“Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of Sukkot for seven days to ADONAI.” Leviticus 23:34 (CJB)
Sukkot it one of the three pilgrimage festivals held in the fall. It refers to the temporary buildings that are built to commemorate God’s protection and provision during the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. It is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles and Feast of Booths. This painting depicts the Paleo letters for Sukkot through the four species of plants that are used to “rejoice before the Lord.” They are the citron (etrog), one palm (lulav), two willow branches (aravot), and three myrtle branches (hadassim). u represented by myrtle branches v represented by a bare branch k represented by willow branches surrounding the citron v represented by a bare branch t represented by palm branch
Together these letters would mean “to establish and secure a protective covering for the covenant.” It is a joyous festival and even today we should remember our dependence on the Lord to protect and provide.
u
The ‘Samech’ is a thorn bush representing support, prop up, protect, twist, or snare.
v
The ‘Vav’ represents a tent peg and means to nail, attach, or secure.
k
The ‘Kaf’ depicts a man’s offered hand to welcome, cover, open, or allow.
v
The ‘Vav’ represents a tent peg and means to nail, attach, or secure.
t
The ‘Tau’ depicts crossed sticks as a marker for a signature or agreement or covenant.
The word “Hallelujah” is a compound word from two Hebrew words, “Hallel” meaning praise and “Ya” meaning God. The use of the two Lameds together indicates the authority of authorities (like King of Kings or Lord of Lords). “Behold or boast at what the authority of authorities (God) has established by the work of His hands!”
H
The ‘Hey’ depicts a man waving arms for attention, to look, reveal, or behold.
L
The ‘Lamed’ represents a shepherds staff the represents control, direct, authority, or lead.
L
The ‘Lamed’ represents a shepherds staff the represents control, direct, authority, or lead.
v
The ‘Vav’ represents a tent peg and means to nail, attach, or secure. It is also used as a conjunction to attach two ideas together.
y
The ‘Yud’ represents a hand or arm to indicate work, throw, or worship.
H
The ‘Hey’ depicts a man waving arms for attention, to look, reveal, or behold.
The ‘Aleph’ is the picture of an ox head and illustrates the strength of an animal. It can mean strong, power, or leader.
M
The ‘Mem’ illustrates water or waves. As a nomadic people, the Hebrews feared the waves or waters of the seas, so the letter often meant chaos, mighty, or blood. Large bodies of water hold many unknowns or mysteries for an agrarian society.
n
The ‘Nun’ represents a seed or sprout and gives us the meaning of continuing to a new generation. It can have the meaning of life, sustaining, offspring, or heir.
t
The ‘Tau’ is used as a man’s mark, either like a signature on an agreement or even a crossed sticks on the ground to mark a boundary point. Either way, it is associated with an agreement or covenant between two people or between man and God.
The client who commissioned this work challenged me to “think outside the box” about what the original commandments looked like when Moses received them on Mt. Sinai. It is believed that the writing from “the finger of God” was in Paleo (pictographic) Hebrew, but I really had not considered that the chiseled letters were on anything other than two blah stones. The thought that Abba might have presented Moses with a “color masterpiece” is mind boggling to me. Considering that He is the original “Color Master,” splashing color all around the world, makes it an interesting prospect. I don’t in any way propose that my rendition of the commandments is an authentic replication. I did spend time with Him while working on these pieces and hopefully “colored” as He instructed for such a time as this. I do hope that when you look at the colors it will expand your mind to be amazed at what an incredible artist He is!!!
I have portrayed the 10 Commandments through the Hebrew mindset (the 10 Words or Eseret HaDavrim), and in the Paleo Hebrew, and in color! As I began the art work I discovered Dr. Frank Seekins’ teaching on the commandments and the secret to easily remembering them. Hebrew numbers the commandments with the first 10 letters of the aleph beyt and in their Paleo (pictographic) form each picture gives a clue to the commandment.
Below is a quick overview of the first 10 letters and their corresponding commandment.
#1
a
I am the LORD your God.
The aleph (a) represents first, strength, defender, hero which explains God.
#2
B
You shall have no other gods before me.
The beyt (B) represents second, house, family. We choose to enter God’s house and become part of His family.
#3
g
You shall not take the Name of the LORD your God in vain.
The gimel (g) represents third, walk, lift up. We understand His Name and take on His character.
#4
D
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
The dalet (D) represents fourth, a door, path, journey. We work hard but enter God’s door of rest.
#5
H
Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long.
The hey (H) represents fifth, behold, reveal. Behold! This is the commandment with a promise of long life!
#6
v
You shall not murder.
The vav (v) represents the number six, a nail, holding together. A nail helps hold two things together. People held together will not destroy each other.
#7
Z
You shall not commit adultery.
The zayin (Z) represents seven, a weapon, to cut. A weapon can destroy the same as adultery can destroy a marriage and family.
#8
c
You shall not steal.
The chet (c) represents the number eight, a fence, to protect. The fence reminds us to protect the property of others and not steal.
#9
J
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
The tet (J) represents nine, to surround, a snake. The tet reminds us not to follow the path of the serpent and lie or accuse.
#10
y
You shall not covet.
The beyt (y) represents ten, a hand, to work. Working reminds us of providing for our own life and not desiring what someone else has.
The Belt of Truth is an important item in the Armor of God used in spiritual warfare. The Aleph and Mem together create the word “Mother,” the strong water that nurtures and holds a family together. The word “Truth” means to nurture the covenant.
a
The ‘Aleph’ is the picture of an ox head and illustrates the strength of an animal. It can mean strong, power, or leader.
M
The ‘Mem’ illustrates water or waves. As a nomadic people, the Hebrews feared the waves or waters of the seas, so the letter often meant chaos, mighty, or blood. On the other hand, water sustained life and in this instance, it carries that meaning.
t
The ‘Tau’ is used as a man’s mark, either like a signature on an agreement or even a crossed sticks on the ground to mark a boundary point. Either way, it is associated with an agreement or covenant between two people or between man and God.
The pictograph portrays getting our attention, ‘Behold’, the root of Em (mother or giver of life) who seeks to establish continual life or activity in us. Faith is the actions of our life that reveal our relationship with the life giver. Our faith brings a life that has purpose. When our actions come into agreement with the Lord, the enemy’s weapons cannot penetrate the Shield of Faith.
a
The ‘Aleph’ is the picture of an ox head and illustrates the strength of an animal. It can mean strong, power, or leader.
M
The ‘Mem’ illustrates water or waves. As a nomadic people, the Hebrews feared the waves or waters of the ocean. So the letter came to mean chaos, mighty, or blood.
v
The ‘Vav’ pictures a tent peg or nail. It means to secure, connect, or establish.
n
The ‘Nun’ represents a seed or sprout and gives us the meaning of continuing to a new generation. It can have the meaning of continuing, perpetuating, sustaining, offspring, or heir.
hH
The ‘Hey’ pictograph represents a man with his hands in the air trying to get someone’s attention. It suggests look, reveal, behold.
The only offensive weapon is the Sword of the Spirit, which is The Word of God (Debar). Words, in the ancient thought process, had substance. Sentences were an ordered arrangement of ideas that ordered lives. The Word of God makes the enemy back down. The more a person is in command of the Word, the more effective soldier he will be.
D
The ‘Dalet’ represents a tent flap or door. It can also mean back and forth movement as in going in and out of a door or a journey.
B
The ‘Beyt’ depicts the floor plan of a tent. It means home, inside, or family.
r
The ‘Resh’ symbolizes a head, man, chief, highest, top, beginning, or first.
Destroy the authority that establishes chaos. In this illustration as part of the Armor of God, the Shoes of Peace indicate we need to to be walking or pursuing. If we do the walking, God will destroy the chaos ahead of us.
sS
The ‘Shin’ represents two front teeth and can mean sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy.
l
The ‘Lamed’ is a picture of a shepherd’s staff. The shepherd used the staff to exercise authority over the sheep to direct or lead them. It can mean teach, lead, yoke, move forward, or authority.
v
The ‘Vav’ represents a tent peg or nail and means to secure or hook. But it can also simply mean peg or nail.
M
The ‘Mem’ illustrates water or waves. As a nomadic people, the Hebrews did not understand the waves or waters of the ocean. So the letter came to mean chaos, mighty, or blood.
As pictographs, the letters combine to mean ‘Behold, see how a hand will save or separate by a nail.’ But it is actually a compound word consisting of ‘Ya’ (God) and the root word ‘shuah’ (to rescue). In the Armor of God, the Helmet of Salvation is Yeshuah, the one who secures our rescue or salvation.
y
The ‘Yud’ in pictograph form shows an arm and a hand. The picture can mean to work, throw, worship, or it can simply mean an arm or hand.
sS
The ‘Shin’ may be depicted differently depending on the time period, but represents two front teeth and can mean sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy.
v
The ‘Vav’ represents a tent peg or nail and means to secure or hook. But it can also simply mean peg or nail.
E
The ‘Ayin’ appears as an eye. It relates to the function of the eye, understanding, or knowledge.
hH
The ‘Hey’ appears as a man waving his arms. It relates to pay attention, hehold, reveal.
The Hebrew year 5780 ushers in the decade of “pey” named from the 17th Hebrew letter. The letter itself means “mouth” and the focus of 5780 is on the power of what comes from our mouth — our words.
The “5780” artwork (pey,hey)translates to mouth as seen in Psalm 119:131. “I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for your commandments.” In Paleo Hebrew the “pey” represents an open mouth meaning to express, and the “hey” appears like a man with arms raised trying to get attention and means to look or behold. During 5780 we should “Behold what is the expression from our mouth.”
“Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
THINK ON EXELLENT THINGS AND SPEAK LIFE TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS!
The word is specific to the event in Exodus 12. Simply it means to crossover or leap. The pictographs give us the idea that the Spirit (God’s spirit since the word is first used when God is talking) will turn death away from your walls or protect your walls.
P
The ‘Pey’ represents an open mouth means speak, open, blow, or apart.
u
The ‘Samech’ represents a thorn bush that would prop up, support, twist, turn, or snare.
C
The ‘Chet’ illustrates a fence surrounding and protecting the action of life.
The ‘Aleph’ and ‘Lamed’ form the root word ‘El’ which means God or strong controller. Together the letters in Israel mean “Men (the nation) whose work is to press/turn others towards El (God).”
y
The ‘Yud’ in pictograph form shows an arm and a hand. The picture can mean to work, throw, worship.
s
The ‘Shin’ represents two front teeth and can mean sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy.
r
The ‘Resh’ symbolizes a head, man, or chief.
a
The ‘Aleph’ is the picture of an ox head and illustrates the strength of an animal. It can mean strong, power, or leader.
L
The ‘Lamed’ is a picture of a shepherd’s staff. The shepherd used the staff to exercise authority over his sheep to direct or lead them. It can mean teach, lead, yoke, or move forward.
Together the words signify “to separate to the house of the covenant where the authority that establishes chaos has been destroyed” and “Rest in the Lord in peace”
s
The ‘Shin’ represents two front teeth and can mean sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy.
B
The ‘Bet’ shows the floor plan of a tent. It means home, inside, or family.
t
The ‘Tav’ represents a sign, mark, covenant, or cross.
s
The ‘Shin’ represents two front teeth and can mean sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy.
L
The ‘Lamed’ is a picture of a shepherd’s staff. The shepherd used the staff to exercise authority over his sheep to direct or lead them. It can mean teach, lead, yoke, or move forward.
v
The ‘Vav’ represents a tent peg or nail and means to secure or establish.
M
The ‘Mem’ illustrates water or waves. As a nomadic people, the Hebrews feared the waves or waters of the seas, so the letter often meant chaos, mighty, or blood.
