Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.
Isaiah 61:7
a fascinating history
Ancient or Biblical Hebraic writing has a fascinating history. Considered an oriental language belonging to the Semitic family, it developed alongside many other unique cultures originating in the Fertile Crescent[1]. Modeled upon the further ancient cuniform and pictograph glyphs of anti-diluvian peoples, Biblical Hebrew settled into its own during Isreal’s complicated history with Babylon[2]. From this point forward, the early preservers of Israel’s language perfected its written forms and structures. Along with the corresponding grammatical structures, the text left little room for misunderstanding—ideas, thoughts, and logic were all represented in the very DNA of the words themselves. Furthermore, historical facts, timeframes, and precise delineations were all taken into account as the Hebrew language solidified into what we read today.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He as sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison to them that are bound. ”
Isaiah 61:1
A declaration of hope
This brief historical overview is key to understanding the beauty that is allowed to flourish with Hebrew text. In particular is the well-known word, Shalom. The word means more than peace. It represents wholeness, wellness, well-being, safe, happy, friendly, favor, completeness to make peace, peace offering, secure, to prosper, be victorious, be content, tranquil, quiet restful. The pictographic symbols for Shalom’s word (shin, lamad, vav, mem) read, “Destroy the authority that binds to chaos.” As a noun, shalom is derived from the verbal form shalam, which means “to restore” in a sense or replacing or providing what is needed to make someone or something whole and complete[3].
Unlike other words used for greeting and salutations such as Namaste, no other word describes such love towards other human beings while holding itself as a therapeutic statement unto the one speaking it. As a word, Shalom is both a declaration of what God has done and will continue to do upon the one speaking it while at the same time, offering hope for what God will prepare in others.
Sheen is the first letter in the Hebrew word Shalom ( שלום ). Sheen is a picture of teeth, teeth that crush and destroy. Lamed is the picture of a shepherds staff. Vav is a picture of an iron nail or wooden hook. Mem, the last letter of the Hebrew word Shalom, means waters. Waters of life as pictured at by a clear running stream or waters of chaos or confusion as pictured by a flood tsunami.
A Mother’s Blessing
Let’s take it a step further – Jesus is the embodiment of the word, Shalom. Luke 1:45-55 chronicles Mary’s prophetic song about her Son bringing all that has been foretold of Messiah into completeness. Jesus was, is, and will forever be the joining force behind the concept of Shalom. “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Is7:14”. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us) Mt 1:23″.
My soul is ecstatic, overflowing with praises to God! My spirit bursts with joy over my life-giving God! He set His tender gaze upon me, his lowly servant girl. And from here on, everyone will know that I have been favored and blessed.
The Mighty One has worked a mighty miracle for me: holy is His name! Mery kisses all His godly lovers, from one generation to the next.
Mighty power flows from Him to scatter all those who walk in pride. Powerful princes, He tears from their thrones, and He lifts the lowly to take their place. Those who hunger for Him will always be filled, but the smug and self-satisfied He will send away empty. He has helped His chosen servant, Israel, keeping His promises to Abraham and His descendants forever.
Mary, Mother of Jesus
It’s ALL IN HIM – JESUS
Now let’s discover the distilled, ideal picture meaning of shalom. Sheen means to destroy. Lamed is the voice of authority. Vav signifies two things that are connected (with). Mem can mean chaos and confusion. The revelation hidden in the picture language of Hebrew, informs us that peace or Shalom only comes when the authority connected with chaos and confusion is destroyed. Every time you say the word Shalom or peace, you are uttering a prophetic prayer that someone will come and destroy the one who is causing all the chaos and confusion. And who is that someone? Who is coming to bring true Shalom? The prince of peace (נסיך של שלום) is coming, that is to say, Jesus. Are you ready for true Shalom?
Out from a fertile land came a fertile language, a writing style whose structures and forms became the Bible’s bedrock. The holiness of God intertwined into the Hebrew language that produced both meaning and substance. Indeed, when we cradle in our hearts, those words penned throughout scripture, never forget that planted within the ancient Hebraic language, are the spiritual seeds of God’s fertile kingdom. Remember then, to rest in Shalom’s cradle, a restoration unto wholeness, and our deliverance from the authority that binds to chaos.
Call to Action – Tie in Is 61:7, Mary’s song, John 3:16 and the mystery of Shalom. Tie it all together here.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
So as you go about your day, remember to live Shalom because God’s Kingdom is the embodiment of this word’s meaning. Jesus came that none should perish but have everlasting life and to destroy the authority that binds to chaos, making us whole again in His righteousness, peace, and joy.
[1] Ross, A. P. (2001). Preservation of Biblical Hebrew [Introduction]. In Introducing Biblical Hebrew (pp. 11-16). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. [2] Ross, A. P. (2001). Preservation of Biblical Hebrew [Introduction]. In Introducing Biblical Hebrew (pp. 11-16). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. [3] Simmons, B. (2018). The Passion Translation: The New Testament with Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs (pp.825). Savage, MN: BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC.
