare is a Susah.
The Hey is the letter of the covenant. it was the binding force of the promises made to Abram and Sarai. With the addition of the letter "Hey" Abram became Abraham and Sarai became Sarah.
אַבְרָם Abram אַבְרָהָם Abraham
שָׂרָי Sarai שָׂרָה Sarah
It is taught that he letter Hey was added to their names, taking the hey from the sacred name of Jehovah (see notes below).
Before a new name was given Sarah was barren. After, she became fruitful. The blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant could now be realized.
McConkie- This covenant is known both as the Abrahamic Covenant and the marriage covenant for time and all eternity. Hence, the Abrahamic Covenant is really a covenant made to both Abraham and Sarah, his wife.
הָרָה harah (Strongs H2029).
It's so awesome that the word for mountain is ה ַר har. A woman literally becomes a mountain in shape and in purpose. We know that the temple is often referred to as the Mountain of The Lord. Don Parry says "The temple is the architectural embodiment of the cosmic mountain."
Sarah as the female partner, conceived and made the covenant possible. Abraham already had seed through Hagar, but she was not the covenant wife. The blessing of the covenant was because of Sarah.
The zohar says that by nature the letter Hey ה is considered the female portion of the creative powers as Yod י is considered the male portion of יה Yah, the simplest name of God. It is said this letter is a token for a covenant.
My most favorite teacher, Sister Rebecca stay has taught me the symbolism of the Hebrew, and likewise modern temple, compared to our own plan of salvation.
The Holy of Holies represents the pre-existence. We are born into this world through a veil, which is rent. Our mother is torn (cuts a covenant) as we are born. So what does that make her womb? A Holy of Holies.
The Letter Hey certainly symbolizes a rent veil.
In fact, the Hebrew word for womb is רַחַם racham, from H7355; compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by implication, a maiden:—bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb.
The Holy of Holies is where we find the Ark of The Covenant, The Mercy Seat. The Womb, The Holy of Holies and the Mercy Seat
are all synonymous in Hebrew thought.
All things are made to testify of Jesus Christ.
Christ's body was torn so that we can be re-born through him. Each Sunday these emblems are covered in a veil. There is a prayer and then that veil is removed. What a beautiful thought. I will take the sacrament more reverently. That which is
most holy is covered by a veil. In an entry from LDS.org we read of Jesus in the Old Testament. He was Jehovah. The Hebrew sacred name was
יהוה Jehovah
The covenant or proper name of the God of Israel. It denotes the “Unchangeable One,” “the eternal I AM” (Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4). The original pronunciation of this name has possibly been lost, as the Jews, in reading, never mentioned it but substituted one of the other names of God, usually Adonai. Probably it was pronounced Jahveh, or Yahveh. In the KJV, the Jewish custom has been followed, and the name is generally denoted by Lord or God, printed in small capitals.
Jehovah is the premortal Jesus Christ and came to earth being born of Mary (see Mosiah 3:8; 15:1; 3 Ne. 15:1–5; D&C 110:1–10). Although Ex. 6:3 states that the God of Israel was not known by the name Jehovah before Moses’ time, latter-day revelation tells us otherwise; see JST Ex. 6:3 (Ex. 6:3 note c); Abr. 1:16; 2:8; see also Gen. 22:14.
“Jehovah is the Anglicized rendering of the Hebrew, Yahveh or Jahveh, signifying the Self-existent One, or The Eternal. This name is generally rendered in our English version of the Old Testament as LORD printed in capitals. The Hebrew, Ehyeh, אֶהְיֶה signifying I Am, is related in meaning and through derivation with the term Yahveh or Jehovah.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 36.)
Jehovah or Jesus Christ is the life in all things.
Jehovah or Jesus Christ is the life in all things.
Another thought on the covenantal nature of the letter Hey relating to it's missing "window piece":
Anciently you could make a covenant with a clay tablet. A piece was broken off. When the original was matched with the broken piece and the two pieces fit together, the two parties could be identified. The shape that came to represent this idea is a shape resembling a square with a corner taken away, such as the shape of the state of Utah This shape symbolizes covenant it also symbolizes restoration because being incomplete it seeks for the restoration of the missing piece that it may be whole again. For something to become whole is to say that it becomes one. AtonementA final thought on the letter Hey. Each Hebrew letter has a corresponding number. Hey is the number five.
Five is the number of the new and everlasting covenant (visual Testament 66)
The Ancient Romans used the number five in connection to marriage ceremonies. They lit five candles, admitted guests by fives, and offered prayers to five deities.
Jesus also used the number five in describing the brides who had their lamps lit for the marriage and the five who were unprepared.
The five books of Moses make up the Torah, which is considered by the Jews as the marriage contract between God and His covenant people.
There are five steps in Egyptian Temple rites: 1) washing 2) anointing 3) clothing 4)naming 5) feeding
As I read these steps I saw the immediate symbolism of birth. Just three weeks ago, I witnessed the birth of my first grandchild. I was in the "delivery" room. What a revelation of how these are somewhat identical to our re-birth!! Love this :)
First, she was washed (off blood) with water. Her eyes were anointed. She was clothed. Her mother was asked what her name would be. She was put to the breast for her first feeding. What a true miracle and ordinance birth is to witness.
My Beautiful granddaughter, RubyJane. She takes my breath away ;)
Hey is birth through the veil! (Dec 13, 2016)
Hey is birth through the veil! (Dec 13, 2016)
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NOTES:
I AM
| English (KJV) [?] | Strong's | Root Form (Hebrew) | Parsing | ||
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אֱלֹהִים 'elohiym
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אָמַר 'amar
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מֹשֶׁה Mosheh
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הָיָה hayah
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הָיָה hayah
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אָמַר 'amar
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אָמַר 'amar
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בֵּן ben
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יִשְׂרָאֵל Yisra'el
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שָׁלַח shalach
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הָוָה
Transliteration
hava'
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Pronunciation
hä·vä' (Key)
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Part of Speech
verb
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Root Word (Etymology)
A primitive root [compare אָוָה (H183), הָיָה(H1961)]
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Dictionary Aids
TWOT Reference: 484,491
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Variant Spellings
Variant spellings for this word: הוה (Strongs and Gesenius) הוא (Strongs)
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KJV Translation Count — Total: 6x
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Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
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Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
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Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon
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Lexicon :: Strong's H1961 - hayah
הָיָה
Transliteration
hayah
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Pronunciation
hä·yä (Key)
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Part of Speech
verb
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Root Word (Etymology)
A primitive root [compare הָוָה (H1933)]
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Dictionary Aids
TWOT Reference: 491
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KJV Translation Count — Total: 75x
The KJV translates Strongs H1961 in the following manner: was, come to pass, came, has been, were happened, become, pertained, better for thee.
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Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
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Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
הָיָה hâyâh, haw-yaw; a primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):—beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
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Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon
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Word / Phrase / Strong's Search
for further study:
In the Book of Breathings the soul’s
journey is in seven steps before receiving “life and...breath to the heart” (Nibley, The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri,
FARMS-Deseret Book, pps. 386-87).
Female in Hebrew is Nekavah.
נקבה
נקב+ה
נקב means opening.
In Hebrew Hay's indicate female when the ending is a Hay.
Nekayvah is actually meaning an opening in the Hay.
It is an easy leap to literal childbirth.
Gemara teaches the gestation period is referred to as the time when the “fetus is in the mother's womb.”
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