The Aleph Tav
The Aleph Tav
(Author Unknown)
B-re'shiyt bara Aluahiym 'et hashamayim v'et ha'aretz.
"In beginning created Aluahiym (*) the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1
In the center of this verse of these seven Hebrew words, after B-re'shiyt bara Aluahiym there is a fourth untranslatable word. That fourth word is actually two Hebrew letters: the aleph and the tav. The aleph-tav expression serves a grammatical purpose in that it points to the direct object of the sentence, but these two letters do not actually form a word - rather, they express an understanding. This is the basic difference found between Greek based languages, such as English, and the Hebrew language.
Whereas Greek and English form a static, rigid architecture; Hebrew is more fluid - promoting understanding rather than a definitive, straight line. The aleph-tav (
). character symbol has been hidden in plain sight from the beginning, starting with the original Paleo-Hebrew scrolls written by the hand of Moshah (Moses) and the Prophets, then copied by scribes for thousands of years thereafter into modern Hebrew - but not translated by the Greek Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, the King James or subsequent English bible translations because it was not considered a word. However, as we shall see, the placement of these two Hebrew letters throughout Scripture has far reaching implications.
The aleph (
) is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (alphabet), and the tav () is the last letter of the alphabet. It is in the placement of these two very significant letters at strategic locations within many verses of Hebrew scripture that express the understanding of a total completeness. It is equivalent to saying "from alpha to omega, from a to z, from first to last, from beginning to end." We see the aleph-tav (
). symbol, in association with YaHuWaH (), used in hundreds of places in the Original Writings. One example concerning judgment is Genesis13:10 - "destroyed
Sodom and Gomorrah". Other examples confirming this can be found in Genesis 19:14, Isaiah 13:19,Jeremiah 50:40, and Amos 4:11. An example of the aleph-tav (
). symbol rendered as a blessing is in Exodus 20:8 - "and blessed
Day, the Sabbath". Hebrew scholars agree that originally in Paleo-Hebrew, the first letter of the alphabet, the aleph () letter meant "Strength" with its letter symbol an Ox Head. The last letter of the alphabet is the letter tav (
), which had as its letter picture an X - a symbol or sign of "Covenant".
Consequently, the aleph-tav (
). symbol literally means "Strength of the Covenant" when used in original Hebrew text and was placed to create emphasis as a direct object pointer to the workings of YaHuWaH (both
and ) concerning His covenant, wherever it was placed throughout the Tanakh (the Original Writings).
For instance, in the life of Jacob and Esau captured in Genesis 25:28, we find that both Jacob and Esau have aleph-tav (
) symbols in front of their names in the beginning of their life together - but the LAST time we see the aleph-tav (
) symbol used in front of Esau's name is in Genesis 27:1. On that day Isaac calls to Esau, asking him to hunt some savory meat so that he (Isaac) may bless Esau. Even though Esau's name is used another 78 times in the Torah the aleph-tav (
) symbol continues to be only in front of Jacob's name and NOT Esau's - because the covenant blessing of the birthright given for MessiYAH was removed from him. The reason Esau has no aleph-tav (
) symbols in front of his name after Genesis 27:1 is explained by Moshah in Genesis 25:34 for "so despised Esau his birthright!" (the passage of birthright is chronicled in the Kinsman Redeemer - the Signet). Yet another instance of the significance of the aleph-tav (
) symbol is found in the Book of Ruth. Ruth's name is used 12 times in the book. The first 10 times there is no aleph-tav (
) symbol in front of her name. After she is redeemed by Boaz the next two times her name is used, an aleph-tav (
) symbol appears in front of her name each time (Ruth 4:5&13). These are just two examples, but it seems quite obvious that the aleph-tav (
) symbol shows a connection of covenant relationship with YaHuWaH (refer to the last series, One Flesh - Communion).
So, from the Hebraic perspective these words are written in, Genesis 1:1 is seen as "In the beginning Aluahiym created the aleph-tav". In other words, the very first thing Aluahiym (the Almighty) created were the letters from which all life and all physical things spring forth - the divinely ordained building blocks of life (Aluahiym who is the Almighty is unfortunately and commonly translated as "G-d" in the English translations of Genesis 1:1) - but, Aluahiym is specific and unique to Hebraic thinking, occurring only in Hebrew and in no other languages). Ancient Hebrews believed that Aluahiym (meaning the Almighty One) had to create this first because it is all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet that form the Torah, the Word of YaHuWaH. Actually, if the words of Genesis 1 are read closely we find that no creative process takes place in the first six days except the beasts and man. Everything else was formed from material that was already created in verse one. This is the same statement contained in Yahuwchannan (John) 1:1, "In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with YaHuWaH and the WORD was YaHuWaH" (see Who is designated the Word in scripture). Any Hebrew reading that verse would give it a hearty amein! He would say, "In the beginning was the WORD (the alphabet), the WORD was with YaHuWaH, and YaHuWaH was the WORD (the alphabet)." YaHuWaH is the the alphabet and is revered for the same reason; the letters of the Words of Torah ARE the Source of Life, YaHuWaH - not YaHuWSHuWaH the Son who, in His words of John 17:6 tells us that He did not replace YaHuWaH, but manifested the Name of the Father; in which are found the Esteem, the Nature and Essence of YaHuWaH expressed in Exodus 34:1-7 - and, by which, those who follow YaHuWSHuWaH are called to do the same in John 17:20-23 (Luke 9:23).
In English, Genesis 1:1 should be understood as "In the beginning Aluahiym created A to Z." The Prophet Isaiah confirmed the same about
(YaHuWaH) being the first and the last in Isaiah 41:4,44:6 and 48:12. The English expression that parallels this one is, "He finished everything from A to Z, or from beginning to end." Because these Hebrew letters are the building blocks of life, to be In Perpetuity with the Creator means active involvement with His Words in creation today. It means to study them and to speak them forth continuously. The ancient Hebrews believed that, if ever there is a time when Torah is not being vocalized, "the earth will melt away with a fervent heat" (Malachi 4:1; scripturally, evildoers are those who do not keep the Words of YaHuWaH. That saying should ring familiar to those who study the Messianic Writings as there is a similar statement in 2Peter 3:10-13 that there will be a time when "the earth melts away with a fervent heat!" From a scriptural point of view that simply means that "there will be no Laws and no Torah on the earth, and that it is Torah (the word of YaHuWaH) that is keeping all things together!" This brings to mind Colossians 1:17 where it says that "in" Him were all things created and that through YaHuWSHuWaH all things hold together or "has cohesion" ("through" as in a conduit - not initiated by His own hand). In YaHuWSHuWaH abides the Word of YaHuWaH, manifest in His Life (John 17:6, see what it means to Manifest His Name) and it is through the Word of YaHuWaH that all things hold together or "have cohesion".
So, when the words "instruction" or "commandment(s)" are noted in the Messianic Writings, is it always referring to the original 10 Words and Torah? If we are to use the life of YaHuWSHuWaH as the benchmark by which all the other words of Scripture are measured (Revelation 19:10 His Words of Matthew 19:16-22 should be sufficient in which He not only says to keep the "commandments", but repeats them so that there is no misunderstanding about which ones He is referring to. However, to those who do not have the ears to hear the truth of these words, who are not desperately seeking truth - they will always find ways to justify their claims contrary to His Words (Luke 16:31). Most believers whether they be "Christians" and or whatever else world religions produce would say, "well, of course we keep the commandments" and or worse yet state they no longer apply in today's world. However, most do not keep Shabbat, the fourth of the commandments and then have the gall to complain that they have no balance in their lives and or that they are exhausted! And as well in many cases, the commandment to not covet another's spouse only applies unless they are really attractive in some cases and unfortunately an ever going trend. To say they keep the commandments but neglect any one of them by rewriting its meaning to suit their beliefs do not realize that by neglecting the one, they bring the full weight of separation from the Spirit upon their lives. Ten Words of YaHuWaH are the basis of the Nature of Spirit.
"But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles YaHuWaH, and that person shall be cut off from among his people ." Numbers15:30
The Hebrew word translated "with a high hand" in this verse in Numbers 15 is ruwm and means to be "lofty, exalted, set on high" - deciding for themselves what is Truth. The tenth letter of the alphabet is the yod and literally means 'of the hand' or lifting of the hand', as in 10 fingers. The hand is that which we work, make, and worship with. YaHuWSHuWaH directly linked the yod to Torah and the commandments in Matthew5:18: "For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one YOD or one tag shall in no way pass from Torah, till all be fulfilled." The illumination of the Spirit is not a substitute for study. Scripture is given to us to validate what we are hearing is the Spirit of Truth. Those who approach Scripture with the attitude that all that is required is a devoted and open heart to the leading of Spirit are adopting the same approach as the man who waits for Aluahiym to harvest the field while he sits on the fence and prays for something to happen. If we are to be active participants with YaHuWaH in the creative process taking place around us right now we need to be actively aligned with His Purpose found in His Word.
This article originally from Harold Smith as well contains excerpts from Brad Scott’s series entitled "Alphabet - the building blocks of life."