This is our final episode of season 2, the last fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5, self-control! This word doesn't have a Hebrew equivalent, so we did our best using the Greek word Enkratia. Check out our show notes below, and enjoy the episode.

Enkratia (ἐγκράτεια)

“Self-Control”

Why start with the Greek?

• • Some Greek words are connected to concepts in Hebrew but not directly to a Hebrew word. This is the case with enkratia. We have to work backwards to understand where Paul is coming from, and be careful not to read our western thought into the scriptures.

• Note: Some of the concepts Paul talked about were for Greeks and there was no 1:1 comparison to the words in Hebrew. They connected multiple moral concepts into one word.  Paul must be understood as a Jew writing to non-Jews, applying Torah to their moral framework.  We are not Rome, so how we apply Torah may look different from how Paul wrote... and this is OK! 

Strongs translates Enkratia:

• Temperance, self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)

“Now the phrase ‘master of himself’ is an absurdity, is it not? For he who is master of himself would also be subject to himself,” (Plato Republic, 430e)

• Aristotle considered enkratia to be a word in need of a qualifier, 

“As therefore we do not call bad doctors and actors bad men, because neither kind of incapacity is actually a vice, but only resembles Vice by analogy, so in the former case it is clear that only self-restraint and lack of restraint in regard to the same things as are the objects of Temperance and Profligacy are to be deemed Self-restraint and Unrestraint proper, and that these terms are applied to anger only by analogy; and so we add a qualification, ‘unrestrained in anger,’ just as we say ‘unrestrained in the pursuit of honor’ or ‘gain.’” (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 7.4.6)

• From this we learn that the Greeks felt enkratia was either insufficient without a qualifier (Aristotle), or applied to the whole scope of existence (Plato).  It was seen both as a quality of restraint and of mastery.

Hebrew concepts

• Self-Governance (Mashal – Rule)

• • • Go to the ant, you slacker—consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or mashal. 8 Yet it prepares its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

• Set-Apart Life (Palah – Severed/separated)

• • • But know that Adonai has set apart (palah) the godly for His own. Adonai will hear when I call to Him. (Psalm 4:4)

• Singleness of Purpose (Chanak – Dedication)

• • • When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he rallied his trained (chanak) men, those born in his household… (Genesis 14:14a)

• Surrender of Will (Bachar – Chosen)

• • Who is this man who fears Adonai? He will instruct him in the way he should choose (bachar). (Psalm 25:12)

(Note: Transaction of the Table)

(Note: Power of the tongue: James, Psalms, ‘self talk’, etc.

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

In the seventh episode of our series on the Fruit of the Spirit, we analyze the characteristics of the word Humble or Humility in Hebrew, 'Anav'. Follow along with our show notes and review any references at the bottom. Enjoy!

Anav (עָנָו) 

‘Humble’

Defining Anav (עָנָו):

• How anav is translated according to Strongs:
  • meek (13x), humble (5x), poor (5x), lowly (2x), very meek (1x). 

(Strong, 2022)

• Afflicted/downtrodden in the sense that one who is anav is in a humble place and may be walked over.

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3) וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה ענו מְאֹד מִכֹּל הָֽאָדָם אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָֽה

הָאֲדָמָֽה

עַל־פְּנֵי

אֲשֶׁר

הָֽאָדָם

מִכֹּל

מְאֹד

ענו

מֹשֶׁה

וְהָאִישׁ

Ha’adamah

al-panim

Asher

Ha’adam

M’kol

M’od

Anav

Moshe

V’ha’ish

[of] the earth

[were] on the face

which

the man[kind]

[among] all

very

[was] humble

Moses

And the man

• This should direct our memory immediately to the Genesis 1-3 story, and the first of humankind “Adam” and the fact that in that story the man (Note: Ha’adam, ish v’isha shows up in ha’adam’s poem)

“The nature of this process is perhaps best summed up in the singular description the Torah gives of him: “Moses was very humble, more than any human being on the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3). The Hebrew formulation—kol ha-adam—suggests not simply that he was the humblest man, but that his humility transcended the human range. Moses’ essential difference from the whole of humanity lay in his “humility,” his anava.” (Zornberg, 2016)

• Moses is the only human that is specifically called anav in this way by the Lord.

Significance of the Hebrew “avon” (עֲוֺן) as a “twisting” of anav (עָנָו).

• The man was placed in the garden to be representative of God, but he twisted his purpose.

Use in the Psalms:

• Sing praises to Adonai, who dwells in Zion. Declare His deeds among the peoples. 13 He who avenges blood remembers. He will not forget the cry of the anavim… 19 For the needy will not forever be forgotten, nor the hope of the anavim perish forever. (Psalm 9:12, 13, 19)

All these references show us that God has a special consideration for those who are anav.  Also that they are uniquely able to receive what He gives

New Covenant 

The word “meek” comes from the word Praus/Prautes

• Xenophon of Athens (c. 430 BC) primarily used praus in various forms to describe the behavior and training of horses, but also described men having the same quality.  It seems that he used it to mean “even-tempered” or “tame”

“Now we praise a man who feels anger on the right grounds and against the right persons, and also in the right manner and at the right moment and for the right length of time. He may then be called gentle-tempered (praus), if we take gentleness (praotēs) to be a praiseworthy quality—for ‘gentle’ (praus) really denotes a calm temper, not led by emotion but only becoming angry in such a manner, for such causes and for such a length of time as principle may ordain although the quality is thought rather to err on the side of defect, since the ‘gentle-tempered man’ (praus) is not prompt to seek redress for injuries, but rather inclined to forgive them.” (Rackhman, 1934)

• “Blessed are the praus, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Rackhman, H. (. (1934). Aristotle in 23 volumes, volume 19. London: Harvard University Press.

Strong, J. (2022, 07 21). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Zornberg, A. G. (2016). Moses, A Human Life. New Haven: Yale University Press.

After a long break, we're back with another episode in the Fruit of the Spirit series! Faithfulness, or Emunah, is the next word we will be discussing. Join us with a cup of coffee or on your drive home and learn about the roots of faithfulness and how to walk in step with Holy Spirit and bear good faithful fruit.

Show Notes:

Aman, Emunah (אֱמוּנָה ,אָמַן) 

‘Faith, Faithfulness’

(Note: Hebrew words that are active words, not passive: Shema)

Defining Emunah (אֱמוּנָה):

• How Emunah is translated according to Strongs:
  • faithfulness (18x), truth (13x), faithfully (5x), office (5x), faithful (3x), faith (1x), stability (1x), steady (1x), truly (1x), verily (1x).

• Emunah comes from the root “Aman” (אָמַן), where we also get the word “Emet” (אֱמֶת)

• • Aman: to support, confirm, be faithful
    • (Qal)
      • to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish, foster-father (subst.) foster-mother, nurse, pillars, supporters of the door

• to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in, trust, believe

• Emet: firmness, faithfulness, truth, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance, faithfulness, truth, as spoken, of testimony and judgment, of divine instruction, truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge, true doctrine, 

(Strong, 2022)

(Note) Branches of aman – (Emunah +Emet)

Ancient Semitic context for Aman

(Note: Ancient Hebrew, pictorial relationships)

Strength, power, authority

Water, chaos, 

Seed, continuation, next generation

• From this we can visualize aman as a strength that provides assurance of continuation through chaos and disorder

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• • Then [Abraham] emin in Adonai and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

• This teaches us that aman is a precursor for imputed righteousness.

• • “…And your youngest brother, bring to me so that your words can be y’amnu—and you won’t die.” So they did. (Genesis 42:20)

• This shows us that aman is an act of confirmation, or information that requires direct action: If Joseph’s brothers, or if Moses could prove their claims, that would necessitate action.

• Moses’ hands grew heavy, so they took a stone, put it under him, and he sat down. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands were emunah until the sun went down. (Exodus 17:12)

Use in the Psalms:

• “Help, Adonai! For no one godly exists. For the emunim (aman) have vanished from the children of men.” (Psalm 12:1)

New Covenant 

The word for aman and emunah in Greek is pistis (πίστις)

• • We see a challenge in a New-Covenant rendering of “faith” because there is only one word that is used for two Hebrew words.

• (Note: also a complicating factor is that in the Church, when we say “Faith” sometimes we’re just using shorthand to say “Christianity”)

Charis and Pistis

• In 1st century Rome, society often ran on a patron/client system.
  • “Patronage had its own vocabulary. Words we usually consider particularly Christian terms, “grace” and “faith”, were common parlance before Paul commandeered to them. The undeserved gifts of assistance the patron offered were commonly called charis (grace and gift). The loyalty the client offered the patron in response was called pistis (faith and faithfulness).” (O'Brien, 2012)

• (Centurion) Now when Yeshua heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Amen, I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great pistis! (Matthew 8:10)

Eternal life is a free gift, received without works, but the “way” of that life is emunah!

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

O'Brien, E. R. (2012). Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes. London: IVP Books.

Strong, J. (2022, MM DD). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Hello Friends! In this fifth episode, we discuss goodness & kindness, two for one!

The fifth and sixth fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is Goodness and Kindness. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of goodness and kindness, or tov. Tov literally translates to 'good.' We also cover the Hebrew words and concept of Kli - vessel and ra - evil. 

Tov (טוֹב) 

‘Good’

רַע (ra) – evil, wickedness. Expressed as an opposite to “tov”

כְּלִי (kli) – a vessel, implement, created thing, tool

Defining Tov (טוֹב):

• How Tov is translated according to Strongs:

• good (361x), better (72x), well (20x), goodness (16x), goodly (9x), best (8x), merry (7x), fair (7x), prosperity (6x), precious (4x), fine (3x), wealth (3x), beautiful (2x), fairer (2x), favour (2x), glad (2x), miscellaneous (35x).

• good, pleasant, agreeable (to the senses, to the higher nature), good, excellent (of its kind), rich, valuable in estimation, appropriate, becoming, better (comparative), glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature), understanding (of man's intellectual nature), kind, benign, right (ethical)

• a good thing, benefit, welfare, prosperity, happiness, good things (collective), benefit, moral good

(Strong, 2022)

• Hirsch adds to this list: ‘being purposeful’ (Clark, 1999)

Ancient Semitic context

(Note: Ancient Hebrew, pictorial relationships)

Tet – Basket, Container, Vessel

Peg, Stake, Ligature

Tent, House, Household

• From this we can visualize Tov as vessel that is connected to the functioning of the home

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was tov, and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3, 4) 

• (Tov is then used to describe God’s work in creation six more times in verse 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31)

• “Out of the ground Adonai, God, caused to grow every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of tov and ra. … 16 Adonai, God, gave the person this order: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden 17 except the tree of the knowledge of tov and ra. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.” (Genesis 2:9, 16, 17)

Use in the Psalms:

• Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile, not one does what is tov. 2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind to see if anyone has understanding, if anyone seeks God. 3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt; no one does what is tov, not a single one. (Psalm 14:1-3)

A note about “Kli”

• Kli is the Hebrew word for a created or useful item, so it can apply to a basket, shovel, sword, dinnerware, etc.  A sword that functions might be called a tov sword, etc.

New Covenant 

Gentleness – chrēstotēs, Septuagint for Osay-Tov (does good) 

Goodness – agathōsynē, Septuagint for Tov (good) Quality of being good

• “But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, [a doer of tov], [who is tov], faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. “ (Galatians 5:22, 23)

• (Note: “You become the Vessel that God uses in the home”)

• With the filling of the Spirit, one becomes empowered to do what they were created to do, and be who they were created to be!

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Strong, J. (2022, 07, 06). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Hello Friends! In this fourth episode, we discuss patience.

The fourth fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is Patience. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of patience, or erech aph. Erech Aph literally translates to 'slow of nose.' How does that translate to patience?! Take a listen and find out... also follow along with the show notes below! 

Erech Apayim (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם) 

‘Slow to Anger’

Two words together, Erech (אֶרֶךְ) and Apayim (אַפַּיִם)

• Erech
  • slow (9x), longsuffering (with H639) (4x), longwinged (with H83) (1x), patient (1x).

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• • Aph, first and significant uses:
    • Then Adonai Elohim formed the man out of the dust from the ground and He breathed into his aph a breath of life—so the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7)

• …until your brother’s aph turns away from you and he forgets what you’ve done to him. (Genesis 27:45a)

• • • But Jacob’s aph was hot against Rachel and said, “Am I, instead of God, the one who withheld from you the fruit of the womb? (Genesis 30:2)
      • This shows us the writers considered anger to be connected with a hot sensation and/or hard breathing.  This is also where we get the idea that the aph can be interpreted as “anger”

• Erech, first and significant uses:

• • Then Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God, erech apayim, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth,… (Exodus 34:6)

Erech Apayim 

• “long suffering;” displaying patience with the wicked, instead of punishing them immediately. (Zekenim, 1100-1300 CE)

Use in the Psalms:

• • But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, erech apayim, full of love and truth. (Psalm 86:15)

• David Quotes the Lord back to the Lord

Use in the Proberbs

• One who is erech apayim shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered* one exalts folly. (Proverbs 14:29) *kitzar-ruach. Lit. hasty of spirit/ hasty of breath
  • Therefore, erech apayim and kitzar ruach are understood as opposed to one another.

New Covenant 

Septuagint uses μακροθύμως “makrothymos” for slow to anger. 

Makrotymos is translated:

• Compound word:
  • Makro = long/far, 

Makrotymos in the New Covenant:

• • “…do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you belittle the riches of His kindness and tolerance and makrotymia—not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:3b, 4)

• “Now what if God, willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much makrotymia vessels of wrath designed for destruction? 23 And what if He did so to make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory? 24 Even us He called—not only from the Jewish people, but also from the Gentiles— 25 as He says also in Hosea, ‘I will call those who were not My people, “My people,” and her who was not loved, “Beloved.” 26 And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there they shall be called sons of the living God.’”

• • Bear in mind that the makrotymia of our Lord means salvation—just as our dearly loved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom given to him. (2 Peter 3:15)

• Makrotymia is a godly characteristic, and the only way to truly have makrotymia is to be in tune with the Holy Spirit so you do not find yourself getting bent out of shape when He seems to be taking too long.

• “But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, makrotymia, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Sforno, O. b. (1500-1550 CE). Sefaria.org. Retrieved from mobile.tora.ws: https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.34.6?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Sforno_on_Exodus.34.6.6&lang2=bi&w2=About&lang3=en

Strong, J. (2022, July 1). Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Zekenim, D. (1100-1300 CE). Sefaria.org. Retrieved from https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.34.6?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Daat_Zkenim_on_Exodus.34.6&lang2=bi&w2=About&lang3=en

Shalom friends! In this episode we discuss the fruit of the Spirit of peace. 

The third fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is peace. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of peace, or shalom. 

Referenced Material: 

70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know - Matthew Richard Schlimm

The Bible Project - Shalom word study

Notes:

Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) 

‘Peace’

Strongs translates שָׁלוֹם as: (over 200 uses in the TNK)

• completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
  • completeness (in number)

From the root שָׁלַם translated as: 

• pay (19x), peace (11x), recompense (11x), reward (10x), render (9x), restore (8x), repay (7x), perform (7x), good (6x), end (4x), requite (4x), restitution (4x), finished (3x), again (3x), amends (1x), full (1x), miscellaneous (8x).

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• • Root, “Shalam” first use: “They left the city and did not get far, when Joseph said to the one over his household, “Get up, go after the men. When you catch up to them, say to them, “Why have you Shilam evil for good?” (Genesis 44:4)
    • This teaches us that the root of shalom is connected with a payment/a settled account

• This teaches us that the process of restoring a relationship can be fraught with problems, but it is acceptable to pray for the process to be marked by shalom.

• • “When [Jacob’s] brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak to him in shalom.” (Genesis 37:4)
    • This teaches us that shalom is inhibited by hatred.

• That is, “God’s answer will give Pharoah shalom”. Even though the interpretation provided good news and bad news, it was for shalom that the Lord spoke through Joseph

• “I will bring shalom in the land, and you will lie down, with no one making you afraid. I will remove dangerous beasts from the land and no sword will pass through your land.” (Leviticus 26:6)

Use in the Psalms:

• “I will lie down and sleep in shalom. For You alone, Adonai, make me live securely. (Psalm 4:9)

In fact, David even named his son “Shalom” Solomon’s name in Hebrew is “Shlomo”.  

Antithesis: Strife, war, tumult, chaos, brokenness

New Covenant 

Septuagint uses εἰρήνη “Eirene” for shalom.  

Eirene is translated:

• peace (89x), one (1x), rest (1x), quietness (1x).

And defined:

• a state of national tranquility 

Eirene in NT:

• “Whatever town or village you shall enter, find out who in it is worthy and stay there until you leave. 12 As you come into the house, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your shalom come upon it. But if it’s not worthy, let your shalom return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you leave that house or that town, shake the dust off your feet.” (Matthew 10:11-13)

Reference Material

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

Season 2, episode 2, we talk all about the fruit of the Spirit quality of Joy.

The second fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is joy. In this episode we deep dive into the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the Spirit of joy, or sason. There are many words that can be used, but based on our study, this one seems to fit well!

Referenced Material:

The Rational Bible - Dennis Prager

Shem Tov, The Hebrew Gospel of Matthew - George Howard physical book 

Shem Tov Hebrew Gospel of Matthew free PDF download

Notes:

Sason, Simeach, and Rinah

(שָׂשׂוֹן, שָׂמַח, רִנָּה) 

‘Joy’

Though they look much the same in Strongs, the rabbinic sources generally understand simcha as ‘happiness’ and sason as ‘joy’

Strongs translates שָׂשׂוֹן as:

• joy (15x), gladness (3x), mirth (3x), rejoicing (1x).

Strongs translates שָׂמַח as:

• rejoice (95x), glad (45x), joy (5x), joyful (2x), merry (2x), miscellaneous (3x).

Strongs translates רִנָּה as:

• cry (12x), singing (9x), rejoicing (3x), joy (3x), gladness (1x), proclamation (1x), shouting (1x), sing (1x), songs (1x), triumph (1x).

Sason and Samach – Twin Sisters?

Apropos [Isaiah 12:3], the Gemara relates: There were these two heretics, one named Sason and one named Simḥa. Sason said to Simḥa: I am superior to you, as it is written: “They shall obtain joy [sason] and happiness [simḥa], and sorrow and sighing shall flee” (Isaiah 35:10). The verse mentions joy first. Simḥa said to Sason, On the contrary, I am superior to you, as it is written: “There was happiness [simḥa] and joy [sason] for the Jews” (Esther 8:17). Sason said to Simḥa: One day they will dismiss you and render you a messenger [parvanka], as it is written: “For you shall go out with happiness [simḥa]” (Isaiah 55:12). Simḥa said to Sason: One day they will dismiss you and draw water with you, as it is written: “With joy [sason] you shall draw water.” (Sukkah 48b)

Usage and lessons of the word from scriptures:

• First (and thematic) use of Samach:

• • Then the anger of Adonai was kindled against Moses, so He said, “In fact, Aaron the Levite is your brother. I know that he can speak well. Moreover, he is on his way to meet you! When he sees you, he will be samach in his heart. (Exodus 4:14) 
    • This means samach is a natural response to felicitous circumstances.

• Usage in the Psalms: 

• I will be glad and esmecha in Your (chesed), for You saw my affliction. You knew the troubles of my soul. (Psalm 31:7)

• First (and thematic) use of Sason:

• • Root “sus” is seen as early as Deuteronomy:

• “Adonai your God will make you prosper in all the work of your hand—in the fruit of your womb, and the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your soil—for good. For Adonai will again Lasus over you for good, as He sas over your fathers…” (Deuteronomy 30:9)

• “…who are filled with gladness (hasmechim) and yasisu when finding the grave?” (Job 3:22) 

• • This suggests that sason is connected with things being in their right place, or fulfilled to a degree of finality or rest.

New Covenant 

• • “Sisu and simchu, for your reward in heaven is great! For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12,) (Howard, 1995)

• Comparing Shem Tov’s Hebrew gospel of Matthew, we see that Matthew 5 is understood this way:

• Sason = Chairo

• Samach = Agalliasis 

• “And you will have chairo and agalliasis, and many will rejoice at his birth.” (Luke 1:14)

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Howard, G. (1995). Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

And we're back for season 2! This season we're coming the Fruit of the Spirit... but in Hebrew!

The first fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is Love. In this episode We sit down to discuss the Hebrew understanding of the fruit of the spirit, specifically love, or Chesed. There are many words that can be used, but based on our study, chesed is the best one that fits.

Also referenced in this episode is C.S. Lewis's book The Four Loves. Find it here on Amazon. 

Chesed (חֶסֶד)

Strongs translates חֶסֶד as:

• mercy (149x), kindness (40x), lovingkindness (30x), goodness (12x), kindly (5x), merciful (4x), favour (3x), good (1x), goodliness (1x), pity (1x), reproach (1x), wicked thing (1x)

Definitions:

• Strongs (Strong, 2022): 

1. goodness, kindness, faithfulness

1. Devote oneself entirely; Give oneself to needs

Gematria number:

ד

ס

ח

חסד

4

60

8

72

What is Gematria?

• In simple terms it is an alphanumeric code, where the 1st letter of the alphabet equals 1, the second letter equals 2, etc. See the graphic on right.

(More on this later)

Usage and lessons of the word from Genesis:

• Some consider Chesed not to be translatable into English by word or concept but we’re going to try anyway.

Checkpoint:

• In most of these stories so far, we have seen that chesed is linked to covenants, not necessarily to “love” of “affection”, and yet we often see chesed translated as “steadfast-love”.  As we move into Exodus, we see chesed become more than just an interaction between God and humans, but as a key component of who He is.

Complicated passage to note:

• One of the reasons chesed is difficult to translate is a verse in Exodus:

We have seen that God’s chesed represents a commitment to His promises, commitment to our wellbeing, and self-sacrifice and personal risk to a laughable degree.  This is all in keeping with His character. It is just what we would expect from a God who would send His son to die a shameful and ridiculous death in front of humanity and all of the divine beings.

Mystical and Other Writings:

• • Chesed in Hebrew has a gamatria number of 72.  In Kabballah there is a tradition of the 72 “names” of God, which supposedly are all the words He used in creation.  Thus linking God’s work in creation to “72” 

• Recall that John often referenced some of the more mystical texts in Judaism when he was explaining the work of Jesus.  I believe he is thinking about chesed when he describes the love of God.

• • Loved ones, let us love one another, for love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7, 8

Clark, M. (1999). Etymological dictionary of Biblical Hebrew. Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers.

Schlimm, M. R. (2018). 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Strong, J. (2022, June 9). H2617 - ḥeseḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/ss0/0-1

This is the final episode of the True Feminist Series, where we discuss wearing the armor of God, carrying the presence of the Lord with you, and being a Woman of Valor. 

To wear the full armor of God, we first have to take off our old armor that we have gathered throughout our lives. It's time to shake off the old and put on the new! Taharah Katherine shares her testimony of what God had to take off before putting on His armor.

Dawn, Kathryn, and Paul join as they share their testimony of going to battle wearing their armor and what it looks like to war in the spirit fully dressed for war. 

To be a woman of valor, put on your armor and carry the presence of the Lord with you! 

Woman of War blog can be found here. 

Just a Mom of Valor blog with the teachings for all pieces of armor can be found here.

This week we have a special guest join us who is a man of the Word, Dr. Austin Spruill. A published author and disciple of Jesus, he talks with us about wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 

Austin discusses the importance of opening our mouths to declare the Truth, the Word of God, in situations of oppression and attack to gain freedom and learning to walk in that freedom. 

Book:

Life in a Spiritual Warzone: Living and Dying by our Choices by Dr. Austin Spruill 

Available wherever books are sold.

Closing Music:

The Outcast by Paul Burton, Songs for Healing During the Shadowlands

Available on all streaming platforms. Hardcopy CDs can purchased by emailing [email protected]