First occurrence
And Laban said to Jacob: Behold this heap, and behold the pillar, which I have set up between me and you. Gen 31:51
The primitive root
Strong’s H3384 ירה yarah, a primitive root meaning “to throw, to cast.” The ancient pictographs are yud + resh + hey.
yud י = the closed hand, thus work, throw, worship
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
hey ה = man with upraised arms, thus look, reveal, wonder, worship, breath
The story the ancient pictographs are telling is of throwing (yud) toward that which is primary (resh), i.e., aiming at the target which has been revealed (hey). The agricultural sense, the original use of this verb, is that the heavens cast forth (yarah) rain which then causes fruit to abound on the earth. This root is often used in the Hebrew Bible to speak of shooting arrows, as well as casting lots, or, surprisingly enough, teaching, in the sense of casting forth knowledge or truth to the hearing of others. It is also the root of the noun torah, the teaching or Law of God.
Hi Christine:
Read your personal story this morning. I thought it was amazing that you researched to discover your Jewish roots and of the tribe of Levi, no less! I’ve wondered the same about my roots as I’ve been strangely interested in the Israeli side of Bible for years.
Especially love your Scripture in Art –
Thank you so very much for your kind comments Rosanne. God bless you –