The Shadows of Hebrew (Part 3)

Shalom Haverim,

In this installment we will continue to look at Genesis Chapter 1.

Last time, we spent the entire focus on the Word "Berashiet" alone.  In that entry, I walked through the raw process of our study, including the "Rabbit Holes" (Those concepts that we chase to no definite conclusion or worse, a dead end), to demonstrate that this is all a part of the study process.  It's not all Blissful Revelation.  It also demonstrated that, how One Word can affect so much of how we perceive the entire Scripture...  The VERY first Word, at that!

Today, let's have a look at a couple other Words that we stumbled over, that appeared to be insignificant at first, but proved to have profound impact on our understanding of The Bible and The Universe in general.  While looking deeper into where this all started, we found in verse 2, the Words "Tohu" and "Bohu."

Well the first thing we noticed is that the English translates these words to mean; "Formless" and "Void."  Therefore, the first question that came to mind was, Why the conceptual redundancy?  "Without Form AND Void?"  It's like stating that The Car was Black and Dark.  O.K.???  One or the other would have been enough to convey the concept, but then why both?  This is where we are beginning to learn that the English is not telling us the whole story.  Just because the English sounds redundant, does not mean that it is redundant within The Hebrew.  The Hebrew uses two Words, not to be flowery, but because they both have purpose in telling the story.

The other important point to note is that the first Word is translated as "Formless," or "Without Form."  However, when you look at the Hebrew, the concept of "Tohu" does not depict a negative premise, which is to say it is not as if "Tohu" meant "Form" and there was a negative qualifier added to it - "Without From."  In fact verse two states "The Earth WAS 'Tohu' and 'Bohu."  These are general concepts, rather than concepts with a negative qualifier such as "Form(less)" or "(Without) Form," added to them.

Therefore, as the Hebrew reads, "The Earth was Tohu and Bohu."

When you sound them out, the Words even rhyme in Hebrew, "To-Hu" and "Bo-Hu."  It is the "T" and "B" sounds the set them apart.  It is the value of these two letters (Tav and Bet) that define their nature and meaning.  Tav (Paleo = Covenant) as a prefix, indicates the premise of something "To Come," or "Will come to pass..."  Like a Promise or "Covenant."  Whereas the Bet (Paleo = House) as a prefix, again, illustrates to be "Within" Something, as we had learned from the Word "B'rashiet."

If I were to take this premise and work with the Root Word "Hey-Vav" or "Hu," we would have the Root Word concept, "Here it is!" It's like the term, "Hineni" ("Here I am" or "Behold I Exist").  However the context in Genesis 1:2 is in reference to a "Thing."  Therefore, we end up with "Tav" added to the "Hu" - Meaning = "It will be here." (It's like a promise, "It is not yet, but it Will Come!")  The "Bet" added to the "Hu" - Meaning "Within Here," or "It Goes in Here!"  Which is an important premise in The Hebrew, because it means that there is something already "Here" to put that Promised "Something" into. 

Is it just ME, or is anyone else seeing the very primal concept of "Creation" developing within this Hebrew Thought?  (I'll leave you with that to ponder for a moment.)  Therefore, "Space" must exist first, for matter to exist WITHIN it.  Here is a foundational principle of the Universe found within "Tohu - Bohu."

As well, isn't this an excellent illustration of how Faith works?  First we are given a Promise (a "Covenant") and then we are given Hope, something that helps us believe or "Something to believe in."  Meaning "I will do this, and just so that you know that I will, 'Here' is something to put your Faith in."  ("IN" - "Bohu")

Just like the signs that we have today:  "Here is the Mount of Olives, for all to see, and now that you SEE it, KNOW that His Feet shall touch it on THAT DAY!"  Which is to say, "The Mount of Olives is 'Here' to see, and Our Faith is placed in the fact that His feet will touch it."  Although The Mount of Olives can be seen, it becomes "The Evidence of Things not seen..." - Faith.

Now, just to be CLEAR, and to assist in the differentiation of "Idolatry," is that we do not place our Faith in "The Mount of Olives," but rather the Mount of Olives is the "Thing" that Exists, so that we place our Faith in His Word - The Promise. --"The Tohu, which will go into the Bohu, making it "Paqad" (Fulfilled or Complete).  If, you recall this Word from the 1st Installment of The Shadows of Hebrew, regarding HaShem "Fulfilling" His Promise to Sarah. (The Birth of Yitzchak - Genesis 21:1)

Perhaps, THIS is how we should understand The Relationship between the so-called "Old Testament" and "New Testament."  The "Old" is the Bohu, and the "New" is the Tohu.  Meaning, you can't have one without the other.  They come together to be "Complete" = "Echad."  When the Tohu goes into the Bohu, they become one Flesh, or as it would be understood in Hebrew - "Echad B'sarah" (One Message - One Gospel).

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Genesis 2:24  - In Hebrew, the Key Words are "United" and "Flesh" = "One Singular Message." If you didn't catch that, the Hebrew Word for "The Message" is the same Word for "Flesh," which is WHERE we derive the Word "Gospel" from -"B'shar or B'sarah"

"So THAT's what John meant when he wrote, 'The Word became Flesh, and dwelt among us.'" John 1:11  Yeshua is the "Gospel," in the "Flesh."  


You see, The Hebrew teaches us HOW to understand the Gospels and the entire written "New Testament."  Without Understanding it within the Hebrew Context, we are left to apply our own (personal) interpretation of the Words, and therefore we wonder why it does not all come together, or why we have so many variations of the meanings - Doctrines and Theologies.



Just the other day, I attended my Daughter's Hagigah HaTorah Concert at her Jewish School, and found out that they teach the concept of Tohu and Bohu, at an Elementary level.  Meaning that, this is something that "WE" should have understood, the moment we first opened the Bible.  As my Daughter in Grade 2 explained the "Tohu - Bohu" to me, she described that it simply means "Mixed Up."  She went onto described a place that had fish flying in the sky and birds swimming under the water.  "THAT is 'Tohu-Bohu! - No Order - All Mixed Up!!!"



Well, as much as the Teachers may have used such colorful metaphors to teach my child about this Tohu and Bohu, I needed to look at it in a little more detail for myself.  In fact, one of the other children described Berashiet as "There was nothing."  Well, here was a contradiction of sorts...  If Tohu-Bohu means "Mixed-Up," then it would require something to Exist in order for it to be "Mixed Up."  Therefore Tohu-Bohu needed something to Exist, in order for it to be Tohu-Bohu.  It could not mean nothing!  According to verse 2, WHAT was Tohu and Bohu?  "The Earth."  




If the Hebrew states that "It Will be In Here," ("Tohu"), this is indicative of a Plan to create something to "Go In Here," ("Bohu.")  Ergo, in this instance, we must not overlook the obvious fact that THERE WAS something to put something into.  The Earth did "Exist," but it WAS "Tohu" and "Bohu."

 
Keep in mind that rule that I had stated in a previous entry.  "Tohu" and "Bohu" does not mean "Formless" and "Void," but rather they mean "Tohu," and "Bohu," and it is our duty as Students to try to understand what "Tohu," and "Bohu," really mean, in Hebrew Thought.  In other words, do not let the translation be your Master, but rather allow the Hebrew to be the Master of the translation.  Let the Hebrew tell you the Truth of what it is.

This is a phenomenal metaphor within Hebrew Thought, because this symbolic analogy of "Creation," places the female concept before the male concept on the Universal Level.  He created the Bohu (Space) for the Tohu (What goes into the Space), but the Bohu was first, because you can't have "something," without "Space" for it to Exist within.  (A Fundamental of Physics)

However, when it came to creating The Flesh, He made the Male first, and took the Female from the Male.  The "Bohu," from the "Tohu."  Meaning that now that He had Bohu ("Space"), He could create more "Space" from the "Tohu" ("Matter") or in this case, "Man."  The entire concept of creation is hidden within these two words, for the simplest of minds to understand.

This reminds me of Bill Cosby describing the Arrogance of Man through the Story of Creation...  "God Creates a Tree, and 'It was Good.'  Man builds a Refrigerator, and it's "Fantastic!"  Although this is true, and funny, what Bill, and the rest of us forgot is that we needed to apply this rule that "Tohu - Bohu means Tohu-Bohu, and it is for us to try to understand what they really mean."  Meaning that, the Hebrew word "Tov" ("Good") actually means "Tov," and not necessarily "Good," as we understand it.  We need to understand what "Tov" REALLY means in Hebrew Thought.

Tov is when things come together and, in the process, the end product is complete or satisfying - "Tov!"

This is to say that once the Tohu and Bohu came together, "The two, once singular (now complete), 'IT' is Good" - "Tov."

This leads us back to the meaning of Berashiet - "In the Head?"  There was a Plan (A Thought) all along, but once He said, "Let there BE," it became "Emet" (Truth or Reality).  Once again Emet ("Truth in Hebrew") is built out of Aleph-Mem-Tav - The first, the middle and the Last letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.  In Truth, The Olam (The Universe as we know it), became more than just a thought, it became Real.  The Promise and the Space (Tohu-Bohu) came together to form "Reality."

It was "The Light," that told the Tohu and Bohu to come together as one.  The Light was "Torah" (Instruction) on how it all works - The D'var (The Word).  Then, The Word (D'var) became Flesh (The Message - The Gospel) and dwelt among us.  Mashiach was sent to teach us how to understand the instruction (Torah).

In fact, Moses taught us that: 

15 A prophet will the LORD thy God raise up unto thee, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16 according to all that thou didst desire of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying: 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.'
17 And the LORD said unto me: 'They have well said that which they have spoken.
18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.  Deuteronomy 18:15-19

Now, let's look at another Midrashic Connection that I had found later on in Genesis, and try to connect these ideas within Hebrew Thought.  

Last year, when reading Parasha Veyyeshev, I discovered a Word in Genesis 37:15 - Where it talks about Joseph "Wandering" in Shechem.  The Hebrew Word is "To'ah" - Tav-Ayin-Hey.  Paleo Picture = "The Sign is in Sight, Behold."  As the Word is applied, Joseph was "Wandering" looking for his brothers, but did not find them.  Then, as the Scripture tells, "A certain man," found him and told him that his brothers were in Dothan. Generally, the Word "Wandering" depicts aimlessly, but it could mean that he had an aim or a goal, but he was not finding what he was looking for.  Hence, as the Paleo explains, "The Sign is in Sight, but if we are blind to it, then LOOK for it!"

It's not that Joseph didn't have the primary instruction - "Go bring word of your brothers..." but he had lost his way, along the way.  If we were to compare "To-ah, and Torah," we would find that they sound phonetically similar, but it is the conceptual midrashic connection that intrigued our study.  To'ah is like being lost, whereas Torah is having the instructions on "How to get there."  When you take To'ah and remove the "Ayin" (The Eyes of the Flesh) and add the Vav (The Nail) and the Resh (The Man), we get "Torah" - "The Covenant of the Man Nailed to it, Look for Him!"  In essence this tells us to stop looking with the eyes of The Flesh ("The Carnal Nature") and look with "The Eyes of The Spirit."

15 A prophet will the LORD thy God raise up unto thee, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; D'varim 18:15

Since he had lost his way, "A Certain Man," found him, and gave him the instruction that he needed to find his way - His Halacha.  (I could go further into this, at this time , but I'll save that for the time we reach this reading, as I compared this event to Yeshua's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.)

As I studied this word "Tohu," I began to wonder about the possible connection to "To'ah" - "Wandering."   If Torah means with "Instruction," could "Tohu," like "To'ah," be an "existence," "Without Instruction" - "Lawlessness."  (The Laws that Govern the Universe)  Therefore, could "Tohu" have a connotation of "Wandering without Instruction, with a Promise (Covenant) of a Law to come."  Meaning that, the basic concept of the Earth existed, however it was just that the "Light," which gave Instruction, had not yet been declared or revealed.  These are just some thoughts to ponder.

Let's end this Blog Entry with a look at the last part of the verse and how this all ties together.

The last part of verse 2 is "... And Darkness was upon the face of the Deep."  Then in verse 3, it states: "God said, 'Let there be Light...'"  

Where, the "Light" is that Torah (Instruction) that Instructed the Tohu and Bohu to come together and from the Olam (The Universe as we know it).  Therefore, let's first look at the Word for Darkness: "Choshak" - Chet-Shin-Chet.  

The Peleo Concept of Hebrew tells us that The Light is contained on both sides.  Chet = Covered or Contained - Shin = The Fire or The "Sh"achinah Light of HaShem - and another Chet Sofit (Final Chet), which means; "Darkness is Light Covered on both sides," once at the beginning and again at the end.

This depicts the concept of "Darkness to Light and then Light to Darkness."  In the Word for Darkness (Choshak), we find the very principle of God's Clock, which determines the concept of a Day - (Yom) - "The Evening (Darkness) and the Morning (Light), were the first Day." Genesis 1:5

It began with Darkness, and ended in Darkness, whereas the Light is the "Yom" (The Day in between).  Even within the Word for Darkness we are being taught how a Day Works.  Therefore the Light Comes "BET" ("Into the Darkness") to make it "Yom."

Now, take a moment to think of The Menorah.  Before we begin to light the first lamp, there is Darkness.  As the 1st lamp is lit, we have the first light, but then there is a space of "Darkness" between the 1st and 2nd lamp.  As each lamp is lit, there is always a space of Darkness between each light.  Darkness to Light to Darkness, according to Scripture, is what defines "Yom" (A Day). 

Now, read John 1 again with this understanding, and you will begin to see the Hebrew Thought within what John is Teaching.  Also let's see how this understanding affects John 3:19-21

¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

What's also interesting about the Word "Choshak" (Darkness), is that it is not the absence of light, but rather that the Light is hidden for a time.  This Light IS YHVH - He Was - He is - He is to come.  Darkness shrouds Him, or at least from our view, but only for a time, He is still YHVH.  He is still with us. The Darkness will not overcome Him.  In fact, as we learn, this shroud protects us from "The Consuming Fire," which He is.

His presence is a consuming fire, and this is why Israel cried out to Moshe:

16 according to all that thou didst desire of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying: 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.'
17 And the LORD said unto me: 'They have well said that which they have spoken.  Deuteronomy 18:16-17

However as this context of Scripture depicts, Mashiach would be that Light, revealed again, contained within His Flesh, for a Time, but the Darkness would not overcome Him.  When we stop looking with (Ayin) "The Eyes of the Flesh," we will see the Vav and the Resh - The Man Nailed to The Covenant, and then Truly See HaShem YHVH!

Tune in Next week as we continue this Journey into the Foundations of Hebrew Thought through The Shadows of Hebrew.

Thanks for Reading.

Don Daniel Henriquez De La Fuente