Tag Archives: translation matters

ALEPH TAV

THAT’S NOT WHAT THAT SAYS…

This message is for my students who say that they want a higher level. Those who say, that they are ready for strong meat.

If that’s true, then you have to be ready to unlearn quite a few things that you already thought you knew. One tool and method that will be invaluable to you is to master the use of an Interlinear and see what the verse actually says. Case in Point:

REMINDER: This is just ‘pshat level. Literal interpretation only. Nothing deep or investigatory. Yet, on a basic level, we should have known this as 3 year old in Summer Bible Camp. This is a huge. This verse alone, should shift many paradigms.

Begin with Biblehub.com; Mark 11:22 The translation begins with “theou” and reads “from GOD”. Look past that for a moment and note the abbreviation for the parts of speech. ‘N-GMS’ is telling us that ‘theou’ is a Noun in the Genitive Masculine Singular, which means it is a masc, sg, possessive Noun and here it is rendered as “from GOD.”

Having faith from GOD and having the faith of GOD are two different matters. Both are a few levels above, “…having faith in GOD (KJV).” Having faith from GOD is a gift ( which I don’t think we would argue that it isn’t). Having the faith of GOD would place us at a great advantage. If we had known the expectation was to operate at such a level, understood scripture that way from the beginning and applied it to our lives daily, we would be advanced indeed.

Having the Faith of GOD… is a Completely Different Conversation

But let’s look beneath the surface a bit more and find out just what the Genitive case tell us: Genitive shows possession (although some scholars separate out possession from genitive, and define it as two separate forms. I do not. While the genitive case is not ‘always’ about possession, it is about ‘belonging to.’

That being the case, we can understand Mark 11:22 as Jesus compelling us to have the type of faith that GOD has, or to have the same level of faith as GOD. To operate in His level of Faith, just as we have learned to operate in His strength and not our own, in His ways, in His Will and not our own. We learn from Jesus to operate in GOD’s Faith and not our own.

Having faith in GOD, is sweet, but it’s operating with milk. Having the faith of GOD… that requires grit… i.e. strong meat. Ref: Hebrews 5:11-14

Jesus is offering strong meat.

Related: Prayer Journal Pages

2 Bibles that render this passage, “… Have the faith of GOD” are Douay Rhimes Bible (1582) and Young’s Literal Bible (1862).

Compare: Galatians 2:16 “But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ...” (both Douay Rhimes Bible and KJV). We are justified by the Faith “of” Christ, as in like manner we are to have the Faith “of” GOD.

Consider a point beyond the letter and the linguistics for a moment. Beyond all the covenants, conditions and restrictions of language, there are a few spiritual… more weightier matters to convey.

In this teaching, the limits have been lifted.


You can reach for the attribute of operating in the faith of GOD, or having faith in GOD. It’s a choice. Either is possible, yet both are not comfortable. One requires you to stretch and the other requires no action whatsoever. The existing ‘believer’ can stay well within their current comfort zone, stay completely as they are. If you hear the call to have the faith of GOD, something more is required of you.


Christ is entering Jerusalem and into the temple. The next day He moves on to Bethany and is now hungry. He sees a fig tree with leaves and no fruit. Fig trees produce fruit before the leaves open. So this particular fig tree is signaling abundance where none actually exist. The fig tree is operating against its own purpose in creation, against its own nature. It’s living in defiance to its own creation and purpose. Jesus says to the tree, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter, forever”. In other words, “You don’t get to do your own thing, and cast off the Word of GOD in shear disobedience”.

The fig tree shrivels up and dies and the next day Peter notices the overnight change due to the LORDs Words, and ask how this is possible. The Messiah responds, “Have the faith of GOD.”

We could stop at the boundary of having faith in God, or we can proceed to the level of having the faith of GOD. Not just believing in the authority of GOD, but speaking in the authority of GOD.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God…” Amen.

In the overall context of Mark 11, Jesus empowered the disciples to operate in Kingdom Authority.

dreams, PRAYER

ya’ah’neh… means, “He Will Answer!”

יַעֲנֶה ya’ah’neh

Pronounced: yah’ah’nay

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13

May you bask in all the joy and blessings of overflow!

Related Post: It’s Time to Dream Dreams

If GOD Told You A Secret Could You Keep it?

Additional Prayer Journal Pages: Click Here

ALEPH TAV

Who Shall Be Given Discernment?

Ref: Biblehub.com : Isaiah 28:9

Ref: Biblehub.com: Isaiah 28:9

SIDEBAR:

A few places in Scripture where GOD stated His Name and Identity as the aleph tav. There are plainly stated clues in the English translations that we are familiar with, but without seeing the messages from the Hebrew or recognizing the Hebraisms or idioms, they can be completely overlooked, therefore remaining hidden. Some of you have had the benefit of examining Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 word for word in previous classes, some have not. Until you each have covered the verses below in class, please make note of them now.

Gen 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep…”

John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. …”

Exodus 3:15. “And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”

Once we place Jesus back into His Jewish language, heritage and culture, we can see that He would not have referred to Himself as the alpha and omega, this is a Greek expression referring to, “the beginning and the end, the first and the last” regarding the Greek Alphabet, stated from a Greek perspective. Jesus, being Jewish would have actually called Himself the aleph and the tav. Referring to the 1st and last letter of the Hebrew alephbet, not the 1st and last letter of the Greek.

Case in Point: No matter what country you hail from or what your native language is, you still know your own name and communicate it as such, in your own language. Granted the 21st century could be an exception to that commonality, but we are reading 1st century material and have to understand it from a 1st century context. Translations changed the meaning and understanding of the message over time.

*2021 years later, In all the places where our scriptures replace aleph tav with alpha and omega, we should be willing by now to put it back, at least mentally and spiritually. This is just another small step we have to take in order to place Jesus back into His Jewish context.

Rev 22:13. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Rev 1:11. “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

Rev 21:6. “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

Rev 22:13. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

Let’s continue…

Ref: Biblehub.com: Isaiah 28:10

*Figuratively speaking.

RESOURCES: All Interlinear Bibles indicate the location of the aleph tav throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. It has also come to my attention that a “healthy excerpt “ from The Messianic Aleph Tav Interlinear Scriptures (MATIS) has been placed on line by it’s author, William H. Sanford. If you would like to learn more about the aleph tav after reading this brief teaching, please access the link to this resource. I received this book as a gift in 2014 and it is the only Interlinear I know of to date, that focuses attention on highlighting and expounding upon the meaning of the aleph tav in scripture to such an extensive degree.


Related to: Man is a Speaking Spirit and When The Son of Man Cometh

More to Follow….

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TORAH LISHMA

A Higher Level of Divine Service to GOD

Course: Intro to Torah Anthology– Class Handouts Note: I am currently transitioning class materials onto this page as we continue through the course. Please refer back to this page at least once per week to ensure you collect all class materials/handouts/worksheets. Shalom

Always approach your time of study in the Word of GOD with humility and prayer before you begin and close with prayer afterward. To assist with this, I am adding this link to the BLESSING BEFORE & AFTER TORAH STUDY, for quick access. After you are done studying, scroll to the last prayer on the LANGUAGE OF PRAYER page and you will see the Blessing After Torah Study.

FYI: Only 2 of 3 pages of the Torah Lishma Handout have been included on this page. Beneath page 2, I have added an exercise for each student to complete. Reflect on the teaching, consider the assignments carefully, make note of your reply and check back at least weekly for the next step. God Bless.

WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FROM A HEBRAIC POINT OF EXEGESIS?

Many times, students have asked what steps they should take to gain a deeper revelation of the scriptures. I suggest that they begin with learning and understanding the methods of Biblical Exegesis of the Scriptures from a Hebraic standpoint. Most of you have learned the Classical Method of Biblical Exegesis from a Christian viewpoint. Now, we are going to add to your arsenal of information by looking at the scriptures in a new way. The Objective: discipline our minds to see the finer details in the text. Traditionally, from my perspective as a teacher, we read over key information. We read right past key information, that I call “flags” that are trying to wave us down in order to alert us that, “more is going on… right there on the pages of scripture than we allow ourselves to take the time to see.” This exercise is about shifting your torah study, to the level of becoming meticulous in the text!

As I say that, I can hear the voices from my past saying… “It doesn’t take all that!” I assure it that it does. If you are at all interested in shifting your study to the level that it becomes “A Higher Level of Divine Service to GOD”, then you have to become determined to push past a few voices in order to get to where it is you want to go in the things of GOD. That’s lesson #1.

IN THE EXCERCISE BELOW, I am presenting an excerpt from the Bible from the Book of Ruth. Your assignment is to pinpoint at least 6 points of information that are “flags” to pursue further inquiry. What 6 points of information in the text are flags? i.e., which key points jump out at you in the message? What are the questions that you should be asking about them?

That’s it! I will update this post in a few days with the 6 points that I would choose and suggest some possible questions that you should ask when studying the Book of Ruth. We will move forward after we have are questions in line…. See you soon!

Keep these 3 Basics in Mind as you Meditate on Chapter 1 of the Book of Ruth.

  • The scriptures contain timeless teachings/ lessons that can sometimes take years to uncover.
  • All of Scripture conveys ‘Spiritual’ teachings and instructions. The Word of GOD is not given for the purposes of building up the flesh, I.e., carnal desires and motives. The Word is given for the purpose of building us up spiritually. The wisdom contained in the Word is speaking to the Spirit of mankind, in order to protect the soul.
  • There are levels of meaning in the messages/teachings in the Word. Scripture elevates the soul and the spirit. The literal meaning of the text is only the beginning of wisdom.
  • Humility is/can be your greatest asset in your quest to delve deeper into the depths of God’s Word. Humility is greatly undervalued. Desire it, acquire it and cherish it, whichever is the case. Suppress any compulsion to judge the characters or their actions in the text. Their lives and stories are for the purpose of instruction. The virtue of humility must be applied in every aspect of your walk, even study. Approach every encounter with the Word in humility. Amen.

BOOK OF RUTH – CHAPTER 1 KJV Public Domain

Click this Link: in order to view a word-for-word translation of the Book of Ruth from Hebrew to English. The link will take you to Biblehub.com starting with Ruth 1:1

A/O 06-05-21 I have updated this post by underlining Key Phrases in Chapter 1 of Ruth (below) that indicate that are stated in such a way that they should cause questions to arise. Take a look at what has been underlined and make note if they provoke any questions and what they are? I won’t underline all of them right now, but enough to show you something new. Later, I will come back and suggest some questions of my own. God Bless

FYI: Another exercise of this kind can be found on ‘HOW TO STUDY THE TORAH’ Click Here Enjoy!

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.

7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

21 I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!

SHALOM!