The Hebrew word for covenant in scripture is b’rit. The first mention of covenant in the Bible is in Genesis 6:18 when God says to Noah, “But I will establish My covenant with you…” Frequently, when God uses the word “covenant” he says, “My covenant”. The Hebrew for “My covenant” is b’riti.
The Hebrew letters used in the spelling of b’riti are BET (the Hebrew equivalent of the letter “B”), RESH (R), YOD (Y), TAV (T) and YOD (Y). The modern Hebrew alphabet is derived from an ancient Hebrew or Semitic pictograph alphabet. Each pictograph represented a letter and a meaning that correlated to the pictograph. The pictographs could be used to spell words and to tell a story.
Using the Hebrew word for “My covenant” (b’riti), the BET is derived from a pictograph of a house or a tent. The meaning was a house, as in “the house of David”. The RESH was represented by the head of a man, and the meaning was the first or highest person. Together, the letters BET and RESH form the Hebrew/Aramaic word for “son” (bar). The YOD was pictured as the arm and fist from the elbow to the hand, and symbolized the hand or works. The TAV was pictured as a cross, more specifically two (2) crossed sticks, and symbolized a mark or covenant.
I have only recently come to accept the Bible as the inerrant, divinely inspired word of God. I now believe the Bible is not only the word of God, but that each individual word and each individual letter is divinely placed and constructed to tell a story and to reveal the richness of God’s word. The story of “My Covenant” is but one example, but a monumental one. The story of “My Covenant” is that of the entire (Christian) Bible. In short, God’s covenant is his Son with his hands on a cross.
I have tried to offer a visual representation of “My Covenant” below. I have shown the modern Hebrew, the letter names and meanings, and the ancient Hebrew pictograph. God IS good.
Bookmark
Beautiful!
I want you to get a copy of Mindy’s sermon from Sunday. It’s about how God never changed from Plan “A”.
The word picture from his promise to Noah is further proof.
What do you think Noah saw when he looked at those letters?
Eric
Thanks, Eric. I agree, God never changed from Plan “A”. Plan “A” is set literally in stone at one time, but now in the pages of the Hebrew Bible.
[...] the same way again. “In the beginning…”, God reveals that the SON (recall from My Covenant that the Hebrew letters BET and RESH form the Hebrew/Aramaic word “bar“, or Son) of GOD will be [...]
Thanks, Living Journey. Great blog, by the way.
Thanks Peter… are you going to do more with this ancient hebrew subject?
I love it, it just gives another dimension to the Word doesn’t it?
Oh thanks for blogrolling me… I have done the same for you … I found you by blogcatolog and I have added you as a friend and left a blog review for you!
Keep your eyes on our risen LORD!
Vee
Yes, fortunately the Ancient Hebrew provides an endless supply of material. I have several other posts on the subject, and I hope you enjoy those as well. But, yes, I will certainly write more on Hebrew. Thanks, again.
Peter, I once had a pastor tell me something in Seminary that I have YET to ever forget, and it is so fitting here:
“People are not set free by the Word of God… but rather by the WORDS of God.”
Every word, every letter, every tense, every form of language is in the original text for a reason. That is where study should originate and inspiration should emanate.
Nicely done, sir.
hiscrivener, your seminary pastor was a wise man. I couldn’t agree more. Many thanks, my brother.