Author: Holy Branches

I’m a Gentile Believer, a devoted mother of five wonderful children, and the wife of an amazing husband. Nature, gardening, and dance bring joy and inspiration to my life. In my spare time, I play the piano, care for my garden, or study the Bible in Hebrew. And I’ll drop just about anything for a game of cards. My unwavering quest for a genuine relationship with the God of the Bible has driven me to delve deeply into His Word, which guides my journey and shapes my life's path. This exploration, combined with dedication to living out my faith, is at the heart of my writing. I seek to share my insights and discoveries with readers, encouraging them to embark on their own spiritual journeys.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Messianic Sabbath

Written by Holy Branches on January 27, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots, Sabbath. 5 Comments on Step-by-Step Guide to a Messianic Sabbath

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Shalom! I’m so glad you’ve decided to observe a traditional Messianic Sabbath evening. I hope it becomes one of your family’s most-loved traditions, as it has in mine.

The Sabbath is not only one of the 10 Commandments; it’s a sign that we are God’s people (See Ez. 20:12, 20). By keeping the Sabbath, we’re not only being obedient to God but also showing our faith in who He is to us through our actions. Doing so brings glory to Him.

This guide provides a fundamental overview of a traditional Sabbath. Every family observes the Sabbath a bit differently, so feel welcome to use this as a guide and tailor it to work best for your family. Whatever you do, keep the focus on God and keep the day set apart for Him.

Click here for your printable Step-by-Step Guide to a Messianic Sabbath

Sabbath Preparation

Shabbat Sabbath Candles

Friday is commonly known as Preparation Day because this is usually the time to prepare everything so everyone can rest on the Sabbath. Cleaning, food preparation, etc., are done in advance so everyone can rest, focus on God, and spend time with family.

Looking for make-ahead and simple meals for your Sabbath? Check out 15 Meals that Bring Shalom to Your Shabbat.

Here’s an essential list of what you’ll need for a traditional Sabbath:

2 candles
Candleholders
Wine or juice in 1 cup or in glasses for everyone
Sept-by-Step Guide Print Out (below)
Meal for Friday night
Challah Bread (recipe here)

When Does the Sabbath Begin?

Instead of days beginning at midnight like we’re used to in our culture, days on the Hebrew calendar start at sundown. So, the Sabbath is from sundown on Friday evening until Saturday evening.

Light the Candles

The woman of the house is usually responsible for lighting the candles and bringing in the Sabbath. Two candles are lit to signify the two commands given regarding the Sabbath—to remember it and to keep it holy.

Although not required, women traditionally cover their heads during the blessing as a symbol of humility before God. The woman covers her head with a head covering (scarf), lights the candles, and says the following blessing.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to be a light to the nations and Who gave to us Jesus our Messiah, the light of the world.

In Hebrew, it’s:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵנוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָנוּ לְהִיוֹת אוֹר לְגוֹיִים וְנָתַן-לָנוּ אֶת יֵשׁוּעַ מְשִׁיחֵנוּ אוֹר הָעוֹלָם

Which is pronounced:

Ba-rook ah-tah a-do-nai eh-lo-hay-noo meh-lekh ha-o-lam ah-sher ki-deh-sha-noo be-mitz-vo-tav veh-tzee-va-noo le-hee-oat or le-go-yeem ve-na-tan-la-noo et Ye-shoo-a Me-shee-che-noo or ha-o-lam.

Pair of Olive Wood Hollow Twist Candle Holders

Blessing Over the Children

Different blessings are said over boys and girls, and the Aaronic Blessing follows both. The father usually says these blessings, although anyone can bless the children.

The blessing for the boys comes from Genesis 48:20, where Jacob said, “By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'” The blessing over girls holds them high that they would become like some of the most remarkable women in the Bible

Blessing over girls:

May you be like Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

In Hebrew:

יְשִׂימֵךְ אֱלֹהיִם כְּשָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה

Pronounced:

Ye-si-mech E-lo-heem ke-Sa-rah Riv-ka Ra-chel ve-Le-ah

Blessing over boys:

May you be like Ephraim and Manesseh.

In Hebrew:

יְשִׂימְךָ אֱלֹהיִם כְּאֶפְרַיְם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה

Pronounced:

Ye-seem-cha E-lo-heem k-Ef-raim v-chi-Me-na-shey.

The Aaronic Blessing

From Numbers 6:24-26, this is the blessing God gave to Moses to have his sons bless the Israelites with.

May God bless you and protect you.

May God show you favor and be gracious to you.

May God show you kindness and grant you peace.

In Hebrew:

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

Which is pronounced:

Ye-va-re-che-cha A-do-nai v-yee-sh-me-re-cha

Ya-er A-do-nai pa-nav eh-le-cha vi-chu-ne-ka

Yee-sa A-do-nai pa-nav eh-le-cha v-ya-sem le-cha sha-lom

The Eschet Chayil (Blessing over the Wife)

The Blessing over the Wife comes from Proverbs 31, verses 10-31. Interestingly enough, this blessing is also said over women who are not married. This blessing shows appreciation for wives and all women for all they do to hold homes and communities together! The husband usually says it, and it is as follows.

An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.

She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.

She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies belts to the tradesmen.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying

“Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Here it is in Hebrew:

אֵשֶׁת חַֽיִל מִי יִמְצָא, וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ.
בָּֽטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ, וְשָׁלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר.
גְּמָלַֽתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא רָע, כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיהָ.
דָּרְשָֽׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים, וַתַּֽעַשׂ בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ.
הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר, מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ.
וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה, וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ.
זָמְמָה שָׂדֶה וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ, מִפְּרִי כַפֶּיהָ נָטְעָה כָּֽרֶם.
חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ, וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרוֹעֹתֶיהָ.
טָֽעֲמָה כִּי טוֹב סַחְרָהּ, לֹא יִכְבֶּה בַלַּֽיְלָה נֵרָהּ.
יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישׁוֹר, וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּֽמְכוּ פָֽלֶך.
כַּפָּהּ פָּרְשָֹה לֶעָנִי, וְיָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה לָאֶבְיוֹן.
לֹא תִירָא לְבֵיתָהּ מִשָּֽׁלֶג, כִּי כָל־בֵּיתָהּ לָבֻשׁ שָׁנִים.
מַרְבַדִּים עָשׂתָה־לָּהּ, שֵׁשׁ וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁהּ.
נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ, בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם זִקְנֵי־אָרֶץ.
סָדִין עָשׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּר, וַחֲגוֹר נָתְנָה לַכְּנַעֲנִי.
עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ, וַתִּשׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן.
פִּֽיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה, וְתֽוֹרַת חֶֽסֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָהּ:
צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ, וְלֶֽחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵל:
קָמוּ בָנֶֽיהָ וַיְּאַשְּׁרֽוּהָ, בַּעְלָהּ וַיְהַלְלָהּ:
רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָֽשׂוּ חָֽיִל, וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה:
שֶֽׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶֽבֶל הַיֹּֽפִי, אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת ה׳ הִיא תִתְהַלָּל:
תְּנוּ לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶֽיהָ, וִיהַלְלֽוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֽׂיהָ:

And here’s the pronunciation for the Hebrew:

E-shet Cha-yeel mi yeem-tza, ve-ra-chok meep-nee-neem meech-rah.
Ba-tach bah lev ba-a-lah, ve-sha-lal lo yech-sar. Ge-mal-at-hu tov ve-lo ra kol ye-mei cha-ye-ha.
Dar-sha tse-mer u-feesh-teem, va-ta-as be-che-fetz ka-pe-ha.
Hay-tah ka-o-nee-yot so-cher, mee-mer-chak ta-vi lach-ma.
Va-ta-kom be-od lai-lah, Ve-tee-ten te-ref le-vey-tah ve-chok le-na-a-ro-te-ha.
Zam-mah sa-deh ve-ti-ka-che-hu, meep-ree kha-pe-ha nat-ah ka-rem.
Chag-rah ve-oz mot-ne-ha, vat-a-metz z-ro-ote-ha.
Ta-a-ma ki tov sach-rah, lo yich-be va-lay-lah ne-rah.
Ya-de-ha sheel-cha va-kee-shor, ve-kha-pe-ha tam-chu pha-lech.
Ka-pah par-sah le-ani, ve-ya-de-hah sheel-cha la-ev-yon.
Lo tee-ra le-vei-tah mee-sha-leg, ki khol bei-tah la-vush sha-neem.
Mar-va-deem as-tah lah, shesh ve-ar-ga-man le-vu-shah.
No-dah bash-ar-eem ba-lah, be-shiv-to eem zik-nei ar-etz.
Sa-deen as-tah va-teem-kor, va-cha-gor nat-nah lak-na-ani.
Oz ve-ha-dar le-vu-shah, va-tees-chak le-yom eh-cha-ron.
Pee-ha pat-cha ve-chach-mah, ve-to-rat che-sed al le-sho-nah.
Tso-fee-ya hal-ee-chot bei-ta, ve-le-chem atz-lut lo toe-chel.
Ka-mu va-ne-ha vay-ash-ru-hah, ba-a-lah vay-hal-lah.
Ra-bot ba-not a-su cha-yil, ve-at a-leet al ku-la-nah.
She-ker ha-chen ve-he-vel ha-yo-fee, ee-shah yir-at a-do-nai hi teet-ha-lal.
Te-nu lah mip-ri ya-de-ha, vee-hal-lu-ha bash-a-reem ma-a-se-ha.

The Kiddush

The Kiddush reminds us why we’re doing what we’re doing. It incorporates verses from Genesis that discuss the Sabbath, as well as a blessing over the wine and thanking God for choosing and sanctifying the nation of Israel. The man of the house traditionally says it.

The person saying the Kiddush holds the cup of wine up while reciting it. After the Kiddush is said, each participant can either take a drink from a single Kiddush cup or their own wine/juice glasses.

And it was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all their hosts were completed. And God finished by the Seventh Day His work which He had done, and He rested on the Seventh Day from all His work which He had done. And God blessed the Seventh Day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work which God created to function.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has hallowed us with His commandments, has desired us, and has given us, in love and goodwill, His holy Shabbat as a heritage, in remembrance of the work of Creation; the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and with love and goodwill given us Your holy Shabbat as a heritage. Blessed are You Lord, who hallows the Shabbat. (Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר
יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי. וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם
וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיִּשְׁבּת בַּיּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ. כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂות

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם. כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת

Kiddush Cup and Tray – Ceramic Wine Kiddush Cup and Tray 3.5″ For Shabbat and Havdalah

Which is pronounced:

Va-ye-hee erev, va-ye-hee voker. Yom Ha-shishi. Va-ye-chulu hasha-mayim vi-ha-aretz vi-kole tzi-va-am. Va-yichal Elohim ba-yom hashe-vi’i milach-to asher asa. Va-yish-bat ba-yom hashe-vi’I mi-kole milach-to asher asa. Va-ye-varech Elohim es yom hashe-vi’i va-yi-kadesh oto. Kee voe sha-vat mi-kole milach-toe asher bara Elohim la-a-sot.

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, bo-rei pe-ri ha-ga-fen. (Response: “Amen”)

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, asher ki-di-sha-nu be-mitz-votav vi-ratza vanu, vi-Shab-bat kod-sho be-a-ha-va uv-ra-tzon hin-chi-la-nu, zi-ka-ron le-ma-a-seh ve-re-sheet. Ki hu yom ti-chi-la le-mik-ra-ay ko-desh, zay-cher li-tzi-as mitz-rayim. Ki va-nu va-char-ta ve-o-ta-nu ki-dash-ta mi-kol ha-a-mim. Vi-shab-bat kod-shi-cha bi-a-ha-va uv-ra-tzon hin-chal-ta-nu. Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, mi-ka-desh ha-shab-bat. (Response: “Amen”)

The Hamotzi

The Hamotzi is the blessing over the bread. We usually sing it together, and one person holds the challah, plate and all, up while we sing. After the Hamotzi, the bread is set down to be eaten later. It’s often eaten by tearing pieces off and dipping them in the wine or juice.

Here’s the traditional tune:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

In Hebrew, it’s:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱ‑לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ

To pronounce:

Ba-rook ah-tah a-do-nai eh-lo-hay-noo meh-lekh ha-o-lam ha-mo-tzi le-chem meen ha-aretz.

Challah Board with Etched Flower Design Shabbat Bread Board

Sabbath Meal

After that, enjoy your meal together and have a restful Sabbath! If you’re looking for ideas for what to do with the rest of your Sabbath day, read What DO We Do on the Sabbath.

Click here for your printable Step-by-Step Guide to a Messianic Sabbath

As the common Sabbath greeting goes, wishing a peaceful Sabbath, Shabbat Shalom!

Mic Drop Moments in Proverbs for Women

Written by Holy Branches on January 27, 2026. Posted in Bible Study. No Comments on Mic Drop Moments in Proverbs for Women

Coffee and Tea Mug for Women with Bible Verse: Strength & Dignity – Proverbs 31:25

For the background on this post, check out the Mic Drop Moments in Proverbs Page.

The Bible has a lot of guidance on how to be a Godly woman. One need only look to Jesus’s example of service to get a picture of what that looks like but there are also some straightforward ways the Bible instructs us. Proverbs provides some wonderful metaphors concerning women. Here are some I find interesting as well as challenging.

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Prov. 11:22

Unlike animals, where the males tend to be the more beautiful of the species, human females are the ones that shine through when it comes to beauty. Both men and women naturally desire to adorn women with beautiful clothes, valuable jewelry, etc.

But who in their right mind would adorn a pig with a ring of gold? What a waste! Solomon says it’s the same with beautiful women who lack discretion. So, use your God-given discernment and judgment to filter out the things that don’t belong in your life.

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
Prov. 12:4

We all know there are ups and downs in marriage but who of us doesn’t want to strive for titles like “excellent” and “crown of her husband”? No matter my disagreement with my husband, I would never want to shame him and be like decay in his bones!

The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Prov. 14:1

I’m sure you can think of a person in your life who is your own worst enemy. As women, we can get preoccupied with keeping up with our peers, feeling neglected as we care for our families, and many other things. We often then react to those things in such a way that we tear our own homes down. We have so much control over our home’s environment; let’s make sure to use that to build and not tear it down.

…a slanderer separates intimate friends.
Prov. 16:28b

The word “slanderer” in this verse can also be translated as “gossip.” For good reason, women are SO in tune with people. We can see people’s motives and read their non-verbal messages. We can see where others are hurting and address their needs. But we can also use this skill to do damage to others. Women can be the worst when our hearts aren’t focused on God and His will! We can get such sinful satisfaction out of gossip and manipulation, though it leads to the destruction of others. We need to accept this tendency, repent for it, and move forward in our relationships with the heart for people that God desires in us.

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
Prov. 18:8

Here’s another one about gossip and slander. God knows us a little too well, doesn’t He? And yet He still loves us and offers us forgiveness through Jesus. We can’t just sit around and take that for granted. We can strive to be who he made us to be to the people around us!

…the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
Prov. 19:13b

I want to say I don’t know what it’s like to be driven to the breaking point by something annoying like a constant drip, but that’s not me. A persistent annoyance like that becomes so pervasive in my concentration and activities that I feel like I cannot go on without addressing it. How frustrating! Let’s ensure we’re not the contentious, constantly dripping type of wife to our men!

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Prov. 19:14

Ladies, we have such an opportunity to be a blessing to our husbands and our households. As married women, our giftedness is given to us not for our personal gain but for that of God’s glory in our lives, through our marriages and otherwise. Prudence is wisdom and sensibility. Let’s employ those for the betterment of our marriages!

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It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Prov. 21:9

The corner of a roof! Can you imagine? No protection from the elements, constantly uncomfortable, not having access to the safety of the house when you need it? The word “contentious” in this verse can also be translated as “quarrelsome.” This verse is repeated in Proverbs 25:24 so it surely needs our attention! Is fighting every point of yours so vital that you’re willing to put your man in this position? I don’t think so!

It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
Prov. 21:19

Now it’s a desert – just in case we missed the point in the last few examples. It’s becoming more evident that being quarrelsome or contentious puts our husbands and others around us in some pretty undesirable spots. Since we tend to have selective blindness regarding our shortcomings, pray about this. Ask God to reveal if you’re a quarrelsome wife. If so, ask for forgiveness from God and your husband and set yourself on the path to being a better wife and bringing glory to God through your marriage!

Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
Prov. 25:16

Our culture offers many offers so many opportunities for overindulgence. It’s not just with food, either! Sleep, comfort, beautiful homes, social media, and time for ourselves are some ways we can overindulge. As Christian women, we need to restrain and discipline ourselves to enjoy the blessings in our lives but not be distracted by the comforts, lest we forget what we are really here for – serving others and glorifying God.

Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
Prov 26:17

Although not specifically directed toward women, we can all identify with a love of drama. This attraction to drama is why those cheesy soap operas and trashy talk shows keep afternoon television booked for years! It takes a conscious and targeted effort to avoid drama as a woman. Our weakness is to get sucked into the business of others and we need to stand against that and only get involved if it’s necessary and beneficial to all parties.

For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
Prov. 26:20

While we have the power to cause destruction with our words and focus on others, we also can make peace with it. We can be where the rumors and the gossip come to die. We can uplift one another by how we talk about them. We can use our ability to see the weaknesses of others to walk with them and pray for them.

What should we do?

Many direct “do not” type statements come through as you read the above Proverbs, but our God does not leave us without further instruction. We must align ourselves with what He wants for us and those around us through His plan. We’re given a clear goal at the end of Proverbs.

A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.

She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Prov. 31:10-31

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Though not unattainable, it will take discipline and obedience on our part as the Spirit provides continued guidance and instruction to live up to becoming a Proverbs 31 woman. Be encouraged in that we’re all a work in progress. When convicted of things in our lives that need to change, we can ask God for help and do all in our human power to transform our lives into the wives, mothers, and women God calls us to be and bring all the glory to Him! *Drops microphone*

If you enjoyed this article, head to the Mic Drop Moments in Proverbs main page for more!

The Names of God: Revealing God’s Personality Traits

Written by Holy Branches on January 20, 2026. Posted in Bible Study, Hebrew Language. 4 Comments on The Names of God: Revealing God’s Personality Traits

One of the reasons for the existence of the Bible is to help us to get to know God. As we study the Bible, we see His work, how He relates to His people, what He’s capable of and more! It’s through Bible study that we meet Him and get to know who He is.

In the Hebrew culture of the Old Testament, names weren’t merely for identification like they are in our culture today. A name exposed someone’s deeper identity, their purpose, or their place in the world. Through a name, you could learn of a person’s story and it’s the same with God.

But we don’t know God’s true name. The closest we have is the Hebrew letters יהוה, usually pronounced “Yahweh”. That doesn’t stop us from having a chance to get to know Him though His many names though. Each name used to refer to God reveals a different aspect of His character so studying these names can help us to get to know Him better. Through learning the characteristics that give Him these names, we get to learn more of who He is!

In many cases, the names given to God are given not by Himself but by people that encounter Him. Like much of the Bible, one of the ways we get to know God is through the relationship He has with His people and the names they give Him are not an exception to that. When the patriarchs of the people of Israel give God a name, that name reveals to us an aspect of God’s character.

Below are the basic names of God but they’re only a starting point. There are many, many more names of God. To see more, click on the links in the headings.

His Names are Wonderful: Getting to Know God Through His Hebrew Names

If you’re interested in even more names of God, here are other articles in this series you may enjoy.

The Names of God: יהוה, the God of Israel

The Names of God: Elohim, The Mighty One

The Names of God: Adonai, Our Lord and Master

Find the free printable PDF Names of God Chart here!

If you’re new to the Hebrew language, it may be helpful to start with my posts on the Hebrew Alphabet and the Hebrew Vowels. You’ll also find my Hebrew Language Resources page helpful.

Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה

This is the name that God used to refer to Himself as “I AM THAT I AM” in Exodus 3:14 when Moses asked what to say when the people ask who sent him. He said again to tell the people that “I AM” sent Moses and He followed that by referring to Himself as “Elohim”. Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh can also be translated as “I will be what I will be”.

Why did He give such a complicated answer instead of just a name? We often forget when thinking about God that we’re attempting to get our mortal minds around the supernatural Creator of the Universe. Such a creature would have to be far beyond our understanding for if He fit within the confines of it, He could not be the all-powerful being He is. So it makes sense that a name which labels this awesome supernatural being would be beyond our human capability to understand as well!

Furthermore, this name gives us a glimpse of our God’s eternal nature. He has no beginning and no end – at least not by our human comprehension. He exists now and always has and always will. But to say that he merely exists is too passive. He’s not just “there”. He’s active. He creates, loves, judges, etc., constantly and forever. He simply is.

Yahweh – יהוה

Found almost 7,000 times and in all but three books of the Old Testament, these 4 Hebrew letters, יהוה, are the consonants used to refer to God. This name is often referred to as the Tetragrammaton, which is a Greek word meaning “made of four letters” and it’s translated into English as “LORD”.

Since no vowels accompany these four consonants in the original Hebrew texts, there’s some speculation on the pronunciation of this name. Many agree that it’s pronounced “Yahweh” (or “Yahveh”), with the vowels appearing as יַהְוֶה, yet others propose that the vowels are as such instead יְהֹוָה. This second pronunciation would render another familiar name for God – “Yehovah” or the common translation of “Jehovah”.

Regardless of pronunciation, יהוה comes from the root word meaning “to be”. This would make sense as God referred to Himself as “I AM”, which is a form of the verb “to be”.

As the name of God is holy, many don’t speak it out of reverence and respect. Instead, it’s often replaced by “HaShem”, meaning “the Name” or “Adonai”, meaning “my Lord” as well as other terms of honor.

The name יהוה is used in situations where God’s interacting with His people, like when He appeared to Moses in the burning bush or breathed life into Adam. It’s combined with other words to show us His character even more specifically.

Elohim אֱלֹהִים

Plural for Eloah (אֱלֹוהַ ) and from the word El (אֵל), this is the first name of God given in the Bible in Genesis 1:1, just before God created the universe. This name implies God’s mighty nature. Like יהוה, Elohim is attached to other words to expose additional aspects of His character.

Elohim doesn’t just refer to the God of Israel but to gods in general or even to angels, although it’s not capitalized in this case to indicate that. For example, it’s the word used in Exodus 20, verse 3, in the command “You shall have no other gods before Me”.

Why is the plural form Elohim, used? Well, the Bible doesn’t directly explain it but it’s not uncommon in Hebrew for something we think of as singular to be found in the plural form. Some examples are “water”, which is mayim (מַיִם) and “face”, which is panim (פָּנִים). Some say Elohim in the plural form refers to the Trinity but others say that it’s a form of royal “we”, or an “honorific plural” used by or in reference to those of great importance and power.

Elohai, meaning “my God”, can be found where Ruth stays with Naomi in Ruth 1:16, when she says “Your people shall be my people and your God, my God”. It’s used in many places throughout the Old Testament and was used by Jesus when he quoted David (Ps. 22:1) before his death on the cross by saying “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”.

Adonai אֲדֹנָי

Translated into English as “Lord”, Adonai is an extended form of the word Adon (אָדוֹן), which is also a name for God but can be used to refer to men or angels as well.

As I said above, Adonai is also often used as a substitute for יהוה when reading scripture or praying out loud out of respect for God’s name. It’s also said in Jewish liturgy when יְיָ has been written in place of יהוה.

This name of God can be found in combination with Yahweh as Adonai Yahweh (אֲדֹנָי יַהְוֶה), which is another name translated as “Lord GOD” as in Genesis 15:2, “Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me…”.

Adonai can also be conjugated to be “our Lord” or “our Master” as Adoneinu (אֲדֹנֵנוּ) and Adoni (אֲדֹנִי), which means “my Lord”. These are shown in 1 Samuel 16:16 and Joshua 5:14, respectively.

Other Names of God

There are many names of God that aren’t used in conjunction with Yahweh, Elohim, or Adonai but are important to learn in that they also reveal attributes of God that can help us get to know Him. They’re words typically used to describe human attributes, such as Chatan (חָתָן), meaning “bridegroom” or Shofet (שֹׁפֵט), meaning “judge”.

In studying these names, we conclude not that God is human-like but that we are somewhat God-like. This aligns with what we already know about our creation, that we’re created in God’s image. Thus the human attributes we use to describe God are actually His attributes that we get a glimpse of even through our humanity.

Click here for a free printable PDF of my Names of God Chart!

If you’re being blessed by the study of God’s names and attributes, make sure not to miss the many additional names by clicking on the links found in the headings above.

Hear, O Israel: What Does the Shema Mean for Christians?

Written by Holy Branches on January 20, 2026. Posted in Traditions. 36 Comments on Hear, O Israel: What Does the Shema Mean for Christians?

The Shema is recited at synagogues worldwide and twice daily by Orthodox Jews and some Christians. Its meaning is deep and answers life’s most challenging questions. When sung in Hebrew, its cadence is soothing and poetic. It consists of three parts, beginning with Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NASB)

The Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven

Reciting the Shema is sometimes called accepting the yoke of the kingdom of heaven. It’s referred to this way because, by saying the words of the Shema, we acknowledge that we are responsible for following them and are committed to God and His commands.

Facing East

It is often said while facing East. Facing East is done because people in the Bible said prayers in the direction of the Temple. Praying in this way is demonstrated by Daniel in Dan. 6:10. The practice comes from the following verses out of Solomon’s prayer to God in the dedication of the Temple.

“Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.”
1 Kings 8:28-30 (NASB)

“Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.”
1 Kings 8:41-43 (NASB)

Of course, God can hear prayers said in any direction, but facing Jerusalem while reciting the Shema reminds us of God’s desire to dwell with His people and hear our prayers. It also reminds us that Jesus is returning to reign in the new kingdom of Jerusalem, as promised.

Phrases of the Shema and their meanings

Each phrase of the Shema is relevant to us as Christians. Below is a summary of the meaning of each phrase and what it means for us and our faith.

“Hear, O Israel!”

(In Hebrew – “Shema, Yisrael”)

This first phrase of the Shema is the most recited portion. It is a call to God’s people to acknowledge that God is our only God – and that we are His people. “Shema” literally means “hear” or “listen,” but it implies more than that. It implies that we should not only hear the following verses but also act, showing in how we live that we believe them.

When we don’t know what to do in our lives, the Shema reminds us to listen. We are to hear what God has to say with faithful ears, be prepared to do what he commands of us, and continually follow His guidance.

“The Lord is our God”

(In Hebrew – “Adonai Eloheinu”)

The command to listen is followed by the name of God (YHVH), but out of respect and obedience to the third commandment, God’s name is represented by “Adonai” instead. This phrase is said with great reverence and is said while bowing. It should humble and forever awe us that we have the great privilege of calling the Creator of the universe “our God”! How blessed are we?!

“The Lord is one”

(In Hebrew – “Adonai Echad”)

God is the only one deserving of our worship. No one, not political figures, other gods, our families, or even ourselves, comes close to God’s caliber of significance. He is to be our focus and our purpose.

I have also heard this verse discussed considering the pagan people groups surrounding the people of Israel at the time of Moses. Given that the neighboring peoples had numerous gods, having just one God would have set the Hebrew people apart noticeably.

“Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever”

(In Hebrew – “Barookh shem k’vod malkhooto l’olam vaed”)

While not included in Deuteronomy, rabbis added this, and it is therefore said in an undertone, not at a normal volume as the rest of the Shema. Its purpose is to affirm God’s kingship throughout eternity.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might”

(In Hebrew – “V’ahavta et adonai elohekha b’kohl l’vavkha oovkohl nafsh’kha, oovkohl me’odekha”)

Referred to as the v’ahavta, this phrase answers the question of purpose in our lives. With all our hearts, souls, and might, we’re to love God. It’s simply stated, but it takes a lifetime to learn – and then some!

When the Bible talks about the heart, it isn’t an emotional organ but one of discernment, reason, and commitment. When we love God with our hearts, we don’t have a mushy, romantic feeling toward God; we commit. We’re all in. Our faith in Him is solid, and we love all that is from Him and reject all that is not in our lives.

The concept of our “soul” is somewhat ambiguous, but the best description I’ve heard is that it is our innermost being. How do we love God with our souls? We are devoted to Him with everything we are. There is nothing we try to hide from him. He knows us better than we know ourselves because He made us, so we can consult Him if we want to get to know ourselves better!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.”
Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB)

The word for “might” is “me’odekha.” It is more literally translated as “very, very much” or “muchness.” Loving God with all your “muchness” is something that consumes you. It is intertwined in everything you do and is something people can see when observing your life.

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart”

(In Hebrew – “V’hayoo hadvareem ha’ayleh, ‘asher ‘anokhee m’tsavkha hayom al l’vavekha”)

Interestingly, the commands were to be on the hearts of the Israelites. The common understanding is that the Law was at this time written on stone, and its being written on our hearts only occurred later, post-Jesus, when the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles. God’s words were to be on the hearts of His people from day one, not only after the New Covenant was instated.

“You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Christian Canvas Wall Art Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Shema Canvas Print Positive Painting Religious Home Wall Church Decor Framed Gift 12×15 Inch

(In Hebrew – “v’sheenantam l’vanekha, v’deebarta bam b’sheevtkha b’vaytekha, oovlekht’kha vaderek oovshakhb’kha, oovkoomekha. Ookshartam le’ot al yadekha, v’hayoo l’totafot bayn aynekha. Ookhtavtam alm’zoozot baytekha oovish’arekha.”)

This phrase is taken literally by orthodox Jews using tefillin (or phylacteries) and mezuzahs. Tefillin are small leather boxes containing scripture attached to the forehead and arm using leather bands. Tefillin is done to fulfill the part of the command saying, “bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontals on your forehead.” Mezuzahs are small boxes containing scripture that are adhered to the doorposts of one’s house. These are to fulfill the command to “write them on the doorposts of your house.” While these are great reminders, I think God was trying to ensure that we kept His commands first and foremost in all areas of our lives. I don’t think He wanted to limit His commands to things like doorposts and gates, but instead, to be throughout our lives, schedules, homes, and cities when we travel and when we are home.

3 parts of the Shema

There are three parts to the complete Shema. Although the remaining two parts are also meaningful, I focused this post on the first part, the one my family recites and the version recited at our synagogue and others. Here’s a summary of the second and third parts of the complete Shema.

The second part, called the Vehayah, is taken from Deuteronomy 11:13-21. This part covers obedience to God and the blessings that result, and it also includes a warning of what disobedience brings. It then repeats that these words should remain on your heart and that you should teach them to your children, etc., just as it says in part one. Its name, the Vehayah, is the first word of this section of the Shema, and it means “and it shall be” or “it shall come about.”

Part three is from Numbers 15:37-41. This section includes the command that God gave the Israelites to wear tassels (tzitzit) with blue cords on the corners of their garments so they’d look at it and remember God’s commands and not go their own way.

Tzitzits (tzitziot is the correct plural in Hebrew) look like this, and if you wish to purchase them, click on the picture below.

Traditional Tzitzits Set Tassels Prayer Shawl Accessories Blue and White with Hanging Hooks

They are usually attached to a prayer shawl (called a Tallit) or another four-cornered garment. You may have seen depictions of Jesus or the apostle Paul wearing a similar garment.

HalleluYAH Messianic Tallit Prayer Shawl 72″x 22″ with Bag

The most prominent of Jewish prayers, the Shema, holds deep meaning for Christians, who share the same awesome one God. Recited daily for thousands of years, the Shema would have even been said at least twice daily by our Savior, Jesus. When asked what the greatest commandment was, his response was the Shema!

”One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “
Mark 12:28-30 (NASB)

Jesus’s reference to it as the greatest commandment should draw our attention. Reciting the Shema as Christians keeps us focused on what God wants us to be – on Him, obedience to His commands, and witnessing to others about them.

The Aaronic Blessing: An Introduction

Written by Holy Branches on January 13, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots, Traditions. 6 Comments on The Aaronic Blessing: An Introduction

The Aaronic Blessing, also known as the Priestly Blessing, is commonly known among Christians, and it’s said after the service in Christian churches of many denominations and Jewish synagogues. Aside from being a nice thing to say before congregants exit the sanctuary, why is it said, and where does it come from?

Click here for a printable version of the Aaronic Blessing.

A command to bless

This blessing was God’s idea as He instructed Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel using these words. In the book of Numbers, where this blessing is found, the Israelites are experiencing their newfound freedom from their Egyptian captors. In the Sinai wilderness, God’s giving them instructions for their new desert lifestyle as free people. God also provides directives for the priesthood, including a specific command to bless the people using what is commonly referred to as the Aaronic blessing.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.’

So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”
Num. 6:22-27

One exciting thing you’ll notice as you learn about the blessings is that there’s a progression in the bible of who was allowed to give a blessing. At first, only God had the authority to bless, and he then extended it to some of the patriarchs and then to priests. Some incidences of Aaron blessing the people in God’s name are found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy (Lev. 9:22 and Deut. 10:8 and 21:5).

Aaronic Blessing Wall Art Numbers 6 24-26 Wall Art The Priest’s Blessing(12.00”x16.00”,Framed)

Throughout history

In an archeological site on the old road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, what are possibly the oldest surviving Hebrew texts were found in 1979. In ancient Paleo-Hebrew, the Aaronic Blessing was written on two scrolls made of silver found in an ancient burial site. Aptly named “The Silver Scrolls,” they were dated back to the First Temple period and were possibly used as an amulet to ward off evil. If true, this would be another of many unfortunate examples of pagan customs infiltrating God’s people even back then. But what a fantastic find!

The Aaronic Blessing today

Today, God’s people are blessed using this same blessing in synagogues worldwide. In Judaism, it used to be that only priests would give this blessing, but it’s now extended to rabbis and worship leaders.

In a synagogue, when the congregants are blessed, the one performing the blessing raises his hands as Aaron did, as recorded in the Bible (Lev. 9:22). This practice has been nicknamed “the raising of the hands.” He also extends his prayer shawl or tallit over his head and his hands as he recites the blessing to indicate reverence and to obey the biblical command to have fringes or tzitzit on the corners of one’s clothing. Some hold their hands in the shape of a shin (ש), the Hebrew letter at the beginning of the word Shaddai, a name for God. The blessing is most commonly recited in Hebrew, but other languages are used depending on the audience.

On the evening of the Sabbath, Friday evening, this blessing is often said over the children of the house by many Jews and some Christians. It’s accompanied by requests for God to make them like Ephraim and Manasseh (boys) or Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah (girls). Whether in English or Hebrew, the one blessing usually puts their hands on or above the one(s) being blessed and then says the blessing.

For Christians?

As grafted-in Gentiles, we can take part in the promises extended to Israel and gain nourishment from the same roots from which they thrive – God Himself! When we accepted Jesus as our savior, we officially joined the Kingdom of God, which started with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.

Under the New Covenant, where God’s Word has been written on our hearts through the Holy Spirit as believers in Jesus, we entered the priesthood ourselves. Revelation 1:5-6 says that Jesus’s blood made us priests to God! We can bless God’s people in His name, and He does indeed bless through it due to the power in His name.

A walk through the blessing

The LORD bless you and keep you

(Yverkah’kha Adonai v’yeeshm’rekha; – יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃)

Adonai is written and said in this phrase instead of the tetragrammaton, YHVH, which is not said to avoid profaning God’s name.

The word “bless” here means “to affirm or revere,” and the word “keep” means “to protect or watch.”

The LORD make His face to shine upon you

(Ya’ayr Adonai panav ‘aylekha – יָאֵר יְיָ פָּנָין אֵלֶיךָ)

“Face” here is a noun and can be either “face,” literally, or “front” as well.

And be gracious unto you

(Veekhoonekha; – וׅיחֻנֶּךָ׃)

Translated here as “gracious,” this word means “to show pity or favor.”

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you

(Yeesa’ Adonai panav ‘aylekha – יׅשָּׂא יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ)

This phrase is an idiom (a saying) meaning “He looks at you with peace and blessing.”

And give you peace.

(V’yasaym l’kha shalom. – וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֺם)

Beyond just peace, shalom’s meaning also includes wholeness and completeness. And who of us doesn’t want God’s perfect peace?

In your family

If this article has moved you to use the Aaronic Blessing to bless your children, please don’t let the learning process or the newness of doing so prevent you! I encourage you to continue this blessing once you start, as it may be awkward at first but will become among your family’s most treasured moments, as it has become in mine.

Click here for a printable version of the Aaronic Blessing

A blessing for you!

And I’ll conclude this way with all of you, brothers and sisters, in my mind and heart:

The LORD bless you and keep you

The LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you

And give you peace.

What’s So Important About the Western Wall?

Written by Holy Branches on January 13, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots. 4 Comments on What’s So Important About the Western Wall?

There stands in the Old City of Jerusalem a 2,000-year-old wall of limestone. Its beautifully chiseled ancient stones are of historical interest but have fueled much religious and political tension throughout its existence. But why this wall? Why is it worth all the strife and spilled blood surrounding it? Why do millions of people come from all over the world to visit this 187-foot section of wall – sometimes over 1 million people in just one month?

Mount Moriah

To fully understand the significance of The Wall, we must have at least a basic understanding of Mount Moriah. Now called the Temple Mount, and a seemingly small area comparatively, many significant acts of faith took place in this very spot. On Mount Moriah, Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him out of obedience to God. Abraham named this area “the LORD will provide” after God provided a ram to be offered in Isaac’s place.

1 Chronicles 21:18-30 and 2 Chronicles 3:1 describe Mount Moriah as the place God appeared to David and answered his prayer to end the plague on his people. It’s also the site of the threshing floor that David purchased for the Temple to be built. Ornan (or Araunah, depending on your translation), the floor’s previous owner, offered to give it to him, but David said he wouldn’t offer to God that which cost him nothing and paid for it anyway. Doesn’t that show us what’s going on in David’s heart? Service to God isn’t really sacrificing if it costs us nothing!

Solomon then built the Temple on Mount Moriah, which was later rebuilt after the first Temple was destroyed. Many places in the Bible (Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation, among others) indicate that there will be a holy temple in the future. Scripture suggests that Mount Moriah will again be where God inhabits His Temple.

Solomon’s Temple

Built almost 3,000 years ago on Mount Moriah, in the 10th century BCE, the Temple for God was among the grandest of structures in history. Read about it in 1 Kings 6-8. It was indeed a work of art! During his reign, building the Temple was on David’s heart but was later constructed by his son, Solomon. This Temple wasn’t just a beautiful church building. Called the house of God in the Bible, it contained the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies and was where sacrifices were carried out according to the Laws of God. The design came from God and was given to David (1 Ch. 28:19), who then passed it on to his son when the time came for it to be built.

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In 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5, it’s recorded that the presence of God showed up in the form of a cloud during the dedication of the Temple. When the priests exited the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Temple, after placing the Ark of the Covenant there, the glory of God filled the Temple in the form of a cloud. The Bible says that cloud permeated the building, so the priests couldn’t even stand to minister! Clearly, God thought highly of the Temple King Solomon had built for Him!

The Second Temple

In about 587 BCE, the city of Jerusalem was occupied and taken over by the Babylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar II had not only Solomon’s Temple destroyed but all of Jerusalem burned.

After the fall of the Babylonian Empire in 516 BCE, Cyrus the Great allowed the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple. It was reconstructed in the same place as the first. In 19 BCE, Herod built a semi-rectangular retaining wall around the Temple area, and the Temple was completed during the reign of his grandson, King Agrippa II, as recorded by historian Josephus Flavius. The Western wall of this rectangular retaining wall is what’s currently known as The Western Wall.

The Temple today

The story behind the celebration of Hanukkah covers the period when the Seleucid Empire controlled Jerusalem. Antiochus IV followed in his father’s footsteps in trying to Hellenize the Jews. The Temple was desecrated with the pagan practices of the Greeks, which eventually led to the Maccabean Revolt and their miraculous victory.

Roman rule over Jerusalem in 70 CE brought the most recent destruction to The Temple. This time, it wasn’t rebuilt (at least not yet!). Both the Romans and the Christians under Constantine forbade the Jews from entering Jerusalem for centuries, except just one day annually, the 9th of the month of Av, when they were allowed to visit to mourn the Temple.

In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem led to them building a shrine on the Temple site, the Dome of the Rock, in 691 CE. Even after the Nation of Israel regained control over Jerusalem in 1967, the Temple Mount remained under Jordanian rule. It’s still this way today, and though Jews may visit, they may not pray there. The closest place to the Temple they’re permitted to pray is the Western Wall, which is why the Kotel, or “wall” in Hebrew, is considered the holiest site in Judaism.

Christians and The Wall

Should the Western Wall be a sacred site for Christians? The short answer is yes! Though we are not Jewish, our belief in Jesus as the Messiah has allowed our Gentile selves to be grafted in, allowing us to become God’s people. God’s promises to the Israelites in the Old Testament also apply to us.

The Temple is not only part of the history of our faith as Christians and our spiritual heritage as people of the Kingdom of God; it’s also the place our God physically inhabited here on earth to be with His people, pre-Jesus. It’s easy to forget that our God is real, supernatural, and awesome! Don’t miss the significance of the history of this Temple. Your God thought the place was important enough to live there. Your God lived there. For real. Let that sink in.

Jesus at The Temple

Another reason for Christians to honor the Temple is that it was a place of worship for our Savior, Jesus. The Bible records many situations where we find Jesus in different life stages at the Temple in Jerusalem.

As an infant

Jesus’s first visit to The Temple was when he was just 40 days old. Mary and Joseph brought him there to fulfill the command in the Torah to do so (Luke 2:22-38). He also went there at least as often as once yearly as he grew up (Luke 2:41).

As a young man

At 12, Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents to celebrate Passover. Then, he was accidentally left behind and was found asking brilliant questions of the rabbis there (Luke 2:41-51).

As a man

The most well-known story from Jesus at the Temple was when he overturned the sellers’ tables (Mark 11:15-18), but that wasn’t the only time he went to the Temple. During one period in his adult life, he taught there daily (Luke 21:37-38).

As believers in the truth of scripture, the God of the Bible, and Jesus as Lord, it can be seen that the Western Wall and the Temple it represents are of great importance. The fact that Jesus fulfills the need for a sacrifice for our sin, causing us not to need a temple for sin sacrifices, doesn’t diminish the significance of The Temple and its Western Wall. While not all of us can visit it in person, Christians can honor this site and thus our God from afar by learning more about its history and effect on the world both politically and prophetically. If you can, a visit to the Western Wall (as well as other significant sites in The Holy Land) will grow and concrete your faith and understanding of the land of the Bible.

Wild Olive Branches: The Blessing of Being Grafted In

Written by Holy Branches on January 6, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots. 30 Comments on Wild Olive Branches: The Blessing of Being Grafted In

As Gentile believers in Jesus as the Messiah (a.k.a. Christians), Paul says in Romans 11 that we’re “wild olive” branches and that we’re “grafted in” to the “olive tree” to become partakers in the original tree – God’s promises to His people. Paul’s analogy is descriptive, showing how Gentile believers have a part in the Kingdom of God.

And I like being called a wild olive branch, don’t you? It sounds like we’re untainted in our wildness yet dignified in that we’re part of something rich and established. While this may be part of what Paul meant, there’s a lot more in this analogy for us as Christians.

Before the Wild Branch

To get some background, look at what’s going on at the beginning of Romans chapter 11. Paul is in the middle of telling his Jewish audience that they missed the messiah. By rejecting Jesus, they missed the message of grace they were offered and were still focusing on being saved by their works while waiting for the messiah. Verses 11-16 describe how the Gentiles have a chance at the Messiah because Jesus’s own people rejected him. Paul still wanted the Jewish people to see their need for Jesus (and some of them did!), but he describes their rejection as the “reconciliation of the world” (Rom. 11:15).

How blessed we are, Brothers and Sisters? It is so sad that God’s people, the Jews, shunned the messiah they had prayed for over so many years, but God brings a blessing in even something as heartbreaking as this. And it’s for us! Because of this, we have access to Israel’s Messiah, now the Savior to the entire world!

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About Grafting

I love gardening more than most, but I haven’t attempted grafting. It isn’t easy. It’s an expert-level sort of thing. A tree farmer must do a graft correctly and carefully and take great care of the scion – the area where the two trees are attached. Even after a LOT of work and attention to detail, the graft may not take! Even when it does take, the new offshoot may not be productive. A well-grafted branch not only grows but also produces well.

Grafting only works when the new branch is of the same family as the original tree. For example, you can’t graft a cherry branch onto an orange tree. A successful graft requires a sort of “communication” between the old and new trees, which can only occur between trees of the same type.

A Farmer’s reasons for grafting may vary, but the overall goal is to get the best of both varieties. Combining the trees into one shouldn’t obscure the character of one and highlight the other but reserve the essence of both. Generally, one of the two trees has quality rootstock, and the other produces desirable fruit. Grafting gives the gardener the best of both worlds – a tree with solid roots and good fruit. The nature of each tree is reserved while allowing the best qualities of both to shine through.

Two Types of Olive Trees

In the Middle East at the time of Paul and today, two main olive tree types are commonly grafted – the wild and the cultivated varieties. The cultivated trees grow olives used for food and to produce olive oil. Wild olive fruit isn’t as flavorful and is not usually eaten. Grafting won’t make a wild branch produce olives of cultivated quality or change the solid root structure of the original tree. It would, however, allow the wild branch to benefit from the established roots and healthy base of the cultivated tree and help it to produce healthy fruit of its unique variety.

Understanding Paul’s Symbolism

To clarify Paul’s analogy, Gentiles that recognize Jesus as the messiah and thus their need for him are the wild olive branches. The cultivated olive tree and its roots represent the promises of God given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Old Testament. He is saying that, although God made these promises to the Jewish people, we have a part in them, as Gentiles, due to our belief that Jesus is who he says he is. Our faith strengthens us and allows us to be “sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7).

So, now that we’re grafted in, what are we? While the grafting process entitles us to be heirs to God’s promises to the Jews, it does not make us into Jews. After the graft, we maintain our original character – Jews stay Jews, and Gentiles stay Gentiles. The change is that we’re then one in our Messiah, Jesus.

The Branches Broken Off

When grafting, cutting some branches off the original tree is usually necessary to allow space or a better nutrient load for the new branch. Paul says in his grafting analogy that Jesus came to save his people, the Jewish people, but most of them rejected him as the messiah. He says that these branches were “not spared” and that they were “hardened.” Sadly, the Jewish people who did not recognize Jesus as their messiah were broken from the tree of God’s promises.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He states that God will never abandon His people Israel. Also found in 1 Samuel 12:22 and other places, God is clear about His undying love for the Jewish people. Paul continues, saying that God will readily re-graft them when they turn from unbelief.

He also says that it was the disobedience of the Jews in rejection of Jesus that made a place for Gentile believers in the Kingdom of God. Because they fell away and were broken from the tree, we can now be grafted into that tree where we wouldn’t otherwise have had a part. This redemption is just part of God’s character. He makes a perfect plan, and people mess it up, then he brings blessing out of the terrible situation that is beyond what we could have imagined. It’s part of who He is!

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The Job of Grafted Branches

What should our lives look like today as successfully grafted wild olive branches? How do we reflect our roots while maintaining our Gentile character? Paul answers this as well.

Stay humble. Paul first warns us of arrogance. Because branches were broken off, allowing us to be grafted in does not give us the right to think of ourselves as superior to the Jewish people. In verse 18, he said that we should remember that it is the root that supports us and not the Gentiles that support the root. As branches that benefit from the root, Christians should stand firmly against anti-Semitism and work diligently to bridge the deep chasm between Christians and Jews that has been built throughout history.
Pray for the Jewish people. Praying for their salvation should be our prayer for the Jewish people today. If seeing them turn to Christ and be re-grafted in is a desire of God’s heart, it should also be ours!
Learn more about the tree. Being grafted in brings the opportunity for salvation to us as Gentiles. Some Christians say that the Old Testament is no longer relevant to our faith, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Genesis 12:1-3 contains God’s promise to Abraham to give him land and numerous descendants and to bless all the people of the earth through him. But the whole bible contains our story as God’s people, from Genesis to Revelation. God’s character is revealed throughout His word, and we should make it our life’s work to get to know Him and the promises (both fulfilled and yet to be) upon which our faith is built.
Have a faith worthy of jealousy. Not in a middle school mean girl way, but one where our faith is so pure and solid that outsiders, including Jews, want what we have. Paul suggests that this jealousy was one of the reasons salvation was extended to the Gentiles. Is your faith capable of making someone jealous for it? Do outsiders see your relationship with the God of the Bible and hope in our Savior and want that in their own lives?
Produce good fruit. Like a grafted branch, we are to be productive offshoots. In John 15:8, Jesus says, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” We glorify God by bearing good fruit, including the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23.

The analogy of being grafted in as wild olive branches demonstrates how we, as Gentiles, have access to God’s promises to the Hebrew people. Without this grafting and some branches being broken from the original tree, we wouldn’t have a part in these promises and wouldn’t have our Messiah, Jesus. As successfully grafted and productive branches, we should produce fruit that glorifies God and humbly honor our roots and the spiritual nutrition they provide.

Resolutions: The New Year and Beyond

Written by Holy Branches on January 6, 2026. Posted in Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Sabbath, Shavuot, Sukkot, Traditions, Yom Kippur. No Comments on Resolutions: The New Year and Beyond

This time of year, it seems everyone’s thinking about resolutions – losing weight, quitting smoking, reading their bible more, etc. But we’ve also heard that statistics show these resolutions often don’t last long. People stick to them for the first few weeks or months of the New Year and then return to their previous ways.

But what if there was more than one New Year’s Eve? What if there were a few more times in the year marked for a reassessment of our lives and the making of resolutions with the overall goal of bettering ourselves? Just think of who we’d be and what we could accomplish if we routinely adjusted the direction of our lives.

A GPS navigation system recalculates our route if we get off track. If we take a wrong turn or go straight instead of turning left, the system recalculates the course, ensuring that we still reach our destination despite deferring from the path we should be on.

Fortunately, we can do the same with our lives! Though we may be dedicated to God and genuinely want to follow His plan, we all veer off the route He has for us. It takes repeated examination, re-dedication, and re-adjustment to stay where God wants us.

Enter the Holy Days

Recalculating the route is what I love about celebrating the Biblical Holy Days. That’s one purpose of them – introspection and examination of our lives, re-aligning them with God’s plan. Each of these set-aside times also points us back to Jesus! This re-alignment is done many times yearly, and celebrating these days helps my family and I continually recalculate the routes our lives are on. Here are some of those times.

The Sabbath

God commands us to “remember” the Sabbath and keep it holy. But what exactly are we to remember? Ezekiel chapter 20 (verses 12 and 20) tells us that the Sabbath is a sign that we belong to God. Keeping the Sabbath is our acknowledgment of the covenant God made with us.

Our activities on the Sabbath should then point us to Him and remind us of Him and His goodness. The Sabbath, combined with Bible study and attending services, should encourage us to look at our lives weekly and see where we need to make changes to adhere more closely to the will of God.

The Sabbath also provides a time to rest before the next busy week. It gives us time to plan the days ahead and make the necessary changes to help us be more effective weekly.

Passover

The themes of Passover will also encourage close examination of our lives. That we are no longer slaves to Egyptian captors or to sin causes us to recall all God has done for His people. We could never have obtained this freedom for ourselves. Just as the blood of the lamb freed the Hebrew people from Egypt, Jesus, our Passover Lamb, freed us from the sin that enslaved us.

Think of God’s faithfulness to all His people. In the most challenging times, God can free you from what afflicts you, often working a miracle in your life as he did throughout Exodus. Nothing is too hard for God, and there is no limit to how good your life can be when following Him.

Passover brings a question of identity to mind. Who are we? Or, instead – whose are we? The answer for Christians is that we belong to God. He is the one who rescued us and the one who provided a way to Him despite our sinfulness. As His people, we mature in our faith and begin to learn to look at ourselves through His eyes. While He loves, accepts, and forgives us with our flaws, our desire to obey Him grows as our love for Him does.

Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is seven days where leaven (yeast) is not only not eaten but also cleaned out of homes altogether. The Bible often uses leaven as a symbol of sin or wickedness. Cleaning leaven out of your home and diet for seven days is difficult! Think of all the crumbs in your pantry or even under your fridge!

Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts Expanded Edition: Discovering Their Significance to You as a Christian

The cleanout of leaven causes us to look closer at the sin in our lives. If we’re honest, it’s there on the surface but also in the dark pantry-type corners of our lives! We must constantly be on the lookout for the crumbs of sin in our lives and get rid of them before we end up with a filthy mess. We must also do the more unpleasant cleaning in the parts of our life we’d rather ignore – like that mess under the fridge. During this period, we should sincerely evaluate our lives and identify where sin has been festering, then work to make ourselves more pleasing to God.

Cleaning sin out of our lives should also awaken us to the grace we’ve received. Isn’t it amazing that God knows we aren’t capable of a flawless cleanout and has provided us with a perfectly leaven-free Savior – a gift so indescribably good it makes even a clean home seem like chopped liver!

First Fruits

First Fruits is a Spring festival that celebrates the fertility of the land as a blessing from God. Part of this new growth (a lamb without defect along with wine and bread) is given back to God as an offering and show of gratitude for His blessings. In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 explains that Jesus is the first fruits.

Just like the Holy Day of First Fruits, which is to recognize ahead of time the blessings that God will give, Paul shows in Corinthians that Jesus’s resurrection assures us of the blessing we’ll receive in the harvest at the end of time. We look ahead to when we’ll commune with God, and Jesus will rule.

Looking forward to this time in the future should prompt us to be grateful and prepare ourselves as offerings. We need to do all we can to align our lives with what God wants of us and be continually and earnestly hunting for what that looks like.

Shavuot

This celebration commemorates the Law God gave to the Hebrew people on Mount Sinai. Also known as The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, this is what the apostles were celebrating when the Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2. Shavuot is a reminder that God gave us His Law as a blessing and that the Holy Spirit is the Law written on our hearts that was prophesied by Jeremiah (31:33).

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But do we see God’s Laws as a blessing? Or do we compromise, justify our disobedience, and declare that certain ancient Laws don’t apply to us? Shavuot is a time to thank God for His Law and to delight in it as the Psalmist does in chapter 1, verse 2. It’s a time to take a close look at our actions and see whether there’s truth in saying that we aim to obey them and delight in them. We should reflect on how God’s Law has improved our lives and its blessing for all his people. How can we better please God by following his commands?

Shavuot is also when we thank God for the gift of His Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit dwelling in us serves many functions, confirmation of our salvation being just one of many. He’s also our guide and convicts us when we need to change the course of our lives. As we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, we pay special attention to whether we’re listening to this conviction and guidance and adjust our hearts, minds, and actions accordingly.

Yom Teruah

Also known as Rosh Hashanah, this Feast gives many reasons for introspection and re-calculation of the routes of our lives. Celebrating our names being written in the Book of Life, remembering the story of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac (Gen. 22), casting off sin, and calling attention to trumpet blasts are all themes of this celebration.

These themes should make us want to audit our behavior and encourage us to make adjustments. The Bible says the names of the righteous are written in the Book of Life. Sin in all our lives prevents us from being wholly righteous, which is why we can celebrate the gift we have in Jesus, who stands in our place just as God provided a ram to stand in Isaac’s place.

But just because we have Jesus as our substitute does not mean we don’t try our best to obey. It’s not to earn our salvation that we obey but out of love for God. Focusing on repentance provokes change. I always tell my children when they say apologize that sorry people change. If they’re genuinely sorry, I’ll see it in their actions, not just their words. It’s the same with us and God. Being genuinely sorry will change us noticeably.

We also focus on trumpet blasts at this time. The original command for this celebration includes the blowing of trumpets. This trumpet blowing is not just for musical enjoyment or celebratory noise. This type of trumpet blowing, using a ram’s horn or shofar, is Biblically an indication that God’s about to do something big! Other times trumpet blasts of this type are used is when the wall of Jericho was brought down or when Jesus returns (Joshua 6:20 and 1 Thess. 4:16-17, respectively)!

We often forget the supernatural aspects of God, and the trumpet blasts remind us that the miraculous events in the bible are REAL and not just stories. If we believe that, we should look forward to Jesus’s return and listen for the accompanying trumpet blasts, for real! If this doesn’t motivate us to ponder our lives and make necessary adjustments, I don’t know what will!

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement because it’s on this day that confession of and atonement for sin is to be made. This atonement is as a people, not necessarily an individual level. We’re apologizing for the things we’ve done to turn away from God as His people, not just for the individual disobedience in our own lives.

There are two things a Christian can focus on during Yom Kippur. The first is the honest and humble confession of sin. Yes, we can do this on any day of the year, but this day, set aside for confession, reminds us to do so when we may otherwise forget. Some pray and fast on Yom Kippur because it’s a time when we’re genuinely sorry and commit to change.

The other focus is that Jesus has eternally atoned for our sins! While we’re repentant, we’re also grateful for the undeserved grace we’ve been given. Even if we were to maintain a “good” life, we cannot earn our salvation and deserve condemnation. But that’s not our destiny if we’ve received Jesus as our Savior, and that’s something we should be humbly grateful for.

Sukkot

If we take even a glance at our lives, we’ll see that God has richly blessed us. This day is to celebrate what God has given us – food, shelter, and everything we need. He not only meets our needs; He goes above and beyond to provide for His people. In our culture, we often take these things for granted, and his graciousness is difficult to see, but Sukkot encourages us to see it for what it is – lavish blessings on His people!

He not only meets our physical needs but, more importantly, our spiritual needs. Among all other provisions, He’s also provided Jesus as a way for our sin debt to be paid. A theme of Sukkot is that God tabernacled with His people in the desert. He didn’t just observe them from Heaven; he was with them on their travels, guiding them. This guidance is the same thing Jesus does for us! He came from Heaven to Earth to live among us and become the provision for our sin.

Sukkot prompts us to look around again and see what God has done. He’s met and continues to meet our needs, especially the most desperate – the need for a Savior. Acknowledging this should alter the way we live. If we’re grateful, we will grumble and complain less about what we don’t have. We’ll show our gratitude for forgiveness by extending it to others, as well as repenting for sin and striving to live obedient lives.

Hanukkah

While not one of the seven appointed times in the book of Leviticus, Hanukkah is also an excellent time for resolutions. This celebration is all about re-dedication – both of God’s Temple and ourselves. Hanukkah celebrates the amazing things God has done for His people and our re-dedication to Him of what was His in the first place.

Hanukkah is a time to consider what or who we stand for. Having to state what we stand for seems optional when we live in a time and place that’s one of comfort and little persecution. But Christians everywhere don’t enjoy this type of comfort now, and we probably won’t experience it forever, either. Even our daily actions will show what we stand for, though. An honest review of our lives will show who we serve and where we need to get back on track.

So, go ahead and make that resolution for the New Year. But revisit it soon! If you don’t already celebrate the Biblical Holy Days, getting started is easier than you think! Visit the pages linked above to read more about each Holy Day on this website. Happy New Year!

9 Hebrew Words to Bring You Closer to God

Written by Holy Branches on December 17, 2025. Posted in Hebraic Roots, Hebrew Language. 29 Comments on 9 Hebrew Words to Bring You Closer to God

Studying the Hebrew language can grow our faith through deeper Bible study and other means. If you haven’t started studying Hebrew yet, I highly recommend it! Here are some resources to get you started.

Below are a few Hebrew words that can be better understood in their original language and context. Not nearly an exhaustive list, these few words, better understood from a Hebrew perspective, will illuminate some familiar Christian concepts and bring us closer to the God of the Bible.

1. Shalom שָׁלוֹם (pronounced sha-lōm)

This is a common greeting in Hebrew. Upon meeting someone, you’d say “Shalom,” and they’d respond with the same. Many Hebrew speakers say, “Shalom Aleichem” (peace be with you) instead. On the Sabbath, we wish each other “Shabbat shalom” (Peaceful Sabbath).

Not just peace

The word shalom is often translated simply as peace. While this is partly what shalom means, it only partially conveys its meaning. The concept of shalom goes deeper than that and brings us to realize the perfection in our holy God!

Shalom is a noun with many meanings. Its definition includes completeness, soundness, and welfare, along with harmony, prosperity, and tranquility. We’re left without an English word to convey all these, but searching the Bible for the word shalom can illuminate its more profound significance. Believe it or not, understanding shalom can help us better understand our God’s character!

A Name for God

Shalom is part of one of the names for God in Judges 6:24. Having met God himself and seen firsthand His supernatural power, Gideon built an altar and named it “Jehovah Shalom” or “The LORD is peace” to let everyone know that our God is shalom. He is peace and wholeness, completeness and perfection, harmony and prosperity – all of it!

The Way Things Ought to Be

In his book, Not the Way it’s Supposed to Be, Cornelius Plantinga of Calvin Theological Seminary says the following about shalom:

“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”

CORNELIUS PLANTINGA

Jesus and Shalom

By examining the word shalom, we can also better know Jesus, our Messiah. Isaiah calls Jesus the “Prince of shalom” in verse 9:6. Of all the terms above that are used to define shalom, Jesus has those qualities and is the Prince of them!

We can also use other words from the same root word to better understand what Jesus is Prince of. “Whole,” “it was worth it,” “perfect,” “was paid for,” and “paid for in advance” are meanings of words that come from the same root as shalom. It’s no coincidence that those concepts are part of our story as well. The perfect Prince of Shalom found us worth it and paid for our sin, making us whole!

2. Hallelujah הַלְלוּיָהּ (pronounced hal-loo-yah)

You already know this one. It’s a word we use in song and otherwise to praise God all the time! Hallelujah is made up of halal and Jah. Halal means “to praise,” “to shine,” “to be boastful,” “to act foolish,” and other similar terms. Jah or Yah is short for the name of God in the Bible, Yahweh. So, hallelujah is to praise God, make Him shine, boast in Him, or even go crazy worshiping Him!

Crazy Worship?!

Is that too much? Well, that depends. Are we just saying words when we praise God, or are we approaching the Creator of the universe to tell Him just how amazing we think He is? Those in heaven know more than we do about God’s awesomeness, and this is the word they use to worship Him!

“After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…’ And a second time they said, ‘Hallelujah! …’ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’ …Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.’”
Revelation 19:1-6

I don’t know about you, but reading these verses always gives me chills. Sometimes, we subconsciously fit God into our itty-bitty human box and forget that He’s the most awesome supernatural God ever. Try to picture this scene. God, on His heavenly throne, in His holy throne room, surrounded by heavenly elders and frightening creatures, is being worshiped by them. All the glory is His. The awe of the scene and God Himself is not lost on them, and they burst out with nothing other than repeated hallelujahs!

The powerful meaning behind hallelujah in our hearts when we worship might show Him at least a tiny shred of the praise He’s worthy of. What could we possibly say? It’s one of the best words our mortal mouths can offer. Hallelujah!

3. Yeshua יֵשׁוּעַ (pronounced yeh-shoo-uh)

This word is often translated as “Joshua” in the Hebrew Old Testament. It’s also the name of Jesus, our Savior! So, wait. If his name is actually Yeshua, why do we call him Jesus? Where did that come from?

Why Do We Call Him Jesus?

Where Yeshua is found in the Hebrew Old Testament, it is translated into English as Joshua. It was a male name in Bible times, and there are a few different Joshuas or Yeshuas in the Bible. When translated from Greek to English in the New Testament, it underwent a couple of transitions and then became Jesus.

Many now argue that the name Jesus is incorrect and, therefore, should not be used, but we should be careful not to get sidetracked by this. Jesus lived in a multilingual area, and he would have also been. He probably taught and conversed in different languages as necessary. What’s important here and in Jesus’s teachings is to preserve the word’s meaning.

More Than Just a Name

Beyond being a name, the word Yeshua is used throughout the Hebrew scriptures, meaning “salvation.” It was derived from the Hebrew word yasha, which means “to deliver” or “to rescue.” There are many well-known examples of where it’s used in the Old Testament, but here are a couple of my favorites:

“The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation [yeshua];

This is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will extol Him.” Exodus 15:2

“He only is my rock and my salvation [yeshua],

My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:2

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus’s name was the very thing he would do for us? Others with this same name in the Bible were also saviors of some type. Joshua led the Israelites during a time of numerous victories while conquering the land of Canaan. Yeshua, the High Priest, was the first High Priest in the rebuilt Temple following its destruction by the Babylonians. Isn’t it amazing that this important High Priest, the bridge from the Israelites to God, shares a name with our High Priest (Heb. 4:14) and way to God (John 14:6)?

Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness

4. Chesed חֶסֶד (pronounced che-sed, with the “ch” sound coming from the throat, as in Bach)

Known for its difficulty translating into English, this word contains a “chet,” a letter with a sound called a guttural. Since we don’t have true gutturals in English, it can be difficult to say this word correctly. Go ahead and practice. Say “Bach” – like the composer. Say it out loud. Listen for the sound at the end of the word, then say it at the beginning of chesed.

Chesed’s Meaning

Now that we know how it sounds, what does it mean? It’s commonly translated as mercy, kindness, lovingkindness, and goodness. It’s often used to convey God’s love toward His people, but, somewhat like God, it is much more complex than our first impression shows. Here are some very different examples of chesed’s use in the Bible.

“Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness [chesed] and truth; who keeps lovingkindness [chesed] for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.'” Exodus 34:6-7

“If there is a man who takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace [chesed]; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he bears his guilt.” Leviticus 20:17

Which is it?

In the above verse from Exodus, chesed is commonly translated as “lovingkindness .” God declares chesed an attribute of Himself. But then, the very same word is used to describe incestuous behavior, translated into English as “disgrace.” The contexts of both verses suggest two meanings for the same word, but this is not so.

Chesed translated as lovingkindness, mercy, charity, or even disgrace, doesn’t do justice to its whole meaning. This complex word conveys instead an attitude or behavior that shows an overflow of zeal or a lack of boundaries. Chesed comes from the Hebrew root meaning “eager and ardent desire .” It can mean both God-sized lovingkindness and disgrace worthy of great punishment because it is not a specific action but the passion or motivation behind it.

God’s Infinite Love

When God describes His love for us using the word chesed, He’s telling us that He has a boundless, overflowing love for us! Inside His love for us is His infinite grace, immeasurable love, inexhaustible forgiveness, and unlimited charity. And seriously, Guys? None of us deserve that. I don’t care how great you think you are. We’re nothing but selfish, disobedient specks in this universe. What an awesome God we have that He would extend His chesed to us!

5. Shema שְׁמַע (pronounced shuh-ma)

This word is the first one in The Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is recited regularly by Orthodox Jews and by many Christians. It’s also the verse Jesus refers to when asked what the greatest commandment is.

“Hear [Shema], O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

To Hear?

Shema is generally translated as “hear .” But right now, I can hear birds singing out the window, my daughter’s TV show in the background, and the keystrokes on my laptop. If the word shema is used to call the attention of the people of Israel and is followed by informing them that their lives should be a walking testament to God Himself, the word “hear” doesn’t quite convey what’s being said. In addition to “hear,” shema is also translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as “report,” “fame,” “tidings, “loud,” and “speech.”

It Requires Action

If you take the word with its context, however, it means more than the culmination of these words. In Deuteronomy 6, Shema is a command to not only hear God’s words but to act on them. I think of it in the same way as when I tell my children to listen. I don’t only mean for them to stop what they’re doing and hear what I say. I mean for them to hear and internalize what I say so that they remember and obey it.

This meaning is the same as shema can have. We need to pay attention—always studying God’s Word and spending time in prayer with Him so we can hear His words in the first place. Then, we need to internalize what He says, not just read or hear it and forget it. We need to remember it and, when required, obey it and apply it to our lives.

6. Amen אָמֵן (pronounced ah-meyn)

I know, I know – everyone knows this one. But did you know that it was a Hebrew word? Also, look at the above pronunciation. We can argue all day whether or not it’s pronounced ah-men or ay-men or when to use either, but for those who want to be purists about it, it’s neither!

The Deeper Meaning

This Biblical Hebrew word is unique because its primary meaning has not been lost in translation and cultural differences. “So be it” is the usual translation for amen. Amen is used correctly when we use it to affirm something someone says or after a prayer. Its root is aman, meaning “to confirm or support .” A related word is amanah, which means truthfulness, confirmation, credence, or belief. By saying amen, we’re stating that we confirm what has been said, believe in it, and find it true.

We say it to conclude our prayers and signify when we pray in unison with other people. We also use it in song to affirm the words and the message of our worship. Some even yell it out in church when a pastor says something that resounds with them.

The Conclusion of God’s Word

Our entire Bible concludes with this word. The last verse in the Bible sums up the whole Word, then affirms this message of truth with the “so be it” we know so well:

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21

Amen is also translated as “truth,” as in the following verse.

“Because he who is blessed in the earth

Will be blessed by the God of truth [amen];

And he who swears in the earth

Will swear by the God of truth [amen];

Because the former troubles are forgotten,

And because they are hidden from My sight!” Isaiah 65:16

Each word “truth” in this verse comes from amen in Hebrew. It says twice here that God is the “God of amen,” so this is one of God’s attributes or characteristics. He is the God of truth but also of confirmation, faithfulness, support, and affirmation of that truth. How privileged are we to have someone like this as our God?!

7. Mashiach מָשִׁיחַ (pronounced ma-shee-ach)

This word can be translated as “messiah,” but more literally means “anointed one.” In most places in the Bible, the English is “anointed one .” Only two verses translate it as “Messiah .” When used to refer to Jesus as the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach is used. Yeshua HaMashiach means “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus the Anointed One.”

Why Anoint?

The process of anointing someone with oil served to set that individual apart for service to God. It was used in the Old Testament to appoint priests (Ex. 29:7) and to establish kings over God’s people. Saul and David were appointed in this way (1 Sam. 10:1 and 2 Sam. 16:12-13), and prophecy in the Old Testament speaks of Jesus as Mashiach, “anointed one.”

“So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah [Mashiach] the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.” Daniel 9:25

In this verse, Mashiach is usually translated as “Messiah” instead of “Anointed One,” but the Hebrew word is the same. Jesus is truly our Mashiach! He has been anointed by God, chosen, and appointed to be our king and high priest!

8. Davar דָּבָר (pronounced duh-var)

The most basic translation of davar is that it means “word .” It can also mean “speak,” “pronounce,” “formalize,” “thing,” or “establish .” Here are some examples of its use in the Old Testament.

“And the Lord spoke [davar] to Moses, saying, “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land.” Exodus 6:10-11

“‘ Is anything [davar] too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.'” Genesis 18:14

“Then behold, the word [davar] of the Lord came to him…” Genesis 15:4

Although davar is translated as three different English words in the verses above, it means all of them. The context of each is used to derive the word’s meaning in each situation in which it’s used so that the essence of the scripture is not lost.

Its Use in the New Testament

But things get exciting when davar is translated from Hebrew into Greek in the New Testament. This word is translated into two different Greek words: logos, which refers to a written word, and rhema, which refers to the utterance or the thing that was said.

Jesus, Our Written Word

At the beginning of the book of John, Jesus is referred to as “the Word .” Logos is the Greek word used here, so we can conclude that Jesus is a type of written word. He was here on earth in a physical form and could be “read” as people could watch him and listen to him teach about God and himself. Some of these people recorded the events of his life on earth so we, too, can “read” him.

“In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word [Logos] was with God, and the Word [Logos] was God.” John 1:1

The Power of God’s Word

Later in the New Testament, Hebrews 11:3 tells us that God’s word created something out of nothing.

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word [rhema] of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3

In this verse, the Greek rhema is used in place of “davar,” which is translated into English as “word .” But the implication of this verse is to show us just what kind of power there is in God’s spoken words! God spoke davar into nothingness and created order, an entire universe, and even us!

Davar teaches us that we can “read” Jesus, our “written” Word. He has been there all along, from before creation, but came to earth so we could learn from him and rescue ourselves from certain destruction. It also shows the power of God’s very utterances. He’s so awesome that things that previously didn’t exist spring into existence, just at His word!

It’s unsurprising when these two concepts come together further into the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 calls Jesus “the power and the wisdom of God .” The Word, God’s davar, IS His very power and wisdom! Our Savior is the magnificent power and the infinite wisdom of God!

9. Ra’ רַע (pronounced rah)

There are many different words for sin in the Bible, but ra’ is used more than 600 times! It comes from another Hebrew word, ra’a, meaning evil or bad. When you remove the “a” sound at the end, its meaning encompasses “evil,” “harm,” “displeasure,” or “misery,” but it also conveys an aspect of brokenness. It can mean “broken into pieces,” like when something’s completely ruined, or “blemished,” like things unfit for presentation to God, such as for sacrifice.

Use in Scripture

The ugly, gaunt cows from Pharaoh’s dream in Genesis 41 are described using this word, as is the wild beast that Joseph’s brothers claimed devoured him in Genesis 37. It’s also translated into “evil” in describing the tree in the Garden of Eden. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Ra’.

Brokenness

While we know that sin is disobedience to God, without the aspect of brokenness, we have no reason to turn to our Savior. Everyone knows there’s sin in their life, but not everyone realizes their brokenness in it. We all know someone who says, “Sure, I’ve done bad things, but I’m a good person overall.” They imply that sin is just part of who we are, but God will compare us to one another and forgive the good people for being less evil than the really evil ones.

It sounds great, but that’s just not how it works. The Bible says that we ALL have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). He’s just too glorious, too perfect, and too holy for us – even the good ones – to ever measure up to Him. HE is what we’ll be compared to in judgment, so we all need Jesus, the only person to have kept all of the Law perfectly, as our substitute.

Without realizing that the ra’ in our hearts has left us blemished, unacceptable, and broken before God, we cannot see our need to accept the gift of Jesus. When we get to the point of being devastated by our ra’, we can then humbly approach God, genuinely repentant, and be made unblemished, acceptable, and perfect in the eyes of our Creator, fit for communion with Him!

These are just a few Hebrew words that can enrich our faith by understanding them in their original form. Imagine what can come to light while learning even more of the Hebrew language! As lifelong students of the Bible, learning its primary original language will deepen our faith and our relationship with the God of the universe!