62. Focus Attention – the first grouping

63. Implications of נשׁה
61. Introduction to “Attention” Discussion

● נסס

See discussion on this Keyword in Post 10. Keywords.

① elevating

Psalms 60:1-4

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 O God, You have cast us off;

You have broken us down;

You have been displeased;

Oh, restore us again!

2 You have made the earth tremble;

You have broken it;

Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.

3 You have shown Your people hard things;

You have made us drink the wine of confusion.

4(6H) You have given a banner (h5251. נֵס nês) to those who fear You,

That it may be displayed because of the truth.

Selah

② raising flag

Numbers 26:9-10

9 The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, representatives of the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD; 10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign (h5251. נֵס nês).

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Exodus 17:15 NKJV

15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner (h3071. יְהוָֹה נִסִּיyhwh nisiy);

Exodus 17:15 Darby

15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi.

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Psalms 4:6-7

6(7H) There are many who say,

“Who will show us any good?”

LORD, lift up (h5375. נָשָׂא nâśâ’; or נָסָה naçah (Psalm 4 : 6 (7)) the light of Your countenance upon us.

7 You have put gladness in my heart,

More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

See John 3:14 and 8:28.

● נצץ

① sparkling

Ezekiel 1:5-7

5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled (h5340. נָצַץ nâṣaṣ) like the color of burnished bronze.

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Genesis 8:21

21 And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. 

Genesis 8:21-22

21 וַיָּ֣רַח יְהוָה֮ אֶת־רֵ֣יחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־לִבֹּ֗ו לֹֽא־אֹ֠סִף לְקַלֵּ֨ל עֹ֤וד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ בַּעֲב֣וּר הָֽאָדָ֔ם 

כִּ֠ייֵ֣צֶר לֵ֧ב הָאָדָ֛ם רַ֖ע מִנְּעֻרָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־אֹסִ֥ף עֹ֛וד לְהַכֹּ֥ות אֶת־כָּל־חַ֖י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִֽׂיתִי׃

22 עֹ֖ד כָּל־יְמֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ זֶ֡רַע וְ֠קָצִיר וְקֹ֨ר וָחֹ֜ם וְקַ֧יִץ וָחֹ֛רֶף וְיֹ֥ום וָלַ֖יְלָה לֹ֥א יִשְׁבֹּֽתוּ׃

I am only speculating – I do not see a clear connection, but h3336. יֵצֶר êyṣer is the word translated as mankind’s imagination here•••

② spark

Isaiah 1:28-31

28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,

And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees

Which you have desired;

And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens

Which you have chosen.

30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,

And as a garden that has no water.

31 The strong shall be as tinder,

And the work of it as a spark (h5213. נִיצוֹץ niyṣôṣ);

Both will burn together,

And no one shall quench them.

● נשש

① being a creditor

Genesis 41:51

51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh (h4519. מְנַשֶּׁה menaše): “For God has made me forget (h5382. נָשָׁה nâšâ) all my toil and all my father’s house.”

h4519. מְנַשֶּׁה menaše; from h5382. נָשָׁה nâšâ

Genesis 41:51

51 וַיִּקְרָ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם הַבְּכֹ֖ור מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה כִּֽי־נַשַּׁ֤נִי אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֲמָלִ֔י וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

A very quick pause for another Hebrew tidbit. Notice the little dot in the middle of the shin in the two bonded words in verse 51. The dot is the Dagesh, which in this case has the effect of “doubling” the letter. It is part of the Masoretic system we have discussed previously.

● פנה

① turning; changing direction

 Deuteronomy 31:18

18 And I will surely hide My face (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned (h6437. פָּנָה p̱ânâ) to other gods.

② being contrary to; in spite of 

Genesis 16:12

12 He shall be a wild man;

His hand shall be against every man,

And every man’s hand against him.

And he shall dwell in the presence (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) of all his brethren.”

Genesis 16:12

12 וְה֤וּא יִהְיֶה֙ פֶּ֣רֶא אָדָ֔ם יָדֹ֣ו בַכֹּ֔ל וְיַ֥ד כֹּ֖ל בֹּ֑ו וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו יִשְׁכֹּֽן׃

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Exodus 20:3

3 “You shall have no other gods before (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) Me.

③ readying for a purpose 

Genesis 24:29-31

29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. 30 So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared (h6437. פָּנָה p̱ânâ) the house, and a place for the camels.”

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Leviticus 19:4

4 Do not turn (h6437. פָּנָה p̱ânâ) to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the LORD your God.

④ passing away

Psalms 90:8-9

8 You have set our iniquities before You,

Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.

9 For all our days have passed away (h6437. פָּנָה p̱ânâ) in Your wrath;

We finish our years like a sigh.

⑤ turning to; accepting

Numbers 16:15

15 Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, “Do not respect (h6437. פָּנָה p̱ânâ) their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.”

⑥ showing hostility

Psalms 34:15-16

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.

16(17H) The face (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) of the LORD is against those who do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

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Psalms 119:135

135 Make Your face (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) shine upon Your servant,

And teach me Your statutes.

⑦ lest

Genesis 24:6

6 But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not (h6435. פֵּן p̱ên) take my son back there.

⑧ corner; walls joined from different directions

Exodus 27:1-2 – (The Altar of Burnt Offering – Ex. 38:1–7)

1 “You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. 2 You shall make its horns on its four corners (h6438. פִּנָּה p̱inâ); its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze.

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Psalms 118:21-24

21 I will praise You,

For You have answered me,

And have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone (h6438. פִּנָּה p̱inâ).

23 This was the LORD’s doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

⑨ leaders; pillars of a community 

1 Samuel 14:38 – read context: 24-46

38 And Saul said, “Come over here, all you chiefs (h6438. פִּנָּה p̱inâ) of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.

 at the turn of

Exodus 14:27

27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared (h6437. פָּנָה p̱ânâ), the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

 face

Deuteronomy 5:1-4

1 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. 4 The LORD talked with you face (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) to face (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) on the mountain from the midst of the fire.

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Deuteronomy 7:9-10

9 “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 and He repays those who hate Him to their face (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym), to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face(h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym).

 interior; inside

Psalms 45:12-14

12 And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;

The rich among the people will seek your favor.

13 The royal daughter (is) all glorious within (h6441. פְּנִימָה p̱eniymâ) (the palace);

Her clothing is woven with gold.

14 She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors;

The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.

 expression; mood

Genesis 32:20(21H)

20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.'” For he said, “I will appease himwith the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”

Genesis 32:21

21 וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם גַּ֗ם הִנֵּ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יַעֲקֹ֖ב אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־אָמַ֞ר אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה פָנָ֗יו בַּמִּנְחָה֙ הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת לְפָנָ֔י וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֙  

אֶרְאֶ֣ה פָנָ֔יו אוּלַ֖י יִשָּׂ֥א פָנָֽי׃

See the four occurrences in this verse•••

 half-baked

Leviticus 6:21(14H)

21 It shall be made in a pan with oil. When it is mixed, you shall bring it in. The baked(h8601. תֻּפִין ṯup̱îyn) pieces of the grain offering you shall offer for a sweet aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 6:14

14 עַֽל־מַחֲבַ֗ת בַּשֶּׁ֛מֶן תֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה מֻרְבֶּ֣כֶת תְּבִיאֶ֑נָּה תֻּפִינֵי֙ מִנְחַ֣ת פִּתִּ֔ים תַּקְרִ֥יב רֵֽיחַ־נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה׃

 because of; in view of

Exodus 19:18

18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because (מִ֠פְּנֵי) the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

מִ֠פְּנֵי = מן + פנה

h6437. פָּנָה p̱ânâ

 in front of; before

Genesis 24:33

33 (Food) was set before (h6440. פָּנִים p̱âniym) him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.”

And he said, “Speak on.” 

This is לפני – see Appendix 3 “in the presence of”

● ירא

(Note the קרא and קרה roots were left off in the phonetic cognates list – others as well)

① fearing; being anxious of enemies

Genesis 9:2

2 And the fear (h4172. מוֹרָא môrâ’) of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand.

h4172. מוֹרָא môrâ’; or מֹרָא morâ’; or מוֹרָה morah (Psa. 9:20), mo-raw; from h3372. יָרֵאyârê’

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Genesis 2:19

19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought (them) to Adam to see what he would call (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) them. And whatever Adam called (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) each living creature, that (was) its name.

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Leviticus 19:3

3 Every one of you shall revere (h3372. יָרֵא yârê’) his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

② being awesome

Deuteronomy 4:34

34 Or did God (ever) try to go (and) take for Himself a nation from the midst of (another) nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors (h4172. מוֹרָא môrâ’), according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

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Psalms 65:5

5 (Byawesome deeds (h3372. יָרֵא yârê’) in righteousness You will answer us,

O God of our salvation,

You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,

And of the far-off seas;

③ being aware of a presence

Deuteronomy 4:10

10 (especially concerning) the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear (h3372. יָרֵא yârê’) Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

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Psalms 2:11

11 Serve the LORD with fear (h3374. יִרְאָה iyr’â),

And rejoice with trembling.

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Psalms 27:1

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear (h3372. יָרֵא yârê’)?

The LORD is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid (h6342. פָּחַד p̱âḥaḏ)?

④ directing

Proverbs 11:24-26

24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and one who waters (h7301. רָוָה râwâ) will himself be watered (h3384. יָרָה yârâ).

26 The people curse him who holds back grain,

but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

Proverbs 11:25

25 נֶֽפֶשׁ־בְּרָכָ֥ה תְדֻשָּׁ֑ן וּ֝מַרְוֶ֗ה גַּם־ה֥וּא יוֹרֶֽא׃

h3384. יָרָה yârâ; or (2 Chr. 26:15) יָרָא yara

Though there are separate roots ירא and ירה, the context certainly argues for ירה – they are cognates, and there is another occurrence (see the Strongs note)

● ● ●

There are many, many techniques that Scripture uses to focus the reader’s attention. We have spoken of some of the techniques previously on LogAndSpeck, including poetry/songs, parallelism, chiastic structure, word plays, keywords, and what is said/what is not said. R. David Fohrman, on AlephBeta, often points out the use of the old Sesame Street jingle, “🎶One of these things is not like the other🎵.” Jewish writing often uses these same techniques. In the listing for ירא just below, there are two such instances. The EDBH book of “hints” is such a treasure because many things noted by sages over thousands of years have been folded into this text, if one only knows how to look (again, like Scripture). When there is something that “stands out,” focuses our attention, a verse that serves as a witness, an example, is listed here. I am not yet learned enough to catch them all, but I do see two in this listing (multiple witnesses) that will help you to “see.” The first I’ll mention is at ④ directing under Proverbs 11:25. ירא occurs 367 times in the NKJV. The author has many choices of verses to share in this book, to associate with the root. In choosing this one, which may be only one of two (?) places ירא is interpreted as ירה, there must be a particular nuance they desire to point out. I leave the interpretation up to you.

The second one I want to “focus your attention” on here is in the actual entry for ירא on p.110 in EDBH. Notice, please, that I added some more members of the list of the phonetic cognates that were left out. I apologize for beleaguering this point, but it is SO very important for understanding God’s Word.

One might say the author made an error. And perhaps they did, but recognize that this is a real attention-getter, as I explain. If the reader has a copy of the EDBH and is trying to learn some of its nuances, notice that in the Appendices in the back of the book on pages 313-314, the list of cognates for C40 limit activity, has twelve roots listed. Clark has listed six. I am not even going to go into whether there is significance in the numbers (that could be another whole area of discussion). As you see, I added two here. You might consider what the other four are, but again, not for my purpose here. Again, the idea is to try to understand any communication from God not readily apparent. And since I am still very much in the learning stage, I take baby steps. The interconnections in God’s Word, as in life, are unlimited. We can only see as far as the light allows along our path (Ps119:105). Allow me to show you a few things I see here. You may see more. 

First we will talk about the primary definition of ירא and ask ourselves why this particular choice of wording ירא fear; call to constant attention? The author has many words available to use. I’m going to say (challenge if you like, this is just what I see) that the word “call” here is specifically chosen, based upon the set of verses listed in ① fearing; being anxious of enemies. Look back up periodically at those verses and remember context is always important.

Only God can read minds, so any time I speculate on others’ intent on something they do or write or say, I need to be carefully checking my own assumptive reasoning, and warning the reader here, that any writer may have a bias. That said, first I believe קרא was specifically left off the cognate list for the person using the book to stop and notice. As we listed the three verses in , where we have the “also” verses that I have mentioned often have very powerful messages, the word קרא is used twice. If one were looking at the verse for “what is the connection here?” one should stop and dig deeper. The Appendices and Introduction spell out a lot (the parts that people like to skip over).

So, just looking at this first set, under ① fearing; being anxious of enemies, there are HUGE life lessons if we know how to look. Remember all of the subheadings have to fit under the larger definition of “fear; call to constant attention.” In this word there must be both an element of fear, and an element of paying attention. 

Life lesson #1 here, under the subheading fearing; being anxious of enemies:

Leviticus 19:3

3 Every one of you shall revere (h3372. יָרֵא yârê’) his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

There must be an element of both paying attention to our parents and fearing our parents, just as with our heavenly parent, God. We cannot be friends to our children. There must be an element of awe and fear, of feeling “less than,” in order to be a parent being successful in bringing up children who can navigate this world.

For the next life lesson, I am going to tie together for you the two verses Genesis 9:2 and Genesis 2:19, which EDBH clearly does, with context, and bring in another connection or two, to help with understanding. Please remember that how various traditions have chosen to live out God’s Word are not necessarily the “right” message in Scripture, which is why we all must check our “assumptive reasoning” at all times. I am not telling you my interpretation is “right.” I am showing you some connections that you may ponder 🤔 for yourself. The first reminder regarding context is something we discussed long, long ago on LogAndSpeck, an example given in Spangler and Tverberg’s book, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. You can find it in Post 10. Keywords, though the point is about context. Jewish techniques, seen throughout Scripture, Hebrew and Greek, are to use one word, or phrase, or verse, that sticks out (focuses our attention) in order to refer to an entire context. So, you can search for the name Abegg, and the incident between him and Emanuel Tov. That entire post on keywords is a good one to become familiar with, as we will see it again, I feel sure, just as we did with נסס above.

Let’s take this apart, piece by piece, so you can see where the parts come from, and you may then decide if the picture makes sense to you. We will start from a distance and work our way toward the goal, which hopefully is better understanding. There are quite a few pieces to assemble here.

Ⓐ Greater and lesser theme

This is a huge theme in Scripture which we have only skimmed the surface on. We will undoubtedly delve into it much more with time. Two most obvious examples are: 

Genesis 25:23

23 And the LORD said to her:

“Two nations are in your womb,

Two peoples shall be separated from your body;

One people shall be stronger than the other,

And the greater shall serve the lesser.”

(You may be used to a translation saying older serving the younger••• check it out for yourself.

Matthew 19:30

30 But many (who are) first will be last, and the last first.

Part of the discussion in Appendix A on Derivational (Derivative) Variants. (EDBH uses both terms – I have tried to be consistent throughout with Derivational, though perhaps they have a reason for using both. (Derivative makes me think of calculus which REALLY requires focused attention!))

I’ll share this verse with you, but note that the idea is the action of the root applied on a larger scale, when converted to a Derivational Variant, tends to apply that action on a targeted or individualized scale. 

Deuteronomy 1:17

17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 

Let’s look at a repeated idea in the Greek Scriptures, in the Parable of the Talents. 

Matthew 25:21&23 – ESV (I definitely prefer the ESV translation here)

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

The pieces will initially seem disconnected, but should come together.

Ⓑ A very important Derivational Variant


You can see it is by far the most common word for “man.”

If the DV is targeting the two roots listed, we need to look at those two roots and their meanings. First, another comment about how EDBH works, that one gets used to: in the primary listing for a root, one can tell if a letter is Sin or Shin, because the distinction is marked, e.g. p.256 שדד vs. p.274 שׂדד. But in all the other places, in verses, in GVs and DVs, they are not indicated differently, so (just as an example, in the entry for שׂתת, the two above look the same:

Let’s next look at the two roots that EDBH says are underlying איש:

Ⓒ There is no שהה, only שׂהה.

In the cognate lists, שהה is listed as meander. In the אוש entry (see above) its meaning is given as tarry. You can see how those coincide

① meandering lamb

Genesis 22:7

7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb (h7716. שֶׂה śeh) for a burnt offering?”

Genesis 22 is the context, and one of the more important passages in Judaism, the “binding of Isaac.” It is not possible to go into a great deal of depth here, but know that it is one of the passages referred to in the Greek Scriptures demonstrating the faith of Abraham (some examples: Gal3:8; Heb11:17; Jas2:21-23). I will just point out that Isaac asks where is the h7716. שֶׂה śeh and Abraham responds that God will provide the h7716. שֶׂה śeh. But at the time of “provision,” what is provided is not a lamb h7716. שֶׂה śeh, but a ram h0352. אַיִל’aiyl, caught by its horns h7161. קֶרֶן qeren. The root p.9 איל strengthen; the root p.233 קרןproject upward. There may possibly be connections to rites in some civilizations transitioning from boyhood to manhood.

Ⓓ And ישה, no ישׂה. We have pointed out before that EDBH does not hesitate to combine Sin and Shin, and we have shown reasons why before.

① existing 

Genesis 18:24

24 Suppose there are (h3426. יֵשׁ êyš) fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?

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Exodus 14:13-14

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Exodus 14:13

13 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶל־הָעָם֮ אַל־תִּירָאוּ֒ הִֽתְיַצְב֗וּ וּרְאוּ֙ אֶת־יְשׁוּעַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם הַיֹּ֑ום כִּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ררְאִיתֶ֤ם אֶת־מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ הַיֹּ֔ום לֹ֥א תֹסִ֛יפוּ לִרְאֹתָ֥ם עֹ֖וד עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

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Exodus 25:18

18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 

Exodus 25:18

18 וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ שְׁנַ֥יִם כְּרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב מִקְשָׁה֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם מִשְּׁנֵ֖י קְצֹ֥ות הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃

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Numbers 13:16

16 These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua. 

Numbers 13:16

16 אֵ֚לֶּה שְׁמֹ֣ות הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּקְרָ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נ֖וּן יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃

Read this Wikipedia article retrieved 07122021, about how the Hebrew is used•••

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeshua

And once we are finished with this section, perhaps one will understand Judaism’s feelings about the use of the name “Yeshua.”

Calling•••

If you understand the linking of these four verses, and take it to heart, it will be the answer to many of your questions in life (like “why do bad things happen to good people?”). They are so critical that I am putting them in a separate subheading all their own below in Ⓔ ●. Theneverything begins to make sense.

② having something 

Genesis 39:5

5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had (h3426. יֵשׁêyš), the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had (h3426. יֵשׁ êyš), in house and field.

③ efficient wisdom for achievement 

Isaiah 28:29

29 This also comes from the LORD of hosts,

(Who) is wonderful in counsel (and) excellent in guidance (h8454. תּוּשִׁיָּה tûšiyâ).

Isaiah 28:29

29 גַּם־זֹ֕את מֵעִ֛ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות יָצָ֑אָה הִפְלִ֣יא עֵצָ֔ה הִגְדִּ֖יל תּוּשִׁיָּֽה׃ ס

BDB תּוּשִׁיָּה

GLOSS sound wisdom

PARSING Hebrew, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute

Ⓔ ● The details of  ① existing under ישה 

שעע and ישע

① being saved from existential threat

Exodus 14:13-14

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation(h3444. יְשׁוּעָה yešû‘â) of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (h2790. חָרַשׁ ḥâraš).”

•••p.90 חרש plow into physical/mental object;; CM חרש focus decisively (A52) – looks like another entire cognate family to investigate re: “attention” 😳

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Exodus 25:18

18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.   h3727. כַּפֹּרֶת ḵap̱ôreṯ; from h3722. כָּפַר ḵâp̱ar p.122 כפר cover; protect;; CM כפר cover/uncover (C7)

We look at this elsewhere in this entry. Our cover, our protection, is between these angels, the “hardening” (hammered work) of life, the “flaming sword.”

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Numbers 13:16

16 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.

➙ Hoshea h1954. הוֹשֵׁעַ hôšêa‘; from h3467. יָשַׁע yâša‘

➙ Joshua h3091. יְהוֹשׁוּעַ yehôšûa‘; or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yhowshua; from h3068. יְהוָֹה yhwh and h3467. יָשַׁע yâša‘

➙ Nun p.156 נין perpetuate through progeny; reproduce;; CM נין preserve (D71)

② granting vigorous existence 

Psalms 86:1-3

A Prayer of David.

1 Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me;

For I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my life, for I am holy;

You are my God;

Save (h3467. יָשַׁע yâša‘) Your servant who trusts in You!

3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,

For I cry to You all day long.

Note here that save is used in parallel with “preserve” (h8104. שָׁמַר šâmar – “tend, keep,”“distance from danger”) and “be merciful” (h2603. חָנַן ḥânan – “bestow traits”), these parallels highlighting this aspect of “saving” that the author is pointing us to – vigorous existence.

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Psalms 6:4-5

4(5H) Return, O LORD, deliver me!

Oh, save (h3467. יָשַׁע yâša‘) me for Your mercies‘ (h2617. חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ) sake!

5 For in death there is no remembrance of You;

In the grave who will give You thanks?

Live it here and now. And please notice how attributes of God are being highlighted (Ex34:6-7)

③ salvation 

You really must read the entire eleven verses of Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61:10

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation (h3468. יֵשַׁע êyša‘),

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I will only say that Jesus/Yeshua begins to read verses one and two of this chapter in the Synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4:16-30, where he says: 

Luke 4:21

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Further discussion in the Synagogue brought the crowd to a frenzy.


① caring; smoothing

Psalms 94:18-19

18 If I say, “My foot slips,”

Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight (h8173. שָׁעַע šâ‘a‘) my soul.

② combing

Leviticus 19:19

19 ‘You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool(h8162. שַׁעַטְנזֵ ša‘aṭnzê) come upon you.

➙ just very important to notice the concept that such a word might come from three separate roots – that a single letter in the middle of the word might come from a three-letter root

③ being occupied 

Proverbs 8:30-31 – of Wisdom

30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;

And I was daily His delight (h8191. שַׁעְשֻׁעַ ša‘šua‘),

Rejoicing always before Him,

31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,

And my delight (h8191. שַׁעְשֻׁעַ ša‘šua‘) was with the sons of men.

④ covering eyes

Isaiah 29:9-16 – (The Blindness of Disobedience)

9 Pause and wonder!

Blind (h8173. שָׁעַע šâ‘a‘) yourselves and be blind (h8173. שָׁעַע šâ‘a‘)!

They are drunk, but not with wine;

They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.

10 For the LORD has poured out on you

The spirit of deep sleep,

And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets;

And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.

11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.”

And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”

12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.”

And he says, “I am not literate.”

13 Therefore the Lord said:

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths

And honor Me with their lips,

But have removed their hearts far from Me,

And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work

Among this people,

A marvelous work and a wonder;

For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD,

And their works are in the dark;

They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”

16 Surely you have things turned around!

Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;

For shall the thing made say of him who made it,

“He did not make me”?

Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,

“He has no understanding”?

Definitions•••

➙ from v.10: h5869. עַיִן ‘aiyn = h5030. נָבִיא nâḇîy’; from h5012. נָבָא nâḇâ’

עין appear; emerge;; contain (A13) = נבא prophesy; transmit God’s word;; move/speak directly (D62)

➙ from v.10: h7218. רֹאשׁ rô’š = h2374. חֹזֶה ḥôzeh

ראש begin; animate;; move energetically (E65) = חזה see that which is not normally visible;; limit/expand activity (A24)

⑤ turning to; pursuing 

Psalms 119:15-16

15 I will meditate on Your precepts,

And contemplate Your ways.

16 I will delight (h8173. שָׁעַע šâ‘a‘) myself in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

➙ Parallels are meditate שׂיח contemplate נבט delight שעע not forget לא שכח

➙ Parallels are precepts פקד ways ארח statutes חקה word דבר

⑥ toy, object of constant care

Jeremiah 31:20

20 Is Ephraim My dear son?

Is he a pleasant (h8191. שַׁעְשֻׁעַ ša‘šua‘) child?

For though I spoke against him,

I earnestly remember him still;

Therefore My heart yearns for him;

I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:19-20

19 כִּֽי־אַחֲרֵ֤י שׁוּבִי֙ נִחַ֔מְתִּי וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ הִוָּ֣דְעִ֔י סָפַ֖קְתִּי עַל־יָרֵ֑ךְ בֹּ֚שְׁתִּי וְגַם־נִכְלַ֔מְתִּי כִּ֥י נָשָׂ֖אתִי חֶרְפַּ֥ת נְעוּרָֽי׃

20 הֲבֵן֩ יַקִּ֨יר לִ֜י אֶפְרַ֗יִם אִ֚ם יֶ֣לֶד שַׁעֲשֻׁעִ֔ים כִּֽי־מִדֵּ֤י דַבְּרִי֙ בֹּ֔ו זָכֹ֥ר אֶזְכְּרֶ֖נּוּ עֹ֑וד עַל־כֵּ֗ן הָמ֤וּ מֵעַי֙ לֹ֔ו

 רַחֵ֥םאֲֽרַחֲמֶ֖נּוּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס

h8191. שַׁעְשֻׁעַ ša‘šua‘; from h8173. שָׁעַע šâ‘a‘

Hammered work h4749. מִקְשָׁה miqšâ/h4748. מִקְשֶׁה miqšeh from h7185. קָשָׁה qâšâ

Above is the root of “hammered work,” h4749. מִקְשָׁה miqšâ, but look also at the close relationship of ⇅

⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁⦁

① being hard

Exodus 25:18

18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work (h4749. מִקְשָׁה miqšâ) you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.

“mercy seat” h3727. כַּפֹּרֶת ḵap̱ôreṯ; from h3722. כָּפַר ḵâp̱ar

p.122 כפר cover; protect;; CM כפר cover/uncover (C7)

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Genesis 39:5-7

5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”••• which leads to his imprisonment••• which led to dream interpretation••• which led to position with Pharaoh••• etc.

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Exodus 7:1-5

1 So the LORD said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden(h7185. קָשָׁה qâšâ) Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

② creating difficulties 

Genesis 35:17-20

17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard (h7185. קָשָׁה qâšâ) labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” 18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

③ being stubborn 

Deuteronomy 9:26-29

26 Therefore I prayed to the LORD, and said: ‘O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look on the stubbornness (h7190. קְשִׁי qešiy) of this people, or on their wickedness or their sin, 28 lest the land from which You brought us should say, “Because the LORD was not able to bring them to the land which He promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.” 29 Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm.’

④ bunched hair

Isaiah 3:24

24 And so it shall be:

Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;

Instead of a sash, a rope;

Instead of well-set hair (h4748. מִקְשֶׁה miqšeh), baldness;

Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;

And branding instead of beauty.

⑤ solid piece

Exodus 25:31 – (The Gold Lampstand – Ex. 37:17–24)

31 “You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work (h4749. מִקְשָׁה miqšâ). Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.

p.235 קשׂה support – supporting pillar 

Exodus 25:29 (context is the table for the Showbread, also known as the Bread of the Presence)

29 You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers (h7184. קָשָׂה qâśâ), and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold. 

Exodus 25:30

30 וְנָתַתָּ֧ עַֽל־הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן לֶ֥חֶם פָּנִ֖ים לְפָנַ֥י תָּמִֽיד׃ פ

This is, in context, between the hammered work of the cherubim and the hammered work of the menorah (lampstand).

[[Genesis 3:24

24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. 

Genesis 3:24

24 וַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ מִקֶּ֨דֶם לְגַן־עֵ֜דֶן אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֗ים וְאֵ֨ת לַ֤הַט הַחֶ֨רֶב֙ הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת לִשְׁמֹ֕ר 

אֶת־דֶּ֖רֶךְעֵ֥ץ הַֽחַיִּֽים׃ ס

➙ Cherubim h3742. כְּרוּב ḵerûḇ

p.123 כרב cover;; CM כרב contact (C38)

➙ East h6924. קֶדֶם qeḏem

p.224 קדם contact initially; precede in time;; CM קדם strike (C61)

➙ Flaming h3858. לַהַט lahaṭ

p.129 להט blaze extensively; glow intensely;; CM להט cover completely (D43)

➙ Sword h2719. חֶרֶב ḥereḇ – recall we recently studied sword חרב

p.89 חרב parch; lose vitality;; CM חרב facilitate/restrain penetration (A49)

➙ הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת

BDB All Results: הפך הַ

הפך

GLOSS qal: turn; overturn; change; niphal: be overthrown; be changed; hithpael: to transform oneselfto turn around repeatedly; hophal: be turned

PARSING Hebrew, verb, hitpael, participle, feminine, singular, absolute

➙ Way h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ

p.53 דרך step forward; progress toward a goal

CM דרך move forward incrementally (D37)

It is the “hardening” events of our lives that lead us to “transform ourselves.” ]]

Ⓕ Before we move on from ישה exist, sub ① existing,

Oftentimes I have to be “hit up the side of the head” to take notice, to “pay attention,” sadly enough. But I share something that just “dawned on me.” Notice, please, the word “exist” in the work we have been doing in this entry. Not only what I just entered in heading but also in ישע “grant essence of existence,”

“being saved from existential threat”

“granting vigorous existence”

AND

לחם, “bread” is “struggle for existence”

Ⓖ Combining thoughts on שׂהה and ישה

The cognate meaning of the E8 group, which includes שׂהה is continue/curtail movement, with the meaning of שׂהה listed as tarry; meander.

The cognate meaning of the C18 group, which includes ישה is emerge and separate, with the meaning of ישה listed as exist. In studying ישה, we looked mostly at the first subheading, existing, which had a number of explanatory verses. If we combine these thoughts, and we look at the time in the wilderness, with the many challenges, “tests/trials,” teaching moments, perhaps we begin to get a sense. The meandering of our lives, through our many challenges, “hardens” us, strengthens us, to the point of “saving us” from existential threats, leading us to life, the Tree of Life. It is through the hardening that we gain wisdom and understanding. Remember verse seventeen of Exodus 13, which explains the need for “meandering,” taking “baby steps.”

Exodus 13:17 – (The Wilderness Way)

17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

We must needs be strengthened by the vicissitudes of life.

 Why did we bring up איש in the first place?

There are a few pieces here••• please bear with me as this comes together. We will look at Deuteronomy chapter one and then back to the beginnings of mankind and the first appearance of איש in Scripture.

This was the discussion in EDBH about DV:

I’ll share this verse with you, but note that the idea is the action of the root applied on a larger scale, when converted to a Derivational Variant, tends to apply that action on a targeted or individualized scale. 

Deuteronomy 1:17

17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’

The setting in Deuteronomy 1 is that the people have been given instruction in the first four books of Scripture, said to have been written by “the finger of God,” and have remained at the foot of Mt. Horeb to learn. There were some trials on the way there, which hopefully clued them in to the need for some teaching. Then there was the giving of the teaching. Then it was time to begin the process of putting it into practice. Let’s look at a few important points.

Deuteronomy 1:1

דברים

1 אֵ֣לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן בַּמִּדְבָּ֡ר בָּֽעֲרָבָה֩ מֹ֨ול ס֜וּף 

בֵּֽין־פָּארָ֧ןוּבֵֽין־תֹּ֛פֶל וְלָבָ֥ן וַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת וְדִ֥י זָהָֽב׃

•••

Deuteronomy 1:5

בְּעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֑ב הוֹאִ֣יל מֹשֶׁ֔ה בֵּאֵ֛ר אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לֵאמֹֽר׃

Deuteronomy 1:1-8

1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. 3 Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them, 4 after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.

On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying, 6 “The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. 7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. 8 See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.’

First recall the root עבר p.178 cross over to other side; move to different condition [CM expose/conceal (A8)]

And recall p.299 “words that contain similar consonants have similar meanings irrespective of the order of the consonants.”

And see the word ערבה from ערב p.191 mix substances with no change in character; penetrate with foreign matter [CM facilitate/restrain penetration (A49)]

And recall we have discussed multiple times the prefix ב from בית, “in the house of” or “living in the state of.” The mixed multitude has been living together in the Arabah, בארבה, a people penetrated with foreign matter, mixed together with no change in character. They are about to be given great challenges, the different parts of the “mix” to pull together, to move to a different condition. They will be crossing the Jordan, the descender, the humbler. They will have to put aside their differences to face a common enemy the Amorites. They will be giving up the pride of who they are to join together with one another, to move to a different condition. 

And they will need wise leaders to guide them through this transition. This is the next part of Deuteronomy 1, and where we saw the word h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš. Let’s move to that section.

Deuteronomy 1:9-18 – (Tribal Leaders Appointed)

9 “And I spoke to you at that time, saying: ‘I alone am not able to bear you. 10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude. 11 May the LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you! 12 How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints? 13 Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men(h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’ 14 And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have told us to do is good.’ 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš), and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.

16 “Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) and his brother or the stranger who is with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard (h7185. קָשָׁה qâšâ) for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do.

We will look more below at the verses associated with the אוש entry, partly in the next question, question but also in the same pattern as we have with other roots. And then perhaps it will become most obvious how all of this fits into “focus attention.”

Ⓘ How do the contexts of Gn2:19 and Gn9:2 fit with ① fearing; being anxious of enemies?

From above:

① fearing; being anxious of enemies

Genesis 9:2

2 And the fear (h4172. מוֹרָא môrâ’) of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand.

h4172. מוֹרָא môrâ’; or מֹרָא morâ’; or מוֹרָה morah (Psa. 9:20), mo-raw; from h3372. יָרֵאyârê’

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Genesis 2:19

19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought (them) to Adam to see what he would call (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) them. And whatever Adam called (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) each living creature, that (was) its name.

The context of Gn2:19 is several studies unto itself, which we obviously cannot  accomplish here. Only a few points will be highlighted. Keep the theme of focusing attention in mind. First point: the first of over 1500 occurrences of the word h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš is here, in Gn2:23, which is obscured by אדם and האדם also being translated as “man.” Using our typical methods:

p.3 אדם be earthly and solid [CM אדם control (A17)]

p.9 איש withstand; exist [CM איש oppose (A10)]

and while we are at it, the word translated as woman here, h0802. אִשָּׁה ’išâ, is listed as the feminine form of איש in Strongs, but there is a root אשה:

p.17 אשה create material [CM אשה expand/limit activity (A24)]

We have spoken before of “helper comparable to him,” ezer kenegdo, עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדֹּֽו.

BDB עֵזֶר

GLOSS help

PARSING Hebrew, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute

EDBH p.183 עזר help in a manner that reduces another’s responsibilities [CM עזר limit and hold together (A28)]

BDB All Results: נֶגֶד כְּ

כְּ

GLOSS like, as, similar to, according to, about

PARSING Hebrew, particle, preposition

+

נֶגֶד

GLOSS before; front; opposite

PARSING Hebrew, particle, preposition, pronomial suffix: 3rd person, masculine, singular

EDBH p.147 נגד isolate; oppose [CM נגד isolate (D68)]

Genesis 2:15-25

15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground (h0127. אֲדָמָה ’ăḏâmâ) the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) them. And whatever Adam called (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) each living creature, that (was) its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man (h0120. אָדָם ’âḏâm) He made into a woman (h0802. אִשָּׁה ’išâ), and He brought her to the man (h0120. אָדָם ’âḏâm).

23 And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called (h7121. קָרָא qârâ’) Woman (h0802. אִשָּׁה ’išâ),

Because she was taken out of Man (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš).”

24 Therefore a man (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife (h0802. אִשָּׁה ’išâ), and they shall become one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man (h0120. אָדָם ’âḏâm) and his wife (h0802. אִשָּׁה ’išâ), and were not ashamed.

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Recall that the point here is to tie together Gn2:19 context and Gn9:2 context, so before going too deeply we will get the Gn9:2 context and then see how combining the passages leads us in a specific direction, while still remembering that we are working within the larger context of “focus attention.”

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Genesis 9:1-7

1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth (h0776. אֶרֶץ ’ereṣ). 2 And the fear (h4172. מוֹרָא môrâ’) of you and the dread (h2844. חַת ḥaṯ) of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move (on) the earth (h0127. אֲדָמָה ’ăḏâmâ), and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life (h5315. נֶפֶשׁ nep̱eš), that is, its blood. 5 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand (a reckoning); from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man (h0120. אָדָם ’âḏâm). From the hand of every man’s (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) brother (h0251. אָח ’âḥ) I will require the life (h5315. נֶפֶשׁ nep̱eš) of man (h0120. אָדָם ’âḏâm).

6 “Whoever sheds man’s (h0120. אָדָם ’âḏâm) blood,

By man his blood shall be shed;

For in the image of God

He made man (h0120. אָדָם ’âḏâm).

7 And as for you, be fruitful and multiply;

Bring forth abundantly in the earth

And multiply in it.”

h2844. חַת ḥaṯ; from h2865. חָתַת ḥâṯaṯ

EDBH p.93 חתת break physically/emotionally [CM חתת pierce (A31)]

h0251. אָח ’âḥ

EDBH p.7 אחה unity; bring together [CM אחה express deep emotion (A20)]

I share with you my thoughts, but please draw your own conclusions. Mine are not “right” or “wrong” simply possibilities that I see. What occurs to me is Adam’s “calling” the animals, having first to have focused his attention on them sufficiently to give a name based upon its nature. He had to “observe,” and then he formed/created a word that reflected that nature. This gave him a certain amount of “control” over the animals. They “feared” him, had dread  of him. And in this, perhaps God sees that the best in man is not brought forth, as he dominates. He needs worthy competition, a worthy competitor. Someone who helps and yet challenges, thus the appearance of “oppose” in some of these roots. “It is not good for man to be alone,” and the animal kingdom does not provide sufficient opportunity for man to be brought to the highest level he can be. Thus the ezer kenegdo. Much seems to be about focusing attention. The man/woman relationship is one that requires focus on several levels, wanting to please the other on one hand, yet challenging in that the other is not simply molded to one’s own will. It requires negotiation, mediation, thinking of another outside oneself. Again, these are my thoughts.

(Another thought “dawned on me,” which may or may not make a difference. First, the word אשה woman appears before the first occurrence of the word איש for man. Second, Adam says she was taken from איש, “existence,” but Scripture says she was taken from Adam, while he was in a “deep sleep.” 🤔)

Let’s look at the listed verses for איש, and then think about some of the focused attention that was required.

① man with proven character

Genesis 4:1-2

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) from the LORD.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground (h0127. אֲדָמָה ’ăḏâmâ).
Root for Cain’s name:

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Genesis 6:9-10

9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.•••>  Genesis 9:20

20 Noah began to be a man (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) of the soil (h0127. אֲדָמָה ’ăḏâmâ), and he planted a vineyard.

② woman complementing man

Genesis 2:23

23 And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called Woman (h0802. אִשָּׁה ’išâ),

Because she was taken out of Man (h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš).”

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Genesis 11:7   Read 11:5-9

7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one(h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) another’s speech.”

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Genesis 32:33

33 עַל־כֵּ֡ן לֹֽא־יֹאכְל֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־גִּ֣יד הַנָּשֶׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־כַּ֣ף הַיָּרֵ֔ךְ עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֤י 

נָגַע֙ בְּכַף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔בבְּגִ֖יד הַנָּשֶֽׁה׃

Genesis 32:30-32 ESV

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32(33H) Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.

One of the more perplexing verses in Scripture. To follow is the translation from The Chumash by R. Samson Raphael Hirsch, p.151:

Bereshit 32:33 Therefore Yisrael’s sons must not eat the sinew of weakness which is on the upper joint of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the sinew of weakness at the upper joint of Yaakov’s thigh.

And next is the translation in the Tikkun, The Kestenbaum Edition, p.77:

Bereshit (Bereishis) 32:33 Therefore the Children of Israel are not to eat the displaced sinew on the hip-socket to this day, because he struck Jacob’s hip-socket on the displaced sinew.

This is a brief discussion in the Kestenbaum Tikkun on that verse:

This is the EDBH entry on נשה:

This is the EDBH entry on גוד:

A few comments from me before moving on. We are almost finished with this entry, but will close with a short discussion about נשה below. Here, note that our first tendency in modern English is to think of גוד sinews as tendon, here is a broader picture (remember always the assumptive reasoning):

It appears that the Hebrew concept encompasses both the idea of connection and of strength if one looks at the two listed verses. When one combines it with the idea of weakness in נשה, there might be some consideration in Jacob’s wrestling with God, that God uses our very area where we think we are strong to humble us, thus we limp. Again, these are my observations. Please look for yourself and 🤔.

③ exist

2 Samuel 14:19

19 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הֲיַ֥ד יוֹאָ֛ב אִתָּ֖ךְ בְּכָל־זֹ֑את וַתַּ֣עַן הָאִשָּׁ֣ה וַתֹּ֡אמֶר חֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֩ אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אִם־אִ֣שׁ ׀ לְהֵמִ֣יןוּלְהַשְׂמִ֗יל 

מִכֹּ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־עַבְדְּךָ֤ יוֹאָב֙ ה֣וּא צִוָּ֔נִי וְה֗וּא שָׂ֚ם בְּפִ֣י שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֔ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖יםהָאֵֽלֶּה׃

2 Samuel 14:18-20

18 Then the king answered the woman, “Do not hide from me anything I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king speak.” 19 The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, one(h0376. אִישׁ ’îyš) cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was your servant Joab who commanded me; it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant. 20 In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth.”

Let’s look at נשה.

First note there is נשה, occurring 18 times (but other forms of נשה more often), and there is נשׂה, occurring 654 times, in NKJV Strongs, so נשׂה, to raise, is much more common. Both obviously have the same cognate meaning, which is move in opposition (D81).

Genesis 33:5

5 וַיִּשָּׂ֣א אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֤רְא אֶת־הַנָּשִׁים֙ וְאֶת־הַיְלָדִ֔ים וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הַיְלָדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁר־חָנַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖יםאֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

BDB All Results: אִשָּׁה הַ אֵת

אִשָּׁה

GLOSS woman; wife

PARSING Hebrew, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute

As I got into this investigation of נשה, it became clear this is a much larger project, too long for this entry. Therefore, we will call this one to a halt, but realize it is not complete without the exploration of נשה and related roots. Especially we want to comment on the EDBH entry on נשה and Genesis 33:5. I will have some additional ideas for your consideration. 🤔 It ties in also with why it was “not good” for man to be alone, and why God brought forth woman. Again only for pondering.

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63. Implications of נשׁה
61. Introduction to “Attention” Discussion

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