Form-Based Meaning

Sure! Here’s a clear, 8th-grade-level version of the definition for Form-Based Meaning:

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Form-Based Meaning (What a Letter’s Shape Tells Us)

This kind of meaning comes from the shape and direction of Hebrew letters—not just what they sound like, but how they’re drawn. Each part of the letter points to a spiritual idea:

• The top line (left to right) shows how we receive knowledge about God. If it’s short, it means we only understand part of Him.
• The right side (going down) stands for God’s love—because He loved us first.
• The bottom (right to left) shows our life and how God’s word works on us. If it’s short, it means our life is incomplete.
• The left side (going up) shows how we return to God by being made holy.

We also look at the way the lines connect:

• A sharp angle means only part of the message comes through—like a command without explanation.
• A curved corner means full communication—like a conversation where God explains Himself.

We don’t use crowns on the letters, and we’ll talk about other shapes or styles as we find them.

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