Aleph-Shin is a root word meaning ‘fire’ or the ‘strong devourer.’ Fire could be good or bad depending on how it was used, but adding the Mem results in ‘the fire of chaos’ which defines ‘guilt.’
a
The ‘Aleph’ is the picture of an ox head and illustrates the strength of an animal. It can mean strong, power, or leader.
s
The ‘Shin’ looks like two front teeth of an animal and means press, rip, or destroy.
M
The ‘Mem’ resembles waves of water and to the ancient Bedouins, that appeared as chaos.
When sin comes into our life and we don’t deal with it properly, it can get out of control, just like a fire, and it brings guilt.
There are precious few ways for man’s relationship with God to be reciprocal. To “bless” may be the most powerful example of that rare opportunity. The Ancient Hebrew pictographs give us a clear and achievable formula for not only receiving blessings from God but giving blessing to God by doing exactly as He does.
k
Kaf
Access
r
Resh
Man
B
Bet
Home
Together the pictographs mean to ‘give access to my house.’ When we are blessed by the Lord, it is much more than receiving simple physical treasures, He gives us access to Himself.
B
The ‘Bet’ shows 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.
k
The ‘Kaf’ represents a palm or open hand, like to invite another into our home with a sweeping motion of our open palm.
In Ephesians 6:10-20, we are told to wear the Armor of God. Here we can use the Ancient Hebrew letters to gain a better understanding of each piece of the armor.
Helmet of Salvation (Yeshuah)
h
Hey
Behold
E
Ayin
Look
v
Vav
Nail
S
Shin
Separate
y
Yud
Hand
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.
Breastplate of Righteousness (Tsedek)
q
Quph
Follow
D
Dalet
Journey
F
Tsade
Seek
As part of the Armor of God, the Breastplate of Righteousness represents seeking a journey that follows God.
F
The 'Tsade' represents a man searching or seeking and means hunter, catch, or desire.
D
The 'Dalet' represents a tent flap or door as going in and out of a door or a journey.
q
The 'Quph' character appears like the back of man's head or a sunset and means last, behind, following, revolving or cycle of time.
Belt of Truth (Emet)
t
Tau
Covenant
M
Mem
Water
a
Aleph
Strong
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.
Shoes of Peace (Shalom)
M
Mem
Chaos
v
Vav
Establish
l
Lamed
Authority
s
Shin
Destroy
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.
Shield of Faith (Emunah)
H
Hey
Behold
n
Nun
Life/Heir
v
Vav
Secure
M
Mem
Water
a
Aleph
Strong
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.
Sword of the Spirit - The Word (Debar)
r
Resh
Man
B
Beyt
Home
D
Dalet
Door
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.
“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.
