The Hebrew word for to give is Strong’s H5414 nathan, /tn, nun – taw – nun – to give, put, or set, according to the lexicons. So I wanted to understand the mountain top meaning of this word. In the ancient Hebrew pictographs, the nun is the seed, the son, the heir, and the means to continue the family line. The taw is the crossed sticks, the mark, the sign, the monument. The nun is again the seed.
God chose to use two seeds surrounding the sign, the mark, to mean to give. The first time the seed appears in Scripture, God has, on the third day of creation, hidden the seed in the ground, so that it will grow and produce fruit, which contains seed within itself also.
“Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.” Gen 1:11-13
That is the picture of giving. Giving is like planting seed. And there is the meaning of the Hebrew. Giving – the first nun – is like – the taw – planting seed, the final nun. What you give will grow and produce fruit – not just any fruit, but fruit of the same kind as the seed. When the fruit is produced, we take the seed within it, and plant it, or give it, again.
Everything we give is like a seed: love, forgiveness, time, understanding, kindness, money, wisdom, help – all that we have, when we give it, it will produce fruit of the same kind. Then we need to not make the mistake of eating the seed – we need to continue to give the seed within the fruit that is produced.
Likewise, if what we give is bitterness, rejection, hatred, unforgiveness, despair, stinginess, those are seeds, and they will bear fruit after their kind, and that is what we will receive in return.
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luk 6:38
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luk 6:43-45
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” (Psa 112:9) Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” 2 Cor 9:6-11
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Gal 6:7-8
“Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phi 4:15-19
I have been meditating on why the central character, the heart of the word to give, is the taw, the sign or mark or monument. It is to show that the picture (taw, mark or sign) of how the seed works is the picture of how giving works. One thing stands for the other, like Jesus using parables of families, farming, and weddings, which were pictures (taw, mark or sign) of the kingdom of heaven.
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