- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Mar 23, 2024 14:22:09 GMT -8
The Aaronic Blessing (more commonly The Priestly Blessing ברכת כהנים; Birkat Cohanim)
Numbers 6:24-26
יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיִו אֵלֶיךָ וִחֻנֶּֽךָ׃
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵֹם לְךָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
Yevarechecha Adonai, vaishmirecha
Yaer Adonai panav, alecha vichunika
yisha Adona panav, elecha, v’yasem lecha shalom
Adonai bless you and keep you; Adonai makes his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; Adonai lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Some of these terms need to be looked at for their deeper meanings:
Bless- The Hebrew verb ברך Barach, Strong's 128 means to kneel, as in Genesis 24:11. When written in the piel form it means to show respect. This is how it is written in the Aaronic blessing, translated as “bless.” A related word is the noun ברך berech, Strong's 1288, or "knee." Another related word is ברכה (berachah, Strong's 1293, a gift or present. All these nuance the term ברך Barach. It is to offer a gift to another while kneeling out of respect. The extended meaning is to do or give something of value. Elohim "respects" us by providing for our needs and we in turn "respect" Elohim by giving him of ourselves.
Keep- The Hebrew people were nomadic. They raised livestock. It was not uncommon for a shepherd to be out with his flock, away from the camp overnight to protect the flock. He’d construct a corral of thorn bushes, then guard the flock. The corral would be a hedge of protection around them. The Hebrew word for thorn is שמיר shamir, Strong's 8068. It’s derived from the verb שמר shamar, Strong's 8104, literally meaning to guard and protect and is the word used in the blessing.
Face- Our face reflects our different moods, emotions, and thoughts. The Hebrew word פנים panim, Strong's 6440 means "face," but it’s always written in the plural form (the ים suffix). This reflects the idea of our many faces. This word can also mean “presence;” or the “wholeness of being” of an individual.
Shine- The word אור or, Strong's 215, as a noun means "light" and as a verb (as here) means to "give light, to shine.” It’s equated with bringing order as light illuminates, or reveals what was dark.
Gracious- Theologically “grace” is “unmerited favor.” However note the abstract quality of the term as used here. The verb translated gracious here is חנן chanan, Strong's 2603 and is often paralleled with other Hebrew words meaning help, healing, lifted up, finding refuge, strength and rescue. From a concrete Hebraic perspective this verb means to “provide protection.” Where does one run to for protection? The camp, which in Hebrew is חנה chanah, Strong's 2583, related to חנן chanan.
Grant- The Hebrew verb שים siym, Strong's 7760 literally means to "set down in a fixed and arranged place."
Peace- שלום shalom, Strong's 7965 “peace;” from the root שלם shalam, Strong's 7999. Usually used in the context of making restitution. The verb shalam literally means to make whole or complete. The noun shalom has the more literal meaning of being in a state of wholeness, or without deficiency.
So in all we have a picture of the Creator of the Universe actually kneeling, respectfully offering us gifts; chief among these is a hedge of protection. His face looks upon us, and He brings order into our lives. He heals us and is our refuge and our strength. He is our rescue. The Lord fixes, or anchors our lives with His shalom, His peace. He makes us whole.
Numbers 6:24-26
יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיִו אֵלֶיךָ וִחֻנֶּֽךָ׃
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵֹם לְךָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
Yevarechecha Adonai, vaishmirecha
Yaer Adonai panav, alecha vichunika
yisha Adona panav, elecha, v’yasem lecha shalom
Adonai bless you and keep you; Adonai makes his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; Adonai lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Some of these terms need to be looked at for their deeper meanings:
Bless- The Hebrew verb ברך Barach, Strong's 128 means to kneel, as in Genesis 24:11. When written in the piel form it means to show respect. This is how it is written in the Aaronic blessing, translated as “bless.” A related word is the noun ברך berech, Strong's 1288, or "knee." Another related word is ברכה (berachah, Strong's 1293, a gift or present. All these nuance the term ברך Barach. It is to offer a gift to another while kneeling out of respect. The extended meaning is to do or give something of value. Elohim "respects" us by providing for our needs and we in turn "respect" Elohim by giving him of ourselves.
Keep- The Hebrew people were nomadic. They raised livestock. It was not uncommon for a shepherd to be out with his flock, away from the camp overnight to protect the flock. He’d construct a corral of thorn bushes, then guard the flock. The corral would be a hedge of protection around them. The Hebrew word for thorn is שמיר shamir, Strong's 8068. It’s derived from the verb שמר shamar, Strong's 8104, literally meaning to guard and protect and is the word used in the blessing.
Face- Our face reflects our different moods, emotions, and thoughts. The Hebrew word פנים panim, Strong's 6440 means "face," but it’s always written in the plural form (the ים suffix). This reflects the idea of our many faces. This word can also mean “presence;” or the “wholeness of being” of an individual.
Shine- The word אור or, Strong's 215, as a noun means "light" and as a verb (as here) means to "give light, to shine.” It’s equated with bringing order as light illuminates, or reveals what was dark.
Gracious- Theologically “grace” is “unmerited favor.” However note the abstract quality of the term as used here. The verb translated gracious here is חנן chanan, Strong's 2603 and is often paralleled with other Hebrew words meaning help, healing, lifted up, finding refuge, strength and rescue. From a concrete Hebraic perspective this verb means to “provide protection.” Where does one run to for protection? The camp, which in Hebrew is חנה chanah, Strong's 2583, related to חנן chanan.
Grant- The Hebrew verb שים siym, Strong's 7760 literally means to "set down in a fixed and arranged place."
Peace- שלום shalom, Strong's 7965 “peace;” from the root שלם shalam, Strong's 7999. Usually used in the context of making restitution. The verb shalam literally means to make whole or complete. The noun shalom has the more literal meaning of being in a state of wholeness, or without deficiency.
So in all we have a picture of the Creator of the Universe actually kneeling, respectfully offering us gifts; chief among these is a hedge of protection. His face looks upon us, and He brings order into our lives. He heals us and is our refuge and our strength. He is our rescue. The Lord fixes, or anchors our lives with His shalom, His peace. He makes us whole.
