ELTBefore Word formations
The Nikud and Its Impact on Hebrew
Around 600 AD, Jewish scholars who rejected Christ introduced a system of vowel markings to the Hebrew language, known as nikud. These markings, consisting of dots, lines, or "t" shapes, are placed around the consonantal letters without actually touching them. The stated intent behind this addition was to preserve pronunciation and clarity, but it had theological implications.
God had explicitly warned against adding to His Word (▸ ± Deuteronomy 4:2 , ▸ ± Revelation 22:18-19) , and while the introduction of nikud didn't change the consonantal structure of Hebrew, it altered how the words were understood and pronounced. In doing so, these scholars altered the interpretation of the sacred text—adding vowels around the letters, yet still claiming they hadn’t changed the actual words. This subtle modification served a secondary purpose: by altering the pronunciation, they sought to obscure the Christological meanings hidden within the Hebrew letters, ensuring that Jewish children and non-believers could not easily see Jesus in the Scriptures. The intention was to divert attention away from the prophetic pictures of Christ embedded in the original letter forms and word constructions.
Hebrew Before the Nikud
Before the nikud system was introduced, Hebrew words were understood through the combination of the meanings of the individual letters. Every letter carried its own significance, and when combined in words, the letters collectively conveyed deeper meanings.
Take, for example, the name "Adam" (אדם). It is derived from the word "adamah" (אדמה), meaning "ground" reflecting Adam’s creation from the ground. In the Hebrew, this connection is clear and carries a deeper message. The letter א represents God’s act of creation, while the ד (dalet) symbolizes a commandment, and ם (mem) is associated with completion and fullness—pointing to Christ finishing the work assigned to him. Additionally, ah (א) in Adam speaks of spirit, while dam (דם) means "blood," symbolizing the life that flows through the body. The blood is not just biological, but also a commandment (ד) completed by the Son (ם). This is a metaphor of the cross used 4000 years before the cross.
This structure reveals a profound connection between Adam and his Creator, showing that God, through the Hebrew letters, was pointing forward to Christ, the ultimate Adam, whose blood would be the redemptive commandment for humanity. This kind of meaning in words, based on the individual letters’ significance, was lost or obscured after the addition of nikud.
Learning More About God Through Word Formations
The nikud system may have obscured some of the deeper meanings of words, but the original Hebrew letter formations still speak volumes about God's nature and His plan for humanity. Each letter is like a small parable or revelation, and when combined, they tell a larger story. The beauty of the original Hebrew text is that it is full of hidden layers of meaning—layers that point toward Christ and reveal the character of God. Simply ignore the nikud and you are reading pre-600 A.D. Hebrew.
For example, when we look at the letter כ (kaf) it speaks of the nature of Christ: fully God and fully man, as the long horizontal strokes of the כ convey the idea of completeness in both realms. Similarly, the letter ת (tav) at the end of the alphabet symbolizes completion, suggesting that Christ, the revelation ר of God, brings the work of creation and redemption to its perfect end with a new life springing up (the returning ו) .
These letter formations are like a treasure map, leading us to greater understanding of God's nature, His redemptive work, and His intentions for His creation. Without the nikud system, Hebrew blossoms as a rich, layered language that offers deep insight into God’s Word and His ongoing revelation through the Scriptures.
In essence, by focusing on the meanings embedded in the individual letters and their combinations, we can better appreciate the depth of God’s message, which was in place even before the foundations of the earth.
