February 9, 2015 - Many Grammar concepts and Hebrew Word Meanings

1. *Started class by discussing the appropriateness of asking for gifts of the spirit, and particularly the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues in this class. The motives for asking for gifts should always be for building up the Lord's kingdom, not for a sign.
2. *Genesis 22:1 "After these things"... WHAT things? ANSWER: The preceding chapters since Genesis 12. The author is making an important note that this chapter is a climactic event.
3. *Chapter 12 begins with a test, and chapter 22 is a test. In the first test Abraham is asked to leave his fathers house, his kinsman, and his country, and go to a land the Lord will show him. In other words, he is being asked to leave EVERYTHING (His inheritance) for the Lord. 
4. *COOL GRAMMAR LESSON: ABRAM is two syllables "Ab" (Father), and "Ram" (High). Abram means "High Father". Made a connection with the syllable "Ram" to the Book of Mormon Hebrew word "Ram-e-um-tom", (High place). 
5. *COOL WORD LESSON: "Malach" means Angel, but in Hebrew can mean "Messenger", whether mortal, immortal, or even God. So, Malach is often translated as angel, but may not always have the heavenly messenger context.
6. *"Seraph" has a strong connotation of burning, cremation, fire, etc. "Seraphim" was used by Isaiah to describe angels who burned his lips with a coal. "Seraphim" literally means burning ones.
7. "Isaac" means "He Laughs". This suggests he was so named at birth because he laughed as a newborn.
8. "Nathan" means "He Gave"
9. * God issues commandments. There is no need to soften his commandments, but he did in one instance in Genesis 22. The King James version of the Bible rendered it "Take now thy son, thine only son...". There is found an interesting syllable with the word for "Take" which is pronounced "nah" and means "Please". The correct translation would be "Please take your son...". This is significant because God softened his commandment. Why? Perhaps because he was about to ask Abraham to do something horrific, and knew the difficulty of the task. Perhaps because The Lord was able to personally relate to Abraham like no one could in offering his own son. Interestingly, the Lord commanded Abraham to leave his home and go to a land he would show him. It was in that land he was asked to sacrifice his son, Issac. The Land of Moriah is the same area where the Savior was crucified, possibly a stone's cast from where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac.
10. *The syllable "Nah" just mentioned is found in the familiar expression of worship, "Hos-san-NAH". The syllable "Hos" has reference to "Jehova". The syllable "San" has reference to being saved. So the command "Hoshan" means "God save us!", but because man does not command God, it is softened by adding the syllable "Nah", and means "God, please save us!"
11. *"Helpmeet" in the scriptures according to the instructor is a good translation, but not quite accurate, as no English word exists for the Hebrew word. The Hebrew word denotes a strong connotation of being Opposite, different, and yet, Equal, and totally necessary. He then used the example of an airplane wing on one side. The wing on the opposite side is opposite, different, equal, and totally necessary for flight. In my experience, the previous generation at large does not tend to treat woman equally to men. I love knowing woman are equal to men in God's eyes! I love knowing men and woman are opposite by divine design! I love the soaring feeling I share with my sweet wife at my opposite side!