PHB: Introduction

Pneumnemonic Hebrew for Beginners->PHB: Alternate Introduction - 1

The Love Language of God

Introduction

This is the catechism of the Hebrew alphabet:

Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. - Isa 43:10

In casual conversation if I mention that I have been researching Hebrew for more than 20 years, invariably I am asked why I would do such a thing. I explain that Hebrew is unlike any other language. In Hebrew, the meaning of a word is derived from the combined meaning of the letters within. The letters get their meaning from the jots and tittles (dots and strokes) of the letter; and the jots and strokes are derived intuitively as if our DNA was programmed to understand them.

As I started to study the Hebrew portion of the Bible seriously, I wanted to learn how to think like a Hebrew. I called a prominent Rabbi hoping that in discussions I would be able to discern how he thought. One day I suggested that since teaching was his profession, I would like to remunerate him. He suggested that I take his remote classes. He asked that I not talk about Christian stuff in class since it would just confuse the other students.

I think he forgot I was there. Perhaps he did so intentionally in order to allow me to see him and his students dialog about issues in a purely 'Hebrew' setting. I quickly realized that the Western Greek thought process, using Greek philosophy, logic rhetoric, debate and even myth was very different from the conversations I was hearing.

It was here, and from other rabbis I engaged, that I learned of the unique nature of the Hebrew language. However, they did not know how to parse the meaning of words from the letters. They only had a memory that it was done. One friend was researching the use of gates, which are two-letter sub-roots, within Hebrew. Much of his work relies upon free-for-all allegory. Another was researching the pre-Babel language through the assumption that consonants retained their meaning in various languages as the languages were confused at Babel. Another was researching the logic structures of Hebrew thought.

I appreciate the insight into the Hebrew mind from these men who I consider great thinkers in their pursuit of truth. Unfortunately, their various pursuits are limited by the restriction of data into their research. None will consider the claims of Christ, and none would confess to having read the New Testament, if, in fact they had.

This is an important gap in their thinking. They all agree that the Hebrew scriptures are written in prophetic riddle. Some believe that there are two layers of meaning, and some believe that there are four layers. But they are unwilling to consider that the answers to the riddle may be found in Christ.

The verses which Christians consider to be obvious references to Christ, they interpret as to applying to the nation of Israel, or to a mysterious figure name Adam Kadmon who possesses many attributes assigned to Christ. He is both God and man, and has the purpose of revealing God to man.

As they applied the scriptures to either Israel or Adam Kadmon, I saw Christ in ways that I had not seen previously, and which they would not consider.