Jerusalem

Just for fun, let's build a word from metaphor:

The blank page represents the self-existent God.

Yod י He then thought to create; represented by the yod י which is like the big bang point. It is the smallest portion of a letter. The word 'jot' comes from yod. When you draw any letter, you begin by drawing a yod, then extend the line into the larger letter. We observe that every word is made of letters, and God created by speaking words. The metaphor of the yod includes everything that God thought to create, spoke to create and created. It can represent God as the source of creation.

Vav ו After God thought to create, he spoke. The vav is drawn by making a yod, then extending it downward. It represents the first spoken word "Let there be light". The word created a distinction between light and darkness; holiness and love. It also joined them as a revelation of God's character. His word makes a distinction; "it is sharper than a two-edged sword."

Yah יו One of the names for God is יו. It represents him as the creator who speaks, unlike the dumb gods of paganism.

Rosh ר The rosh is drawn with a yod extended horizontally. The upper horizontal represents those things which can be known about God. The yod starts above it and descends to that line. There are things which God has thought that we cannot comprehend. "His thoughts are not our thoughts." The rosh makes an arch rather than a right angle to descend. This represents that his personality is included in teh things that can be known about him. Then the rosh descends like a vav, speaking his personality into his creation. "and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" The rosh is the revelation of God into the very DNA of man. (Ro 1:19) It is also the Spirit (breath) which teaches us. (Joh 14:26)

Yar יר The two-letter subroot for light is יר yar. Light is a metaphor for holiness.

Rav רו Meaning 'satiate, drunk, watered', it says that we are filled with the breath (Spirit) of God (Rosh ר) and with his teaching.

Yeru ירו (the v sounds turns to oo) Yah יו has a Rosh ר in his heart. God desired to create י, and spoke to create ו, with the purpose to pour his Spirit into his creation רו and teach them ר of his Holiness י.

Zayin ז The zayin represents something returning to God. When used as a part of other letters it is on the left side of the letter. the right side of a letter is something from God.

Shin ש Draw a vav on the right because God spoke, draw a zayin ז on the left because his word returned to him. Then draw another zayin ז attached to the first, because his word did not return void. He accomplished what he desired to do. That which returned with the word was 'like' the word, since "we will be made 'like' him."

Kaf כ Start with a resh, then as the line approaches the lower horizontal (earthly), arch it into the horizontal representing that the resh has become flesh. It represents the Son of God in the flesh.

Mem מ and ם When the mem is at the end of a word, the final form (looking like a square) is used. Draw a kaf כ and then attach a zayin ז on the left. The mem is a picture of the Son of God in the flesh with his bride on the left (left is flesh, right is spirit; think sheep and goats). THey are joined at the top (in heaven). However, we know that there is no marriage in heaven (Mt 22:30) so we know this is a metaphor for the Father having chosen the bride for his Son. He has declared a covenant with man. The two are not joined on earth, meaning teh covenant has not yet been fulfilled. In the final form, they are connected on earth and represent the marriage through his death on the cross. (Adam slept while his bride was formed).

Shem שם Shem means 'name, reputation'. God's reputation is based on the fact that his word did not return void (Shin ש) and that what he declared was finished by teh marriage of the Son of God on earth (Mem מ and ם).

Lamed ל Start with a vav above the upper horizontal. God speaks things which cannot be known or understood. Now make the horizontal a little lower than the upper horizontal, because he was made "a little lower than the angels" (Heb 2:7) in order to reveal God to us. Finish the letter with a kaf כ or Son of God on the right. The Son of God came to earth to reveal the mysteries of God to men; to make him known. Lamed is "the shared heart" and represents teaching. It is realized when men who are being taught have the desire to be taught by the Son of God. The sharing is a two way relationship.

Shalom שלם Shalom means peace. The reputation of God (Shem שם) has as it's center, the shared heart of God (Lamed ל) and his teaching. True peace comes through a shared heart with God, and completed marriage (the cross) with the Son of God.

Jerusalem ירושלם The teaching (Yeru ירו) of peace (Shalom שלם)

New Jerusalem Jesus said "You have heard it said.... but I say" as he ushered in the New Jerusalem. He gave the New teaching of peace. No longer was peace with God accomplished through the blood of animals, but through the one-time offering of the Son of God on the cross.