The Aleph and Tav in the Hebrew Scriptures

Alpha and Omega

Review

The first part of this series laid the groundwork for Jesus Christ being the Alpha (Α) and Omega (Ω), the Aleph (א) and the Tav (ת), the first and the last, the beginning and the end, and the one who was, who is, and is to come.

The second part of this study will elaborate further by examining the Hebrew pictographic meanings of the letters Aleph (א) and Tav (ת), along with a few other insights.

Hebrew is read from right to left. Therefore, the Hebrew letter Aleph א is on the right, and Tav ת is on the left

The Aleph א Tav ת

In Luke, Jesus showed His disciples references to Himself in the Old Testament.

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
— Luke 24:44

Within the Hebrew Scriptures is a tiny two-letter word, "et" (אתֵ֥), spelled with two Hebrew letters, "aleph א" and "tav ת," which are the first and last letters of the Hebrew "aleph-bet." This word is often not translated into English because it lacks clarity regarding its meaning. Some speculate that this word is a pointer to the direct object in the sentence. The pointer theory is correct in some cases, but not all. As we shall see, it is more likely a sign of the Lord Jesus' covenanted presence, given its relevance to the events of the text. The first mention of this word is in the very first sentence of the Bible twice.

בראש'ת ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ

The literal word-for-word rendering of the above verse in Hebrew, when reading from right to left in English, is "in the beginning" created, Elohim, 'et את' (Aleph-Tav in bold) the heavens and 'et את' (Aleph א-Tav ת in bold) the earth."

Recall that Jesus is the "Alpha (Α) and Omega (Ω)," "The First and the Last," The Beginning and the End," "The One Who is and was and is to come," and with this understanding, we can now say He is also "The Aleph א and the Tav ת," which is the equivalent of all of these titles. "Aleph א" and "tav ת," recall, are the first, last, beginning, and end of the Hebrew aleph-bet. Just as alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, representing the beginning and end, the Bible begins with the Aleph א and Tav ת and ends with the Alpha (Α) and Omega (Ω).

The pictograph meanings of these two letters confirm how "et אתֵ֥ " (Aleph-Tav) in Scripture represents the presence of Christ and the concept of covenant.

In its most ancient form, Hebrew is a pictograph language in which the letters are symbols that can help describe the concepts conveyed in a word's meaning. Therefore, it might be helpful to examine what these symbols reveal about this study.

Aleph: Ox

The first letter in the "aleph-tav" letter combination is "aleph." An ox represents this letter. The chart above shows the development of this letter in ancient Eastern languages. The Hebrew font I have been using thus far in this presentation is the form that developed during the Babylonian captivity. At this time, the letters took on a more boxy cuneiform appearance. These are the present-day letterforms used in Israel today. I will continue to use these modern forms, as I don't have a way to copy the text's ancient pictographs. As you can see in the diagram above, this letter displays an ox in its early images.

An Ox Is Strong and Dependable

An ox is a symbol of strength, trustworthiness, and dependability. For this reason, oxen were the animal of choice for early American pioneers headed west. Horses were faster, but oxen were stronger, steadier, and more dependable. The ox, in the context of this word, is an illustration of Jesus. Their power is exhibited in their ability to bear and pull enormous burdens.

He (Savior Messiah) bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.

— Isaiah 53:12

Ancient life depended upon such animals, as noted by the writer of Proverbs, who describes their strength.

... though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
— Hebrews 5:8-9

He was obedient to the Father even unto death.

... being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
— Philippians 2:8

The Ox Bears the Yoke

Most often, the work accomplished by this animal is the bearing of a yoke made of wood. This yoke enabled the ox to pull a cart, plow, or burden of some kind. The yoke that Christ wore to bear our sin burden (Lamentations 1:14) was a wooden cross and, most likely, the horizontal beam of the crucifixion device.

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.
— John 19:17

The Leading Ox

Although a single animal can be yoked, most are designed for more than one animal. However, one animal is always the leader and, therefore, a more experienced ox. Christ, the leader, has chosen to yoke Himself with us in our humanity and invites us to come under His leadership. He leads by His example of submission to the yoke of His Father.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28-30

Oxen, despite their powerful abilities, are gentle creatures. Christ, too, is recognized for these features.

Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
— 2 Corinthians 10:1

Tav Is a Cross

The second letter in the "aleph א-tav ת" letter combination is "tav ת," and a cross represents it. The chart heading for this section shows the development of this letter in ancient Eastern languages. It is undeniably a cross as we know it.

This ancient symbol was a sign of a covenant long before the Romans used crossed wooden beams as a tool of execution. This letter combination, once again, confirms the Word, at the beginning, the Christ, the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. It happened before it happened through the one who declared the end from the beginning.

... the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
— Hebrews 4:3

It was embedded and coded into the earliest languages.

Giovan Battista Langetti (1625-1676
Santa Teresa Church, Venice

The United Message

If we combine these two concepts, the "et" (aleph-tav) points to the strong, dependable, powerful One who, in His humble obedience, bore our burden of sin through a blood covenant on the cross, settling our heavenly debt. Roman crosses were for the execution of criminals, of which Christ was not one.

... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.
— I Peter 2:24

Christ's suffering on the cross occurred precisely as Isaiah had foretold.

He poured out (made naked) His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the (et אתֵ֥)transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession (to strike a covenant to make peace, causing our punishment to fall upon Himself)
for the transgressors.

— Isaiah 53:12

In this portrait, we see the horizontal aspect of this covenant as He connects Himself with transgressors through a burden-bearing, sin-paying covenant on the cross, as shown by the "et" (אתֵ֥) in the middle of the second line. The "et" (אתֵ֥) shows us who accomplished this: the Alpha and Omega, the strong sin-bearer on the cross.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

— Phillipians 2:5-8

The writer of Hebrews provides us with the vertical aspect of this covenant, represented by the cross beam.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
— Hebrews 4:14-16

With this in mind, let's revisit how this aligns with the very first sentence of the Bible.

"... in beginning created, Elohim, et (אתֵ֥) the heavens et (אתֵוְ) the earth ... "

Notice that the second "et" (אתֵ֥) has an extra letter added to it. That additional letter is a "vav," a letter used to connect the subjects of clauses. It would technically read v'et. In this case, the "vav" connects the heavens and the earth. And what is the Hebrew word pictograph for vav? It is a nail or peg, an instrument for joining, attaching, and securing things. Christ connected the heavens and the earth through His death and resurrection, as He had in the beginning, and foretold it would be so again by the prophet Isaiah.

'Then it shall be in that day,
That I will call My servant Eliakim (God raises), the son of Hilkiah (Yah is my portion or possession);
I will clothe him with your robe
And strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand.
He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem
And to the house of Judah. The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder;
So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him as a peg (nail) in a secure place,
And he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house.

'They will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house.

— Isaiah 22:20-24

God's humble servant and obedient Son nailed to the cross was a covenant act that connected us to our Heavenly Father. The writer of Hebrews informs us that it was this very Son through whom He made the world.

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
— Hebrews 1:1-3

Engraving by Jan Lukyen 1705

Urim and Thummim

One final "aleph א" and "tav ת" reveal is found in Exodus, in the instructions for the induction of the priesthood. The following passage discusses the preparation for the high priest's clothing.

So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord
— Exodus 28:29-30

"Urim אורים" begins with an "aleph א," and "Thummim תמים" starts with a "tav ת." "Urim אורים" means "lights," and "Thummim תמים" is rooted in a word that means "perfect completion" or "to finish." We studied how light is the first element of the creation account and is very well connected with Jesus, the Light of the World, who is also the author and finisher of our salvation.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
— Hebrews 12:1-3

No one is exactly sure what these objects looked like, but they were mainly used to discern God's will in certain matters. Here again, we see Jesus, our High Priest, the Word of God, Alpha and Omega, the Urim אורים, and the Thummim תמים discerning the hearts of men.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
— Hebrews 4:12

A Final Note

I conclude with one final note on "aleph א-tav ת" as it concerns its use in the rest of Scripture. The "aleph-tav," in exclusive combination, occurs a little over 7000 times in the Old Testament. Their occurrences are most often related to covenant events in which God is directly involved. The first two mentions concern creation and connect heaven and earth. The third use of (et אתֵ֥) occurs at the scene of the bringing forth of light.

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw (et אתֵ֥ (the light, that it was good.

— Genesis 1:3-4

John understood this connection between the beginning and the end as he wrapped up the first few verses of Genesis in the following writing at the opening of the fourth Gospel and related them to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men ... That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth ...
— John 1:1-5,14

Why is this important? It is essential because God, who knows everything, planned and purposed for every possible outcome from the beginning that we might be allowed to live with Him eternally.

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
— Jeremiah 1:5

Paul adds to this conversation.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
— Romans 8:29

God's foreknowing means that God knows the end from the beginning and has left nothing undone. He had a plan all along that included every possibility, and the choice is ours: whether to harden our hearts or to hear His voice and seek Him while He may be found.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
— 2 Peter 3:9

We will end with the recorded purpose of this great work of God established from the beginning. The passage is also an invitation to those who would desire this precious, priceless, indescribable, eternal gift.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him,
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
— John 1:10-12

The following video provides additional information on this topic and offers some beneficial resources for further study. It is truly amazing to see all the places in the New Testament where Christ's covenant work is displayed before He comes in human form. Each reveals a facet of that accomplished work and can lead to beneficial applications.

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The Hebrew Aleph Bet