Love – Hebrew Word Study

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LOVE

hey_letterbeyt_letterhey_letteraleph_letter

Hey      Beyt     Hey    Aleph

5           2            5          1

ahavah

 

The four letters in the amazing Hebrew word “ahavah” are translated into English as "love."  Love can describe everything from an intimate relationship, such as the love between a husband and wife, to the love that is displayed in selfless service to others such as the love that a father and mother have for a dependent child or a dear friend.

Let’s take a  look at the first time the word Love is used in the Scriptures.  In Genesis 22:1-2 we read one of the most thought provoking dramas revealed in all the Ancient Prophetic text.

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

It is no coincidence that the first time the word LOVE is revealed in the ancient prophetic Scriptures is when God tested Abraham.  Abraham was prevented by God in the final act of this Messianic drama from sacrificing his only son Issac.  This drama was meant to be a prophetic picture of our loving Heavenly Father who would offer up His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 

Consider the depths of our sin and despair in light of the preciousness of the price that was paid to redeem us. 

God the Father LOVES each one of us and has gone to extraordinary lengths to deliver us from the curse of sin and death.  Think about it!

The KJV says that “God did tempt Abraham.” This is an unfortunate and completely wrong translation of the original Hebrew.  The Hebrew word translated “tempt” literally means to PROBE or the TEST. God tempts no man, a fact that the Scriptures clearly reveal.  Listen to what it says in James 1:13:

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: James 1:13

 

The dictionary defines LOVE as follows:

1. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

3. Sexual passion or desire.

4. A term of endearment

 

These definitions are fairly consistent with how the word Love is used in the Conventional Hebrew. But what do the Pictures under the four letters Aleph Hey Beyt Hey reveal?

 

hey_letterbeyt_letterhey_letteraleph_letter

Hey      Beyt     Hey    Aleph

ahavah

 

Pictorial Meaning of Love

 

aleph_letter Aleph the first letter in the Hebrew Word LOVE is pictured as an OX and means  – Strong Leader – First  and its most ideal meaning is God the Father  

 

hey_letterHey the second letter in the Hebrew word LOVE is pictured as a man lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven and mean to Reveal – Look it also means the revelator and is a picture of the Holy Spirit.  If we were to describe the Hebrew letter Hey in two word we would say – To Behold

 

beyt_letterBeyt the third letter in the Hebrew word Love is pictured as a Tent or a House and it can have reference to the one that comes out of the house or the Son.  The ideal picture meaning of Beyt is the Son of God

 

hey_letterHey the last letter in the Hebrew word LOVE is pictured as a man lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven and mean to Reveal – Look it also means the revelator and is a picture of the Holy Spirit.  If we were to describe the Hebrew letter Hey in two word we would say – To Behold

 

 

Pictorial Translation of Lord

The Ideal

 

aleph_letter

Aleph

God the Father

 

hey_letter

Hey

Reveals

 

beyt_letter

Beyt

Son of God

 

hey_letter

Hey

Reveals

 

Translation

 

There are two ways of interpreting the revelation in the picture God has given us of LOVE. 

The first translation is that God the Father reveals Himself to the Son. This idea is supported in John 5:19

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 

 

The Second Translation is that God the Father reveals Himself to us through His Only Begotten Son. John 1:18 states: 

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

 

John 5:20 says:

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 

 

It is no accident that the first time the Hebrew word LOVE is used in Scripture it has to do with Abraham and Issac, a Father and a son.

Notice that when you take the two Hebrew letters Hey out of the Word for Love you end up with the Aleph and the Beyt.  Aleph and Bet is the picture of the Strong leader of the House or the Father.  Now add Hey the Holy Spirit and you have the complete picture of LOVE, a Word that declares the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And how is it that God show his love for mankind? The answer is found in John 3:14

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

This is the way God has loved the World. Believe on him and you will not perish. Receive his love and partake of Everlasting Life.

When you boil it all down you are left with this simple Picture meaning of the Hebrew word LOVE.

Quite Literally – GOD IS LOVE!

 

 

 

 

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13 Comments Add yours

  1. George Walker says:

    A beautifuldescription indeed.

  2. Dannielle Doerr says:

    Wow! this is enlightening!

  3. Karen says:

    And John 3:16 we hear God saying that He loves us, the whole world, little single me…and you…so much that He gave His only begotten precious Son , that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life., and enjoy Him, His love forever! Seeing the Hebrew word for love explained is just so beautiful! There is no question who is the author of love. From Almighty God, to His Precious Son, The Lamb of God, now with us in His Holy Spirit filling us with His love to share His message of love with others.

  4. CsMartin says:

    Wonderful

  5. Farah Abujaber says:

    Jesus is God. He is the Fullness of everything.

  6. Marin Stewart says:

    Amen!! This site is a beautiful blessing and is a gift of wisdom from our Heavenly Father. HIS intimate, abounding love for us is overwhelming profound. ♡

  7. Linda Wright says:

    I love this! Am happy I seen it. Am enjoying it all very much. Is written so I can understand it very well.
    Wish I could afford the the book. All things are possible with God huh!
    God bless you very much!
    Love
    Linda Wright

  8. Helene Golston says:

    What a beautiful interpretation. The true meaning of love is God Himself.

  9. Carla Hereford says:

    I recently turned 55 and was seeking out some meaning of it. I ran across this article and will add it to the study of 55.
    Thanks!!

  10. Starla J Felde says:

    Thank you for your time, such a blessing

  11. Paul Haslett says:

    Awesome!

  12. Lance Crowe says:

    Another more obvious meaning is “The Strong Leader behold, the House behold” – the New Jerusalem, Rev 21. Therefore the true meaning of love is to love the Messiah as our Husband, who loves us enough to bring us to His Home, as a wife.

  13. Thanks for finally talking ahout >Love – Hebrew Word Study | Living Word Discovery <Loved it!

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