WHAT IS THIS SYSTEM OF THE HEBREW ALEPH-BETS

FIGURE 1.1

FIGURE 1.2

The Hebrew alphabet contains twenty-two letters or Authioth. It is said that the Hebrew language came directly from God יהוה. It contains secrets that were preserved by the initiated (Adam Chochmah). They contain the precise plan of the principles of creation. Each letter (or auth) is a crystallization of one of the aspects of manifestation of the divine word. Each letter corresponds to a number which places it in a numerical hierarchy, a hieroglyph as a visual representation in form, and a symbol that makes it connect to other letters.

Each letter is thus connected to the creative forces in the universe. They express themselves on three levels: one level is archetypical and runs from the first (א) to the ninth letter(ט); the second level is one of manifestation and runs from the tenth (י) to the eighteenth letter (צ), and the third is a cosmic level and runs from the nineteenth(ק) to the twenty-second letter (ש). The primal vibration of the universe is symbolized by the letter Yod (י). Yod (י) is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and symbolizes the point in movement and turning around itself. From the movement of Yod (י) the other letters came forth in a structured order. The Letter Yod (י) is used both as a point of origin and as an aleph-betical letter. Yod (י), the smallest letter, functions as a symbol for the point of origin in the triad: Yod (י), Mem (מ) and Shin (ש). However, Yod (י) also appears as a simple letter and is one of the 12 simple letters.

How to interpret it?

Yod (י) as the point of origin is more like a primal vibration than a clear spoken letter in human language. It is a vibration that can be heard, a primal vibration ever present. As a simple letter Yod (י) is part of the Hebrew Aleph-bets, and thus like the other Hebrew letters it is a manifestation of an archetype, which also can be spoken. Yod (י) as a simple letter is a reflection of the original Yod (י). The way I see it, the Yod (י) of the point of origin is unmanifest, while Yod (י), as a simple letter, is created in the manifested world. The point of origin Yod (י) is the center of everything that came forth, and it is the center of cosmic existence. The simple letter Yod (י) is the center of individual existence which provokes an eternal becoming of the individuality.

[See figure 1.1 and 1.2 above for this next paragraph)

First there are three mother letters, or Immoth: Aleph, Mem and Shin. They form the prime trinity that came from יהוה. They represent the three dimensions of space. They act as a prism which transforms the divine light into seven more letters which are the double letters or Kaphouloth: Beth (bath), Gimmel (giymel), Daleth (dalet), Kaph (caf), Phe (pe), Resh (riysh) and Tav (thav). They are called double letters because they have two ways of pronunciation. The three mother letters are associated with the first three Sephiroth, but they are also a representative of the three pillars of the Tree of Life. The seven double letters are associated with the next seven Sephiroth. As the seven double letters place themselves on different levels of manifestation, they symbolize the formation of space. They represent the seven extremities of the world, the seven planets, the seven days of creation, the seven days of the week, and so on. As the seven double letters form a octahedron (polyhedron with eight faces) structure, the twelve vertices are equal to the twelve simple letters. The fabric of space in which the seven double letters evolve, is divided into twelve parts, which are the twelve remaining letters, called Phashoutoth: He, Waw, Zayin, Cheth, Teth, Yod, Lamed, Nun, Samek, Ayin, Tsaddi and Qôwph. These twelve letters symbolize the twelve directions in space, the twelve signs of the zodiac, and the twelve months of the year: Hê-Aries; Waw-Taurus; Zayin-Gemini; Cheth-Cancer; Teth-Leo; Yod-Virgo; Lamed-Libra; Nun-Scorpio; Samek-Sagittarius; Ayin-Capricorn; Tsaddi-Aquarius; Qôwph-Pisces.

The numerical value of the letters is interesting when one understands the meaning of numbers. For example, Aleph א the first letter stands for unity, for origin, for power, stability. Its shape reflects this. The shape of the letter Aleph is made of two Yod’s divided by a slash what actually is the sixth letter Waw ו. As we mentioned in the above, Yod י is the primal vibration, the point of light out of which everything came. Emanation arose when the Divine Light, as Yod, reflected upon itself, that is, mirrored itself into the lower world, hence the two Yod’s divided by a slash.

In Gematria, the system of where every word we analyzed numerological according the numeric value of each letter, the numerical value of Aleph is 1 + 30 + 80 = 111. We can interpret the number 111 is different ways. There are three one's reflecting the Trinity. 111 = 1 + 10 + 100: In Gematria, the unities in numbers relate to the divine world, the tens relates to the spiritual world, and the hundreds relate to the physical world. Thus 111 contains unity in each of the three worlds.

The symbolic value is more problematic, as the symbol for a letter can often be stretched or interpreted in the way you want. The symbol for the letter Aleph is the Ox. This is usually interpreted as patience, the steady but difficult progress when ascending the Tree of Life. Moreover, some of the letters have symbols of which the relationship with the letter has been lost over time, that is, we don't know anymore why that letter has that symbol. Overall I think that the symbols of the letters are not that useful.

Some letters have clearly defined values. Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, Tav is the last one, they are like the Alpha and Omega of the Greek Alphabet. Tav ת, being the last letter, is the perfection of creation, it is summary of everything in everything, it is the mystery that reveals itself directly to the soul. Tau is also the symbol for the furthest development of creation, that of the physical world.

Aleph, Mem and Shin, the three mother letters are also strongly defined. Aleph א as first letter is attributed to Kether, the origin of the Tree of Life. Mem מ, the thirteenth letter, has water as symbolic value, and is attributed to Bîynâh, the Sephira which has for symbols the primal waters and mother archetype. The letter Mem also stands for the mother, fertility, the earth, the sea. Shin, the twenty-first, letter is attributed to Bîynâh, the Sephira of the father archetype and has male, fiery characteristics. The shape of the letter Mem has an enclosing form, reflecting the female enclosing, harboring, and nurturing values.

The letter Shin ש is the dynamic movement of the element Fire, the active, expansive and vivifying forces in the universe. It is also the symbol of the vivifying spirit. It shape reflects three raised flames in the shape of three Waw's.

Then we have the letter He ה, the fifth letter of the alphabet, in general meaning universal life, clarity, the breath of existence, the act of feeling and willing, transcendental knowledge, and universal magnetism. But He is also part of the name of YHWH יהוה (Yahweh) in which it appears twice, and with the many meanings and attributes of these words and its letters for example parts of the Tree of Life, the letter He also takes on the corresponding values. For example each letter stands for each of the four Worlds and elements: Yod for Atziluth and Fire, He for Beriah and Air, Waw for Yetzirah and Water, and the second He for Assiah and Earth.

We already mentioned Yod (י) as the primal vibration of the universe out of which all the other letters came forth. Thus Yod (י) also contains the seed of the Tree of Life, of all the Sephiroth and the Paths. It symbol is the hand. When the hand is open it represents the microcosm, and man in the lower worlds; when the hand is closed, it represents unity, the source. Yod is the tenth letter, and two hands have ten fingers. It numerical value is 10 + 6 + 4 = 20, which is two times ten, or just two, pointing to duality.

Shin (ש) is the twenty first letter, and symbolizes the Spirit, the Spiritual Fire, The Flaming Sword. It is said that when Shin is not in the middle of a word it turns to anger and resentment. When in the middle of a word, it is the central equilibrating fire. For example is the word Moses, which is M Sh H, or Yahushuah, which is Y H Sh W H. Shin also stands for the Shekinah.

The letter Shin, which we mentioned in the above as one of the Mother Letters, is the dynamic movement of the element Fire, the active, expansive and vivifying forces in the universe. It is also the symbol of the vivifying spirit. It shape reflects three raised flames in the shape of three Waw's, reflecting the trinity. The three flames also represent the three qualities of Shin: active, passive and equilibrating.

[note: Do not look at this as doctrine. It is only a means for further exploration].


LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE יהוה!!!