The Word in a Word: See (roi) ראי

The Word in a Word: See

Opening Jingle:

"The Word in a Word – where ancient truths illuminate today!"

Host: Welcome to "The Word in a Word." Today, we’re exploring the Hebrew word ראי (roi), often translated as "see." But as we look closer, this word reveals profound layers of meaning tied to the nature of God and His relationship with us.

In Hebrew, words often carry multiple shades of meaning, and ראי is no exception. By its formation, we can understand it in three interconnected ways:

• ר – Revelation
• אי – Woe or despair Together, this suggests: "The revelation of woe."

Alternatively, ראי can be parsed as ר – Revelation, and י – Me, giving us: "Discern Me" or "Understand Me."

And finally, in its fullness, ראי can reflect a "mountain of God" – a place where divine revelation is given, as mountains in sensus plenior symbolize the meeting place with God.

Sound Effect: (Soft, contemplative harp music.)

Host: Let’s consider how these meanings come together in the name El-roi – "The God who sees me," found in Genesis 16:13. Hagar, alone and despairing in the wilderness, encounters God and declares, "You are the God who sees me." In her woe, she discovers the revelation of God’s compassion and understanding.

This brings us to Isaiah 53:3, which describes Christ as "a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief." Here, the revelation of woe is fully realized. Jesus does not merely observe our suffering from afar; He enters into it. He discerns our pain, understands it deeply, and meets us in it.

Sound Effect: (Soft swell of strings.)

Host: Seeing, in the biblical sense, goes beyond mere observation. To see is to understand, to discern, to truly know. When God is called El-roi, it tells us that He is not distant or indifferent. He sees, He understands, and He acts.

Consider this: When we feel unseen or misunderstood, God is already there, discerning our deepest struggles and revealing His presence. The revelation of woe in ראי is not just about pain; it’s about God meeting us in that pain with His grace and truth.

Closing Thought: When you hear the word "see," remember the God who discerns your heart. Like Hagar in the wilderness, like the suffering servant in Isaiah, we are never hidden from His sight. He is El-roi, the God who sees and understands.

Closing Jingle:

"The Word in a Word – where one word brings the Word to life. See you next time!"

Sound Effect: (Harp fades out.)