February 18 Bible Reading

Today’s Old Testament chronological reading is in Exodus 5 and 6.

The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 49.

The New Testament reading is in Mark 7.

Today’s notes: Hebrew root word parables.

I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Psa 49:4

TO INCLINE. Strong’s H5186 נטה natah, a primitive root meaning, “to stretch out, to extend.”

PARABLE. Strong’s H4912 משל mashal, an abstract concept meaning, “similitude, parable, proverb, parallelism;” from Strong’s H4910 משל mashal, a primitive root meaning, “to rule, to have dominion.”

“Learned men have made many attempts to reconcile the significations of making like, and ruling; However I have no doubt but that from the signification of making like, is derived that of judging, forming an opinion (compare מעם).” – Gesenius

To state a proverb is to make a comparison, “making like;” and the same is brought out in similitude, a “counterpart, likeness;” and parable, in which Yeshua always said, “The kingdom of heaven is like …”. The parallelism or chiastic structure is a characteristic of Hebrew literature, in which reverse elements repeat or compare to each other.

DARK SAYING. It is not necessarily something negative. Something can be in a dark room and still be positive. But when it is dark, you just can’t see it. A dark saying is an ENIGMA, Strong’s H2420 chiydah, an abstract concept meaning, “riddle, difficult question;” from Strong’s H2330 חוד chuwd; a primitive root meaning, “to tie a knot,” that is, to propound a riddle.

chet ח = the wall, thus outside, divide, half
vav ו = the tent peg, thus add, secure, hook
dalet ד = the door, thus enter, move, hang

The cognate words of “unite” and “join” help us to find the parable. When a riddle is proposed, it divides (chet, as a wall divides two parties) the teller from the listener. When the solution is proposed, it joins (vav) the teller and the listener together in understanding, as the door (dalet) in the wall unites the two formerly divided parties.

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters encompasses me about? Of them that trust in their wealth and boast of themselves in the multitude of their riches? Psa 49:5-6

TO FEAR. Strong’s H3372 ירא yare, a primitive root meaning, “to fear.”

EVIL. Strong’s H7451 רע rah, an abstract concept, adjectival form: “wicked.”

SUPPLANTER. Strong’s H6120 עקב aqeb, an adjective meaning, “a lier in wait;” from Strong’s H6117 עקב aqab, a primitive root meaning “to come from behind, to supplant,” i.e., to take by the heel. The 3-letter root is ayin + quph + bet. The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon says the quph was transposed from an original kaph:

ayin ע = the eye, thus watch, know, shade
kaph כ = the open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
bet ב = the house, thus house, household, family, in, within

The story the pictographs are telling, is of watching (ayin) for an open (kaph) in (bet). We still have the same idiom in English, when we say, “I have an in with them.” This is the same root found in the name “Jacob;” he was given his name because he took his brother by the heel at birth.

TO ENCOMPASS. Strong’s H5437 סבב sabab, a primitive root meaning, “to turn about, to revolve.” The 3-letter root is sin + bet + bet.

sin ס = thorn, thus grab, hate, protect
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within

The cognate words will help us find the story. One is ‘turn,’ another ‘dizzy,’ ‘strong drink,’ and ‘drunkeness.’ The story: To turn (sin, since if one encounters a thorn along the way, one turns away from it) within (bet) again (bet, a second time). The idea of encompassing, encircling, comes from going about in a circle, making a revolution. When one is within a circle, there is no avenue of ingress or egress.

Wouldn’t wickedness encompassing us so that there is no avenue of ingress or egress be a fearful thing? But the Psalmist is confident because

The angel of the LORD encamps round about them who fear Him, and delivers them. Psa 34:7

The phrase, “to encamp round about” is from the same root, sabab. The wickedness of those who lie in wait to do evil may surround him, but the one who surrounds him more closely still, as a hedge of protection, is the angel of the LORD. You see, a man is able to fear, that is, to worship that which is greater than himself, only one thing at a time. When he fears YHVH, he cannot fear evil days or wicked supplanters, for YHVH is so much greater than them.