ELTBefore Worship נשתחוה

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ELTBefore Worship נשתחוה []

The concept of 'worship' in Hebrew is a riddle that unfolds through the words used to describe it.

**The Meaning of Worship**  

The word 'worship' in Hebrew is rooted in the idea of forgetting and focusing on God alone. To understand this, we first examine the Hebrew word *נש* (Nash), which means "forget." The letter *ת* (Tav) added at the end makes *נשת* (Nash-Tav), which signifies the act of "forgetting." Worship, in its essence, involves forgetting everything else—laying aside the distractions, concerns, and the world around you, and focusing completely on God.

**Chavvah (Eve) and the Garden**  

The name *חוה* (Chavvah, or Eve) also plays a key role in this metaphor. Eve, in the Garden of Eden, represents the point at which man and woman come together, symbolizing life, creation, and the first relationship outside of God. But before Eve, there was only Adam and God. The Garden, before Eve's creation, was a place of solitude where Adam and God communed in perfect intimacy.

This moment—the solitude between God and man, before the introduction of Eve, represents the essence of worship. **Worship is being alone with God**—setting aside all distractions, busyness, and the concerns of life, and entering into a space where you can be with Him and Him alone.

**The Essence of Worship**  

Thus, the act of worship is not simply about rituals or outward acts. It is about entering into a relationship with God, much like Adam was alone with God in the garden before Eve. Worship requires us to forget everything else, to lay aside distractions, and to be fully present with God. This is where true worship begins—when we, like Adam, find ourselves alone with our Creator in intimate communion.

**Conclusion**  

The idea of worship, as illustrated by the Hebrew words for 'forget' and 'Eve', invites us to return to a place of solitude with God. Just as the garden was a place of perfect intimacy between Adam and God, worship is a time set apart for being alone with God, tuning out the world, and focusing solely on Him. It is through this solitude and connection with God that worship reaches its deepest meaning.