Read posts from the Hebrew Words series

Rest

“Remember what Moses the LORD’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land.'” Joshua 1:13

Rest.
The Hebrew is nuah.

It is physical.
We need strength and energy.

It is mental.
We need to think clearly.

It is emotional.
We need a break from worry and stress.

It is vocational.
We need release from trying to provide for ourselves and our families.

It is ministerial.
We need replenished when we give of ourselves.

It is spiritual.
We need release from the burden of trying to earn our salvation and God’s favor.

It is eternal.
We will achieve perfect rest in His presence.

It is His gift to us.
We simply have to receive it.

Want more Hebrew words? Hebrew word series

Word

By Paula Wiseman

Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Psalm 119:89

His word, his dabar.
His thoughts.
His will.
His revelation.

His commandments.
His statutes.
His law.

His promises.
His pronouncements.
His precepts.

Forever.
God’s word is eternal.
Not hastily spoken
Or carelessly remarked.

Firmly fixed.
God’s word is immutable.
It does not change or expire.
It stable and sure.

And we have it freely available to us.
For guidance and comfort.
For conviction and forgiveness.
For redemption and instruction.

Read it. Absorb it. Treasure it.
The word of the Lord.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

The Hebrew word is hagah.
It means a low sound.
According to scholars,
Not unlike the growling of a lion
Or the cooing of a dove.

Meditate means
Think about
Recite
Ponder
Apply.

We turn over in minds whatever is our chief concern.
Our shortcomings or God’s provision.
Someone else’s slander or God’s promises.
Worries for tomorrow or confidence for eternity.

You see,
You are likely already meditating.
Like Joshua, choose the words of God.

Want to know more? Study Tip: Meditating on Scripture

Fear

By Paula Wiseman

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ Job 28:28

Fear.
The Hebrew is yirah.
But it’s not like I’m afraid of spiders.
It’s like fear of the Lord.
Reverence. Respect. Recognition of His worthiness.

It is the mark of His people. (Deuteronomy 6:24)
It is something we learn, and must teach others. (Deuteronomy 31:12)
It is the fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:27)

It changes how we treat others.
It results in respect for the aged. (Leviticus 19:32)
It means the disabled are shown dignity. (Leviticus 19:14)

But God Himself takes pleasure in those who fear Him. (Psalm 147:11)
He calls it His treasure. (Isaiah 33:6)
And He writes it down and remembers it. (Malachi 3:16)

It is the reasonable response to God. May we offer the fear He is due.

When Fear Meets Reality

Serve

By Paula Wiseman

You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4

The Hebrew is abad.
You shall serve Him.

Think about servants.
They are humble.
They are submissive.
They are obedient.

Culture looks down on servants.
We value rulers and power brokers.

But Christ came as a servant.

Abad is also translated worship.
We cannot separate the two.

If we are not willing to serve,
If we are not humble
Submissive
Obedient,
Are we actually worshiping?

Here are some other Hebrew words: Meditate and Salvation

Breath

By Paula Wiseman

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. Psalm 33:6

Breath. The Hebrew is ruah.
It is a workhorse of a word.
In context, it can mean breath, air, strength, wind, or Spirit.

In Genesis 1:2 it is the Spirit hovering over the creation.
In Zechariah 4:6, it is the Spirit of power.
In Ezekiel 37, it transforms the dry bones into a great and mighty army.

Breath is creative.
It is life-giving.
It is strength and power.
But it is invisible.

It is the example Jesus used with Nicodemus to explain the Spirit’s unseen work.*
And it is at work in us today.
The Spirit of God.
Giving us life.
Making us a new creation.
Strengthening us.
Empowering us.
To bring glory to the Creator, the Savior, the One who gave us life.

And it started with breath.

*The New Testament was written in Greek so if you check John 3, you’ll see the word pneuma. Jesus spoke Aramaic, which was closely related to Hebrew. He would have used ruah or a word very similar to ruah. In fact, when the Old Testament was translated into Greek, the go-to word for ruah was usually pneuma.

For further thought, consider this familiar hymn Breathe on Me, Breath of God