This post continues the series providing practice and insights into reading the Hebrew Scriptures. To learn the fundamentals start with the post: ‘Learn To Read The Hebrew Old Testament In A Single Lesson’.
We are using the format of Letter Meaning Chart – followed by the Reading Portion with prefixes and suffixes indicated with enlarged letters – and then the Related Glossary so that all the words in the portion may be easily looked up.
What’s New
In the practice segment for today you will encounter the two-letter suffix that means: ‘of them’.
This passage also contains a word that has long been mysterious and translated as many different things, however, you will have the key to be able to figure out what the word most likely meant.
For added fun, there is a slightly awkward two-word phrase in English that you will have to reason for yourself exactly what it meant.
Hint: Be sure to consider what alternate meanings the prefixes and suffixes may have been intended to mean.
Genesis 1 : 20 – 23
Genesis 1 : 20 – 23 Glossary
Word entries are of the form:
Hebrew Word – Equivalent English Letters – Meanings –
Word Construction / Notes and Explanations –
Derived Words (if any)
אלהים ALHYM God as Creator
אל = God+ ה = be + י = bring forth + ם = physical
also: ‘first… far reaching… be… bring forth… physical’
אמר AMR speak
‘source… physical… body’
– reflects the belief that everything is spoken into existence. This word was used in the Creation Story.
ארץ ARTs earth
‘source…body… formation’
also: ‘first… body… formation’
– refers to the first physical ‘body’ that God created, being earth, from which all living bodies were made. See Genesis 1 and 2.
אשר AShR which
‘first… doubles… body’
את ATh et (this word connects a following detail to a previous verb)
‘source… together’
בקר BQR dawn / morning / cattle / seek
בקע = split + ר = body
– perhaps a reference to the sun appearing as half on the horizon.
ברא BRA create
ב = devotion + ראה = see
or: ב = with + ראה = see
ברך BRK bless
‘devotion… body… carry’
גדל GDL great
‘gather… path through… far reaching’
– either indicating a large size or considers an expanse invaded and conquered.
מגדל MGDL tower
היה HYH be / exist
‘the… bring forth… be’
חיה ChYH living
‘separate… bring forth… shall be’
This word is defined by the biblical teaching that all living things (trees, animals, etc.) have been given the blessing (shall be) to multiply by producing (bringing forth) seeds separate from themselves.
חיוה ChYWH one living
חמישי ChMYShY fifth
‘separate… physical… make… fill… bring forth’
-first occurs in Genesis 1:23 as day ‘five’ when God created the fish and birds and blessed them to multiply and become many. This is the first blessing found in the scriptures.
טוב TWB pleasing / good
– derived from יטב (‘bring… surround… tent’).
יום YWM day
‘bring forth… add to… physical
כי KY that
‘carry… bring’
– for example: ‘he saw that (it was) good’ means ‘he saw carry bring good’.
כל KL end / complete / finish / all
‘vessel (or carry)… extending’
– the furthest extremity of a vessel is it’s end.
כנף KNPh wing
‘carry… emerging… wind’
מים MYM water
‘physical… bring forth… physical’
also: ‘water… bring forth… water’
– the first physical substance created in the Creation Story.
ימים YMYM sea
מין MYN species / kind
‘physical… bring forth… emerging’
מלא MLA fullness / fill
‘physical… extending… source’
– appears to describe an overflow or fullness.
מלאים MLAYM setting
נפש NPhSh soul
‘emerging… breath… fill’
עוף OWPh flying / bird / fluttering
‘seen… add to… wind’
עפעפים OPhOPhYM eyelids
על OL above / yoke
‘seen… far reaching’
– the furthest man could see (back then) was by looking up.
עליון OLYWN most high
ערב ORB evening / pledge / exchange / raven
‘seen… man… tent’
– the time when men return to their tents.
מערב MORB west
פני PhNY face
‘breath… emerging… bring forth’
פרי PhRY fruit
‘turn (change)… body… bring forth’
– as in, the product of a body.
ראה RAH see
‘body… source… be’
רבה RBH many
‘man… tent… be’
– may refer to God’s promise to make Abraham’s descendants countless.
ארבה ARBH source of many
רבבה RBBH ten thousand
רבוא RBWA ten thousand
רמש RMSh moving / crawl / creep
‘body… physical… fill’
רקע RQO spread / hammer / stamp
רק = thin + ע = seen
רקיע RQYO expanse
שמים ShMYM heaven
ש = fill + מים = water
– may refer to day two of the Creation Story when God created the heaven in the midst of the waters.
שרץ ShRTs swarm
ש = doubles + רץ = run
or: ‘doubles… body… formation’
– ‘doubles’ refers to multiple similar things.
תנינם ThNYNM tannin / whale / serpent / dragon / monster
‘together…emerging…bring forth… emerging… water’
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