SHEVAT 19
Meditate
“… And he meditates in His Torah day and night.” (Ps 1:2)
One of the definitions found in the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon for the word that is translated as ‘meditate’ is “A murmuring or soft speech while in a continual contemplation over something”[1]; I can remember being told years ago that this type of meditation is common among many Jews. Would you suppose this ‘murmuring’ is what we see when viewing videos of people praying at the Western Wall?
The word, in Hebrew, is hâgâh (Strong’s H1897), and Strong’s translates it as “to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication to ponder: - imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter”. Regardless of which (or both) translation we use, there seems to be a vocal utterance connected with the act of meditation.
I have believed for many years that there is great value to reading the Scriptures out loud – even if I am reading only to myself. We are told that “faith (emunah) comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Yahweh” (Rom 10:17 HRB), so I perceive that I am making a ‘double deposit’ when I read out loud. However, I am also sure that I am not the only person with the ability of thinking about something totally different from what I am reading while I am reading – it is akin to my mind playing ‘leapfrog’, hoping from one lily pad to another. And this is where the discipline comes in …
We are told in the above definitions that to ‘meditate’ is also to “contemplate”, or to “ponder”. Mr. Webster defines contemplate as “To view or consider with continued ATTENTION; to study; to meditate on. This word expresses the ATTENTION of the mind, but sometimes in connection with that of the eyes; as, to contemplate the heavens. More generally, the act of the mind only is intended; as, to contemplate the wonders of redemption”[2] (emphasis mine). In other words, ‘meditation’ has everything to do with focus, focus on His Word, His Torah. Only then is the deposit a “double” one.
“Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE ON IT day and night, so that you GUARD TO DO according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely.” (Jos 1:8, emphasis mine)
“My meditation on Him is sweet; I rejoice in יהוה.” (Ps 104:34)
©2021
[1] Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible; ©2006 Ancient Hebrew Research Center; ISBN: 1589397762 Author: Jeff Benner
[2] American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828
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