The Hebrew Language and New Ways to Connect
Communication and connecting people are two main hallmarks of our ministry to the Jewish community. We want to help Jewish people understand Jesus, and the body of Messiah understand the Jewish roots of our faith. We build bridges and develop relationships.
Our Community Outreach Coordinator, Anna Beth Havenar, has a love for, and the gift of, languages. I asked her to bring perspective on the Hebrew language that I hope is of encouragement to you. If you’ve ever wanted to learn Hebrew, read on! There might be future opportunities!
Anna Beth writes:
If you have followed Light of Messiah Ministries for long, you know that Jesus didn’t celebrate Christmas and Easter. Have you ever considered the fact that Jesus didn’t speak English either? Neither did Abraham, Moses or any of the prophets! As English speakers, we are so blessed to have many versions of the Bible translated into our native language. But... they are translations.
If you’ve ever used Google Translate you will agree: translations don’t always carry 100% of the intended meaning! I am not saying that our version of the Bible is incomplete or wrong. I am simply saying that there is a level of richness and beauty in the original text that can be lost over centuries of translating and re-translating.
Hebrew is an incredibly unique language. Unlike English, which is word-rich (we have a very large vocabulary), Hebrew is word-poor, but meaning rich: just one small word might contain immeasurable depths of meaning. Because they have so few words, they pack a ton of nuance into each one!
When I lived in Israel, I studied Modern Hebrew. I quickly discovered that one word may have many meanings. Take, for example, the word kadur. Kadur comes from a root word having to do with things that are round or spherical. Today, kadur means ball. It also means pill or tablet…and bullet! Context is key!!
This ‘meaning-richness’ makes reading the Bible in Hebrew an adventure!
While not every believer is called to be a linguist, learning a little bit of Hebrew can be such a blessing in our study of scripture.
Here is a brief example. I love Psalm 23. “The Lord is our shepherd”…wonderful. But the first time I studied the original Hebrew, I discovered something shocking. In verse 3 it says, “He restores my soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” This is the NASB English translation. But in Hebrew, the word translated as “paths” isn’t really “paths” at all. It is the word ma’agalim which means “circles.” This puzzled me.
I asked the Lord about David’s word choice: Lord, why would you lead us in circles? As I studied further, I learned that unlike goats, sheep cannot go up steep mountain paths. In order to bring them up to higher pastures, a good shepherd will lead them in gradual, circular paths around the mountain, with each circle spiraling higher and higher. When we feel that God is leading us in circles around and around the same circumstance or issue in our lives, it is easy to get discouraged. In his kindness, oftentimes the Lord is leading us, the little sheep, higher and higher in the timing that we can handle. He is a good shepherd. All of that richness came from one Hebrew word!!
Learning Hebrew is also a beautiful way to connect with Jewish people. No matter their native tongue, Hebrew is close to the hearts of Jews all around the world. Many Christians are interested in learning Hebrew. Demonstrating even a little bit of Hebrew knowledge speaks volumes to a Jewish person. Some of the best conversations I’ve had in Israel (and here in the States) began with the question: Why would you, an American gentile, want to learn Hebrew??
Are you interested in learning Hebrew? Big news: This fall, starting in mid-September, I am going to be teaching an introductory Hebrew class!! We are not yet certain about the class format: whether we do it in person or on Zoom will depend on the fall climate surrounding COVID19, as yet unknown. To participate, make sure that you stay tuned in to our email updates! This how we announce our upcoming events!
Thank you so much for standing with our ministry to the Jewish community during this challenging time. We know that God is preparing us for the future. Our Good Shepherd is sovereign and in control!