Start here for interesting word studies to begin your journey into Ancient Hebrew. A full explanation awaits you and some will even have videos and related art, jewelry, or other products for you to enjoy.
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.
Blessed
Barak (baw-rak’)
krB
בָרַךְ
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.
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.
Poster of a six-piece artwork set by Marla Jean Clinesmith. The grouping depicts the Armor of God as listed in Ephesians 6:10-20 using the Ancient Hebrew letters for each word. At the bottom is a listing of the armor pieces.
Poster of a six-piece artwork set by Marla Jean Clinesmith. The grouping depicts the Armor of God as listed in Ephesians 6:10-20 using the Ancient Hebrew letters for each word. Under each picture is printing of the Ancient Hebrew letters, the transliteration, and the English words for the armor.
Poster of a six-piece artwork set by Marla Jean Clinesmith. The grouping depicts the Armor of God as listed in Ephesians 6:10-20 using the Ancient Hebrew letters for each word. Under each picture is printing of the Ancient Hebrew letters, the transliteration, and the English words for the armor.
This poster contains the art of the Ten Commandments by Marla Jean Clinesmith using the Ancient Hebrew letters for each Commandment. The original art was commissioned by a private collector and was framed in three frames. The grouping on the poster is somewhat similar with the addition of beautiful gold lettered descriptions for each piece down the middle of the poster.
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 yod (y) represents ten, a hand, to work. Working reminds us of providing for our own life and not desiring what someone else has.
Original three piece set by Marla Jean Clinesmith commissioned by a private collector. The grouping depicts the Ten Commandments using the Ancient Hebrew letters for each Commandment. Each piece is matted under glass and separately framed. A poster of the art with explanations will be available shortly in our Posters category.
Explanations
The Ten Commandments
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 yod (y) represents ten, a hand, to work. Working reminds us of providing for our own life and not desiring what someone else has.
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 yod (y) represents ten, a hand, to work. Working reminds us of providing for our own life and not desiring what someone else has.
Original Mixed Media Art six piece set by Marla Jean Clinesmith. The grouping depicts the Armor of God as listed in Ephesians 6:10-20 using the Ancient Hebrew letters for each word. Each piece is double matted under glass and separately framed.
When hung together with similar spacing as in our picture, the grouping will take about 45″ x 34″ of wall space.
Outer dimensions of each framed piece: Helmet of Salvation 20 x 16 inches Breastplate of Righteousness 13 x 16 inches Belt of Truth 14 x 14 inches Shoes of Peace 18 x 12 inches Shield of Faith 14 x 14 inches Sword of the Spirit – The Word 18 x 12 inches
No word in the Hebrew language is more graphic in its pictorial form than the word Shalom! The idea that peace originates in multiple forms is seldom considered. However, Yeshua made it clear that His Shalom was different from all other when He told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27)
The pictographs clearly demonstrate the uniqueness of God’s approach to peace.
Peace
Shalom (shaw-lome’)
MvLs
שָׁלוֹם
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 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.
The specially matted print of Passover (Pesach in Hebrew), as presented by Artist Marla Jean Clinesmith, may well portray one of the most vibrant Biblical word pictures of all time.
Passover
Pesach (peh’-sakh)
CuP
פסח
P
The ‘Pey’ represents an open mouth and means speak, open, blow, or apart. It often is used to mean ‘Spirit’ as in the wind.
u
The ‘Samech’ represents a thorn bush that would prop up, support, twist, turn, or snare.
C
The ‘Chet’ illustrates a fence or wall surrounding and protecting the action of life.
In simple terms, it means to crossover or leap, as in God’s Spirit will leap over the marked homes in Exodus Chapter 12. But there is so much more to it. This is the action taken by God (hvhy), the ultimate judge of His own creation, as His Spirit passed over all the households of Egypt to dispense death to the firstborn of Pharaoh, his people, and gods. The only thing that protected God’s people from this deadly plague was the blood of the sacrificed lamb applied to the lintel and door posts of the houses of God’s people. At the sight of the doors marked with blood, the Spirit of God (Pey P) turned away (Samach u) the wrath of God from the walls or boundaries (Chet C) of the homes of those marked as God’s people.
The entire scene was a physical foreshadow of the spiritual reality that Yeshua, the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world, will bring to completion with His death on a cross planted on a hill called Golgotha in Jerusalem generations later.
It’s here, however, that our word picture presents a mystery. If the cross is the ultimate solution to the sin condition separating God and man – why two door posts? Some would speculate a connotation of the lintel and two door posts representing the Crown of thorns and nail pierced hands of the Savior. And while the scriptural account is somewhat silent on this matter, it does record in Exodus 12:37-38 ‘Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also …,’ indicating both Jews and Gentiles were saved on that night.
As for me, the picture reminds me of the encouraging words of the Apostle Paul recorded in Ephesians Chapter 2 as he assures us that Christ’s death on the cross made two, both Jews and Gentiles, one thus bringing us the ultimate in peace.
To some extent, yes, but it wouldn’t be very useful. We know that English words can have several meanings or can be used in various ways. Similarly, Hebrew words may also have multiple meanings, and they may not overlap the English meanings at all. In fact, since the whole Hebrew thought process is different, sometimes it might even take several English sentences to explain one Hebrew word. Also, just as the sentence structure is often different in other languages, it could be very difficult to read and understand if English words were directly substituted for Hebrew words in a sentence. So, for all intents and purposes, the practical answer is ‘no.’
Since Eastern and Western thought processes are different, the meaning of words tends to be different also, making it extremely difficult to create accurate word for word translations. Translators attempt to choose words that are as similar as possible, but they quite often don’t agree on what those words mean. Over time, as languages age, the accepted meaning of many common words changes also. An example would be that 100 years ago was known as the Gay 20’s yet it had nothing to do with sexual orientation of the people involved.
Rather than pursue a different or more accurate definition or a deeper or mystical meaning of a Hebrew word, Paleo / Ancient Hebrew’s greatest asset is to assist the student in more clearly determining the “functional meaning” of the word. The scriptural principle that enhances this process is that, first comes the natural and then comes the spiritual. In other words, once the natural message(s) of the individual pictograph is known then the “functional meaning” of that word picture finds its value. This process is interdependent on the reader knowing the message conveyed by the individual pictographs in their cultural context. In contrast, English as well as most Western language systems are phonetic in design using a memory system of shapes and sounds to form words that are phonetically memorized but have little if any embedded meaning in the individual letters. An excellent example of these differences is found in the word “dog”. In English D – o – g is simply three individual shapes with no inherent meaning. In Ancient / Paleo pictographs, the Hebrew for dog is K – l – b, or Kalev. Its functional meaning is “all heart”. Anyone that has spent time with “man’s best friend” knows that a dog’s nature is “all heart”!
Additionally, it should be noted that the growth of Modern Hebrew, dictated by the need for new words with no Biblical background, has accelerated the pressure to use phonetic practices to create new Hebrew words without the underlying meanings prevalent in Ancient / Paleo Hebrew.
Only a few original documents from the time period where Paleo Hebrew was prevalent remain or have been discovered:
The Zayit Stone contains the earliest known inscription in the Paleo-Hebrew script and has been dated to the 10th Century BC. While not technically a document, it is inscribed with a complete abecedary, basically a listing of the letters of the alphabet.
The Siloam Inscription, 8th Century BC, indicates that King Hezekiah closed up the waters of the Gihon Springs and had the water diverted through an underground tunnel to the Pool of Siloam. The inscription records the construction of the tunnel.
Another find is the Ketef Hinnom scrolls. These two tiny silver scrolls (about 1 inch long) were found in burial caves. It took experts three years to unroll and discover the priestly blessing in Paleo Hebrew. The scrolls are believed to pre-date the Dead Sea scrolls by about four centuries.
The Samaritans of Israel still use a unique form of Paleo Hebrew in their religious and worship practices.
Additionally, scores of archaeological finds in recent times depict Paleo Hebrew inscriptions. These include pottery, jewelry, cave inscriptions, and architectural engravings to name a few.
The explanations and products on our website occasionally use some of the regional variants that help demonstrate the functional meanings of the words depicted.
Poster of a six-piece artwork set by Marla Jean Clinesmith. The grouping depicts the Armor of God as listed in Ephesians 6:10-20 using the Ancient Hebrew letters for each word. Under each picture is printing of the Ancient Hebrew letters, the transliteration, and the English words for the armor.
