This is the new series we have been working on here at develop ink. This series is an examination of the Hebrew alphabet. This series is composed of many things. The first it is composed of is a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. Secondly it is composed of a section of verses from Psalm 119 – we will get to that reason later. Thirdly this whole series is going to ultimately create a word in Hebrew. That word will not be revealed until the whole series is complete. This series will have a total of 6 designs. The study of the Hebrew alphabet will be the first 5 designs because the word that these letters are from is only 5 characters. The 6th design will be a design with the whole word together on one shirt. That is an abstract of this new series as a whole.
What is aleph?
Aleph is the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The Rabbi’s have much to say about this letter and it’s purpose. Rabbi Lawrence Kushner in his book titled The Book of Letters says about the aleph, “It has no sound. Only the sound when you begin to make every sound. Open your mouth and begin to make a sound. STOP! That is Aleph.” Rabbi Elazar bar Abina said, “For 26 generations the Aleph complained before God: I am the first of the letters yet you didn’t create Your world with me! Don’t worry, said God, the World and all its fullness were created for the Torah alone. Tomorrow when I come to give My Torah at Sinai the first word I say will begin with you.” Rabbi Elazar says this because the Aleph is the very first letter of the first word of the first commandment, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery.” Aleph is the almost sound that you make before you even make a sound. The reason this letter is so important is because it symbolizes the One and Only true God. The aleph is the leader and master of the rest of the letters.
The original pictograph of this letter is derived from the picture of an ox head – . This represents strength and power from the work performed by the animal. This pictograph also represents the chief or leader. When two oxen are yoked together for pulling a wagon or plow, one is the older and more experienced one who leads the other. Within the clan, tribe or family the chief or father is seen as the elder who is yoked to the others as a leader and teacher.
This all points to the word that will be eventually spelled out by this series. As we go through each design and study each letter it will begin to be apparent why these specific Hebrew letters compose the word soon to be revealed. The study of these letters is to assist us in fully understanding the word that will later be revealed.
Why Psalm 119:1-8?
Psalm 119 is a unique Psalm. It is the longest Psalm and each 8 verses has a designated Hebrew letter to them. If you look in your bibles, some of them have the Hebrew above each 8 verses. The reason for this is because each 8 verses in those stanzas starts with the same Hebrew letter. The first 8 verses for example all start with Aleph in the Hebrew. Now as we begin to study each of these 5 stanzas that will ultimately compose this word that will later be revealed in the last 6th design, we will see how each of these stanzas of 8 verses paint yet another picture of this word yet to be revealed.
On your shirt there is Psalm 119:1-8. If you notice the first letter in each verse starts with aleph. The English to this stanza is: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!” This is a beautiful first stanza that each sentence begins with the word that it’s first letter begins with aleph. The theme in this stanza is about an undivided heart. This stanza is reminiscent of Psalm 1, where we read the same thing about a man who is dedicated to the Word of God. This whole Psalm is about the dedication that we need to have to the Word of God. Just as Jesus replied to Satan, that man can’t live off bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This whole new series is for just that, to spark a dedication in hearts to the Word of God.
Readings used for this design:
Growth Through Tehillim: exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
Psalms Volume III by Rabbi AJ Rosenberg
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: Volume 2 by Jon Courson
Commentary on the Psalms (Mentor Commentaries) by Allan Harman
Psalms 73-150 (The Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series) by Derek Kidner
The Communicator’s Commentary: Psalms 1-72 (Communicator’s Commentary Ot) by Lloyd J. Ogilvie
The Treasury of David: Spurgeon’s Classic Work on the Psalms by CH Spurgeon
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament (Word Study)
The Book of Letters: A Mystical Alef-Bait by Lawrence Kushner
The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet (Artscroll (Mesorah Series) by Rabbi Michael Munk
Word Biblical Commentary Psalms 101-150, Volume 21 Revised by Leslie C. Allen
The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible by Jeff Benner
