24th of the 11th month 2018/2019
Shalom all,
With the title of this message being, BUY THE TRUTH AND DO NOT SELL IT, I am sure that most of you will be familiar with this Scriptural instruction, as found in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:23. And as I was meditating upon these words, I was compelled to expand on the extreme importance of heeding this instruction, as we consider this very important parable found in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth and do not sell it – wisdom and discipline and understanding.”
Before taking a closer look at this verse, I simply want to remind you of what the term ‘proverbs’ actually means.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘proverbs’ comes from the root noun מָשָׁל mashal – Strong’s H4912 which means, ‘a proverb, parable, a byword’, which, in its primitive root form, means, ‘to compare, to represent, be like’, and comes from the root verb מָשַׁל mashal – Strong’s H4911 which means, ‘to use a proverb, speak in parables or sentences of poetry’.
The Greek word that is translated in Scripture as ‘parable’ is παραβολή parabolē – Strong’s G3850 which means, ‘a placing beside, comparison, parable, proverb, symbol, type’.
That is why we are able to understand the words of Messiah, when He spoke ‘in parables’, by using terms such as, “The reign of the heavens is like…”, or, “The reign of the heavens shall be compared to…”
A ‘parable’ actually presents the truth very clearly, by putting a fresh light on the matter, as it is often presented in a ‘story’ format that represents the message being given, using imagery that is well known to the hearer, in order to illustrate and shed light on the result of past, current and even future events, as determined by choices that are made.
Each verse in the Book of Mishlĕ/Proverbs contains important parables, which are able to teach us vital lessons that equip us to walk in the Truth and not fall away to falsehood. And it is with this thought in mind, that I will be expanding on the extremely important parable that is being given to us here, with the clear and firm instruction on what we are to buy and what we are not to sell!!
The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘buy’ comes from the primitive root verb קָנָה qanah – Strong’s H7069 which means, ‘to acquire, buy, purchase, get, possess, recover’.
The instruction that is being given here, in this parable, is that we are to get/buy the Truth, which includes the getting/buying of wisdom, discipline and understanding!!!And what we must recognise here is that it will cost you!
Messiah has paid the cost for our deliverance, yet we must count the cost of following hard after Him and seeking Him with all our heart!
We are clearly being instructed here to buy the truth and not sell it, and in our buying of the truth, we are to get wisdom, discipline and understanding!
These are four key words that we find in Scripture – TRUTH – WISDOM – DISCIPLINE – UNDERSTANDING!
Four things that are vitally important for us to seek out, buy and not let go of or sell!
This Hebrew root verb קָנָה qanah – Strong’s H7069 has the basic meaning of getting or acquiring and the reason that is has been translated here as ‘buy’ is because the used of the second verb of the sentence, which is translated as ‘sell’, which we will look at shortly.
The term ‘buy’ has a figurative meaning here, since we know that truth, wisdom, discipline and understanding are not things that can be literally traded with, yet when digging deeper into this amazing parable, we are able to identify the clear dangers of not guarding that which we are commanded to. The figurative expression of this instruction highlights for us the dangers of neglect and a refusing to do what is required, as a child of the living Elohim!
The essence of what is being told to us here is that we must not throw away all that we have acquired through a proper study and meditation and discipline of the Word of Truth!
So many people have tasted the Good News and have partaken in the required obedience that is taught, yet they have quickly turned aside from the Truth and in doing so, have turned to falsehood! Therefore, having sold the Truth, wisdom, discipline and understanding that they had.
The clear call that is being give here, is that we are to carefully consider Truth as that which is of the highest value and in doing so, we are not to skimp on doing all that is required in order to get it, as it requires a continual seeking, acquiring, guarding and doing, in order to grasp the value thereof!
In this message I will take a look at some of these key words, in their ancient pictographic form, in order to further illustrate how important our heeding this parable actually is!
That being said, let us take a look at the Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘buy’, which is קָנָה qanah – Strong’s H7069:
Quph – ק:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘quph’, which is pictured in the ancient script as which is a picture of ‘the sun at the horizon’ and depicts the elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times, as well as eternity. It is also understood as the ‘gathering of the light’, and has the understanding of that which is ‘continual’ and signifies a continued pattern that is faithfully repeated.
Nun – ן:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as , which pictures a ‘sprouting seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth to be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy.
Hey – ה
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as which is pictured as ‘a man standing with his arms raised up and out’, as if pointing to something, and in essence, it carries the meaning of ‘behold’, as in when looking at something very great. It can also have the meaning of ‘breath’ or ‘sigh’, as when looking at a great sight and having your breath taken away so to speak! It also has the meaning of revelation or to reveal something by pointing it out as well as ‘a surrendered praise’, with one’s hands lifted high.
When we consider the grouping of these three pictographs, we are able to see the idea of:
A CONTINUAL LIFE OF PRAISE
In terms of this being rendered as ‘buy, acquire, purchase or possess’, we can certainly understand how we are to be continually seeking the Truth with much joy, as our lives are to reflect the consistency of bringing the proper praise due to our Master and Elohim.
Another aspect we can consider, when looking at this word and the instructions regarding our need to buy the Truth and not sell it, is that we cannot buy the Truth, as we should, if we are not being consistent in our continual gathering to the Seed, which is Messiah, who is to be praised! By that I mean, if we are not being diligent on our continual gathering for His Sabbaths and Appointed Times, and are not meditating on His Torah day and night, then we cannot fully walk in the life of the Word and have set-apart hands that are continually lifted up in praise to our Master and Elohim!
In terms of this command to buy or acquire the Truth, we are also able to see another wonderful picture contained within this pictographic. With the letter ‘quph’ representing the gathering of light and being continual, and the letter ‘nun’ representing seed, we are able to see the meaning of ‘the gathering of seed’, which is to be presented with praise to our Master, as pictured through the letter ‘hey’, with hands that are lifted high!
This instruction to buy the Truth, requires action and one that has to be done continually, on a daily basis!
This image fits wonderfully in understanding our Master’s instruction regarding how we are to pray, where he tells us to ask the Father to ‘give us our daily bread’! While we are to make this request, it involves the proper response of obedience in order to go and get what our Master supplies!
Go out and get your daily supply of manna!
When Yisra’ĕl were in the Wilderness, they were commanded to go out each day and gather a day’s portion, according to each one’s need and not store up any until morning, but just gather enough for the day. On the 6th day they were to get double portion, for they were not to go out on the Sabbath to gather.
In the morning they were to get manna and, in the evening, they were to get quail!
Why I am mentioning this is to emphasise how important it was to be consistent is acquiring that which was need to sustain them.
We know, as Sha’ul teaches us in his letter to the Corinthians, that Messiah is the Bread that came down from the heavens and this picture of gathering manna in the morning, teaches us how we are to makes sure we do not neglect our required gathering of the seed of His Word, each and every day! With the picture of gathering the quail or meat, in the evening, we are able to highlight a shadow picture of meditating upon the Torah day and night!
As we go and get our daily bread and meditate upon it throughout the day, the picture of the gathering of meat in the evening, pictures a maturing in our understanding of guarding to do that which we have learnt by seeking and buying the Truth!
GATHER YOUR SEED AND PRAISE, could be another way of expressing this pictograph that is used to express getting or buying what is required!
In the Parable of the Sower, in Luqas/Luke 8, our Master tells us that the seed is the Word of Elohim and after explaining the parable to His taught ones, he made it clear that they were to take heed how they hear, for whoever possesses, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not possess, even what he thinks he possesses shall be taken from him.
As we buy the Truth and guard against selling it, we are to make sure that the soil of our hearts is tilled and kept good, in order to bear much fruit that lasts, lest worries, lies and deceit come and snatch away or choke out the seed and cause us to be fruitless and in despair!
To buy means to get which implies an action of obedience!
In order to further expand on our need to be getting Truth and being obedient children of Elohim, let us take a look the Hebrew word for TRUTH!
The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘truth’ is אֱמֶת emeth – Strong’s H571 which means, ‘truth, firmness, faithfulness’, and this word carries an underlying sense of certainty and dependability – and we know that The Word of יהוה is truth:
Tehillah/Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your Torah is truth.”
Tehillah/Psalm 119:151 “You are near, O יהוה, and all Your commands are truth.”
Tehillah/Psalm 119:160 “The sum of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous right-rulings are forever.”
Anyone who claims to serve יהוה, without walking in, and giving heed to follow, His Torah, commands and instructions, are not serving in Truth! And those who claim that the Torah/Law of Elohim has been done away with, are sadly riddled with the leaven of the hypocrisy of man’s theologies and dogmas, that seeks only to serve self rather than the Giver of Life, while vainly claiming the opposite!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 11:18 tells us that the one sowing righteousness will earn/receive a TRUE reward! Our reward is in the heavens and those who are sowing righteousness will receive their reward from the One who is The TRUTH and whose Word is TRUTH!
The definition of righteousness is made very clear for us in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”
We are also told in:
Tehillah/Psalm 119:172 “My tongue sings of Your word, for all Your commands are righteousness.”
The reason for me highlighting these verses is to show how Scripture makes it abundantly clear to us that righteousness is an obedient action of guarding to do all the commands of Elohim and therefore, in going and getting the seed of the Word, each and every day, and sowing it, by properly obeying what is instructed therein, we have the full assurance of our reward being made complete when our Master comes for His Righteous and Ready Bride!
In the ancient pictographic symbols of this word, we are given a greater insight in understanding how יהושע Messiah is THE TRUTH! This word – אֱמֶת emeth – Strong’s H571 in the ancient pictographic script, look like this:
Aleph – אֱ
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘the head of an ox’, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!
Mem – מֶ
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture.
Taw – ת
The ancient script has this letter as which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the beginning and the end of all creation!
As we consider these letters, in describing Messiah as being the TRUTH, we are able to clearly see that it is by His strength and might that He has passed through the waters, in order to secure for us His Covenants of Promise! Messiah is the Aleph and the Taw – the first and the last, who came from above (passing through the waters of the heavens and the earth) in order to redeem us according to His Word!
He is the Truth and His Word does not return empty!
His Word is Truth and His Word leads us in His Truth.
His Word lights our WAY and as we walk in Him, by walking in His Word, we are assured that our feet are on His solid path! Our reward is a sure and dependable one – everlasting life!!!
The Truth has been made known to us and His pleasant Words of Truth, that reveal the knowledge of Elohim, has caused us to know Him and therefore be ready, with His Truth on our lips, in order to be faithful ambassadors who, speak His Truth to others, so that they too can be caused to know Him and trust Him!
The concept, or idea, that is being presented here, in this parable of buying Truth, teaches us a vital lesson of how important it is for us to do so, as well as highlighting for us that it will cost us everything, yet at the same time it is made freely available!
We can buy without price, so to speak, yet recognise that the cost of buying truth is that we are to forsake all falsehood and fleshly ways, which may cost us our time, our families, friends or jobs, yet, when one finds the truth it is likened to the man who found the pearl of great price and went and sold all that he had in order to buy the field!
Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the reign of the heavens is like a man, a merchant, seeking fine pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
Sadly, we have seen many who find the ‘cost’ too high, as they are unwilling to let go of materialism or wrong relationships and some begin this walk of set-apartness, only to find that they give up down the road and realise that they did not sit down first to calculate the true cost of buying the truth and not selling it, for a moment of fleshly compromise!
In an invitation to the thirsty we see in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 55:1 “Oh everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no silver, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without price.”
We are invited to come and buy without price!
How?
Well, because our Master has paid the redemption price for our lives and in purchasing a covenant people with His own Blood, we are able to recognize that we are now able to buy that which we were once unable to!
In Ephesians we are told that we, who were once without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ěl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world, were brought near and grafted into His Covenants of Promise, by His Blood, giving us access to that which is made freely available to a purchased and treasured possession of Elohim, which we now are!
Understanding that, we are then called to buy the Truth and not sell it! Without our Master we were not able to buy, yet He has paid the price, so that we can buy! And in our buying of the Truth, we are to make sure that we do so continually and be on guard against selling it!
Do not barter the Truth off for earthly pleasures that simply steal away your time, money and resources!
Do not be ‘reasoned’ out of the Truth, not even for a moment and be on guard against being given over to the delusion of lawlessness because the love for the Truth has grown cold! Keep what you have bought and do not let your first love die, by selling what precious treasures you have received through a proper buying of the Truth! Do not give up and sell what you have for the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life!
In the buying of the Truth, there is an association of what is to be bought, or acquired, along with it, which is wisdom, discipline and understanding, for these are the qualities that are to be bought along with the Truth!
So many people claim to have bought the Truth yet they lack the discipline of guarding the Truth, as they have no regard for the Torah of Elohim and do not guard to keep His Sabbaths and Appointed Times! Such people have not bought the Truth, they have bought the lie! And sadly, in buying the lie and deception of the delusion of lawlessness, they refuse to sell it and get rid of that which will lead to their destruction!
Practical knowledge, discipline and discernment is what is gained when buying the Truth and guarding it as one should!
DO NOT SELL!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘sell’ is תִּמְכֹּ֑ר timkor which comes from the root word מָכַר maḵar – Strong’s H4376 which means, ‘sell, offer yourself for sale, sell oneself or be given over to death’.
This root word is used for the first time in the account of Ya’aqoḇ and Ěsaw, where Ěsaw sold and despised his birthright:
Berěshith/Genesis 25:30-34 “And Ěsaw said to Yaʽaqoḇ, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” That is why his name was called Eḏom. 31 But Yaʽaqoḇ said, “Sell me your birthright today.” 32 And Ěsaw said, “Look, I am going to die, so why should I have birthright?” 33 Then Yaʽaqoḇ said, “Swear to me today.” And he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Yaʽaqoḇ. 34 Yaʽaqoḇ then gave Ěsaw bread and stew of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up and left. Thus Ěsaw despised his birthright.”
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:15-16 “See to it that no one falls short of the favour of Elohim, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, by which many become defiled, 16 lest there be anyone who whores, or profane one, like Ěsaw, who for a single meal sold his birthright.”
Looking at this word, we are able to glean some very vital truths, which teach us to guard against letting go of that which we have diligently sought out and gotten, through a proper diligent buying!
This word also carries the understanding of give possession of an object, entity, or state to another, usually in a quid pro quo exchange, and in some contexts, this may be the hiring of one’s (indentured) services for an extended period of time.
This word מָכַר maḵar – Strong’s H4376 can be used in a positive or negative manner, as we take note that not all ‘selling’ is inherently bad. However, in the context of this parable we are able to see a warning against selling that which you should not, hence the ‘negative’ use of this word!
This word is used in:
Melaḵim Bět/2 Kings 17:16-17 “And they left all the commands of יהוהtheir Elohim, and made for themselves a moulded image, two calves, and made an Ashěrah and bowed themselves to all the host of the heavens, and served Ba‛al, 17 and caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, and practised divination and sorcery, and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of יהוה, to provoke Him.”
In this chapter, we are given the account of how the House of Yisra’ĕl was exiled by the Sovereign of Ashshur, as they were divorced and given over the enemy because they had forsaken יהוה and left all His commands and sold themselves to do evil in His eyes!
What becomes very clear, from this account, is that we are able to identify and associate the leaving of the commands of Elohim with selling them! Yisra’ěl had whored and had joined themselves to Ba’al, in bowing themselves to false worship practices, doing evil in the eyes of Elohim by selling the Truth!
In the book of Hoshěa, we are given a clear message of hope that is extended to a people who had sold themselves to falsehood, and this message is still being made clear today, as the Spirit and the Bride resound the call for many to come out and be separate!
Hoshěa /Hosea 8:10 “Also, although they sold themselves among the nations, this time I shall gather them, when they have suffered for a while from the burden of a sovereign, of rulers.”
To sell the Truth highlights a blatant neglect of one’s required duty and emphasizes an unacceptable disobedience that shows a lack of proper submission to the Truth!
As I pondered on this sad reality of how so many are selling, or have sold, the Truth, I saw a powerful lesson contained in the pictographic rendering of this word!
The Hebrew root word מָכַר maḵar – Strong’s H4376 which means, ‘sell, offer yourself for sale, sell oneself or be given over to death’, is written in the ancient pictographic script as follows:
Mem – מֶ
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture.
Kaph – ךְ:
The ancient form of this letter is meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!
Resh – ר:
This is the letter ‘resh’- which in the ancient script is pictured as – which is ‘the head of a man’ and carries the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the chief.
As we consider the rendering of this word in this pictographic form, we are able to see:
WASHING OF THE HANDS FROM THE HEAD!
When seeing this, in terms of selling the Truth, I immediately identified this action of washing one’s hands from the head, as being an act of defiance and neglect, by shrugging the required responsibility that is required!
When meditating on this action of selling the Truth and shrugging one’s shoulders at the need to guard to do all that our Master and Elohim, our Head, has commanded us to do, I was reminded of the moment where Pilate washed his hands from the blood of Messiah!
Mattithyahu/Matthew 27:24 “And when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One. You shall see to it.”
Please note that while the picture of washing one’s hands, in Scripture, is a picture of cleansing one’s works from defilement, what I am highlighting here, in terms of selling the Truth, is how this picture of washing one’s hands from the head, highlights a ‘negative washing of the hands’, so to speak!
What Pilate did was wash his hands from any responsibility and declared himself innocent of the blood of Messiah!
This certainly follows a Scriptural pattern or type, which we see in the Torah, where the elders of a city would wash their hands over a heifer, whose neck was broken, when a man was found slain in the field and no one knew who had slain him.
Before this act of washing his hands, we are told in Yoḥanan/John 18:38 that Pilate asked יהושע Messiah, “what is truth?”, when The Truth was standing right in front of him!!!
What we can see here, in a manner of speaking, is the act of ‘selling the Truth’, without even having bought it!!!
This was, in many ways, a clear witness against all sinners who had sold the Truth… that is … washed their hands away from The Head… by buying falsehood and being handed over to the delusion of the lawless one!
People who say that they do not have to guard the Torah, have washed their hands, so to speak! Not from defilement of the flesh and sin, but from the required need to guard to do His commands!
Once again, I make it clear that we can see both a positive and negative understanding of selling, as it is ok to sell something and trade, as it indicates that you no longer have headship over the item that you have sold and have therefore relinquished from further responsibilities.
In terms of this parable, we are able to see how those who have sold the Truth, no longer submit to the headship of Messiah as they disregard the need to obey His Torah and give their hands, that is their works, over to the working of unrighteousness, which is works of lawlessness and have, in the process, bought the lie!!!
We are to wash our hands and submit to our Head, not wash our hands from our Head and sell!!!
In Scripture, we take note that the priests were required to wash their hands and feet, with water that was to be taken from the bronze laver, before doing service in the set-apart place. The Bronze Laver was made from the mirrors of the women who did service and the door of the tent of meeting and from this we are able to see how the bronze laver represents the mirror of the Word, that we are to look intently in to, in order to make sure we know what we look like and are properly representing the Truth and we guard to do all our Master commands, having hands that are innocent and clean, because of the price He paid, giving us access to have our works made pure before His face, as we diligently submit to His Truth and walk in it!
Buy and do not sell, is the clear command!
As mentioned, buying the Truth involves the proper getting of wisdom, discipline and understanding!
Mishlĕ/proverbs 4:5-7 “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 “Do not leave her, and let her guard you; love her, and let her watch over you. 7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom! And with all your getting, get understanding.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘get’ comes from the root verb קְנָא qena – Strong’s H7066 which means, ‘to acquire, buy, purchase’, and corresponds to the primitive root verb קָנָה qanah – Strong’s H7069 which means, ‘to acquire, buy, purchase, get, recover’.
The instruction is clear – get wisdom!
And what we must recognise here is that it will cost you!
Messiah has paid the cost for our deliverance, yet we must count the cost of following hard after Him and seeking Him with all our heart!
As we walk in Him, we need the wisdom of His Word and Ya’aqoḇ makes it clear to us in:
Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.”
The Hebrew word for ‘wisdom’ is חָכְמָה ḥokmah – Strong’s H2451 meaning, ‘wisdom, skill’ and is from the primitive root word חָכַם ḥakam – Strong’s H2449 meaning, ‘to be wise, skilful, make wise’.
In the ancient pictographic alphabet, this Hebrew word for ‘wisdom’ – חָכְמָה ḥokmah – Strong’s H2451 looks like this:
Ḥet – חָ:
The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside. Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’. As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall, having been separated from the world and built up in the master!
Kaph – כְ:
The ancient form of this letter is meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!
Mem – מָ:
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. Knowing this letter represents ‘water’, we are also able to see how this can render for us the meaning of ‘washing’ or ‘cleansing’.
Hey – ה:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’. The Hebrew word “hey” means “behold”, as when looking at a great sight. This word can also mean “breath” or “sigh” as when one sighs in amazement when looking at a great sight. The meaning of the letter is “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”; from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!
As we consider these pictographic letters, that render for us the term for ‘wisdom’, we are able to clearly see that wisdom entails a separation, as pictured through the tent wall.
We can render the meaning of the construction of this word, in terms of true wisdom, as meaning:
WE ARE BUILT UP IN THE MASTER, AS WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE WORLD AND SUBMIT UNDER THE HAND OF OUR MASTER, DOING WHAT HIS WORD INSTRUCTS, AS IT WASHES US, AND ENABLES US TO LIFT OUR HANDS TO HIM, IN CONTINUAL PRAISE!
Wisdom, at its core, speaks of one’s ability to clearly separate the good from the bad, the right and the wrong, the left and the right, and the up and the down; and this we are to be able to do, as we exercise true discipline – the discipline of separation!
Wisdom is often used in the context of a skilled workman that has been equipped by the Spirit of Elohim:
Shemoth/Exodus 28:3 “And you, speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the garments of Aharon, to set him apart, for him to serve as priest to Me.”
Wisdom, in the ancient text, can speak of a clear separation by the washing of one’s hands; and as we consider the design of the Tabernacle, we need to be reminded that the bronze laver was used for the serving priests to wash their hands and feet; and clearly pictures for us how we are to be continually washing our work and walk through being immersed in the Word that transforms us!
Shelomoh makes it clear here, after giving the instruction to get wisdom, the simple fact that wisdom begins by getting wisdom and in doing so, getting understanding!!!
And this takes discipline!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘discipline’ is מוּסָר musar – Strong’s H4148 which means, ‘discipline, chastening, correction, reproof, punishment, warning’, and comes from the primitive root verb יָסַר yasar – Strong’s H3256 which means, ‘to discipline, admonish, correct, teach’.
The book of Mishlĕ/Proverbs speaks a great deal about discipline, with the emphasis on instruction, and to answer the question of how discipline is administered, we can see in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 22:15 “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.”
The Hebrew word מוּסָר musar – Strong’s H4148 is used here for ‘discipline’.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘rod’ is שֵׁבֶט sheḇet – Strong’s H7626 and means, ‘rod, staff, branch, shaft’ and is a symbol of authority and rulership, and is also translated as ‘sceptre’ in referring to the rule and authority of Messiah, the Sent One, in whom we have all authority!
What we can learn from this, is that we are able to destroy the weaving of the world’s ways by taking our stand of faith, in the Authority of the Word being active in our lives!!!
The Hebrew root word מוּסָר musar – Strong’s H4148 is used 50 times in Scripture, and of those 50 times, we see it being used 30 times in Mishlĕ/Proverbs, hence our clear understanding of how Mishlĕ/Proverbs carries a great, and important, theme of the discipline of wisdom that is needed in our lives!
There is certainly great wisdom in true discipline!
True wisdom accepts the discipline and instruction of יהוה, and sadly, there are many today who claim to love Elohim and claim to be followers of the Master, and will even recite many verses that are contained in the Covenants of Promise, while they so easily discard the need to walk in the Torah of Elohim, and quickly cast aside His clear instructions!
Tehillah/Psalm 50:16-17 “But to the wrong Elohim said, “What right have you to recite My laws, or take My covenant in your mouth, 17 “While you hated instruction and cast My Words behind you?”
The Hebrew word used here for ‘instruction’ is מוּסָר musar – Strong’s H4148!
In other words, many will talk the talk, yet hate the walk, or rather, they hate the needed discipline that is required to live true set-apart lives, and will quickly cast the word of Elohim behind them, instead of letting it be a light for their path ahead of them!
At the beginning of Mishlĕ/Proverbs we are told in Chapter 1:2-3 that these proverbs of Shelomoh are for knowing wisdom and discipline, and for receiving the discipline of wisdom, and in Chapter 1:7 we are told that fools despise wisdom and discipline!
The Greek word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint) for ‘discipline’ is παιδεία paideia – Strong’s G3809 which means, ‘the repairing of a child, training, discipline’.
This word is used 6 times in the Renewed Writings (N.T.), 4 of which we see being used in Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12, which deals with our need, as children of the Most-High, to accept the much needed discipline of a Loving Father!
It is also used in Sha’ul’s letter to Timotiyos and translated as ‘instruction’ in:
Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.”
We need the Word to instruct us in righteousness; and to despise the instruction and discipline of the Word is foolish, and as mentioned already – fools die for lack of discipline!
The Greek word that is translated as a ‘taught one’ or ‘disciple’ of Messiah is μαθητής mathētēs – Strong’s G3101 which means, ‘disciple, pupil, student, taught one or one who is learning’, which comes from the word μανθάνω manthanō – Strong’s G3129 which means, ‘learn by use, practice’!
And the basic meaning of this Greek word is understood as, ‘to experience’, and the use of this word implies an intellectual concern, which can therefore also render for us the understanding of, ‘seek to experience’ or, ‘learn to know’; and this word is also used in the Greek language, with the understanding of, ‘learning skills under instruction’.
This word μαθητής mathētēs – Strong’s G3101 comes from the root μαθ- math which means, ‘to learn, educated, receive instruction’. A true ‘disciple’ of our Master and Elohim, is one who is ‘disciplined’ and learns by receiving instruction and taking heed to walk in it!
Many may claim to be disciples of Messiah, yet they clearly lack the ‘discipline of separation’.
As we look at this word for ‘discipline’: מוּסָר musar – Strong’s H4148, in the ancient pictographic lettering, we are able to glean a better understanding of our need to be a disciplined people!
In the ancient pictographic script, this Hebrew word for ‘discipline’ מוּסָר musar – Strong’s H4148, looks like this:
Mem – מ:
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. Knowing this letter represents ‘water’, we are also able to see how this can render for us the meaning of ‘washing’ or ‘cleansing’.
Waw/Vav – וּ:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as which is a ‘peg’ or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off.
The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’. It is by the work of Messiah, in His own Blood, that has secured for us His Covenants of promise, to which we are added to; and His righteousness stands forever secured in Him!
Samek – סָ:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as which is a thorn and has the meanings of ‘pierce and sharp’ and can also carry the meaning of ‘a shield’, as thorn bushes were used by shepherds to build a wall to enclose their flock in the night against the attack of predators. Another meaning would be ‘to grab hold of’ as a thorn is a seed that clings to hair and clothing.
The Word of Elohim is sharper than a doubled edged sword and when we find that we do not grab hold of His word and allow His Word to be our shield of faith, we may find ourselves being pierced through with sin and compromise! Our praise we have for our Master is that in Him we are upheld forever, for He is the shield of our Help, as He Himself took the crown of thorns upon His head, bearing our sin and shame that we may be found to be shielded in Him! It can also give a meaning of ‘turning’, for it is the thorn that turns us away from danger and to that which is secure.
Resh – ר:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as which is ‘the head of a man’ and carries the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the chief. Our true life of praise unto יהוה, our Head, begins when we fear Him, for He is the beginning of our strength, and true separated praise entails a true fear of the One who is Chief over us!
When we look at these letters in their ancient pictographic form, we are able to clearly see what true discipline entails, as we are to turn away from all wickedness and turn to our Head and Master; and to do so takes great discipline.
For:
IT IS THROUGH THE DISCIPLINED CONTINUAL WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD THAT SECURES AND ESTABLISHES US, THAT WE ARE ENABLED TO TURN OUR EYES TO OUR MASTER AND GRAB HOLD OF HIS WORD!
True discipline, for a true taught one of the Master, involves a committed fixing of one’s eyes on Him!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:1-2 “We too, then, having so great a cloud of witnesses all around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, 2 looking to the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, having despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.”
In a nutshell, we could best understand this term for discipline, in the Hebrew, מוּסָר musar – Strong’s H4148, as a term that clearly emphasises our need to be constantly turning our head/eyes to our True Head!
And this we do by allowing the Word to wash us and establish us as a true disciplined disciple/taught one of Messiah!
Let me ask you – how disciplined are you?
What do you set your eyes upon each and every day, as you sojourn here as ambassadors of the Coming Reign?
In your walk of faith, are you continually turning your head to The Master?
By that I mean, are you continually turning your attention and thoughts and actions to the One whom you should be following, or are the things of the world, and the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, taking your attention away from the needed discipline of separation?
When you are confronted with situations, circumstances, conversations or dealings with the world, are you able to have the discipline of separation being active in your life, or do you find yourself subtly being conformed to the standards of others, instead of shining the light of set-apartness, by being transformed by the renewing of your mind through the Word?
True ‘children’ are those who ‘listen’ to and receive the ‘discipline’ of a father and walk in the clear commands of their father!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:5-11 “And you have forgotten the appeal which speaks to you as to sons, “My son, do not despise the discipline of יהוה, nor faint when you are reproved by Him, 6 for whom יהוה loves, He disciplines, and flogs every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure discipline, Elohim is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Moreover, we indeed had fathers of our flesh disciplining us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they indeed disciplined us for a few days as seemed best to them, but He does it for our profit, so that we might share His apartness. 11 And indeed, no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but grievous, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
BUY THE TRUTH AND DO NOT SELL IT!
Understand?
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘understanding’ comes from the root word בִּינָה biynah – Strong’s H998 which means, ‘an understanding, consideration, discernment’ and comes from the primitive root verb בִּין bin – Strong’s H995 which means, ‘to discern, act wisely, clever, diligently consider’, and is used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 119:34 “Make me understand, that I might observe Your Torah, and guard it with all my heart.”
Tehillah/Psalm 119:104 “From Your orders I get understanding; therefore I have hated every false way.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 2:4-5 “If you seek her as silver, And search for her as hidden treasures, 5 then you would understand the fear of יהוה, and find the knowledge of Elohim.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of יהוה is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Set-apart One is understanding.”
Understanding comes in the doing of the Word and we recognise that the one doing the Word is one who earnestly seeks יהוה, for true seeking brings about a proper application of what one hears, so that they hear, guard and do His Word, thus gaining understanding as they do what is clearly commanded!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 28:5 “Evil men do not understand right-ruling, but those who seek יהוה understand all.”
Evil men are those who are not paying attention and observing and are therefore dysfunctional!
Those who are hearing but not understanding are not seeking – in other words they are hearers only!!!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in יהוה with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding”.
We are to trust יהוה with all our heart, which entails trusting Him with all of the understanding and wisdom that is contained in His Word and not seek out our own vain and selfish reasonings.
We are to guard the proper understanding of the Word, which comes in the doing of the Word, and in doing so we must grow in our understanding of the Word and be able to discern the set-apart from the profane, becoming skilled in the Sword of the Spirit, and guard ourselves from becoming hard faced before the Master, as we take note that Mishlĕ/Proverbs 21:30 tells us that there is no wisdom or understanding against יהוה, for it is His!
Who is wise and understands these words?
He who has ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says!!!
If one does not seek יהוה and guard to keep His Word then they can never be wise and understand His Word! So many today think that they are extremely wise, as they assume that they have so much knowledge of ‘the bible’, while the do not guard to do what is instructed therein and simply reveal that they are not wise at all but are rather foolish in their lawless mind-set!
The ancient pictographic rendering of the word בִּין bin – Strong’s H995 which means, ‘to discern, act wisely, clever, diligently consider’ is pictured as follows:
Beyt – בָּ:
The ancient script has this letter as which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’ or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed to the tent structure itself.
Yod – י:
The ancient script has this letter as which is ‘an arm and hand’, and carries the meaning of ‘work, make, throw’, from the primary functions of the arm and hand, and it also represents worship or giving thanks in the extending of hands as a gesture of this. The work of one’s hands is the basic meaning of this letter! And this letter also pictures for us the outstretched Arm and working Hand of Elohim that is not too short to save!
Nun – ן:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as which pictures a ‘sprouting seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth to be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy.
With this pictographic rendering of this root word we are able to glean some wonderful insight in what understanding entails, as we can see the following meaning:
THE HOUSE THAT WORKS THE SEED
This highlights for us how a proper understanding of the Word comes in the doing of the Word, as one takes the Seed, which is the Word of Elohim and works righteousness!
In the noun that is translated as ‘understanding’ – בִּינָה biynah – Strong’s H998, we see the letter ‘hey’ (ה) at the end of the word, and is pictured in the ancient pictographic script as follows:
Hey – ה
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as which is pictured as ‘a man standing with his arms raised up and out’, as if pointing to something, and in essence, it carries the meaning of ‘behold’, as in when looking at something very great. It can also have the meaning of ‘breath’ or ‘sigh’, as when looking at a great sight and having your breath taken away so to speak! It also has the meaning of revelation or to reveal something by pointing it out as well as ‘a surrendered praise’, with one’s hands lifted high.
With the addition of the letter hey, we are able to expand on our understanding of the root word that is translated as ‘understanding’, which declares: The work of the house is to produces a life of praise!
As mentioned, understanding comes in the doing of the Word and when one is doing what is required, through a proper discipline, then one’s praise of our Master becomes clearly evident! When one understands the Word, because they do the Word and their understanding grows, then it can be clearly seen in their daily walk, as the continual thanks and praise unto Elohim is given in all circumstances!
As you carefully consider this very powerful proverb of Shelomoh, may you be urgent in your buying/getting of the Truth, which includes a proper getting of wisdom, discipline and understanding and not making the terrible error of selling it!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth and do not sell it – wisdom and discipline and understanding.”
When Messiah prayed to the Father, he said the following:
Yoḥanan/John 17:17 “Set them apart in Your truth – Your Word is truth.”
The Greek word that is used here for ‘truth’ is the word ἀλήθεια alētheia – Strong’s G225 which means, ‘truth, truly, according to truth’.
The Master יהושע Messiah tells us clearly in Yoḥanan/John 14:6 that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life – and to walk in the Truth is to walk in Him: in Him in whom there is not spot or blemish or any deceit of falsehood!
To walk in Him is to walk according to the Truth and in purity of the Truth, as we hear, guard and do His commands!
So, take heed to the words of wisdom:
BUY THE TRUTH AND DO NOT SELL IT!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face upon you and give you shalom!