Daily Word: Meditating on the Hebrew Alphabet (Ayin)

The sixteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called Ayin. In ancient Hebrew, Ayin meant an eye. The pictograph of an eye symbolizes to see, to understand, to experience, and to be seen. Words with Ayin demonstrate some aspect of the eye or sight. The Hebrew word for to continue or forever is ad. The word picture tells us that you can continue when you see the door. The Hebrew word for pleasant or the garden of Eden is e-den. The word picture for e-den informs us that it was where you could see or to experience the door of life. The word for weep is da-ma. The word picture describes weeping as the blood of the eye. The word for to hear, to understand, and to obey is sha-ma. The word picture tells us that to hear is to see the name.

Psalm 119 verses 121-128 all begin with the letter Ayin. Since the letter Ayin is the eye, these eight verses speak of seeing or understanding. It is to the G-d of lovingkindness (v.124) and precepts (v.128) that we place our trust. Verse 127 says: "Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold." Can you make that declaration? Do you love G-d's commandments more than gold?

Today is a good day for considering what you love above all else. What controls your heart? Is it the commandments of G-d or something else? It doesn't matter what the something else is; if it is not G-d's commandments, you have erred.