Introduction to the Aleph Bet
The Father's Love Language
Introduction to Hebrew Word Studies: Lesson 1
Welcome to an exciting journey into the heart of God's Word through the lens of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet! In this study, titled The Father's Love Language, we dive deep into the hidden treasures of Scripture, uncovering the profound meanings embedded not only in Hebrew words but in the very letters themselves. Whether you're a lifelong believer or simply curious about the Christian faith, this series is designed to ignite a fresh passion for God's Word and reveal His divine plan in a way that's both accessible and transformative.
The Hidden Messages in Hebrew Letters
Do you remember learning your ABCs as a kid? I barely remember learning the song, but I definitely remember teaching it to my kids who are now grown and teaching it to their kids. The simplicity of the song helps us remember the order, but after learning how to read and write them, we moved right into how to use those letters to spell words. But where did those letters come from? Who made them up and why?
There have been several studies done showing that most major languages โ including English โ have their origins in Hebrew. In fact, you'll notice that the Hebrew letter system is called the "Aleph-Bet" where our English letter system is "Alphabet". Interesting, right? What's even more interesting is that the Aleph-Bet isn't just full of letters that create words which have meaning, but THE LETTERS THEMSELVES hold meaning. And each letter has a numeric value and each of those numbers have meaning. That means that by studying each letter (and its number) within a word closer, we can find deeper meaning in each Hebrew word.
We're going to be studying a LOT of Hebrew words in this way on this page, but before we get into any of that, I want us to start with the prophecies for the whole of mankind found in the order of the Aleph-Bet and again in the beginning of the Bible.
Study Tip
Each Hebrew letter has multiple layers of meaning: a pictograph (ancient symbol), a numerical value (gematria), and spiritual significance. As you study, consider how God uses these letters to reveal His nature and plan.
Watch: Introduction to Hebrew Letters
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The 22 Hebrew Letters
Learning the Complete Aleph-Bet
The Aleph-Bet consists of 22 letters, each with profound meaning. Click or tap on each card to flip it and reveal the deeper meaning of each letter.
The Aleph-Bet
Discovering God's Plan Through the Letters
Let's discover how God has woven His redemptive plan into the very structure of the Aleph-Bet. The visual examples below are not random combinationsโthey reveal a profound prophetic message hidden within the sequence of the letters themselves.
The Gospel in Letters 1-10: The Trinity's Redemptive Work
Translation: "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit move to reveal the nail that pierces to separate from the snake in a finished work."
This powerful sentence uses the first 10 Hebrew letters to describe the redemptive work of God. Watch how each letter builds the complete picture of salvation:
The Gospel Message: The Trinity (ืึพืึพื) moves (ื) to reveal (ื) the nail (ื) that pierces (ื) to separate (ื) from the snake (ื) in a finished work (ื). This is the entire Gospel hidden in the first 10 letters of the Aleph-Bet!
The Great Commission in Letters 11-19: God's Hand Guiding His People
Translation: "The palm of his hand urges forward his many sons and daughters to support, experience, and command the harvest of the least of these."
The next set of letters reveals how God works through His redeemed people:
The Mission: God's hand (ื) guides (ื) His many (ื) children (ื ) to support (ืก), see (ืข), and speak (ืค) to bring in the harvest (ืฆ) of the least of these (ืง). This is the Great Commission embedded in the Aleph-Bet!
The Eternal Covenant in Letters 20-22: God's Sufficiency
Translation: "The insufficiency of man is consumed by His sufficiency in a never-ending covenant."
The final three letters complete God's redemptive message:
The Promise: Man's weakness (ืจ) is overcome by God's all-sufficiency (ืฉ - El Shaddai) through the eternal covenant of the cross (ืช). The entire plan of redemption is written in the Aleph-Bet itself!
The Complete Message
When we read the Hebrew Aleph-Bet with understanding, we see:
- The Gospel (ื-ื) - The Trinity's redemptive work through the cross
- The Great Commission (ื-ืง) - God sending His people to harvest souls
- The New Covenant (ืจ-ืช) - Our insufficiency covered by His all-sufficiency
This is why we call it "The Father's Love Language"โevery letter speaks of His love and plan for humanity!
๐ Click on any letter above to discover its original pictographic meaning!
The Bereshit Prophecy
The First Word of the Bible: ืืจืืฉืืช (Bereshit)
Genesis 1:1 begins with the Hebrew word "Bereshit" (ืืจืืฉืืช), traditionally translated as "In the beginning." But when we look at the individual letters and their meanings, an amazing prophetic message emergesโone that reveals the Son as Creator and His redemptive plan from the very first word of Scripture!
Genesis 1:1 - In the Beginning
The Bible opens with these powerful words that set the stage for all of creation and redemption. But there's more to these words than meets the eye in English translation.
Bereshit in Hebrew
Here we see "Bereshit" written in Hebrew: ืืจืืฉืืช. Reading from right to left, each letter contains a prophetic message about God's redemptive plan.
The Hidden Prophecy Revealed
When we break down each letter of Bereshit, an incredible message emerges:
- ืืจ (Bar) - Son
- ืืจื (Bara) - Creator
- ืฉ (Shin) - Destroy
- ื (Yod) - Hand
- ืช (Tav) - Cross and Covenant
The hidden message: "The Son, the Creator, will be destroyed by His own hand on the cross for a covenant."
Breaking Down Bereshit: Letter by Letter
Multiple Layers of Meaning
The word Bereshit can be understood in several ways:
- Traditional: "In the beginning"
- Letter by letter: "The Son (ื) of God (ืจื) will be destroyed (ืฉ) by His own hand (ื) on a cross (ืช)"
- Word divisions: ืืจื (bara - created) + ืฉืืช (shith - appointed) = "The Son created and was appointed to the cross"
All these meanings are true simultaneously, showing the multi-dimensional nature of God's Word!
The Gospel in Genesis 1:1
Traditional Translation: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Letter Meaning Translation: "The Son of God will be destroyed by His own hand on a cross [to create redemption]."
New Testament Confirmation
This hidden prophecy is confirmed throughout the New Testament:
- John 1:1-3 - "In the beginning was the Word... All things were made through Him"
- Colossians 1:16 - "For by Him all things were created"
- Revelation 13:8 - "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"
The Father's Love from the Beginning
Before God spoke light into existence, before He formed man from dust, before any of creation came to beโHe declared His redemptive plan. The very first word of the Bible prophesies that the Son would create all things and then give His life on a cross to redeem His creation.
This is The Father's Love Language: Every word, every letter, from the very beginning, speaks of His love for us and His plan to restore us to Himself through His Son.
Study Questions
- How does knowing that redemption was planned "from the beginning" change your understanding of God's love?
- What does it mean that Jesus is both Creator and Redeemer?
- How might this deeper understanding of Bereshit impact how you read the rest of Genesis?
- What other Hebrew words might contain hidden messages about God's plan?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are amazed by Your wisdom and love. From the very first word of Scripture, You declared Your plan to redeem us through Your Son. Thank You for this incredible love language that You've woven throughout Your Word. Help us to continue discovering these treasures as we study Your Word. Give us eyes to see and hearts to understand the depth of Your love revealed in every letter. In the name of Jesus, who was appointed from the beginning to be our Savior, Amen.
End of Lesson 1
Continue your journey in discovering The Father's Love Language!
Group Study Questions
Deepening Your Understanding Together
These questions are designed to help your study group dive deeper into the revelations found in the Hebrew Aleph-Bet. Take time to discuss, pray, and discover together how God's redemptive plan has been woven into the very fabric of His chosen language.
Opening Discussion
- Share your initial reaction to learning that Hebrew letters have individual meanings. How does this change your perspective on Scripture?
- Have you ever considered that God might have hidden messages in the very structure of language itself? What does this tell us about His nature?
- Which Hebrew letter's meaning surprised you the most, and why?
The Gospel in the Aleph-Bet
- The first 10 letters reveal the Gospel message. How does it impact your faith to know that God embedded the story of redemption in the Aleph-Bet itself?
- Discuss the significance of the nail (Vav) being the 6th letter. What connections can you make to the crucifixion?
- The snake (Teth) appears as the 9th letter. How does this relate to Genesis 3 and the promise of redemption?
- Letter 10 (Yod) means "finished work." How does this connect to Jesus' words "It is finished" on the cross?
The Great Commission in Letters
- Letters 11-19 reveal our mission. How does understanding this pattern encourage you in evangelism and discipleship?
- The palm of God's hand (Kaph) guides us. Share a time when you felt God's hand directing you to minister to someone.
- The sequence ends with "the least of these" (Qoph). Who are "the least of these" in your community, and how can your group reach them?
The Bereshit Prophecy
- How does knowing that Christ's sacrifice was prophesied in the very first word of the Bible affect your understanding of God's sovereignty?
- The word Bereshit contains both "creation" and "cross." What does this teach us about the purpose of creation?
- If God hid the Gospel in the first word of Scripture, what other treasures might be waiting to be discovered in His Word?
- How can this knowledge strengthen your faith when facing doubts or challenges?
Personal Application
- Which aspect of "The Father's Love Language" speaks most powerfully to your heart right now?
- How will understanding Hebrew letter meanings change the way you read and study Scripture?
- What is one specific way you can share this revelation with someone this week?
- How does seeing God's intentionality in language design increase your trust in His Word?
Group Prayer Focus
Close your study time by praying together:
- Thank God for revealing Himself through His Word in such intricate ways
- Ask for wisdom and revelation as you continue to study Hebrew and Scripture
- Pray for opportunities to share these truths with others
- Commit to being students of God's Word, always seeking deeper understanding
- Ask God to use your group to spread His love language to others
For Next Week
Individual Assignment:
- Choose one Hebrew word from Scripture and research its letter meanings
- Write down what new insights you discover
- Be prepared to share your findings with the group
Group Challenge: Memorize the first 10 letters of the Aleph-Bet and their meanings to better understand the Gospel message hidden within them.
Practice Online:
๐ฏ Interactive Flashcards ToolStudy and practice the Hebrew letters and their meanings at your own pace