[Taken from the book "Secrets of the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha-Kodesh)" by Elisheva Eliyahu; amightywind.com]
It may sound earth-shattering to many Christian Believers in YAHUSHUA HA-MASHIACH (Jesus Christ) that the RUACH HA-KODESH (Holy Spirit) is female, but it has been known to the Jews for thousand of years. In the original Hebrew Old Testament, the Tanakh, the Holy Spirit is reffered to as "SHE" (in verb forms) about 75 out of 84 times the Holy Spirit is referred to.
[...] The concept of a masculine Holy Spirit was not introduced until after the Greek and Latin translations of the Bible. [...] In Hebrew the word for Holy Spirit is Ruach Ha-Kodesh or Ruach Ha-Kadosh. Basically, one means "The Spirit of Holiness" or "The Spirit of the holy {place}" while the other means "The Spirit of the holy one" (usually in reference to a saint, "the spirit of a holy one"). This title has come to English-speaking Messianic Jews commonly as Ruach Ha-Kodesh.
[...] The Hebrew phrase "Ruach Ha-Kodesh" is a feminine gender phrase which refers to a feminine Divine Spirit, the Holy Spirit and the third part of the trinity. Similiarly the Aramaic phrase for Holy Spirit is also feminine and follows the same usage. Critics argue that it is just grammatically feminine. We maintain because of the purposeful use of the grammatically feminine phrase for the Holy Spirit describing the third person of the trinity - not a force - that it designates that Spirit, the Holy Spirit, as feminine.
Evidence indicating a feminine Holy spirit is colossal. This includes archeology, history and literature, personal testimonies, Semitic culture and languages, ans most importantly, Bible proof texts and Hebrew Scripture manuscripts.
[...] Consequent research into the Hebrew and Aramaic texts indicate the RUACH HA-KODESH is feminine.
NOTE: ELOHIM is the word for "GOD" in the Hebrew Old Testament. All verses you would like to have translated are to find at Scripture4all Foundation´s "Concordant Hebrew English Sublinear" which translates each individual Hebrew word literally and every occurrence consistently. This may create an akward translation, but it preserves the Hebrew text.
GOSPEL OF THE HEBREWS
The Gospel of the Hebrews is the first written account of the Gospel of YAHUSHUA. History indicates it was written in Hebrew by YAHUSHUA´s Disciple Matthew. Early church leaders such as Papius, Eusebius, Jerome, Origen and Clement of Alexandria testified to the existence of this Gospel and quoted from it in their writings though no full copies are in existence today. Hebrew Matthew manuscripts from the Middle Ages are believed to possibly be derived from the Gospel of Hebrew.
Jerome is said to have transcribed the Gospel of Hebrews to Latin and Greek. The Gospel of Hebrews was quoted as late as the 9th century by Nicephorus, a Byzantine Emperor and Sedulius Scotus, an Irish teacher. This Gospel was housed in the ancient Theological Library of Caesarea Maritima on what is now west coast of Israel. Copies of the manuscript have since been lost or destroyed.
In the Gospel of Hebrews, the RUACH HA-KODESH is referred to as feminine and "Mother". The following fragment from the Gospel of Hebrews describes YAHUSHUA being carried by HIS MOTHER, the RUACH HA-KODESH, up to Mount Tabor (Mount Tabor, in the Jezreel Valley of Israel, is believed to be the Mount of Transfiguration. It is also known as Har Tavor, Itabyrium, Jebel et-Tur, and the Mount of Transfiguration):
"Just now MY MOTHER the HOLY SPIRIT took ME by one of MY hairs and bore ME up on the great Mountain Tabor." (capitals added)
In another fragment we read about the RUACH HA-KODESH/HOLY SPIRIT descending upon YAHUSHUA at HIS baptism:
"And it came to pass, when the Lord had come up from the water, the ENTIRE FOUNTAIN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT descended and rested upon HIM and said to HIM, "MY SON, in all the prophets did I await THEE, that THOU mightest come and I might rest in THEE; for THOU art MY REST; THOU art MY FIRSTBORN SON that reignest for ever."
These verses give indication that the HOLY SPIRIT, the RUACH HA-KODESH, is in fact a PARENT OF YAHUSHUA THE MESSIAH, which we would understand to be the female parent as represented in the dove, always used as a feminine symbol in the Ancient world, as we read in Luke 3:22, "The RUACH HA-KODESH came down on HIM in physical form like a DOVE."
When the Old and New Testaments were translated from Hebrew to Greek, the references to the RUACH HA-KODESH became "IT", because the word "spirit" in Greek has neuter grammatical gender. When the Bible was translated to English, either "HE" or "SHE" was to be chosen to refer to the HOLY SPIRIT. Translators chose "HE", thus the misconception that the HOLY SPIRIT is masculine in nature. Research into the original Hebrew of the Old and New Testament refers overwhelmingly to the RUACH HA-KODESH as feminine. When one reads the Bible with this knowledge in mind, one receives new revelations of the Bible and gains a more in depth knowledge of our HEAVENLY FATHER, MOTHER and SAVIOR.
Holy Scripture indicative of the feminine Holy Spirit
The Image of God: Male & Female
When GOD, YAHUAH, created the earth, it is written in Genesis 1:26, "GOD said, `Let US make humankind in OUR image, in the likeness of OURSELVES ...´" To WHOM was YAHUAH GOD speaking if not to the rest of the TRINITY: YAHUSHUA and the RUACH HA-KODESH?
In Genesis chapter three, we see YAHUAH GOD referring to "US" - OTHERS in addition to HIMSELF, WHO existed before mankind was created:
"Then the LORD GOD said, "Behold, the man has become like one of US, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" therefore the LORD GOD sent him out of the Garden of Eden..." (Genesis 3:22).
Earlier, we read humankind is made not only in a male image but also a female image. Both are part of GOD the TRINITY or THREE-IN-ONE; FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT.
"So GOD created humankind [Note that for "humandkind" or "mankind," the Hebrew word for "man" was "Adam" which comes from the Hebrew noun ha adamah meaning "the ground" or "earth." According to Webster´s New World Hebrew Dictionary the definition of Adam is: "person or human being" rather than specifically a person of the male sex."] in HIS own Image; in the image of GOD HE created him: male and female HE created them" (Genesis 1:27).
YAHUAH GOD created humankind in the "Image of GOD" and HE created humans "male and female" - from which we can infer there was a Female Representation in Heaven in WHOSE Image females were created. In whose Image were women created, if not a HEAVENLY MOTHER´S?
Another argument which can be offered in support for the feminine gender of the RUACH HA-KODESH is found in the very labels ascribed to YAHUAH and the RUACH HA-KODESH. The word for GOD in the Hebrew language is Elohim. Most scholars acknowledge that this word has a plural ending, which some use to suggest an Old Testament anticipation of the TRINITY.
What most scholars either do not know or care not to inform their constituents is that "ELOHIIM" is not the plural of "EL", the masculine form of the word. It is plural of the feminine "ELOAH". The word ELOHIM would have both masculine gender as well as feminine gender associated with it. Our CREATORS would be of both genders and of course we know according to Genesis that the RUACH HA-KADOSH as well as YAHUSHUA worked with YAHUAH to create this earth:
"And ELOHIM created the man in HIS image, in the image of ELOHIM HE created him; male and female HE created them" (Genesis 1:27).
"And He is saying, ELOHIM, WE shall make human in (the) Image of US, as likeness of US. HE is creating, ELOHIM, the human in image of HIM, in Image of ELOHIM, HE created him, male and female HE created them" (Genesis 1:26-27, Hebrew version, CHES, Scripture4all Foundation, scripture4all.org)
This indicates that both genders exist in the GODHEAD and that the RUACH HA-KODESH is the designated representation of the feminine principle.
The "Mothering Side" of GOD
YAHUAH GOD´S Feminine Aspects Indicative of the Holy Spirit
The following Scriptural references to feminine aspects of YAHUAH GOD intimate the movement of the feminine RUACH HA-KODESH (in Hebrew, Holy Spirit) throughout history. Our understanding of Scripture indicates ABBA YAHUAH, SAVIOR YAHUSHUA and the RUACH HA-KODESH work together, the THREE-IN-ONE, the Holy Trinity and yet each separate and distinct with separate duties and functions still working as ONE.
Here we see YAH as a woman in labor whose forceful breath is an image of Divine Power:
"I have long time held MY peace; I have been still, and refrained MYSELF: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once." (Isaiah 42:14)
"As the woman giving birth, I shall puff up - and I shall breathe - and I shall gasp together." (from Hebrew, CHES from Scripture4all Foundation, scripture4all.org)
YAHUAH GOD is threatening to come against Israel in power, a power likened to the forceful air expelled from the lungs of a woman who is in the final stages of labor!
This feminine image of IMMA-YAH (IMMA means "MOTHER". "YAHUAH", usualle representing GOD the FATHER sometimes refers to another part of the Holy Trinity - especially when shortened as "YAH". It may be either ABBA-YAH, YAH-USHUA, or finally, IMMA-YAH, WHOM we see in many of these verses listed here regarding the Divine Feminine.) as a birthing woman is paired with ABBA-YAH in the preceding verse, where YAHUAH, ABBA FATHER is called a "mighty man ... a man of war" (verse 13). Later, we will also read about the similar pairings of male and female that YAHUSHUA made in parables. HE must have recognized the Old Testament Scripture references to both HIS HEAVENLY FATHER and MOTHER!
We also read that YAH is likened to a mother who does not forget the child she nurses:
"But Zion [Israel] said, "YAHUAH hath forsaken me, and my LORD hath forgotten me." Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forgot, yet will I not forget thee." (Isaiah 49:14-15)
YAH and Jerusalem, like a mother who comforts her children:
"For thus saith YAHUAH, Behold, I will extend Peace to her lika a River, and the Glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother conforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." (Isaiah 66:12-13)
YAH is a MOTHER, WHO births and protects Israel:
"Hearken unto ME, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by ME from the belly, which are carried from the womb; And even to your old age I AM HE; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." (Isaiah 46:3-4)
This is in contrast to idol worshipers who carry their gods on cattle. Instead, our GOD, YAH carries Israel in the womb!
Women´s Roles & Cultural Activity
Feminine Images for GOD
Drawn from Women´s Biblical Cultural Activity
YAH as a seamstress making clothes for Israel to wear:
"Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; they clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not." (Nehemiah 9:21)
YAH, attending a birth, as a midwife (a role ONLY for women in ancient Israel):
"But YOU are HE WHO took me out of the womb; YOU made me trust while on my mother´s breasts. I was cast upon YOU from birth. From my mother´s womb YOU have been my GOD." (Psalm 22:9-10)
"By YOU I have been upheld from birth; YOU are HE WHO took me out of my mother´s womb. My praise shall be continually of YOU." (Psalm 71:6)
"Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the LORD YAHUAH. "Shall I WHO cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your ELOHIM." (Isaiah 66:9)
YAH as the HOLY SPIRIT is like a woman working leaven into bread:
"Then HE said, "What is the Kingdom of GOD like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."
And again He said, "To what shall I liken the Kingdom of GOD? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." (Luke 13:18-21)
This feminine image of a woman kneading bread representing the HOLY SPIRIT´s inward transformation of the Church, Body of YAHUSHUA, is equivalent to the Image of YAHUAH GOD the FATHER as masculine in the preceding parable of the man planting the mustard seed.
Similarly, the HOLY Spirit is like a woman seeking a lost coin:
"What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!" Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of GOD over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:8-10)
This feminine image of a woman pursuing what was lost, representing the HOLY SPIRIT seeking the lost soul, is equivalent to the male image of YAHUAH GOD in the preceding parable of the Shepherd seeking a lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). Both, Luke 13 and 15 contain paired masculine and feminine images for GOD, drawn from activities of the peasants of Galilee.
Analogies from Mothers in Nature
Biblical Analogies of the Divine Feminine Drawn from Creation
The Apostle Paul wrote, "ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything GOD made, they can clearly see HIS invisible Qualities - HIS Eternal Power and Divine Nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing GOD" (Romans 1:20). From this, we know that through the natural world, we learn more about YAH.
Many beautiful Scriptures use female bird imagery where YAH is described by an analogy to the action of a female bird protecting, comforting, sheltering and defending her young:
"Keep me as the apple of YOUR eye;
Hide me under the shadow of YOUR wings." (Psalm 17:8)
"How precious is YOUR loving kindness, O GOD!
Therefore the children of men put their trust
under the shadow of YOUR wings." (Psalm 36:7)
"Be merciful to me, O GOD, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in YOU;
And in the shadow of YOUR wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by." (Psalm 57:1)
"He who dwells in the secret place of the MOST HIGH
Shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY.
HE shall cover you with HIS feathers,
And under HIS wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (Psalm 91:1-4)
"Like birds flying about,
So will YAHUAH of Hosts defend Jerusalem.
Defending, HE will also deliver it;
Passing over, HE will preserve it." (Isaiah 31.5)
There are also passages describing YAH as the mother eagle:
"As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings: so YAHUAH alone did lead Jacob ..." (Deuteronomy 32:11-12)
"You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles´ wings, and brought you unto MYSELF." (Exodus 19:4)
The female eagle, which is larger and stronger than the male, is primarily responsible for the incubation of the eggs as well as the hunting. She bears the eaglets on her wings when it is time for them to leave the nest. Moving swiftly, she swoops down to force them to fly alone, but always staying near enough to swoop back under them when they become too weary to fly on their own. In this we see a powerful image of GOD YAHUAH nurturing, caring and supporting us when we are weak, yet always helping and encouraging us to grow and mature as would a faithful mother.
GOD´s desire to be close to and shelter HIS children, is likened to a hen longing to brood over her chicks:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:37, also Luke 13:34)
Expressing HIS sorrow over Jerusalem, YAHUSHUA refers to the feminine image of a hen´s intense maternal instincts and care for her chicks.
A more ferocious GOD YAHUAH as a mother bear can also be found in the Bible:
"I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs;
I will tear open their rib cage,
And there I will devour them like a lion.
The wild beast shall tear them." (Hosea 13:8)
This fierce image is associated with the close bonding of a mother bear to her cubs. GOD YAHUAH´s rage against those who withhold gratitude is that of a bear "robbed of her cubs".
RUACH HA-KODESH´s Association
with Women´s Functions
In the following verses we see one must be "born of the SPIRIT" to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Giving birth is very feminine in nature as it is the female which gives birth. Birthing involves a mother and a father and in these two verses we see references to the feminine RUACH HA-KODESH, IMMA-YAH and the masculine GOD YAHUAH the FATHER, ABBA-YAH as being involved in the Spiritual rebirth of a person.
YAHUSHUA answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and the SPIRIT,
he cannot enter the Kingdom of YAHUAH." (John 3:5)
But as many as received HIM, to them
gave HE power to become the sons of YAHUAH,
even to them that believe on HIS Name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of YAHUAH." (John 1:13)
HEAVENLY FATHER & MOTHER IN THE SCRIPTURES
The Revelations regarding the RUACH HA-KODESH (HOLY SPIRIT) being female and our MOTHER, as YAHUAH is our FATHER, give new meaning to many Bible verses, including the following:
"Honor your FATHER and your MOTHER that your days may be long upon the land which YAHUAH your GOD is giving you." (Exodus 20:12, the 5th Commandment)
"MY Son hear the instruction of your FATHER, and do not forsake the law of your MOTHER for they will be graceful ornaments on your head, a chain about your neck." (Proverbs 1:8-9)
"MY Son, keep your FATHER´s command and do not forsake the law of your MOTHER. Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; and when you awake, they will speak with you. For the Commandment is a lamp and the Law is light." (Proverbs 6:20-23)
Taken in this light, they are seen as instructions from a FATHER & MOTHER IN HEAVEN WHO watch over us and lead us in "paths of righteousness" for THEIR Name´s sake (Psalm 23).
In John 3:16 we read that YAHUSHUA was the only "BEGOTTEN" SON OF YAHUAH and what does "begotten" mean? According to Merriam-Webster, it means to "procreate" or to "sire", to "father" a child. If YAHUAH "fathered" YAHUSHUA, wouldn´t this imply that YAHUSHUA also had to have a MOTHER? For isn´t the father, mother and child the model for the family? And are things on Earth not representative of the things in Heaven?
This great mystery of the virgin Mary or Miriam conceiving YAHUSHUA (when HE was supernaturally placed in her womb, by the RUACH HA-KODESH) is described in Luke 1:35, "The RUACH HA-KODESH will come over you, the POWER OF THE MOST HIGH will cover you. Therefore the HOLY CHILD born to you will be called the SON OF GOD."
We are not claiming to have all the explanation for these things. For instance, nobody can explain how GOD the FATHER had no beginning. HE has been forever.
We know YAHUSHUA is Eternal and yet HE has a FATHER. GOD YAHUAH is HIS FATHER. Yet, WHO IN HEAVEN is HIS MOTHER? Now we have the answer.
Who is Mother "Wisdom" from the Book of Proverbs?
Biblical References to the Spirit of Wisdom
The Book of Proverbs
In Proverbs, the Spirit of Wisdom is referred to as "SHE" and is feminine in nature. This includes most Bible translations including the King James Bible. We read about "WISDOM", WHO is female in gender and motherly in nature.
SHE speaks for HERSELF in Proverbs 1:22-33, 8:4-36 & 9:4-6, 7-12. SHE was here at the beginning of creation, and even before creation, before there ever was an earth. In the King James Bible, SHE is described as being "daily YAHUAH´s delight" (Proverbs 8:30) rejoicing always before HIM and in HIS inhabited world.
WISDOM refers to YAHUAHs Children as HER own, "Therefore, Children, listen to ME: happy are those who keep MY Ways. Hear instruction and grow wise; do not refuse it" (Proverbs 8:32-33). WHO but the RUACH HA-KODESH (HOLY SPIRIT), THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY, can be this ALL-WISE, ALL-POWERFUL SPIRIT OF WISDOM written about in Proverbs and also in the Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of the Son of Sirach and Baruch I? [Lost books in the Bible]
Is the HOLY SPIRIT, not ALL-WISDOM?
The following Biblicale references give us insight into the SPIRIT OF WISDOM, our IMMAYAH [Prophet Elijah was given Revelation, that the RUACH HA-KODESH may be called IMMAYAH, in Hebrew "MOTHER YAH"], the RUACH HA-KODESH (HOLY SPIRIT). Isaiah prophesied:
"On HIM [YAHUSHUA], THE SPIRIT OF YAHUAH rests, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM & OF UNDERSTANDING, THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL & OF POWER, THE SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE & OF THE FEAR OF YAHUAH." (Isaiah 11:2)
From this we can determine when the SPIRIT OF YAHUAH came upon YAHUSHUA, so also did the SPIRIT OF WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNSEL, POWER, KNOWLEDGE & FEAR OF YAHUAH. Hence, the SPIRIT OF GOD YAHUAH is equated with the SPIRIT OF WISDOM.
Similarly in Acts, we read:
"Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the SPIRIT & WISDOM. [...] They chose Stephen, a man full of Faith and the HOLY SPIRIT [RUACH HA-KODESH] and..." (Acts 6:3,5)
Thus the Bible is clear in saying that the HOLY SPIRIT OF YAHUAH is one with the SPIRIT OF WISDOM!
WISDOM speaks, admonishes, warns and teaches us about YAHUAH. SHE is a "Tree of Life" (Proverbs 3:18). "By HER Monarchs (Kings) rule" (Proverbs 8:15). And SHE loves those wo love HER" (Proverbs 8:17). We humans are "HER Children" (Proverbs 8:32).
We see in The Holy Writings about WISDOM, descriptions of a HEAVENLY "WOMAN" with Power and Authority over human beings and the things of the earth, WHO speaks to "HER" children the way a HEAVENLY MOTHER would. We see Revelations given to Prophets of Old if the nature of our HOLY HEAVENLY MOTHER, THE HOLY SPIRIT!
OTHER HOLY WISDOM LITERATURE
THE BOOK OF WISDOM: WISDOM OF SOLOMON
The Wisdom of Solomon of Book of Wisdom or simply Wisdom was included in the early version of the King James Bible and is part of the New Jerusalem Bible from which we´ll be quoting (and contains the older British spelling conventions). It is attributed to Solomon, but its author is unknown.
In the following verses, we read about WISDOM WHO is ONE and the same as GOD YAHUAH´s HOLY SPIRIT (RUACH HA-KODESH):
"Wisdom will never enter the soul of a wrong-doer, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin; for the HOLY SPIRIT OF INSTRUCTION flees deceitfulness [...] WISDOM is a SPIRIT friendly to humanity, though SHE will not let a blasphemer´s words go unpunished(*); [...] For the SPIRIT of YAHUAH fills the world, and that which holds everything together knows every word said [...]." (1:4-7)
(*Matthew 12:31: Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the HOLY GHOST (SPIRIT) shall not be forgiven unto men."
"[...] WISDOM, the DESIGNER OF ALL THINGS has instructed me. For within HER is a SPIRIT INTELLIGENT, HOLY." (7:21-22))
"[Solomon speaking to GOD YAHUAH:] And who could ever have known YOUR Will, had YOU not given WISDOM and sent YOUR HOLY SPIRIT from above?" (9:17)
WISDOM is also described as the "BREATH OF THE POWER OF GOD" (7:25), that "reaches from one end of the world to the other and SHE governs the whole world for its good" (8:1). SHE was present with GOD YAHUAH when HE made the world (9:9). SHE is also a "MOTHER" (7:12) with gifts more precious than gold and silver.
In Chapter 9 the authore goes on to state that WISDOM, the HOLY SPIRIT, is the "CONSORT" of GOD YAHUAH:
"GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS, LORD OF MERCY"... (verse 1).
"Grant me WISDOM, CONSORT OF YOUR THRONE"... (verse 4).
A "consort" is defined as a husband or wife, especially the spouse of a monarch (supreme ruler), i.e., GOD ALMIGHTY. This supports the revelation given to Prophet Elijah that the RUACH HA-KODESH (HOLY SPIRIT) is YAHUSHUA HA-MASHIACH´s MOTHER and GOD YAHUAH is HIS FATHER.
As GOD YAHUAHs "Wife", WISDOM, the HOLY SPIRIT (RUACH HA-KODESH), "shares GOD´s life, for the MASTER OF ALL has always loved HER" (8:3), and SHE shares the Secrets of GOD´s knowledge (8:4). SHE knows GOD YAHUAH´s works, and SHE was present with HIM when HE made the world. SHE understands what is pleasing to HIM and what agrees with HIS Commandments (9:9). WISDOM (the HOLY SPIRIT) and GOD YAHUAH work in tandem, together as our true HEAVENLY FATHER and MOTHER overseeing all.
SON OF "A MAN" OR SON OF YAH?
It is very clear what the RUACH HA-KODESH is saying. SHE is saying it grieves, offends and angers HER that so many different Bibles are using the inaccurate translation of "the Son of Man" to describe YAHUSHUA.
Originally in Hebrew, the Scriptures said "Ben Adam" and not "the Son of Man". After prayer and studying this subject it has become clear that "Ben Adam" means "human being" (or literally "son, descendant of Adam". Even today in Modern Hebrew, Ben Adam is the word used for "human-being").
Im Aramaic, "Ben Adam" is translated into "Son of Adam" and "Son of Humanity" since Adam is the Father of humanity. Therefore the Hebrew "Ben Adam", "Son of Adam" was translated into the Aramaic "Bar Nasha" "Son of Humanity". When the Aramaic was translated into Greek, it was translated from "Son of Humanity" (i.e. human) into "the Son of Man".
YAHUSHUA never used "the Son of Man" to describe HIMSELF.
"The Son of Man" is inaccurate and has caused much confusion and needless debate. And this is exactly what satan wanted and knew would happen. Many believe because so many Bible use "the Son of Man" to describe YAHUSHUA that it means HE is literally the son of "a" man, as in Joseph, they believe, is the literal biological father of YAHUSHUA.
Luke 1:35: "The HOLY ONE WHO is to be born will be called the SON OF GOD (YAHUAH)."
They believe YAHUSHUA was a mere man and not the SON OF YAHUAH.
Many believe that YAHUSHUA was just a good man with a lot of wisdom and they do not believe YAHUSHUA was GOD or the SON OF YAHUAH. This is what the RUACH HA-KODESH is clarifying: YAHUSHUA is not the son of "a" man (Joseph), but YAHUSHUA is the SON OF YAHUAH (GOD) and HE is a human being (Ben Adam, a descendent of Adam). For HE was born of a virgin woman (who was a descendent of Adam).
> Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition Bible published by Your Arms To Yisrael uses the original Hebrew of "Ben Adam" and not the "Son of Man".
> Aramaic New Covenant Bible published by exegeses Bibles uses the translation of the "Son of Humanity".
> The Scriptures Bible published by the Institute for Scripture Research uses the translation the "Son of Adam".
The RUACH HA-KODESH is saying is that satan definitely had a part in the translations of many of the Bibles that use the translation of the "Son of Man" as well as many other inaccurate mistranslations that have been used in these Bibles. Why do you think there is so much confusion and so many different inaccurate translations of the Bible? This is clearly not of YAHUAH.
The Hebrew word RUACH (Aramaic RUHA, RUACHA or RUCHA) is grammatically feminine as are the phrases RUACH HA-KODESH and RUACH HA-KADOSH. The Hebrew word "Ruach" means "spirit", "wind", "breath", or "air". The Greek equivalent is "pneuma" and the Latin is "spiritus".
In John 14:16, the RUACH HA-KODESH´s role is described by YAHUSHUA as that of "COMFORTER" and the identification of the "COMFORTER" with YAH acting as a "mother", we read of in Isaiah 66:13, "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem". Moreover, there are many passages in which the Peshitta Bible [Syriac, Aramaic Bible] itself pairs the RUACH HA-KODESH with feminine verbs and/or feminine modifiers. In fact the Peshitta Aramaic of Romans 8:16 opens with, "And SHE the RUACH beareth witness with our spirit."
YAHUSHUA also indicates the SPIRIT as feminine. In response to a question from Nicodemus who asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother´s womb and be born?" (John 3:4), YAHUSHUA says, "No one can enter the Kingdom of GOD without being born from water and the SPIRIT. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the SPIRIT gives birth to spirit" (John 3, 5-6).
When YAHUSHUA responds, HE is admitting HE was born from the SPIRIT also. HE is saying HE was not always flesh but HE was SPIRIT before HE came to Earth, was HE not? So therefore, the Revelation is: YAHUSHUA admitting HE also had to be born from SPIRIT and of course this would have to mean the ONE called the "Holy Spirit". There are only THREE in the GODHEAD, are there not? Holy FATHER "YAHUAH", Holy SON "YAHUSHUA", and Holy SPIRIT, in Hebrew called the "RUACH HA-KODESH".
What were we before we became flesh? When we were created in Heaven we had to be spirit beings, for lack of better words. The Scriptures say, "Flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (1 Corinthians 15:50). Therefore, how were we created in Heaven?
I quote now Jerome, the author of the Latin Vulgate. Jerome´s Commentary on Isaiah 11:
"In the Gospel of the Hebrews that the Nazarenes read it says, "Just now MY MOTHER, the HOLY SPIRIT, took ME." Now no one should be offended by this, because "Spirit" in Hebrew is feminine, while in our language [Latin] it is masculine and in Greek is is neuter. In divinity, however, there is no gender."
This explanation contains an astonishing admission of Jerome - a more orthodox figure cannot be imagined - that the Hebrew word for Spirit, "Ruach", is feminine. This means that for the 1st Centure Christians - who were largely operating in the Aramaic world; (Paul´s churches were tiny in comparison) - the RUACH HA-KODESH was a Feminine Figure. It was lost in the translation from Hebrew into Greek, and then it was changed to a masculine gender when it was translated from Greek into Latin.
Finalla, theological bias leads Christians to believe the distinction of gender is unimportant, assuming there is no gender in GOD and that therefore, it does not matter and yet the masculine gender is always preferred. With many centuries of this behavior by Christian leaders, man made doctrines and ideas, I want the Truth and pray for nothing but the Truth of YAHUAH. I think it does matter. We are not allowed to change one "jot or tittle" of the Law (Matthew 5:18), and if GOD is represented as a "BEING" encompassing both the masculine and feminine genders, then we are foolish to hide that fact in our translations of the Sacred Text.
Think of a family and what it consists of - I do not mean the same sex nonsense of the Sodom and Gomorrah era this world is experiencing now. A family is to consist of a father, mother and children. YAHUAH created a lioness to only birth a lion and a woman can only birth a human. Wouldn´t it stand to reason only GOD can birth a GOD? [This is not advocating polytheism or meant literally - as we believe in ONE GOD - but just to show that GOD is Eternal and does not emanate from the Creation.] YAHUSHUA is the "ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF YAHUAH" (John 3:16)! So WHO is the HEAVENLY MOTHER that begat YAHUSHUA? Is this the Secret of what it means to be, "born" of the RUACH HA-KODESH?
The RUACH HA-KODESH is SPIRIT, then one reborn from HER becomes Spirit and the RUACH HA-KODESH lives within our bodies until we die or are raptured to Heaven, whichever comes first.
[Painting by Maria Madgalena Oosthuizen | Text by us with ancient truth]
Excerpt from
MORE THAN JUST A CONTROVERSY: ALL ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
By R.P. Nettelhorst
Professor of Theology, Quartz Hill School of Theology
(Shared in the English version of the book with permission from the author. Excerpt of information pertinent to the feminine RUACH HA-KODESH. Capitals & Footnotes Added by Elisheva Eliyahu.)
"IS THERE A QUESTION ABOUT THE GENDER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
In my graduate Semitics program at UCLA, one of the languages I had to study was Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic written with rounded letters reminiscent of modern Arabic. Syriac was the language of people living in northern Mesopotamia, from at least 300 BC until the time Arabic became dominant in the region, around 1000 AD. Most of the Syriac documents available today were produced by a Monophysite branch of Christianity, today known as the Syrian Orthodox Church (monophysitism is the belief that CHRIST* had but one nature).
*CHRIST is the English word for KHRISTOS, the Greek word meaning, "Anointed". The original Hebrew word used was MASHIACH or MESSIAH, meaning the "ONE WHO is anointed (with oil)".
One striking puzzlement of the texts, at least to me, was the constant reference to the HOLY SPIRIT as "SHE". I was aware, of course, that in Aramaic (and hence in the dialect known as Syriac) the natural gender of the word "spirit" was feminine; however, I was surprised to discover that this accident of grammar had resulted in a whole theology constructed around the femininity of the THIRD PERSON of the GODHEAD.
An example of Syriac theology is found in the apocryphal Acts of Thomas; it is usually assumed that this particular work was influenced by speculative gnostic Judaism because it contains the notion, that associated with GOD was a Wisdom, or Creative Power - a Spirit - which was feminine. In an invocation accompanying baptism, Thomas calls for the HOLY SPIRIT:
"Come, HOLY NAME of [MESSIAH] that is above every name; Come, POWER of the MOST HIGH and PERFECT COMPASSION; Come, thou HIGHEST GIFT; Come, COMPASSIONATE MOTHER; Come, FELLOWSHIP-OF-THE-MALE; Come, THOU (f.) that dost reveal the Hidden Mysteries; Come, MOTHER-OF-SEVEN-HOUSES, that THY Rest may be [...] (2:27). Come, silence that dost reveal the great deeds of the whole greatness; Come THOU that dost show forth the hidden things And make the ineffable manifest; HOLY DOVE that bearest [...]; Come, HIDDEN MOTHER; Come, THOU that art manifest in thy deeds and dost furnish Joy and Rest for all that are joined with THEE; Come and partake with us in this [Communion] which we celebrate in THY Name, and in the love-feast in which we are gathered together at THY call." (Acts of Thomas 5:50)*
[* Acts of Thomas may contain fragments from other sources, which we do not accept as inspired - although we get a witness to truthfulness of this quoted excerpt.]
After reading such materials I decided that Syrian Orthodox Christianity was somewhat heretical (though perhaps only through an accident of grammar), and so I wanted nothing to do with Syriac literature. I would find something else on which to do my dissertation.
Them came the Spring of 1986. I was teaching advanced Hebrew, and I had decided to take the class through the book of Judges. As we read along, I noticed something odd about Judges 3:10: "The SPIRIT OF YAHWEH came upon Caleb´s younger brother...".
In English, this passage from Judges doesn´t appear startling, but in Hebrew something strange leapt out at me: "came upon" was a third person feminine verb, indicating its subject "SPIRIT" was being understood as a feminine noun. ["The SPIRIT of YAHWEH, SHE-came-upon-me..."] Hebrew is not like Aramaic in its use of the word "spirit". While the word is exclusively feminine in Aramaic, in Hebrew itis sometimes masculine. Therefore, the question that came to mind was why had the author of Judges chosen here to make the SPIRIT of YAHWEH feminine, when he could just as easily have made it masculine? Oh well.
I just shrugged my shoulders and went on, not overly concerned. Occasionally, I thought, one finds something inexplicable in the Bible; no big deal. But then came Judges 6:34. Again, "SPIRIT of YAHWEH" was feminine.
At this point I decided to consult the concordance. Much to my surprise, every occurrence of "SPIRIT of YAHWEH" in Judges is feminine. As I pondered that, I recalled Genesis 1:2, the first occurrence of "SPIRIT of GOD" in the Bible, and realized to my shock that it too is feminine.
Back to the concordance. Ot of 84 OT uses of the word "SPIRIT", in contexts traditionally assumed to be references to the HOLY SPIRIT, 75 times it is either explicitly feminine or indeterminable (due to lack of a verb or adjective). Only nine times can "spirit" be construed as masculine, and in thoses cases it is unclear that is is a reference to GOD´S HOLY SPIRIT anyway.
The New Testament references to the HOLY SPIRIT are not helpful for conclusively deciding on the gender of the HOLY SPIRIT, since "spirit" in Greek is neuter, and so is referred to as "it" by the New Testament writers.
The conclusion of all this is that our traditional assumption of a masculine SPIRIT is questionable; in fact, the evidence seems overwhelming that the SPIRIT should be viewed as "SHE", which does seem to make sense, since the other two members of the GODHEAD are labeled "FATHER" and "SON."
What are the theological implications of a feminine HOLY SPIRIT? There are four:
> A feminine HOLY SPIRIT clarifies how women can also be said to be created in the "image of GOD". It has long been recognized that the GODHEAD must include some feminine aspects, since Genesis 1:26-27 explicitly states that both men and women were created in GOD´S image.
> A feminine HOLY SPIRIT explains the identity of the personified WISDOM in Proverbs 8:12-31.
Some commentators have tried to tie this personification of WISDOM to the idea of CHRIST as divine "Word" (Gk. "LOGOS"). Unfortunately for this theory, the genders of the words in question get in the way. The gender of the word "wisdom" is feminine, and is therefore personified as a woman. This makes a direct identification of "WISDOM" with "CHRIST" virtually impossible. Other commentators have pictured "WISDOM" as a created being, like an angel; better have been those who argue that the personification of WISDOM in Proverbs 8 is simply a literary device, without objective reality.
However, if the HOLY SPIRIT is feminine, then the identification is relatively easy: Genesis 1:2 pictures the SPIRIT of GOD hovering over the deep, active in creating the world, just as Proverbs describes. Bot the Old and New Testament connect the idea of teaching and imparting wisdom with the function of the HOLY SPIRIT (Exodus 31:3; 35:31; Acts 6:3; Ephesians 1:17; Luke 12:12; and John 14:25-26).
> The third benefit of recognizing the femininity of the HOLY SPIRIT is that it explains the subservient role that the SPIRIT plays. The Bible seems to indicate that the SPIRIT does not speak for itself or about itself; rather the SPIRIT only speaks what it hears. The SPIRIT is said to have come into the world to glorify CHRIST (See John 16:13-14, and Acts 13:2). In contrast, it should be noted that the Scripture represents both the FATHER and SON speaking from and of THEMSELVES.
> Finally, a feminine HOLY SPIRIT, with a FATHER and SON as the rest of the TRINITY, may help explain why the family is the basic unit of human society."
THE HOLY SPIRIT´S NAME
YAHUSHUA´S main title is MASHIACH (MESSIAH). It means "ANOINTED ONE". What is the ANOINTING* that was upon HIM? The HOLY SPIRIT! Have you ever wondered, does the HOLY SPIRIT have a Name?
[*"To anoint" means "to pour, smear and rub oil into..." It could be for cosmetic of medical purposes, like lotion or ointment, but in a religious context, was always done with sanctified olive oil for a consecrating purpose, such as anointing someone as king or for healing, or to sanctify the objects in the Temple (Ex 29:7; 40:9; 2 Kings 9:6; Eccles 9:8; James 5:14). So, you can think of the ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT as the "OIL OF THE SPIRIT".
The ANOINTING is, in short, an outpouring of a portion of the HOLY SPIRIT´S PRESENCE for a particular purpose. We use anointing oil (olive oil) as a symbol to represent both the SPIRIT´S ANOINTING & BLOOD OF YAHUSHUA. The BAPTISM in the HOLY SPIRIT (a free gift upon a sanctified life) is when we are filled and fully immersed in the HOLY SPIRIT to be powerful witnesses of the Gospel. Acts 10:38 GOD anointed YAHUSHUA OF NAZARETH with the HOLY SPIRIT (or HOLY GHOST) & Power.]
First of all, let´s briefly look at the title "HOLY SPIRIT" in Hebrew: RUACH HA-KODESH literally means SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, or the SPIRIT OF THE HOLY-PLACE. (This is a feminine Hebrew phrase, portrayed in Hebrew Scripture as a "SHE". Although hard on Western ears, that´s worth thinking about, since we are born again through "HER", see Jn 3:3-8.)
YAHUSHUA explained to Nicodemus that the SPIRIT is like the WIND. (In fact, RUACH is Hebrew for both these words: spirit & wind.)*
[*Ruach H7307 can also mean mind or breath] We can´t see the Wind, although we see its effects - and, if it blows our way, we feel it:
"The Wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the SPIRIT." (Joh 3:8)
The SHEKINAH-GLORY, however, we can see. The abiding (dwelling) and visible manifestation of the SPIRIT is called the "SHEKINAH-GLORY".
But just as the Name of the SON contains the Name of YAH, so does the Name of GOD´S SPIRIT. So now we spell it as "SHKHINYAH GLORY" - still similar to both the Pentecostal phrase Shekinah Glory, and the Hebrew term HaShkhinah.
Where does the Word "Shekinah" Come from?
The word "Messiah", is originally from the Hebrew Mashiach. And "Shekinah" is from the Hebrew feminine noun HaShkhinah. It´s usually translated as "the Divine Presence", which is actually an understatement. For example, HaMASHIACH is not usually translated as one existing term like "SAVIOR" or "ANOINTED ONE". Why? Well, HaMASHIACH represents the ONE WHO is this and more, WHO was promised and described countless times in Jewish Scripture! Instead of just translating it into a word of another language, HaMashiach was adopted into most languages - and comes to us as "the Messiah". The same is true for the word Shkhinah, adopted as "Shekinah".
What does SHEKINAH mean?
You can think of the word Shekinah as "GOD tabernacles here", ("GOD camps here"), but there is no equivalent English word or term that can express the full meaning of this word.
A literal definition would come close to this: "the SETTLING", "the ABIDING" or "the HABITATING" (often tangible, sometimes visible) describing the "PRESENCE" of ONE WHO "dwells" with some permanence, like a "neighbor" - "tabernacling" and "residing" among us - and WHO acts as a protection like a "hedge" or "covering".*
[* shakan S #H7931 (129 uses over 123 verses) "to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside". Related words include: inhabitant/neighbor H7934 shaken; he dwelt H7931 shakan; and tabernacle or temple H4908 mishkan referring to GOD´S place of residence. HaSHKHINAH and all these words are related to and, some believe, derived from the parent root H7900 sak, meaning covering or booth, related to the word hedge, as in a protection. This is also where we get the words sukkot & schach, which is the covering of the Sukka used during Hag Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Shelters, see John 7, Leviticus 23:34-43). "HE WHO sits on the Throne will spread HIS TABERNACLE over them" / "HE WHO sits on the Throne will shelter them with HIS PRESENCE" (Rev 7:25).
HaShkhinah is always used for GOD´S PRESENCE i.e. the DIVINE PRESENCE. Hereon we´ll capitalize any words for the SHEKINAH - since it´s a reference to GOD.
YAHUAH spoke to Moses through the burning bush, and remained with him - that was a manifestation of HaSHKHINAH for it was GOD´S GLORY manifesting and abiding with mankind. It was also HaSHKHINAH (GOD dwelling among mankind) when YAHUSHUA took on flesh, coming into the world as IMANU-EL meaning "GOD with us" (Is 7:14; Matt 1:23):
"The TRUE LIGHT that gives Light to everyone was coming into the world. The WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld HIS GLORY, the GLORY as of the ONLY-BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER) full of Grace and Truth." (John 1:9,14)
HaSHKHINAH may refer to GOD the FATHER or SON as manifest with humankind, but is most associated with the RUACH HA-KODESH:
"Know ye not that ye are the Temple of GOD, and that the SPIRIT OF GOD dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The MANIFEST SHEKINAH-GLORY of YAH was present a century ago at the Azusa Street Revival, and long ago with the Early Church as well as the days of the Temple etc. The Jewish tradition surrounding the SHEKINAH is full of feminine symbols and imagery - this includes the New Testament.
YAHUAH´S GLORY
The word "SHEKINAH" by itself, refers to YAH´S ABIDING PRESENCE, but not always the MANIFESTED GLORY OF GOD that Ezekiel describes here:
"Then the GLORY of the LORD YAHUAH went up from the Cherub {Fiery One}, and stood over the treshold of the House; and the House was filled with the CLOUD, and the court was full of the BRIGHTNESS of the LORD YAHUAH´S GLORY." (Ezekiel 10:4)
When you combine the words as SHEKINAH-GLORY, this refers to the GOD´S ABIDING, MANIFEST GLORY:
"And Moses went up into the Mount, and a CLOUD covered the Mount. And the GLORY OF YAHUAH abode upon Mount Sinai, and the CLOUD covered it six days: and the seventh day HE called unto Moses out of the midst of the CLOUD. And the sight of the GLORY OF YAHUAH was like DEVOURING FIRE on the top of the Mount in the eyes of the Children of Israel." (Exodus 24:15-17)
At the giving of the 10 Commandments, the GLORY was present and manifested by FIRE, LIGHTENING, SMOKE and a VOICE in the thunder to a mass assembly of people! It was even visible at a far distance! Remember, YAHUAH HIMSELF always chooses the time and place, and whether to manifest before many of few.
Although we can pray, "YAH show me YOUR GLORY", none of this is something man decides or plans (Ex 13:21-22; 16_10; 19:16-25; 24:17; 33:18). You cannot plan a revival, but you can pray for one and preach repentance and Holiness, but the decision is always YAHUAH´S.
In Hebrew, the word GLORY is H3519 KAVOD. It literally means heaviness, which can refer to physical weight (see Ex 17:12, like when Moses´ hands were heavy) as well as something grave, important, serious, or weighty.
It can even be interpreted as GOD´S ARMAMENTS! But the majority of the time, this is translated as "GLORY" or "HONOR" and nearly 40 times in the Old Testament, we read of the "GLORY OF THE LORD". How are the words heavy and glory, related? Well it comes from the idea that something valuable, such as gold or rubies* are heavy and therefore glorious, honorable, valuable, precious ...
[*The Bible teaches us that our Faith, YAH´S SPIRIT, WISDOM & YAHUSHUA´S BLOOD are of far greater worth than gold or rubies (1 Pet 1:7; Prov 8:19; JOb 28:15-17; 1 Pet 1:18-19).
The Name SHKHINYAH-GLORY
SHEKINAH-GLORY is just a title or noun description of the visible manifestation of the RUACH HA-KODESH. However, SHKHINYAH-GLORY - with YAH in it - is a Name.
Various Bible dictionaries define the first part of this Name as DWELLER with YAHUAH; ONE intimate with YAHUAH; YAH has taken up HIS abode ; or HABITATION of YAHUAH. This may also be translated as YAH´S DIVINE PRESENCE. Does this not perfectly describe WHO the HOLY SPIRIT/RUACH HA-KODESH is?
The second part of this Name is "GLORY". What is this in Hebrew? KAVOD is not a name, and wouldn´t work for several reasons, but some Hebrew words for "GLORY" that are also appropriate as feminine names (to match the grammatical gender of RUACH HA-KODESH & SHKHINYAH) include: YEKARA, TIFERET, TEHILA, HILA, HADAR & HADARA.
> KAVOD: GLORY („heavy“).
> YEKARA (Strong´s #H3366-3368): GLORY, PRECIOUS, COSTLY, HONOR.
> TIFERET / TIFARA (Strong´s #H8597): GLORY [„Splendor“ or prolific „beauty“ or abundant „adornment“].
> T´HILAH & HILAH (Strong´s #H8416): GLORY (Praise/Fame & Brightness/Brillance).
> HADAR (Strong´s #H1926) & HADARAH (Strong´s #H1927): GLORY (Majesty/Adorned with Glory & Splendor).
MOTHER IN HEBREW
Let´s Talk Hebrew!
Aleph (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet) is the first letter of the words father and mother in Hebrew: av & em. If you add another aleph to the end of these words, you get the Aramaic words, abba & imma*!
[*The E in "em" is short: "eh", "ehm" like in "empty"; and the "i" in "imma" sounds like the long "E" in "e-mail".]
(So in Aramaic, aleph is both the first and the last letter of father and mother. For our GOD - YAH is ETERNAL, THE FIRST & THE LAST! And through YAHUSHUA, we have both a HEAVENLY FATHER, our Abba YAHUAH and a HEAVENLY MOTHER, our IMMA SHKHINYAH GLORY!)
Aleph** is eben a title for GOD. First things first! What else is interesting about the letter aleph? "Aleph" is the name of this letter. (In the past, it was also "al" which means ox or a strong-one). And the shape of the letter was an ox head! And an ox symbolizes power and strength! So the picture-meaning was strong-one. Lastly, aleph represents the number one (echad).
[**Every Hebrew letter has a [1] name, [2] shape (picture in old Hebrew) [3] significant (symbolic) meaning and [4] a sound. The shape and meaning go together in Paleo-Hebrew (that means old Hebrew) because the shape of the letter was a picture (or pictograph) that symbolized its meaning. And lastly, [5] the letters can also represent numbers (somewhat) like how Roman numerals work).]
The Hebrew word for GOD, EL, comes from the same family of words as "aleph". Even Hebrew words and letters belong to families! In Hebrew, the words father and mother are in fact relatives of the word for GOD or "strong-one". If we´re really going to understand mother in Hebrew, we need to learn more about the word for father.
FAMILY OF YAHUAH
"Speak to all the congregation of the Children of Israel, and say to them: `...Every one of you shall revere his MOTHER and his FATHER, and keep MY Sabbaths: I AM YAHUAH, your GOD...´" - Leviticus 19:2-4
Av, father, is the first word in the Hebrew dictionary, because it represents FATHER GOD so it has to be first! The main reason is actually, because it´s spelled with the first two letters of the alphabet, "Aleph-Bet", which is even the name of the Hebrew alphabet itself!
Beit, the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is a picture of (and literally means) a house. It also represents the number two. So the value of the word Av is three (1+2). Is this symbolic of the TRINITY?
Both the SON & HOLY GHOST come "from the FATHER" (Jn 8:42; 15:26)! THEY are the SON and the SPIRIT of GOD, (THEMSELVES being GOD and yet also from GOD, the FATHER). Just as "Eve" was one wth Adam (Gen 2:24), and was brought out of Adam! In the words of Matthew Henry:
"The woman was made of a rib of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected [by him], and near his heart to be beloved [by him]."
YAHUAH is HEAD of YAHUSHUA & IMMAYAH, yet THEY are equall CO-CREATORS just as the head of a woman is man, yet they are equal! Head doesn´t just mean authority, but like a river´s head is a source of life.
The pictographic meaning of av, father in Hebrew is "leader of the house/family". Fathers should be the source of a family´s strength! Just as pillars hold u buildings, or a pole, a tent! YAHUAH holds the Universe!
The words for son and daughter in Hebrew are ben & bat. The pictographic meaning of son, ben is the "seed/sprout of the house/family" and ben literally means builder. YAHUSHUA is the INCORRUPTIBLE, IMPERISABLE SEED (1 Pet 1:23), BUILDER & SON over YAHUAH´S Household (Heb 3)! Sons carry on the family name (Jn 5:43; 17:11) and are like their fathers; YAHUSHUA said, "he that hath seen ME hath seen the FATHER" (John 14:9)!
Likewise, daughters are to be like their mothers. The word for daughter, bat is the feminine form, but has a different picture meaning: "sign/covenant of the family/house". IMMAYAH is also our SIGN of the covenant of adoption (Rm 8:15) for SHE is the SEAL & MARK of a true believer (Eph 1:13-14). We are truly "called by the Name of YAHUAH" (Dt 28:9-10) when we keep the covenant and commandments of our GOD.
As children should be like their Godly parents, so we are to be like YAHUSHUA and like our HEAVENLY PARENTS (Matt 5:45, 48) that includes our IMMAYAH and having HER Fruit of the SPIRIT (Gal 5:22-23), not walking in the flesh (Gal 5:16-18, 23). Don´t forget, every time you hear the words IMMA-YAH, this is our HEAVENLY MOTHER, MOM, MAMA, MOMMA, MOMMY for all these words encompass what IMMA means.
SECRETS OF MOMMA WISDOM
In reading Biblical Wisdom Literature, we see a clear description of a HEAVENLY MOTHER named WISDOM. But what is this word in Hebrew - and does it give us a clearer picture or confirmation on WHO SHE is?
Wisdom in Hebrew is Hokmah and its root is ham, meaning heat. The picture-meaning of ham is "separete waters/liquid". When water evaporates or is heated, it separates: some of the liquid separates as vapor.
Remember at Creation, the SPIRIT OF ELOHIM hovered over the waters mayim, and GOD separated waters from waters (Gen 1:2, 6-8)? And the upper waters, HE called Heaven shamayim!
The picture-meaning of ham can also be "wall of water". What happened when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea? "The waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left" (Ex 14:22). The Book of WISDOM tells us, it was SHE WHO led them through the Red Sea (Wisdom 10:18-19).
HER PRESENCE often manifested as a CLOUD (Ex 13:21-22; 14:19; 16:10; 19:9; 24:15-18 etc). You can also think of "wall of water" as a wall of vapor, or as a cloud. For what is a cloud but visible vapor? Clouds that lay low to the earth - we call them fog.
Those who attended the Azusa Revival and experienced the SHEKINAH GLORY described it as a part of HEAVEN coming down to us, to live and breath in; more magnificent than breathing PURE OXYGEN deep into your lungs! Everyone could even see the very POWER OF GOD lingering in the atmosphere; or as a HEAVY MIST, A CLOUD SO THICK you couldn´t see the ground. When a cloud´s water vapor condenses and becomes so heavy, it pours down as rain! "Drop down, ye HEAVENS, from above [rain down], and let the SKIES pour down RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Is 45:8a).
As ab earthly mother cooks for HER Children, WISDOM prepares our spiritual food! The root of HOKMAH is ham, meaning heat. Cooking, literally, is the preparation of food by heating - boiling, baking and roasting all use heat:
"WISDOM [...] SHE has prepared HER Food, spiced HER Wine, and SHE has set HER Table. SHE has sent out HER young girls [with invitations]; SHE calls from the heights of the city, [...] `Come and eat MY Food! Drin the Wine I have mixed!´" (Proverbs 9:1-5).
Now what does wine have to do with the RUACH HA-KODESH?
Remember Acts 2, after the ones who tarried in the Upper Room were baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT, and people thought they were drunk? Well they were not drinking! The Bible says, "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT!" (Eph 5:18)
The numerical value of Hokmah is 72 (8+20+40+5=72) and this number represents the work of the HOLY SPIRIT in all the nations* - and is also the number of hours iin three days and three nights**
[* YAHUAH took of the POWER OF THE SPIRIT that was on Moses and put it on seventy and two elders of Israel, that´s 72 - and they prophesied (Num 11:25-26). YAHUSHUA sent out 72 disciples, two-by-two, preaching the KINGDOM and its POWER - some manuscripts say seventy (Luke 10:1-17). In Jewish tradition, there are 70 or 72 symbolic nations of the world (Gen 10) and YAHUAH has said, "I will pour out MY SPIRIT upon all flesh" (Joel 2:28-29) every generation, every nation, tribe and tongue, old and young, male and female. And WISDOM, HERSELF says, "Turn you at MY Reproof: Behold, I will pour out MY SPIRIT unto you" (Pv 1:23).
** Do you know the sign of Jonah? "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of YAH be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matt 12:40)! So this Third Day is when HE rose again in Victory! Of the third day, Hosea prophesied on repentance: "Come, let us return to YAHUAH, For HE has torn us, and HE will heal us; HE has wounded us, and HE will bind up our wounds. HE will revive us after Two Days, and on the Third Day HE will raise us up so we can live in HIS PRESENCE" (Hos 6:1-2). The Fear of YAHUAH is WISDOM!]
APPENDIX: HEBREW SCRIPTURES "SHE" FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
Genesis 1:2;
Exodus 31:2; 35:31;
Numbers 11:26; 24:2;
Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14;
1 Samuel 10:6, 10; 11:6; 16:13, 14; 19:20, 23;
Job 26:13, 33:4;
Psalm 51: 12; 143:10;
Nehemiah 9:20;
1 Chronicles 12:18;
2 Chronicles 15:1; 20:14; 24:20;
2 Kings 2:15;
Isaiah 11:2; 40:7; 59:19;
Ezekiel 1:12, 20, 21; 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 8:3; 11:1, 5, 24: 36:26, 27; 37:1; 43:5;
Haggai 2:5, 6
Need Confirmation? Compare to Scripture4all.org; or Hebrew Bible & book of verb tables like Baron´s Hebrew Verbs; or ask a native Hebrew speaker about the verbs´ literal, full meanings.
Job 33:4 literally reads, "The Spirit of EL, SHE-made-me, and the Breath of Shaddai, SHE-is-keeping-me-alive";
Numbers 11:26, "...the SPIRIT, SHE-rested upon them...and they prophesied in the camp";
Psalm 143:10, "THY SPIRIT is good; SHE-shall-lead-me into the land of uprightness";
Isaiah 11:1-2, "The SPIRIT OF YAHUAH, SHE-shall-rest...the SPIRIT OF WISDOM & UNDERSTANDING...".
What about the Few Masculine Instances? There are only about 8 OT verses with masculine modifiers for GOD`S SPIRIT. Why? YAHUSHUA has said "GOD is SPIRIT" (John 4:24). Both FATHER & SON are SPIRIT, but still masculine. For example, 2 Sam 23:2-3 reads, "RUACH YAHUAH HE-spoke to me and HIS-declaration was on my-tongue. The GOD-of-ISRAEL HE-said, the ROCK-of-ISRAEL, HE-spoke...".
Context clearly shows it´s NOT the DIVINE MOTHERLY PERSON of the HOLY SPIRIT, but YAHUAH described in HIS Fatherly masculine role: ABBA (FATHER) YAHUAH - SUPREME POWER, AUTHORITY OF ALL.
Are there Further Scriptures? Beside the explicit examples indicating a feminine HOLY SPIRIT (see earlier list above), there are also those discerned by the Hebrew context.
For example Job 27:3 (where SPIRIT is paired with BREATH, also grammatically feminine) & Prov 1:23 (where GOD´S SPIRIT is paired with Mother WISDOM). Ezekiel 37:14; 39:29 & Zechariah 12:10 compare to similar Scriptures like Ezekiel 36:26, 27 where, in Hebrew, the SPIRIT is clearly identified as feminine.
Is it in the New Testament? The Aramaic Peshitta speaks of a feminine HOLY SPIRIT - as all existing Hebrew Matthews left from the Middle Ages.
For example, three sets (Shem Tov´s, DuTillet´s & Munster´s), literally read in Matthew 3:16, "the SPIRIT of GOD, SHE-was-descending like a dove..."; in the same passage, the Gospel of the Hebrews explicitly calls the HOLY SPIRIT "MOTHER" according to Jerome. In the ancient world, doves were always symbols of the "Divine Feminine", never a male deity. YAHUSHUA, and the Gospel writers clearly would have known this. This was obviously part of the early Christian tradition.
What´s the Cultural Understanding? The Jewish tradition has always taken these listed Scriptures to indicate the SHEKHINAH-GLORY of YAH and has always given the HOLY SPIRIT a female persona, never a masculine one.
Although an in depth examination of this history could not be contained in this book, SHE is known as IMMA {MOTHER}, YEKARA {PRECIOUS}, BINAH {UNDERSTANDING}, TIFERET {GLORY/BEAUTY}, SHABBAT haMALKA {the SABBATH QUEEN i.e. GOD`S QUEEN}, SHABBAT haKALLAH {the SABBATH BRIDE i.e. GOD`S BRIDE; when kallah does not refer to a literal "bride", it is a flowery/poetic term for a female person or a wife}, etc. Even to this day, traditional Judaism considers the MALKHUT (KINGDOM) an Emanation of GOD that is the one and the same as HASKHKINAH (the SHEKINAH, DIVINE PRESENCE), the HOLY SPIRIT*.
[* "JERUSALEM" & "ZION" can often be used as euphemisms (substitutions) for the "KINGDOM" or "HEAVEN", even the HOLY SPIRIT - in "JERUSALEM-WHICH-IS-ABOVE is free, which is the MOTHER-of-US-ALL" (Gal 4:26), "Jerusalem" is used in this way for the HOLY SPIRIT, WHO is being called "MOTHER".]
QUEEN OF HEAVEN?
YAHUSHUA likely referred to the HOLY SPIRIT as the Genuine QUEEN OF HEAVEN: the Hebrew spelling of the construct phrases "Queen of Heaven" & "Queen of GOD" are nearly identical to "Kingdom of Heaven" & "Kingdom of GOD" - as in these New Testament Scriptures: Behold, the Kingdom of GOD is within you (Luke 17:21), Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near (Matt 3:2; 4:17; Luke 10:9); If I cast out devils by the SPIRIT of GOD, then the Kingdom of GOD is come unto you (Matthew 12:28). (Interchange Malkhut ha Shamayim {Kingdom of GOD} with M´lekhet ha Shamayim {Queen of Heaven, the HOLY SPIRIT}. Now we can understand in a new way, why YAHUSHUA could say, "the Kingdom of GOD is within you" for it is the HOLY SPIRIT that dwells within!
BEWARE OF THE KABBALAH!
WARNING: Even though the Kabbalistic tradition has some truths in it (such as the femininity of the HOLY SPIRIT), it often includes the most disgusting, immoral lies straight from hell. We do NOT endorse or condone Kabbalah! Stay away from it! Many are know who lost their faith in YAHUSHUA and turned to the spirit of antichrist through it!