Facets of God Displayed in the Hebrew Aleph-Bet—Part 1

The Gezer calendar is written in the Paleo-Hebrew style.

Hebraic Roots of Christian Faith

My favorite Biblical studies center around the ancient Hebraic roots of our Christian faith. Hebrew word studies and their pictographs can sometimes give us a more detailed and in-depth view of Biblical concepts. In this article, I would like to look at the first three of 22 letters of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet and show how each one amazingly portrays a facet of God's character. Please note that the words with Hebrew fonts should be read from right to left. Knowing Hebrew isn't necessary, but understanding 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.

A handwritten Torah scroll by the scribe Elihu Shannon of Kibbutz Saad, Israel

A Hebrew Reading Note

It is also important to note that the fonts used in this article are modern Hebrew fonts developed during the Babylonian captivity and 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 on each letter. Jewish Jewels Ministries presents a series hosted by Dr. Danny Ben-Gigi, a former Hebrew professor at Arizona State University.

"Aleph א" Is a Strong Dependable Ox

We begin with the letter "aleph" (א). The image of an ox represents the letter "Aleph" (א). The qualities of an ox will help us understand the concepts that go with this letter. This animal is notable for its strength, as the writer of the book of Proverbs well notes.

... much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
— Proverbs 14:4

The ox ranks in the "top ten" of the strongest animals in the world. Their strength makes them a useful and practical option for plowing, pulling carts, and any large, heavy load. They can haul loads up to or exceeding 3000 pounds. We can, therefore, conclude that "aleph" shows us that God is strong! The very first revealed name of God in the scriptures is Elohim (אלהים), which begins with the letter "aleph" and depicts His strength, as is seen in creation.

In the beginning, God (Elohim-אלהים) created the heavens and the earth.
— Genesis 1:1

Isaiah, the prophet, completes this thought.
God (Elohim-אלהים) is enthroned above the circle of the earth;

its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a fabric
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

Look up and see:
who created these?
He brings out the starry host by number;
He calls all of them by name.
Because of His great power and strength.

— Isaiah 40:26,22

An ox is also noted for its dependability and reliability. For this reason, the early pioneers preferred oxen over mules or horses for pulling wagons. Horses were faster but not as steady or well-tempered.

Lord God of Hosts, who is strong like You, Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds You.
— Psalm 89:8 HCSB;

The "aleph" (א) also has to do with beginnings, considering that it is the "first" letter in the Aleph-Bet. It is also the "first" letter in the Hebrew word for father (ab-אב). Father is the very first word in the Hebrew dictionary. Aleph begins by showing us the strong, dependable Father.

The New Testament uses the Aramaic word "Abba" three times, all of which convey a strong, dependable Father who strengthens His children when they feel weak. The following verse records the first time it was used by Jesus Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane experience.

Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow—to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” Then He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
— Mark 14:34-36

Paul encourages both the Roman and Galatian Christians to do as Jesus did in the Garden: to cry out to the Father as a child would for strength to overcome.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!
— Romans 8:15
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
— Galatians 4:6

Louise Docker
Sydney Australia

The Father's Love Revealed

It is also a relevant connection that the Hebrew word for love, "ahab" (אהב), contains the same letters as "father" with the addition of one letter in the middle. "Ab" (אב), the Hebrew word for father, is spelled with an "aleph" (א) and a "bet" (ב). The Hebrew spelling of love is "aleph" (א), "hey" (ה), and "bet" (ב).

From a pictograph perspective, the "hey's" (ה) position in the middle of the word, between the "aleph" (א) and "bet" (ב), the Hebrew word for father, signifies the heart of the word. The Hebrew letter "hey" (ה) is a picture of a window and represents something revealed. In terms of God's character, love may be defined as the Father's heart revealed. And in the heart of the Father is love. In his book Living the Lord's Prayer, David Timms offers a sentiment similar to this pictograph interpretation.

"In Aramaic, the term Abba (Father) is a term of intimacy and respectful familiarity, a word of belonging and connection, of family and protection, and of love ... A father's love formed the center of the household"

Remember Philips's plea to Jesus.

“Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
— John 14:8

It was as if Philip were saying, "It's all we need to know." That is what Jesus came, essentially, to do—show us the heart of the Father full of love for us.

"Jesus said to him ... He who has seen Me has seen the Father."
— John 14:9

Jesus demonstrated this heart of love for us, as shown in the following word: "revelation."

The two letters ending this particular Hebrew word for love (ahab-אהב) are "hey" (ה) and "bet" (ב), and this Hebrew word is an abbreviation for a word meaning "to give." Keep in mind that the ox was also a sacrificial animal in the Bible (see Numbers 7). The following familiar portion of Scripture ties this all together.

For God the Father (אב) so loved (אהב) the world that He gave (הב) His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
— John 3:16

The Father's love is revealed in the sacrificial giving of His Son, who bore the burden of our sin and plowed a path for a new, eternal beginning with Him.

"Bet ב": A Household Tent

The second letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet is "bet" (ב)." Bet" (ב) is represented by a picture of a tent, implying the concepts of household and family.

"Bet" (ב) is the first letter of the Hebrew word for "son" (ben-בן). It is also the first letter of the term for "build" (benahבנה). We can see that the letter "hey" is added to the end of the word for "son" to form the word "build." When the letter "hey" is at the end of a word, it can indicate something that comes from the word itself. What comes from the son? The household and family. The building of the family was the son's responsibility. An ancient Near Easterner needed to produce sons for this very purpose.

The thought of producing sons to build the family is depicted in a couple of places in Genesis. The first occurs when Sarai grows tired of waiting for the son God promised to Abram, so she devises her own plan.

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children (had not borne to him). And she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children (I will build-בנה)by her.”
— Genesis 16: 1-2

This concept is also displayed again in a scene with Jacob and Rachel. After her sister Leah had borne four sons to Jacob, she desperately and competitively devised another construction plan.

Now, when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children (she had not borne to Jacob), Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children (literally sons), or else I die!" And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her (I will build-בנה), also I, from her"
— Genesis 30:1-3

Again, the literal translation of "that I also may have children by her" reads "I will build, also I, from her" and shows the ancient connection between building and sons in the context of family.

Jesus as a carpenter behind Mary and Joseph
Sagrada Família. Portal de la Fe
Jesus: Builder of a Kingdom Family

This letter shows us that Jesus, the Son of God, was sent to build a kingdom, household, and family.

Is this not the carpenter ...?
— Mark 6:3

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

— Ephesians 3:14

In receiving God's Son, we become His sons with the same purpose.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
— Galatians 3:26
... you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
— I Peter 2:5

A relevant quote from Charles Spurgeon concludes this section.

"Christ Himself is the builder of his spiritual temple, and has built it on the mountain of His unchangeable affection, His omnipotent grace, and His infallible truthfulness." "Each individual believer is being prepared and polished and made ready for his place in the temple, but Christ's own hand performs the preparation work."
— C.H. Spurgeon

photo used by permission from Janne Corax

"Gimel ג": A Bestower of Benefits

"Gimel" (ג) is the third letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet, and a camel represents it. In the ancient world, a camel was valued for its ability to bestow blessings and benefits. A camel traverses through the wilderness to deliver benefits from one place to another, just as the Holy Spirit traverses the wilderness of this earth, bestowing Christ to man. This third letter of the Aleph-Bet and its pictograph offer us the same illustration of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He is a bestower of benefits and blessings, as Paul describes in his first letter to the Corinthian church.

... the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

— 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

A camel is also noted for its kneeling and descending, as well as for its lifting up. The Holy Spirit is seen in these two types of actions as well. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove during the baptism of Jesus.

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heavens were opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
— Luke 3:21-22

We see Him also descending from heaven upon the Apostles at Pentecost in the book of Acts.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
— Acts 2:1-2

The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead and bestowed the treasures from above on us.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
— Romans 8:11
Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
— Acts 2:33

The following verse describes the benefits bestowed upon Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
— Acts 10:38

Final Thoughts

This next verse ties together the Hebrew Aleph-Bet's first three letters and their respective pictographic revelations, which describe facets of God Himself.