#3: Hebrew Word Analysis

This is a continuation of the Revelation 13 Bible Study some of my kids and I started recently. Please feel free to join us and/or email me at kimkincher@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. If you are in the area and would like this to be an in-home Bible study group, please let me know!

Last time, we looked at several Old Testament (OT) scriptures to get a better understanding of the phrase "mark on the hand and the forehead" found in Revelation 13:16. In these OT scriptures, the Hebrew word used for sign is "oth".

You can find this word using the online lexicon from the last post at: http://biblelexicon.org/ or check out http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html for an online version of Strong's Exhaustive Bible Concordance.

Like I mentioned before, I'm trying to introduce online reference sites and methods for you to use when you study the Bible on your own. I'm also trying to give a slightly different approach to the study of Revelation 13 for those of you who are already familiar with this subject. There are a ZILLION internet entries and blogs on this subject but I'm hoping to add something of interest by emphasizing the Jewish roots of Revelation 13.

OK, so let's go on: The Hebrew word for a "sign" from God is the word "oth". Hebrew was originally a pictographic language that somewhat resembled the block letters used in modern Hebrew today. Hebrew words were formed out of "picture" letters. (The English word "alphabet" was derived from the first two Hebrew letters "aleph" and "bet".) It wasn't until around 500 AD that the Hebrew language began to use vowels. So during the time of the writing of the Old Testament, Hebrew pictographs were used. Because of this, we will look only at the three Hebrew consonants that make up the word "oth". Reading in the Hebrew from RIGHT TO LEFT, the letters are aleph, vav, tav.

The Aleph (ah lef) pictograph was originally a bull's head symbolizing strength, authority, power and meaning the "chief" or "head" or figure of authority. Written alone, this letter speaks of God.
http://www.hebrew4christians.net/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Aleph/aleph.html

The next letter is Vav (vawv). It's pictograph is a nail, chisel or peg. A nail or peg is used to fasten or connect so vav is often translated as the word "and" in a sentence. Vav can also be seen as a symbol of a chisel or a tool that not only fastens but etches or engraves on something.
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Vav/vav.html

The last letter is Tav (tawv). It's represented by the pictograph of a cross mark or X. The meaning was to mark, sign, signal or write.
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Tav/tav.html

So when we put it all together, what do we get? I would love to read your conclusions so please send them to me at kimkincher@gmail.com .

One source worded it this way: The authoritative figure (represented by the bull’s head as the first letter) takes a nail and scrawls his mark of identity on an object of clay, stone or animal hide to validate his message. His mark bears the weight of his word. His handwriting and signature testify that what is inscribed is guaranteed by the writer’s integrity represented in the marking.

I think studying the original Hebrew naturally brings us to the question: How do we know the Old Testament manuscripts are reliable? And we'll be discussing this in the next post!

God bless,
Kim