Facets of God Displayed in the Hebrew Aleph-Bet—Part 2

The Gezer calendar was written in the Paleo pictograph style of Hebrew

Understanding God Through Hebrew Letters

My favorite area of Biblical studies centers around the ancient Hebraic roots of our Christian faith. Hebrew word studies and their letters can sometimes give us a more detailed and in-depth view of Biblical concepts. There are a total of 22 letters in the Hebrew Aleph-Bet (alphabet). In this article, I would like to examine the second set of three letters and show how each letter portrays a facet of God's character. An interesting observation about these three letters is that they are all materials of a home, which was the main topic of the first three letters in building a home and family through a son.

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
— Psalm 90:1

Before we continue, please note that Hebrew is read from right to left. Knowing Hebrew isn't necessary, but knowing the directional aspects 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 letters 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, at the end of each section, a video will further the lesson about each letter. These videos are produced by Jewish Jewels Ministries and hosted by Dr. Danny Ben-Gigi, a former Hebrew professor at Arizona State University.

Traditional Ancient Architecture
Zinder, Niger

Dalet ד: A Doorway to Transformation

"Dalet" (ד) is the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Visually, the letter looks like a doorway. Jesus revealed Himself as "the door" in John, chapter 10. This revelation refers to Himself being the point of entrance, the only "true" path to the spiritual sheepfold of salvation, protection, and provision.

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
— John 10:9

The concept of a door suggests a specific path or way into the Father's presence.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
— John 14:6

Jesus, in being "the way," shows us that "the way" is through death, burial, and resurrection to a new life with Him, ushering us into the life of salvation.

Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
— Romans 6:4

Peter offers us further applications in his second epistle.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
— 2 Peter 1:10-11

Leon Wyczolkowski

Hey ה: A Window of Light and Revelation

Hey" (ה) is thought to be an image of a window indicating revelation and illumination. Twice in the Scriptures, Jesus reveals Himself as "the light of the world," first, in the story of the woman caught in adultery.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

— John 8:12

He spoke this to the Pharisees, who were attempting to entrap Him through this incident.

The second time Jesus reveals Himself as "the light of the world" follows the previous example in the story of the man born blind.

Now, as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
— John 9:1-5

The broader revelation of this story becomes clear when we view both narratives together. From a spiritual application point of view, we might see that Jesus's true purpose in coming was to "reveal" and shed light on the problem that we were born blind due to an act of spiritual adultery committed in a garden long ago. He also came to "reveal" the solution to this problem: Himself.

A final note that is worth observing is that "hey" (ה) is used twice in the covenant name of God, "Yahweh" יהוה. This possibly shows us God's desire to reveal Himself to us.

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord Yahweh- יהוה, I was not known to them ... But indeed for this purpose I have raised you (Moses-type of Jesus) up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
— Exodus 6:3, 9:16

If we look at the first five letters as a whole, noting that five is the biblical number for grace, we see that the grace of God is the Father (Aleph א), in the Son (Bet ב), by the Holy Spirit (Gimel ג), and the path to Him (Dalet ד), revealed (Hey ה).

Ancient Tent Pegs

Vav ו: The Nail in a Sure Place

"Vav " (ו), the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is an image of a tent peg or nail that would have been used to secure an ancient tent or home. "Vav"(ו) carries a strong covenant theme, which makes sense in that a covenant is what secures and binds together.

I will fasten him (Eliakim, meaning God will raise up or establish) as a peg in a secure place,
And he will become a glorious throne to his father's house.

— Isaiah 22:2

In the Old Testament, we see King Eliakim as a type of Jesus, as the "peg" raised upon the cross to secure a place for us, who became "a glorious throne to His Father's house.

Jesus: The Nail in a Sure Place

The nail-pierced hands and feet of Jesus secured our eternal futures in Him. This particular letter also reminds us to stay connected to "The Word" and the hope that anchors our souls.

The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
— Ecclesiastes 12:11

The one shepherd is Jesus, the Word of God, the chief, good, and great Shepherd. Liberty Bible commentary follows this same thought.

God confirmed His promise of love to us through the nail-pierced hands and feet of Christ so that we might take hold and fasten ourselves to Him, and that this would be an anchor of our souls through the trials and tragedies of this life, with the following goal in mind.

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you ...
— I Peter 5:10

As it refers to God's Hebrew covenant name Yahweh יהוה, once again, it is noteworthy that "vav" (ו) is placed between two "heys" (ה). The first "hey" (ה) represents the open fellowship that Adam and Eve had in the garden. The "vav" (ו) that follows and is in the middle reveals the necessary covenant repair of Christ's death on the cross for our sins. The second "hey" (ה) after it represents the restored fellowship and revelation. The whole gospel story (the way) is about reconnecting covenant fellowship and revelation with the covenant one.

This “has been understood as the dependence of all souls ... on the Lord Jesus, as the only Saviour of all lost human spirits.”
— Adam Clark

The Combined Meaning

In combination, we see how God's household is constructed with the door and the way revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ, who was hung on the cross, nailing our sinful debt to it.

... wiping out the handwriting of requirements that were against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

— Colossians 2:14