TEVET 8
Truth
“Who does
dwell in Your set-apart mountain? He who … speaks the truth in his heart …” (Ps 15:1-2)
Emet (Strong’s H571) is the Hebrew word that
is most generally translated as ‘truth’, as it is here in this verse. And as it is with most of the translations
available today, much of the broader meaning of the word emet has been lost. Included
in the definition of this word is also the sense of firmness, stability,
faithfulness, and integrity. Jeff
Benner, in his Ancient Hebrew Dictionary, has this to say concerning the word emet:
“The root of this word is aman, a word often translated as
"believe," but more literally means "support," as we see in
Isaiah 22:23 where it says "I will drive him like a peg in a place of
support..." A belief in Elohiym is not a mental exercise of knowing that
Elohiym exists but rather our responsibility to show him our support. The word
emet has the similar meaning of firmness, something that is firmly set in
place. Psalms 119:142 says, "the "Torah" (the teachings of
Elohiym) is emet (set firmly in place).”[1]
Perhaps it is time to examine just what we
are speaking within our own hearts and minds.
We are all aware, when we are honestly looking at ourselves in the
mirror, that we are proficient at projecting an image that may not truthfully
represent who we are. I believe that is part of human nature; we
have no desire for others to think badly of us.
However, to pretend to be someone – or something - that in reality we
are not is very, very dangerous, for we are first and foremost deceiving
ourselves. We are not ‘speaking the
truth in our hearts’.
What is this truth – emet – that we are to speak in our heart, to hold fast to, to
meditate on, and allow it to change us?
Again, the Scriptures validate themselves …
“Your righteousness is
righteousness forever, And YOUR TORAH IS TRUTH.”
(Ps 119:142, emphasis mine)
“יהושע
said to him, “I am the Way, and THE TRUTH, and the Life. No one comes to the Father
except through Me.” (John 14:6, emphasis
mine)
“But you have not
so learned Messiah, if indeed you have heard Him and were taught by Him, AS
TRUTH IS IN יהושע:
that you put off – with regard to your former way of life – the old man, being corrupted
according to the desires of the deceit, and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the
renewed man which was created according to Elohim, IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND
SET-APARTNESS OF THE TRUTH.” (Eph 4:20-24, emphasis mine)
©2020
[1] Ancient
Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible; ©2006 Ancient Hebrew Research Center; ISBN:
1589397762 Author: Jeff Benner
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