I am always amazed at how much more depth the word of YHWH yields when we take the time to dig deep and study it. Words that were originally in Hebrew often hold far more meaning than their simpler, English counterparts. This is very much the case with one word in particular that I’ve come across and I wanted to share that with you today. I have every confidence it will have as big an impact on you as it did for me. 

First, let us read the verses below and take note of the words I’ve marked in bold in each one. 

As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the
dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his
hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain.
~Exodus 32:19

Don’t worship their gods or follow their customs. Instead,
destroy their idols and shatter their stone images.
~Exodus 23:24

Now YHWH said to Moses, “Cut out for yourself two stone
tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the
words that were on the former tablets which you smashed. ~Exodus 34:1

So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them from my
hands, shattering them before your eyes.
~Deut 9:17

What do all of these words have in common? They were translated from the same Hebrew word. That word, transliterated, is “shabar”. It is also translated as grieved, broken, hurt. If you look up the definition of it in Strongs concordance, it says “to break into pieces.”

What does this have to do with us?

This is the word the Father uses to describe how He feels when we turn away from Him and worship any of our many idols instead.

Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive,
your survivors will remember Me—how I have been grieved by
their adulterous hearts that turned away from Me, and by their
eyes that lusted after idols. ~Ezekiel 6:9

We expect Him to be ever aware of our feelings, but we don’t often consider how we make Him feel.
When we turn from Him, He is shattered.

 

 

 

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About the Seeking Scripture Team: We are a group of believers from all walks of the faith, saved by grace alone through faith in our Messiah. While we are of one accord in many things, we are all works in progress and lifelong learners. Therefore the opinions of one may not always represent the opinions of all.

Christy Jordan
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