Bible Question: What, if any, is the significance of the use of letters from the Hebrew alphabet in Psalm 119? |
Bible Answer: Hebrew letters are holy symbols. Their significance in Ps 119 is that each "paragraph" is a meditation on the symbolical meaning of the letter. Therefore, in the meditation on aleph, which means "ox", we have imagery of being directed or led on a path much as an ox is directed or led by its master. Here is a list of the meanings of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. You can use it to draw your own images: Aleph- ox Beth- house Gimel- camel Daleth- door He- window Vau- hook, pin Zayin- sword or armor Cheth- fence, enclosure Teth- serpent Yod- hand Kaph- fist Lamed- ox goad Mem- water Nun- fish Samekh- prop, foundation Ayin- eye Peh- mouth Tzaddi- fishhook Quoph- ear. back of the neck Resh- head Shin- tooth Tau- cross |