Daily Word: Meditating on the Hebrew Alphabet (Tet)

The ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Tet. In ancient Hebrew it meant a snake, or to surround. It symbolizes to surround or to twist. When we study Hebrew words with Tet, we see the word picture clearly. The Hebrew word for belly or womb is be-ten. The word picture is the house that surrounds life. The Hebrew word that means to trust or to be safe is ba-tach. The word picture informs us that it is safe to be inside a surrounding fence. We have previously seen that Torah is like a fence that surrounds us and keeps us safe. When we leave the safety of what ADONAI has provided, we lean on our own understanding to keep us safe. The Hebrew word for adversary is sa-tan. Does that look familiar? The word picture tells us that an adversary like Satan is like the snake that devours life. The serpent in the Garden of Eden was the snake that twisted the truth of ADONAI's word. He is still doing that today when he convinces people to disregard the Hebrew Scriptures, i.e the Old Testament. The Hebrew word that means good is tov. The word picture says that good is what surrounds and is inside. The inside and outside match. This is Hebraic thought versus the modern Christian view that says my spirit is saved, but my flesh is in rebellion. Pure nonsense!

In Psalm 119, verses 65-72, they all begin with the letter Tet. Since Tet means to surround, the eight verses tell us that when G-d teaches us discernment and knowledge, we will be able to distinguish truth from deception. If we believe that G-d is good and therefore does good, we will desire to learn His ways through His Torah. Our G-d is a good G-d and He desires the best for His people. We get into trouble when we substitute our ways for His ways.

Today, consider your ways. What surrounds you? Is it the truth of ADONAI's word, or just a portion of it? If you believe He is all good, why would you not want all of what He says? The safest place to live is surrounded by His word. Come inside the fence and be surrounded by His goodness.