Hebrew | Hebrew | Hebrew | Hebrew | |||
 |  |  |  |
| Ancient Name: | ayin |
| Pictograph: | Eye |
| Meanings: | Watch, Know, Shade, spring |
| Sound: | Silent |
The Ancient picture for this letter is 
and is a picture of an eye. Ayin even sounds like eye in English. This letter represents the ideas of seeing and watching perceiving, understanding as well as knowledge, as the eye is the window of knowledge. Adam and Eve were told in the Garden of Eden that if they partook of the Tree of Knowledge, their eyes would be opened. Ayin is thought to be spiritual knowledge given by the Spirit.
In Hebrew, the word עין Ayin means “eye, to see.” Ayin also represents the light itself; not physical light, but the supernal light from which everything is created.
This letter is silent in Modern Hebrew. There is no indication that the ancient Semitic had a sound for this letter as well and appears to have been silent in the past. The Greek language assigned the vowel sound "o" to the letter and may be the origin of the number 0. As Hebrew did not have one letter for the "o" sound the Greeks took this silent letter and converted it into a vowel.
and is a picture of an eye. Ayin even sounds like eye in English. This letter represents the ideas of seeing and watching perceiving, understanding as well as knowledge, as the eye is the window of knowledge. Adam and Eve were told in the Garden of Eden that if they partook of the Tree of Knowledge, their eyes would be opened. Ayin is thought to be spiritual knowledge given by the Spirit. In Hebrew, the word עין Ayin means “eye, to see.” Ayin also represents the light itself; not physical light, but the supernal light from which everything is created.
This letter is silent in Modern Hebrew. There is no indication that the ancient Semitic had a sound for this letter as well and appears to have been silent in the past. The Greek language assigned the vowel sound "o" to the letter and may be the origin of the number 0. As Hebrew did not have one letter for the "o" sound the Greeks took this silent letter and converted it into a vowel.
Hebrew | Hebrew | Hebrew | Hebrew | |||
 | | | |
| Ancient Name: | ghah?, ghayin? |
| Pictograph: | Rope of twisted fibers |
| Sound: | g, gh or ng |
While this letter existed in ancient Semitic languages and some modern Semitic languages, it no longer exists in the modern Hebrew. Instead it has been absorbed into the letter ע (ayin). While the evidence exists showing that this is in fact a separate letter, there is very little evidence for reconstructing its original pictograph. The Ugarit and Arabic languages wrote this letter the same as the ayin but with an additional line or dot. The closest candidate for this letter is a twisted rope, which is found in some ancient Semitic inscriptions.
In the Arabic language this letter is called the ghayin and is probably related to the Hebrew word ghah meaning "twisted."
Because the Greek language transliterates this letter with a gamma ("g" sound) we know that this letter originally had a type of "g" sound, possibly a "ng" as in the word "ring."
In the Arabic language this letter is called the ghayin and is probably related to the Hebrew word ghah meaning "twisted."
Because the Greek language transliterates this letter with a gamma ("g" sound) we know that this letter originally had a type of "g" sound, possibly a "ng" as in the word "ring."
Sometimes I really feel like I am led to certain words and meanings. On a Sunday evening I decided to just glance at the words in the concordance that began with ע (ayin)
About two minutes earlier I had noticed the "Ghah" sound or "G" "NG" as a more ancient sound. I thought to myself I should check that out, but I went back to the concordance, flipped through it and a definition on the page seemed to jump out. "Continuous Existence". I wanted to know the word for that definition so I had to turn back a page. The word is עולמ.
I said "Gnolaum" even though it technically read's "Olam" in modern Hebrew with a silent ayin.
I feel that I was led to this word and definition. There's no other way to describe it than pure intelligence telling my mind.
Of course I then had to turn to Abraham where I knew my inspiration would be confirmed:
Abraham 3: Howbeit that he made the greater star; as, also, if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are gnolaum, or eternal.
As I thought of the Greek letter for Gamma and remembered the lower-caseis γ and I wonder because of it's similar shape, if that is related to the "g" sound of ayin.
A little more evidence:
| Modern Hebrew | Greek | English | ||
| עמרה (‘amorah) | Γομορραν (gomorras) | Gomorrah | ||
| עזה (‘azzah) | Γαζαν (gazan) | Gaza | ||
| פעור (pe’or) | Φογορ (pogor) | Peor |
Symbols which I have considered for ghayin are a rope cord in the sense of a spritual umbilical cord. There is a thought I read for threads on sacred clothing. There is ancient thought about the pillars of heaven and earth being tied in a square knot and also "tying the knot" in marriage.
maybe??? ayin(kh) and (t) tzade??
| kht branch-(stick) |
| (kh)t ḫt | branch (hieroglyph) (=stick) | 1. Bil. (kh)t; 2. Ideo. or det. for wood, tree; 3. linear measure, (=100 cubits) |
Facimile 2 from the Book of Abraham is the next page after the definition of gnolam.
Ayin in Hebrew means "Eye". According to Scholar Michael D Rhodes, "The hypocephalus itself symbolized the eye of Re or Horus, i.e., the sun, and the scenes portrayed on it relate to the Egyptian concept of the resurrection and life after death. To the Egyptians the daily rising and setting of the sun was a vivid symbol of the resurrection. The hypocephalus itself represented all that the sun encircles."
The Eye of Horus/Wedjat-eye
perhaps an ayin ע
The Greek writer Plutarch explained that the Wedjat-eye of Osiris represented pronoia "divine providence" (literally "foreknowledge"), the divine wisdom by which God oversees and cares for all of his creations. It is not unreasonable to see in this "the grand key words of the priesthood" ("The glory of God is intelligence," D&C 93:36). (Rhodes)
I know also see meaning of gnolam or eternal. :)
On our Modern Day Temple we find the all seeing eye symbol.
The all-seeing-eye on the Salt Lake Temple.
The "eye" symbolism also appears in the ancient Tabernacle represented by the "Urim and Thumim", in the High Priest's breastplate.
In the Book of Mormon, Ammon explains the definition of a seer to the king of Zarahemla:
“Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.” (Mosiah 8:13)
“Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.” (Mosiah 8:13)
Joseph Smith The Prophet and Seer of the restoration received the Urim and Thumim along with the plates to aid in his translation. His mother, Lucy Mack Smith described the instrument and said that she "found that it consisted of two smooth three-cornered diamonds set in glass, and the glasses were set in silver bows, which were connected with each other in much the same way as old fashioned spectacles. . . . He [Joseph Smith] handed me the breastplate spoken of in his history. It was wrapped in a thin muslin handkerchief, so thin that I could feel its proportions without any difficulty. It was concave on one side and convex on the other, and extended from the neck downwards, as far as the center of the stomach of a man of extraordinary size. It had four straps of the same material, for the purpose of fastening it to the breast.” (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother Lucy Mack Smith)
Lucy described them as ‘spectacles’ and Joseph most likely held them up to his face to use them as one would use a pair of glasses.
I believe the word אוֹר ʼôw-r, to be luminous, glorious, shine relates to the glorious garment of light which covered God's spirit children in the Pre-existence contrasts with עוֹר the naked skins Adam and Eve had which God covered.
The Pearl:
When I was a young child, living with my Parents in our native land, I possessed everything I could imagine wanting. I was nurtured in the House of Life until one day my Parents summoned me and sent me on a journey from our home in the East to a distant land. My Parents helped me prepare for this journey, giving me a bundle which they had put together for me. The bundle was large, but very light so that I could carry it easily without assistance. It contained many precious stones for my use along the way, as well as food for my journey and a passport affirming my citizenship in the Land of the East, the source of Light. They removed my Garment of Light, which they had woven for me through their Love, and the Red Coat, which showed my rank as a child of the Rulers, dressing me instead in a garment of crystals. The Garment of Light was woven to my exact size, so that it fit me perfectly, but the garment of crystals did not fit me as well. Then my Parents made a covenant with me, writing it in my heart so that I would not forget it. If you go down to Egypt and bring back the priceless pearl which is in the sea, in the home of the fire breathing serpent, you will again wear these Garments of Light covered by the Red Coat. You will find perfect peace and happiness, and you will be a joint-heir with your Elder Brother, possessing all that we have.
Lucy described them as ‘spectacles’ and Joseph most likely held them up to his face to use them as one would use a pair of glasses.
Another close associate of Joseph Smith, Joseph Knight said: “…he (Joseph Smith) seamed to think more of the glasses or the urim and thumim than he did of the plates for says he, I can see anything. They are Marvelous.” The urim and thumim appeared to allow the user to possess the attribute of an ‘all-seeing-eye’.
The word עוּר ʻûwr, oor; a primitive root (rather identical with through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively):—(a-) wake(-n, up), lift up (self), ×master, raise (up), stir up (self) means quite literally to awake and arise up.
Then I found a word with the same spelling means עוֹר ʻôwr, ore; from H5783; skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather:—hide, leather, skin.
this relates to a secondary meaning עוּר ʻûwr, oor; a primitive root; to (be) bare:—be made naked.
And then an additional meaning of the word in Aramaic: עוּר ʻûwr, oor; (Aramaic) chaff (as the naked husk):—chaff.
The Pearl:
When I was a young child, living with my Parents in our native land, I possessed everything I could imagine wanting. I was nurtured in the House of Life until one day my Parents summoned me and sent me on a journey from our home in the East to a distant land. My Parents helped me prepare for this journey, giving me a bundle which they had put together for me. The bundle was large, but very light so that I could carry it easily without assistance. It contained many precious stones for my use along the way, as well as food for my journey and a passport affirming my citizenship in the Land of the East, the source of Light. They removed my Garment of Light, which they had woven for me through their Love, and the Red Coat, which showed my rank as a child of the Rulers, dressing me instead in a garment of crystals. The Garment of Light was woven to my exact size, so that it fit me perfectly, but the garment of crystals did not fit me as well. Then my Parents made a covenant with me, writing it in my heart so that I would not forget it. If you go down to Egypt and bring back the priceless pearl which is in the sea, in the home of the fire breathing serpent, you will again wear these Garments of Light covered by the Red Coat. You will find perfect peace and happiness, and you will be a joint-heir with your Elder Brother, possessing all that we have.
An additional place in which I found ayin עַיִן was in Numbers 14:14.
| English (KJV) [?] | Strong's | Root Form (Hebrew) | Parsing | ||
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אָמַר 'amar
|  |  | ||
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יָשַׁב yashab
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אֶרֶץ 'erets
| | |||
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שָׁמַע shama`
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יְהֹוָהYĕhovah
| | |||
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קֶרֶב qereb
| | |||
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עַם `am
| | |||
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יְהֹוָהYĕhovah
| | |||
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רָאָה ra'ah
| | | ||
עַיִן `ayin
| | ||||
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עַיִן `ayin
| | |||
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עָנָן `anan
| | |||
עָמַד `amad
| | | |||
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הָלַךְ halak
| | | ||
פָּנִים paniym
| | ||||
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יוֹמָםyowmam
| | |||
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עַמּוּד`ammuwd
| | |||
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עָנָן `anan
| | |||
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עַמּוּד`ammuwd
| | |||
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אֵשׁ 'esh
| | |||
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לַיִל layil
| | |||
Two words that caught my attention in this scripture were face and cloud. Both words have a connotation in the scripture of having God's watchful presence.
Ayin means "presence".
I will comment on cloud first. The word for cloud is עָנָן aw-nawn; a cloud (as covering the sky or veiling over the heaven) One definition I found for ayin is "shade". When God was in the Tabernacle and with the Israelites in the wilderness, the cloud was over the Tabernacle by day and a pillar by night. Through these symbols the Israelites knew that God was with them and always watching over them.
The word יָדַע yâda means "to know", "to perceive". It is to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing) BLB
I was studying the difference between יָדָה yâdâh to worship and this word יָדַע yâda, to know and could see that each symbolizes using the hands. Yada, "to know" means to know by experience. It is to perceive, to know and to acquire knowledge; whether by the eyes or by touch.
When the brother of Jared rent the cloud-veil, he does so with an "eye of faith". Ether 12:19-21 gives a beautiful description of this.
19 And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
20 And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.
21 And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil.
In an article I read entitled "The Brother of Jared at the Veil", by M Catherine Thomas, she says:
Standing now before this cloud-veil, having asked for light, the brother of Jared is stunned to see a finger appearing through the cloud-veil. He falls to the ground, struck with fear, because he knows what he sees. What he had held for so long in his “eye of faith” has just been visually confirmed. He has, to use Moroni’s language, “ren[t] that veil of unbelief” (Ether 4:15) with his persistent believing-as-though-he-were-seeing, and has in some marvelous way operated the law that quickens and focuses his spiritual eyes. He had asked for the finger to touch the stones, and that is what he saw—what he asked for and believed. As Elder Packer observes, the world says, “seeing is believing: show me!” “When,” he says, “will we learn that in spiritual things . . . believing is seeing? Spiritual belief precedes spiritual knowledge.”–4
The Lord says to the brother of Jared: “Because of thy faith thou hast seen . . . for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?” (Ether 3:9; italics added). It must have been with pounding heart that the brother of Jared said: “Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me” (3:10). A further dialogue takes place at the cloud-veil, the Lord testing the brother of Jared’s desire and preparation, after which he says, “Ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you” (3:13). The brother of Jared receives the heavenly gift, described by Moroni in Ether 12: “For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers . . . and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift. . . . Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith. Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God. . . . Wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith” (vv. 7–12; italics added). President Ezra Taft Benson explained the holy order of God: “To enter into the order of the Son of God is the equivalent today of entering into the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the house of the Lord.”
: “The Lord will teach him [the receiver of the second comforter] face to face and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and this is the state and place the ancient saints arrived at.” (Words of Joseph Smith, 10)
One of the most profound ways I come "to Know" יָדַע yâda our Savior is when I contemplate his great atonement and partake of the emblems of the sacrament.
: “The Lord will teach him [the receiver of the second comforter] face to face and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and this is the state and place the ancient saints arrived at.” (Words of Joseph Smith, 10)
One of the most profound ways I come "to Know" יָדַע yâda our Savior is when I contemplate his great atonement and partake of the emblems of the sacrament.
In Numbers 14:14 (above), ayin is translated as face.
The Shewbread is not only called bread of the presence, but also bread of the face. Ayin means presence. Because of this, I believe the shewbread table is the temple symbol for ayin.
This was the name given to 12 unleavened cakes placed in two piles on the Table of Shewbread, which was made of acacia wood and stood on the north side of the altar of incense in the holy place (Ex. 25:23–30). Frankincense was put upon each row (Lev. 24:7). The shewbread was changed every Sabbath day and the old loaves were eaten by the priests in a holy place (Lev. 24:9). (LDS.org)
The new bread was carried in by four priests, while two bore the two cups of incense. They were preceded by four other priests, two to remove the old loaves and two to take up the two cups containing the incense. Those that carried the new bread went to the north end of the table, facing toward the south; those that had preceded them went to the south end, facing the north. While the latter were removing the old bread, the former were depositing the new, so that the showbread was, in fact, always before the Lord.
In the shewbread the 12 tribes were perpetually presented before God; yet it was wholly consumed by man; thus it provided both a sacrifice and a communion. (from LDS.org)
Jesus is the Bread of Life. The shewbread is the bread of the face or his presence. Taking the sacrament is to have his presence with you. We are promised his spirit to always be with us.
- The breads were baked in specially designed golden pans. Says Rabbi Ariel: "On the festivals, the table would be raised aloft . . . and displayed to the pilgrims. The priests would call out: 'Behold how precious you are to God! The bread was removed as required, but though seven days have passed they are still hot as if freshly baked' (BT Menachot 29:A).
Literally, the term "showbread" refers to lechem panim, "bread of faces" -- the plural form of "faces" is used, panim. Since this is the bread of God's "Presence," the term panim -- plural for "faces" -- refers to the face of YEHOVAH God. It could also be a reference to the "faces" of the twelve tribes of Israel (and each of us), as they appear before God, represented by the loaves of bread. The showbread, being placed in the Temple, to the right of the entrance, in front of the Holy Holies, is continually "in God's Presence," from week to week, teaching Israel of Yehovah's constant communion with them and of their acceptance by Him.
Thus, the Shewbread recalled God's divine presence within the tabernacle.
I believe the symbol exists in the Egyptian temple as well.
The wedjat eye or the eye of Horus is based on
An egyptian "myth" which concerns the battle between Horus (Christ) and Seth (Satan) . During a battle over the inheritance of Osiris, Seth steals the (left) eye of Horus, damages it, and divides it into six parts. Horus is said to have brought his eye to his dead father Osiris who devoured it as an offering meal and by means of it was recalled to life. It thus became the guarantee o life and of the regeneration of life. The offerings are called the "Eye of Horus" indicating that they are considered participants in the preservation of life. The Eye of Horus is the greatest gift of all. (modified from touregypt.net)
Nibley said "As sickness is not a normal state of things, so the final disaster that befalls the body was never thought of as a mere running down or breaking down but always as the result of a willful attack against it by destroying powers. The famous wedjat-eye, the perfect or restored eye, is the completely resurrected flesh, healed of the blows inflicted on it by the enemy..." jsp niblet pg 170.
I found this interesting picture by Jacopo Pontormo (1494-1556) named "Cena in Emmaus". In this painting, I see perhaps a different artistic interpretation of the Table of Shewbread.
Here is a closer look at the Eye.
D&C 27:2 tells us that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory - remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.
I loved an article I read by John Welch were he described the Savior's visit to the Nephites and how they had been given the sacred privilege to see and touch his hands. During his visit, the Savior also administers the sacrament unto the people. About this solemn occasion, John Welch commented, "Now these Nephites ate the sanctified bread in remembrance, not of the broken body or of the suffering of the Lord, but of the unforgettably glorified physical body, “which I have shown unto you” (3 Nephi 18:7). Their sacrament was, quite literally, a sacrament of “shew” bread, of the bread of life that had been shown to them, the bread of a resurrected being which they had not only seen but also touched and whose hands had touched them.
(John W Welch, "Seeing Third Nephi as the Holy of Holies of the Book
of Mormon" Neal A Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, BYU)
The entire reading of third Nephi chapter 18 gives "seeing" symbolism. As noted above, the bread represented Christ's body shown to them, the promise of the blessing on the wine assures his spirit or "presence' to be with us. Christ tells disciples to "watch" and pray always and do "that which ye have "seen" me do. Behold ye "see" that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed. And ye "see" that I have commanded that none should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might 'feel and see'". In verse 26 Jesus turned his eyes on the disciples. To conclude in verse 38, a cloud (anan עָנָן)
would now come to overshadow their sight so they could no longer see Jesus. Yet the disciples "saw and did bear record" of him.
Along with the shewbread, there is similar symbolism in the golden pot of manna. The golden pot was added to the ark of the covenant, in the Holy of Holies, by commandment of the Lord. The manna reminded Israel of the daily bread, which was provided during their wandering in the wilderness.
The Lord knows our daily needs. His watchful eye is over us. The central purpose of the holy temple redemption, salvation, and seeing God face to face.
Further Study:
ayin -meaning as spring/fountain Prov 8:28 when he established the clouds (could be ayin but diff word used) and the fountains (ayin) of the deep
AyN – Continue the eye i.e. watch; the nomadic agriculturalist carefully watches over his livestock and crops by keeping a close eye on them as they are something of importance. The furrow formed between the eyes when intently looking or from depression. A cloud as a covering that provides shade. It was common to construct a shelter consisting of a roof on four posts, as a shelter from the glare of the sun. The eye reveals the heart of a person; a spring or fountain is the eye of the ground.
ayin -meaning as spring/fountain Prov 8:28 when he established the clouds (could be ayin but diff word used) and the fountains (ayin) of the deep
AyB – Experience the tent i.e. dark cover; the tent is made of a covering of thick and heavy black or dark brown goat hair.
AyN – Continue the eye i.e. watch; the nomadic agriculturalist carefully watches over his livestock and crops by keeping a close eye on them as they are something of importance. The furrow formed between the eyes when intently looking or from depression. A cloud as a covering that provides shade. It was common to construct a shelter consisting of a roof on four posts, as a shelter from the glare of the sun. The eye reveals the heart of a person; a spring or fountain is the eye of the ground.
Numerical value of 70 (serving/restoration ex: 70 weeks of Daniel, 70 7s, 70x70
A God's eye is a yarn weaving and a spiritual object. The Ojo de Dios (Eye of God in Spanish) is woven with yarn and wood, often with several colors. The weaving of an Ojo de Dios is an ancient contemplative and spiritual practice for many indigenous peoples in the Americas, and beliefs surrounding them vary with location and history. Some people believe they were originally part of the religion of the Ancient Pueblo Peoples. They reflect a confidence in all-seeing Providence. The spiritual eye of the Ojo de Dios is thought by some believers to have the power to see and understand things unknown to the physical eye.
Traditional Ojos de Dios are frequently woven in solitude, as part of an extended meditation or prayer. In other settings, their construction is one aspect of longstanding communal engagement and connection. For centuries, young people in the mountains of New Mexico have made Ojos de Dios in learning circles (wisdom circles) with their elders.
The Ojo de Dios or God's eye evoking the weaving motif and its spiritual associations for the Huichol and Tepehuan Indians of western Mexico. The four points represent the elemental processes: earth, fire, air, and water. The Huichol call their God's eyes Sikuli, which means "the power to see and understand things unknown." When a child is born, the central eye is woven by the father, then one eye is added for every year of the child's life until the child reaches the age of five.
Nibley MJSP page 170:
"The famous wedjat eye, the perfect or restored eye, is the completely resurrected flesh, healed by the blows inflicted on it by the enemy. It is the moon restored to its fulness.....
Exodus 19:9 Lord appeared to Moses in a thick cloud. עב ענן
| יָע | ya` | a shovel |
| Notes | Strongs #3257: Noun Masculine; from יָעָה [ya`ah ]; | |
| Meaning: | 1) shovel |
