ELTBefore Chet ח
The *ח* (Chet) represents understanding, as it is a **ד** (Daled) with a **ו** (Vav) that reaches the top, symbolizing the opening of understanding. In the context of the bride of Christ, this speaks to the church being made to understand God's truth or having her eyes opened to His revelation. Here are some verses that align with this concept:
**Verses Suggesting the Bride Was Made to Understand or Have Her Eyes Opened**
1. ▸ ± Luke 24:31
*"Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight."* - This moment, after Jesus' resurrection, symbolizes the opening of the disciples' eyes to fully understand and recognize Christ. This can be understood as the bride (the church) coming into a deeper understanding of Christ as the Bridegroom.
2. ▸ ± Ephesians 1:18
*"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people..."* - Paul prays for the church's eyes to be enlightened, leading to a deeper understanding of the hope, inheritance, and calling they have in Christ. This speaks to the opening of spiritual understanding for the bride of Christ.
3. ▸ ± 2 Corinthians 4:6
*"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ."* - This verse speaks to the revelation of God's glory through Christ, opening the eyes of the believers (the bride) to His truth and understanding. The light of Christ reveals the truth to those who were previously in darkness.
4. ▸ ± Acts 26:18
*"To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."* - Paul's mission to open the eyes of the Gentiles parallels the idea of the bride having her eyes opened to the truth of the gospel and the salvation found in Christ.
5. ▸ ± Matthew 13:15
*"For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."* - This verse highlights that the eyes and ears of the people are closed, preventing them from understanding. In contrast, the bride of Christ has her eyes opened to understand and receive God's truth, leading to healing.
6. ▸ ± John 16:13
*"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."* - The Holy Spirit is sent to guide believers into all truth, opening their understanding. This process of revelation and understanding is central to the church, the bride, coming into deeper communion with Christ.
7. ▸ ± 1 John 5:20
*"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true—and we are in him who is true—by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."* - Christ has come to give understanding, enabling believers to know God and His truth. This reflects the opening of the eyes of the bride to know and understand Christ as the true God.
**Conclusion**
The *ח* (Chet) represents understanding and the opening of the eyes to God's truth. These verses emphasize how the bride of Christ, the church, was made to understand God's revelation through Christ, leading to spiritual enlightenment and a deeper relationship with the Bridegroom.
The concept of the bride (the church or believers) coming to understanding, or having her "eyes opened," is a theme found throughout Scripture. It signifies moments when spiritual truth is revealed and comprehended through Christ’s teaching or the work of the Spirit. Here are verses that reflect this theme: The Bride’s Eyes Opened Through Christ’s Teaching
Luke 24:30-32 "When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'" After the resurrection, the disciples (as representatives of the bride) had their understanding opened by Jesus’ teaching and the breaking of bread.
Luke 24:44-45 "He said to them, 'This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.' Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Jesus directly opened the minds of His disciples, giving them spiritual understanding of His role and the Scriptures.
Eyes Opened to Spiritual Realities
Ephesians 1:18-19 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Paul’s prayer for the bride is that her spiritual eyes be opened to understand the hope, inheritance, and power she has in Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:14-16 "But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." Turning to Christ removes the veil of misunderstanding, allowing the bride to comprehend the truth of God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." The bride’s understanding is likened to the creation of light, illuminating her heart to see the glory of God in Christ.
Eyes Opened to Recognize Christ as Bridegroom
John 20:16 "Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means 'Teacher')." Mary Magdalene, as part of the bride, recognized Jesus after He called her by name, illustrating a moment of spiritual awakening.
Matthew 16:16-17 "Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.'" Peter’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah is a moment of divine revelation and understanding given to the bride.
Understanding and Acceptance of the Gospel
Acts 16:14 "One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message." Lydia’s heart was opened by God to understand and accept the gospel, symbolizing the bride’s moment of spiritual awakening.
Acts 2:37-38 "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" The crowd’s understanding was opened through Peter’s preaching, representing the bride’s recognition of her need for salvation.
Prophetic Foreshadowing of Understanding
Isaiah 29:18-19 "In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."
This prophecy points to the bride’s spiritual eyes being opened in the Messianic age.
Isaiah 42:6-7 "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."
A prophetic reference to Christ as the one who opens blind eyes, both physically and spiritually, symbolizing the bride’s awakening.
These passages beautifully depict moments when the bride comes to understanding, whether through direct teaching, divine revelation, or the work of the Spirit. Each example demonstrates how the bride transitions from spiritual blindness to clarity, recognizing her Bridegroom and her role in His redemptive plan. Would you like to explore how this theme relates to specific doctrines or symbols?