Facets of God Displayed in the Hebrew Aleph-Bet—Part 7

The Gezer calendar is written in Paleo pictograph-style Hebrew

A Brief Background of Ancient Hebrew Letters

Hebrew, the original language of the Old Testament, is a fascinating language in which each letter of its alphabet is iconized with an image that helps define and add dimension to the words it spells.

There are a total of 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This article will study the last four letters: qoof (ק), resh (ר), sheen (ש), and tav (ת). Each one will reveal a particular characteristic of God.

Before continuing, please note that the words with Hebrew fonts must be read from right to left. Knowing Hebrew won't be necessary, but knowing the directional aspect when describing the letter's position within the word is helpful. When I mention the first letter, it will be the letter beginning on the right, and the last letter will be on the left.

It is also important to note that the fonts I am using in this article are modern Hebrew ones developed during the Babylonian captivity and are used in Israel today. In their most ancient form, these letters were actual images of the pictographs we will be studying. Additionally, a video will further the lesson about each letter at the end of each section. These videos were produced by Jewish Jewels Ministries and hosted by Dr. Danny Ben-Gigi, former professor of Hebrew at Arizona State University.

The Hebrew Letter Qoof ק: A Rising Sun

The nineteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is qoof (ק). One picture representing the letter qoof (ק) depicts the sun rising over the horizon, suggesting something arising. It is also the first letter of the Hebrew word for arise.

Arise [קום] for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
— Psalm 44:26

Stephen's stoning in the book of Acts chapter seven contains an interesting observation about the purpose of the Lord standing up or arising from a seated position.

Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!
— Acts 7:56

The book of Hebrews states that Jesus is seated at the Father's right hand, indicating a position of authority.

But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.
— Hebrews 10:12

So, why did Jesus stand in the case of Stephen? The Old Testament prophet Isaiah provides us with an explanation in the following verse.

The Lord arises to contend, and stands to judge the people.
— Isaiah 3:13

We see a courtroom scene in which Jesus arises to judge and plead Stephen's cause. The Psalmist confirms this thought.

Let God arise,
Let His enemies be scattered

— Psalm 68:1

Stephen amazingly intercedes on his persecutor's behalf when he asks the Lord not to lay this to their account while being stoned to death.

Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep
— Acts 7:60

We also see this concept of "arising" in connection with Christ's resurrection and the defeat of our spiritual enemies in Paul's letter to the Corinthian church.

... Christ is risen from the dead ... He has put all enemies under His feet ...
— 1 Corinthians 15

Personal space as depicted by Hideto KOBAYASHI from Machida, Tokyo

The Hebrew Letter Qoof ק: Proximity

The letter qoof also speaks of proximity. Hebrew words that express near and far contain the letter qoof (קָ). The following verse uses qoof (קָ) as the first letter of the word, translated as "near." God's nearness is one of His qualities.

The Lord is near (קרוב) to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

— Psalm 145

The next verse uses it in the last letter position in the word translated as "afar."

Why do You stand afar off (רחוק), O LORD?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?

— Psalm 10:1

The invitational part of this letter is for us to draw near to Him.

He is also able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
— Hebrews 7:25

Fourbyfourblazer 4th day of Evangelism training at Huntington Beach provided by LivingWaters Ministry, which encourages and equips Christians to share their faith biblically, the way Jesus did by obeying Jesus command to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.

The Hebrew Letter Qoof ק: Holiness

Qoof (קָ) is also the first letter of the word "holy," as is used in the next portion of Scripture. One of God's characteristics is His holiness. The concept of our raising up God's attributes is connected with this thought.

Let them praise Your great and awesome name— He is holy (קדוש)... Exalt [lift up] the Lord our God, And worship at His footstool— He is holy (קדוש)... Exalt (lift up) the Lord our God, and worship at His holy (קדוש) hill; For the Lord our God is holy (קדוש).
— Psalm 99:3,5,9

The concept of holiness aligns with the idea of proximity. Holiness is about drawing near to God and away from the world. It is described as a separation from the world and unto the Lord.

Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.

— 2 Corinthians 6:17

The Hebrew Letter Resh ר: The Top of the Head

Resh (ר), the twentieth letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet, is a picture of a man's head, signifying the top and most important. A New Testament image of this is found in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, which speaks of Christ's preeminence.

Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
— Ephesians 5:23

Resh (ר) is, additionally, included in the Hebrew word for a "prince." The prophet Isaiah reveals the Messiah as a prince in discussing God's governing properties.

His name will be called ... Prince of Peace (שר שלום).
— Isaiah 9:6

Resh (ר) can also represent the conscious mind. The mind of the Lord is acknowledged as the Supreme Intelligence by Paul in his letter to the Roman church.

For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?
— Romans 11:34

The Letter Sheen ש: Teeth

Sheen (ש), the twenty-first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is an image of teeth communicating the idea of chewing, consuming, devouring, and digesting.

The Hebrew word for fire is "esh אש. "It is spelled with an aleph and a sheen. The aleph represented by an ox implies something strong. The sheen (ש) indicates the idea of devouring. In combination, fire is a strong devourer. The book of Deuteronomy uses this imagery to express a similar quality of God.

Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire (אש).

— Deuteronomy 4:23-24

The above verse is about God being jealous for us, not wishing to share us with anything else that would ultimately destroy and separate us from Him forever. The consuming fire shows us God's intense love and passion for us.

Sheen (ש) is also the first letter of the word "shalom (שלום). In combination with the letter above, Jesus is our Prince (שרַׂ-sheen and resh) of Peace (שלום). (Isaiah 9:6) Shalom comes with a thought-provoking pictographic revelation of what our Prince of Peace has done for us. Shalom (שלום) is spelled sheen (ש), lamed (ל), vav (ו), and mem (מַ). Sheen (ש) means to consume, as was just noted. Lamed (ל) is illustrated with a shepherd's staff and symbolizes teaching and authority.

... the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority.
— Matthew 7:28-29

The third letter of shalom (שלום) is a vav (ו), which represents a nail and conveys the idea of connection.

The final letter, mem (מַ), is a picture of water and can include the idea of chaos and turbulence like a raging sea.

You rule the raging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.

— Psalm 89:9

Combining the concepts shows that our Prince of Peace destroyed and consumed the authority that connected us to chaos.

... the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil
— I John 3:8

The Letter Tav ת Is a Cross

Tav (ת) is the final letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet and is a picture of a cross. A cross symbolizes a covenant. It is appropriate and significant for "tav ת" to be the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

“It is finished!”

— John 19:30

The Bible Wheel

Christ finished and fulfilled all required to bring us back into fellowship with the Father at the cross. This letter brings us full circle, since the alphabet begins with the letter aleph, which represents the Father.

Concerning the final letter tav ת, it is the 22nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle, is 22 divided by 7. The early Hebrew image for this letter was used long before the cross was invented as a form of corporal punishment. Crucifixion most likely began with the Persians in the 7th century B.C. and was later adopted by the Romans. The letter, therefore, foretells the much later crucifixion of Christ.

I am God, and there is none like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times, things that are not yet done.

— Isaiah 46:9,10

The letter Tav ת and the Gospel

In the symbol of the cross, we see that Jesus embodies the meaning of the covenant.

Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant.

— Hebrews 7:22

When we look at the Word of God in its entirety, it reveals the God of covenants. The covenants all pointed to and culminated at the cross.

The story of life begins with God in a relationship (covenant) with humankind. Man is unfaithful to the terms of that relationship with God and the life that sustained him. The rest of the book recounts God's attempt to draw humankind back into fellowship with Him, which could be accomplished only by sacrificing His one and only Son.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

— John 3:16

The word covenant appears 315 times in the Bible, underscoring its fundamental and relevant nature. A relationship with God is impossible without one.

... at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
— Ephesians 2:12

To summarize this final letter, it seems appropriate to conclude with the invitation to be in fellowship (covenant) with the God of all creation. But to be in a relationship with Him, we must be cleansed from our sins. How do we get from here to there?

... without shedding of blood, there is no remission
— Hebrews 9:22

Sin requires a payment we can't afford. A covenant with God is a matter of life and death.

For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Romans 6:23

The humility of admitting one's spiritual condition of sinfulness apart from God and taking by faith what Christ has done on our behalf by giving up His own life in exchange for ours is the first step to a new eternal life of relationship with God.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
— 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Gospel narratives of salvation always extend this invitation.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
— Matthew 3:2

In other words, turn from your sins and turn to God.

... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved ...
— Acts 16:31

The Aleph א and the Tav ת are the Apha and the Omega

There is one final revelation with the Hebrew alphabet. Beginning with the first letter, aleph (א), a picture of our strong Father with whom it all began. We end with the letter tav (ת), representing the established covenant through Christ.

... no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son.

— Matthew 11:27

The aleph (א) and the tav (ת) are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

"Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
'I am the First, and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

— Isaiah 44:6

What a way to sum it all up!

Christ is all and in all.
— Colossians 3:11
He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
— Colossians 1:17

No matter how we look at it, He is the beginning, end, and everything in between.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
— Revelation 1:8

Jesus brought us back into a right relationship with the Father (aleph א) through His finished work on the cross (tav ת).

At the very center of the very first sentence of the Bible (Genesis chapter one) is a word pronounced "et" and consists of aleph (א) and tav (ת). This word is untranslated. Could this symbolize the one and only Aleph (א) and Tav (ת), the "alpha and omega" at the center of it all, who is untranslatable and whose work is indescribable?