The first occurrence of זאת (it occurs three times in that first verse) is in Genesis 2:23. There are no other connecting phrases in that verse. This is a distinctive occurrence, a “flag,” of sorts, to “pay attention.” We will see more below to help with the understanding, but I will say just a few important things here.
① The most important comment is that if taken at face value, the use of the word“this” in 2:23 could be taken by some as “objectifying women,” and I certainly cannot promise that it has not been used in that way in the past. If you will read along, you will see that I don’t think that is at all what Scripture is telling us. I will draw some conclusions toward the end of this entry, but I hope you will carefully read through all the investigation and come to some conclusions yourself before looking to my thoughts.
② The cognate permutations group meaning that includes זאת is (nurture/inhibit progress). You will see many examples (there are many more, not explored) listed below. As is the usual method we use here, think of the appearance of this word as relaying a message lying within the spectrum/continuum of nurturing progress to inhibiting progress. I also encourage you to see that חסד, lovingkindness, mercy, kindness, is in this same group, as is the word for field שׂדה, which Scripturally is a place of grazing and nurturing. (The word for breast שד is in the שׂדה family, also indicating nurturing.) We all know there are strengthening and weakening effects from nurturing (weakening if it goes too far), thus the need, as well for a weaning process.
③ The focus that we will be discussing is this underlying spectrum and its life effect on progress. Sometimes kindness is in strengthening/nurturing and sometimes kindness is in inhibiting/weaning/restricting/limiting the nurturing. We have all had the experience of knowing the “spoiled-rotten” person. Restraint is one of the big messages of Scripture.
⦁ Genesis 2:15-25 NKJV
15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
➽ 23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.” (see especially verse 23 in literal)
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Impression חסד lovingkindness שׂדה field זאת this(fem.) cognate permutations(nurture/inhibit progress)
- Just below is the process of determining the meaning for the cognate permutations group.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
abound/restrain (A55)
אשד p.17 pour down
אשת p.19 hide
חסד p.84 devote oneself entirely; give oneself to needs
חשד (no entry) suspect – not in Scripture- suspicion in Modern Hebrew
עצד p.190 strike down
עשת p.195 firm up; strengthen
expand strongly (A60)
הדס p.56 grow
חדש p.74 renew
עדש p.180 grow
עטש p.184 sneeze
………………………………………………………
increase/decrease (D39)
דשא p.54 grow; sprout
תשע p.289 decrease
………………………………………………………
search for sustenance (E39)
סדה p.167 produce crops for sustenance
סטה p.170 stray from the correct path
סתה p.176 change
צדה p.212 focus; target
שדה p.256 produce/provide nourishment
שטח p.261 spread out
שתה p.272 flow; move in particular direction
שתע p.272 fear
שׂדה p.274 produce food; sustain
שׂטה p.276 deviate from
make/interrupt progress (E50) support/undermine (different defs. given)
סהד (no entry) corroborate – not in Scripture [maybe confused with שׂהד]
סעד p.173 support; fortify
צעד p.219 stride forward firmly
שאט p.252 scourge; despoil
שחד p.259 bribe; corrupt ethical stance
שחט p.259 focus sharply to effect change
שחת p.260 corrupt; degenerate irreversibly
שעט p.267 pound
שׂהד p.274 corroborate; support
שׂחט p.276 press
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
abound/restrain (A55)
expand strongly (A60)
increase/decrease (D39)
search for sustenance (E39)
make/interrupt progress (E50) support/undermine
Impression זאת cognate permutations (nurture/inhibit progress)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
We have spoken before here of Sarah Bessey’s book, Field Notes for the Wilderness. One thing I would like to share is from a section of Chapter 10. First, the title of Chapter 10 is “LEARN TO LOVE THE WORLD AGAIN.” The section is called “Love in Particular.” In that section, she speaks of loving the world in spite of and because of both its triumphs and its tragedies. One specific phrase that I connected with was,“love this in particular.” I connected because it was another witness to what Scripture is telling us above, “this” is what in front of us at a particular time and in a particular place and context. We may not like “this,” but she is telling us to love “this.” Sometimes “this” is nurturing, sometimes “this” is inhibiting, and sometimes “this” is equivocal. It might lie anywhere on the spectrum. We are to love it because it is a part of God’s Creation, not because we necessarily agree. (As Yeshua/Jesus instructed us to love enemies and neighbors.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
⦁ Genesis 1:26
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
- We humans would agree that the making of our species, mankind, was the progressing of our Creation. In a way we might also be able to see that mankind’s progress might also bring the demise of Creation, at least on earth.
- I might share here one of R. David Fohrman’s wordings. He notes that there are two creative forces in our world, God, (the LORD), and mankind. We are a creative force because we are made in the image of God. Fohrman calls the two creative forces, “Big Creator” and “little creator.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
It is in these ways that we are “little creator;” we not only speak but we formulate what we speak. And we have the capability of making choices, not simply acting instinctively. These allow us to “rule” or “have dominion over” other creatures. The creations of mankind certainly have the potential to be truly “evil,” that is, evil in the eyes of God.
Switching gears back to the “feminine this זאת,” for an exploration to show how it is used in Scripture:
Below is a small listing of the total number of occurrences in AlHaTorah of זאת.(There is no substitute for actually seeing its use in Scripture.)
- זאת this(fem.) cognate permutations (nurture/inhibit progress)
⦁ ▸ Tanakh (570 results) – 48 verses in Genesis alone…
1. Bereshit 2:23 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָדָם זֹאת הַפַּעַם עֶצֶם מֵעֲצָמַי וּבָשָׂר מִבְּשָׂרִי לְזֹאת יִקָּרֵא אִשָּׁה כִּי מֵאִישׁ לֻקְחָה זֹּאת.
⦁ Genesis 2:23
23 And Adam said:
“This (is) now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
(She)this shall be called Woman,
Because (she)this was taken out of Man.”
2. Bereshit 3:13 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר י־ְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים לָאִשָּׁה מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂית וַתֹּאמֶר הָאִשָּׁה הַנָּחָשׁ הִשִּׁיאַנִי וָאֹכֵל.
3. Bereshit 3:14 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר י־ְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶל הַנָּחָשׁ כִּי עָשִׂיתָ זֹּאת אָרוּר אַתָּה מִכׇּל הַבְּהֵמָה וּמִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה עַל גְּחֹנְךָ תֵלֵךְ וְעָפָר תֹּאכַל כׇּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ.
⦁ Genesis 3:13-14
13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
4. Bereshit 9:12 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים זֹאת אוֹת הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם וּבֵין כׇּל נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה אֲשֶׁר אִתְּכֶם לְדֹרֹת עוֹלָם.
5. Bereshit 9:17 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל נֹחַ זֹאת אוֹת הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר הֲקִמֹתִי בֵּינִי וּבֵין כׇּל בָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר עַל הָאָרֶץ.
⦁ Genesis 9:12-17
12 And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
6. Bereshit 12:7 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֵּרָא י־ְהֹוָה אֶל אַבְרָם וַיֹּאמֶר לְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וַיִּבֶן שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ לַי־הֹוָה הַנִּרְאֶה אֵלָיו.
7. Bereshit 12:12 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְהָיָה כִּי יִרְאוּ אֹתָךְ הַמִּצְרִים וְאָמְרוּ אִשְׁתּוֹ זֹאת וְהָרְגוּ אֹתִי וְאֹתָךְ יְחַיּוּ.
⦁ Genesis 12:7-12
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this הזאת land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
Abram in Egypt
10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This זאת is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
– v.7 the land the this…
8. Bereshit 12:18 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה לְאַבְרָם וַיֹּאמֶר מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לִּי לָמָּה לֹא הִגַּדְתָּ לִּי כִּי אִשְׁתְּךָ הִוא.
⦁ Genesis 12:18
18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this זאת you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she (was) your wife?
9. Bereshit 15:7 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי י־ְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים לָתֶת לְךָ אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לְרִשְׁתָּהּ.
⦁ Genesis 15:7
7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this הזאת land to inherit it.”
- the land the this…
10. Bereshit 15:18 (Mikraot Gedolot)
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כָּרַת י־ְהֹוָה אֶת אַבְרָם בְּרִית לֵאמֹר לְזַרְעֲךָ נָתַתִּי אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת מִנְּהַר מִצְרַיִם עַד הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹל נְהַר פְּרָת.
⦁ Genesis 15:18
18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this הזאת land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—
- the land the this…
- זאת this(fem.) cognate permutations (nurture/inhibit progress)
11. Bereshit 17:10 (Mikraot Gedolot)
זֹאת בְּרִיתִי אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְרוּ בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם וּבֵין זַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ הִמּוֹל לָכֶם כׇּל זָכָר.
⦁ Genesis 17:10
10 This (is) My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
12. Bereshit 19:20 (Mikraot Gedolot)
הִנֵּה נָא הָעִיר הַזֹּאת קְרֹבָה לָנוּס שָׁמָּה וְהִוא מִצְעָר אִמָּלְטָה נָּא שָׁמָּה הֲלֹא מִצְעָר הִוא וּתְחִי נַפְשִׁי.
⦁ Genesis 19:20
20 See now, this city (is) near (enough) to flee to, and it (is) a little one; please let me escape there ((is) it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”
13. Bereshit 20:5 (Mikraot Gedolot)
הֲלֹא הוּא אָמַר לִי אֲחֹתִי הִוא וְהִיא גַם הִוא אָמְרָה אָחִי הוּא בְּתׇם לְבָבִי וּבְנִקְיֹן כַּפַּי עָשִׂיתִי זֹאת.
14. Bereshit 20:6 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הָאֱלֹהִים בַּחֲלֹם גַּם אָנֹכִי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי בְתׇם לְבָבְךָ עָשִׂיתָ זֹּאת וָאֶחְשֹׂךְ גַּם אָנֹכִי אוֹתְךָ מֵחֲטוֹ לִי עַל כֵּן לֹא נְתַתִּיךָ לִנְגֹּעַ אֵלֶיהָ.
⦁ Genesis 20:4-7
4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
6 And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
15. Bereshit 21:10 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַתֹּאמֶר לְאַבְרָהָם גָּרֵשׁ הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת בְּנָהּ כִּי לֹא יִירַשׁ בֶּן הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת עִם בְּנִי עִם יִצְחָק.
⦁ Genesis 21:10
10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.”
- זאת this(fem.) cognate permutations (nurture/inhibit progress)
- ✱ I find, in my study of the Hebrew Scriptures, that sometimes Scripture uses a technique made famous in theater by Shakespeare, known as an “aside.” Torah seems to be saying that Sarah’s having given Hagar to Abraham to sire a son, though she intended it to “nurture progress,” was really “inhibiting progress.” The wording of the action communicates some underlying explanation to the person who has made the effort to “seek and find.” We should become fluent in the many methods that Scripture uses, which has been the entire purpose of LogAndSpeck.com.
16. Bereshit 21:30 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי אֶת שֶׁבַע כְּבָשֹׂת תִּקַּח מִיָּדִי בַּעֲבוּר תִּהְיֶה לִּי לְעֵדָה כִּי חָפַרְתִּי אֶת הַבְּאֵר הַזֹּאת.
⦁ Genesis 21:29-30
29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What (is the meaning of) these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”
30 And he said, “You will take (these) seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.”
- the well the this…
17. Bereshit 24:5 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הָעֶבֶד אוּלַי לֹא תֹאבֶה הָאִשָּׁה לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרַי אֶל הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת הֶהָשֵׁב אָשִׁיב אֶת בִּנְךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יָצָאתָ מִשָּׁם.
18. Bereshit 24:7 (Mikraot Gedolot)
י־ְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם אֲשֶׁר לְקָחַנִי מִבֵּית אָבִי וּמֵאֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתִּי וַאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לִי וַאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לִי לֵאמֹר לְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת הוּא יִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכוֹ לְפָנֶיךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ אִשָּׁה לִבְנִי מִשָּׁם.
19. Bereshit 24:8 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְאִם לֹא תֹאבֶה הָאִשָּׁה לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֶיךָ וְנִקִּיתָ מִשְּׁבֻעָתִי זֹאת רַק אֶת בְּנִי לֹא תָשֵׁב שָׁמָּה.
⦁ Genesis 24:5-8
5 And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. 7 The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, To your descendants I give thisland,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this, my oath; only do not take my son back there.”
– vv.5&7 the land the this…
20. Bereshit 26:3 (Mikraot Gedolot)
גּוּר בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וְאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ וַאֲבָרְכֶךָּ כִּי לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת כׇּל הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת הַשְּׁבֻעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ.
⦁ Genesis 26:3
3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
- the land the this…
21. Bereshit 26:10 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ כִּמְעַט שָׁכַב אַחַד הָעָם אֶת אִשְׁתֶּךָ וְהֵבֵאתָ עָלֵינוּ אָשָׁם.
⦁ Genesis 26:10
10 And Abimelech said, “What (is) this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.”
22. Bereshit 28:15 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ וּשְׁמַרְתִּיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ וַהֲשִׁבֹתִיךָ אֶל הָאֲדָמָה הַזֹּאת כִּי לֹא אֶעֱזׇבְךָ עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם עָשִׂיתִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי לָךְ.
⦁ Genesis 28:15
15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this ground; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”
- the ground the this…
23. Bereshit 28:22 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְהָאֶבֶן הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי מַצֵּבָה יִהְיֶה בֵּית אֱלֹהִים וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר תִּתֶּן לִי עַשֵּׂר אֲעַשְּׂרֶנּוּ לָךְ.
⦁ Genesis 28:22
22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
- And the stone the this…
24. Bereshit 29:25 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר וְהִנֵּה הִוא לֵאָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל לָבָן מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לִּי הֲלֹא בְרָחֵל עָבַדְתִּי עִמָּךְ וְלָמָּה רִמִּיתָנִי.
25. Bereshit 29:27 (Mikraot Gedolot)
מַלֵּא שְׁבֻעַ זֹאת וְנִתְּנָה לְךָ גַּם אֶת זֹאת בַּעֲבֹדָה אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲבֹד עִמָּדִי עוֹד שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים אֲחֵרוֹת.
26. Bereshit 29:28 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיַּעַשׂ יַעֲקֹב כֵּן וַיְמַלֵּא שְׁבֻעַ זֹאת וַיִּתֶּן לוֹ אֶת רָחֵל בִּתּוֹ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה.
⦁ Genesis 29:25-28
25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this (one) also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”
28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled (her) week this. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.
27. Bereshit 31:13 (Mikraot Gedolot)
אָנֹכִי הָאֵל בֵּית אֵל אֲשֶׁר מָשַׁחְתָּ שָּׁם מַצֵּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתָּ לִּי שָׁם נֶדֶר עַתָּה קוּם צֵא מִן הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאתוְשׁוּב אֶל אֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתֶּךָ.
⦁ Genesis 31:13
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’”
- the land the this…
28. Bereshit 31:52 (Mikraot Gedolot)
עֵד הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְעֵדָה הַמַּצֵּבָה אִם אָנִי לֹא אֶעֱבֹר אֵלֶיךָ אֶת הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְאִם אַתָּה לֹא תַעֲבֹר אֵלַי אֶת הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְאֶת הַמַּצֵּבָה הַזֹּאת לְרָעָה.
⦁ Genesis 31:52
52 This הזה heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this הזה heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this הזה heap and this הזאת pillar to me, for harm.
- ✱ The first three occurrences of “this” are modifying masculine nouns, thus the masculine form “the this הזה.”
- אשה woman עצה counsel הזה “the this(masc.)” cognate permutations(limit/continue action)
- ✱ You can see the similar meanings, (nurture/inhibit progress) and(limit/continue action).
- ✱ Further, I want to make certain the reader noticed the words included in the two groups. In the cognate permutations group of the masculine form of “this” הזה, are included the word אשה “woman” and “counsel.” And in the feminine form of “this” זאת, is included the word חסד “mercy; kindness; lovingkindness.”
- ➽ Here I must explain more fully that, though the Genesis 2:15-25 passage might suggest that the “one אחת” that was taken from the side of the man האדם was mercy; kindness; lovingkindness and was what formed woman אשה, leaving man איש without that trait, such would not be a correct interpretation. Indeed both man and woman still have both masculine and feminine traits. Much depends upon what our cultures/societies/houses nurture in their expression.
▸ h2617. חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ; from h2616. חָסַד ḥâsaḏ; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety: rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty: — favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
AV (248) – mercy 149, kindness 40, lovingkindness 30, goodness 12, kindly 5, merciful 4, favour 3, good 1, goodliness 1, pity 1, reproach 1, wicked thing 1;
- goodness, kindness, faithfulness
- a reproach, shame
▸ h2616. חָסַד ḥâsaḏ; a primitive root; properly, perhaps to bow (the neck only (compare 2603) in courtesy to an equal), i.e. to be kind; also (by euphem. (compare l288), but rarely) to reprove: — shew self merciful, put to shame.l288
AV (3) – show thyself merciful 2, put to shame 1;
- to be good, be kind
- (Hithpael) to show kindness to oneself
- to be reproached, be ashamed
- (Piel) to be put to shame, be reproached
29. Bereshit 34:4 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁכֶם אֶל חֲמוֹר אָבִיו לֵאמֹר קַח לִי אֶת הַיַּלְדָּה הַזֹּאת לְאִשָּׁה.
⦁ Genesis 34:4
4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this {young woman} (h3207. יַלְדָּה yalḏâ) as a wife.”
▸ h3207. יַלְדָּה yalḏâ; feminine of 3206; a lass: — damsel, girl.
AV (3) – girl 2, damsel 1;
girl, damsel, marriageable girl
▸ h3206. יֶלֶד yeleḏ; from 3205; something born, i.e. a lad or offspring: — boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).
AV (89) – child 72, young man 7, young ones 3, sons 3, boy 2, fruit 1, variant 1;
- child, son, boy, offspring, youth
- child, son, boy
- child, children
- descendants
- youth
- apostate Israelites (fig.)
▸ h3205. יָלַד yâlaḏ; a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage: — bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
AV (498) – beget 201, bare 110, born 79, bring forth 25, bear 23, travail 16, midwife 10, child 8, delivered 5, borne 3, birth 2, labour 2, brought up 2, misc 12;
- to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail
- (Qal)
- to bear, bring forth
- of child birth
- of distress (simile)
- of wicked (behaviour)
- to beget
- to bear, bring forth
- (Niphal) to be born
- (Piel)
- to cause or help to bring forth
- to assist or tend as a midwife
- midwife (participle)
- (Pual) to be born
- (Hiphil)
- to beget (a child)
- to bear (fig. – of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
- (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
- (Hithpael) to declare one’s birth (pedigree)
- (Qal)
30. Bereshit 34:15 (Mikraot Gedolot)
אַךְ בְּזֹאת נֵאוֹת לָכֶם אִם תִּהְיוּ כָמֹנוּ לְהִמֹּל לָכֶם כׇּל זָכָר.
⦁ Genesis 34:15-16
15 But on this (condition) we will consent to you: If you will become as we (are), if every male of you is circumcised, 16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
31. Bereshit 34:22 (Mikraot Gedolot)
אַךְ בְּזֹאת יֵאֹתוּ לָנוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים לָשֶׁבֶת אִתָּנוּ לִהְיוֹת לְעַם אֶחָד בְּהִמּוֹל לָנוּ כׇּל זָכָר כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵם נִמֹּלִים.
⦁ Genesis 34:22
22 Only on this בזאת (condition) will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they (are) circumcised.
32. Bereshit 37:32 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אֶת כְּתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶל אֲבִיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ זֹאת מָצָאנוּ הַכֶּר נָא הַכְּתֹנֶת בִּנְךָ הִוא אִם לֹא.
⦁ Genesis 37:32
32 Then they sent the tunic of (many) colors, and they brought (it) to their father and said, “We have found this זאת. Do you know whether it (is) your son’s tunic or not?”
- זאת this(fem.) cognate permutations (nurture/inhibit progress)
33. Bereshit 39:9 (Mikraot Gedolot)
אֵינֶנּוּ גָדוֹל בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה מִמֶּנִּי וְלֹא חָשַׂךְ מִמֶּנִּי מְאוּמָה כִּי אִם אוֹתָךְ בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֵיךְ אֶעֱשֶׂה הָרָעָה הַגְּדֹלָה הַזֹּאת וְחָטָאתִי לֵאלֹהִים.
⦁ Genesis 39:9
9 (There is) no one greater in this הזה house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this זאת great wickedness, and sin against God?”
34. Bereshit 41:39 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יוֹסֵף אַחֲרֵי הוֹדִיעַ אֱלֹהִים אוֹתְךָ אֶת כׇּל זֹאת אֵין נָבוֹן וְחָכָם כָּמוֹךָ.
⦁ Genesis 41:39
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, (there is) no one as discerning and wise as you.
35. Bereshit 42:15 (Mikraot Gedolot)
בְּזֹאת תִּבָּחֵנוּ חֵי פַרְעֹה אִם תֵּצְאוּ מִזֶּה כִּי אִם בְּבוֹא אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן הֵנָּה.
36. Bereshit 42:18 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי זֹאת עֲשׂוּ וִחְיוּ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים אֲנִי יָרֵא.
37. Bereshit 42:21 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל אָחִיו אֲבָל אֲשֵׁמִים אֲנַחְנוּ עַל אָחִינוּ אֲשֶׁר רָאִינוּ צָרַת נַפְשׁוֹ בְּהִתְחַנְנוֹ אֵלֵינוּ וְלֹא שָׁמָעְנוּ עַל כֵּן בָּאָה אֵלֵינוּ הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת.
⦁ Genesis 42:14-21
14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’ 15 In this בזאת manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!” 17 So he put them all together in prison three days.
18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this זאת and live, for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.”
And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this הזאת distress has come upon us.”
38. Bereshit 42:28 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל אֶחָיו הוּשַׁב כַּסְפִּי וְגַם הִנֵּה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּי וַיֵּצֵא לִבָּם וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ אִישׁ אֶל אָחִיו לֵאמֹר מַה זֹּאתעָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לָנוּ.
39. Bereshit 42:33 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֵינוּ הָאִישׁ אֲדֹנֵי הָאָרֶץ בְּזֹאת אֵדַע כִּי כֵנִים אַתֶּם אֲחִיכֶם הָאֶחָד הַנִּיחוּ אִתִּי וְאֶת רַעֲבוֹן בָּתֵּיכֶם קְחוּ וָלֵכוּ.
⦁ Genesis 42:28-33
28 So he said to his brothers, “My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!” Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?”
29 Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: 30 “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, By this בזאת I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone.
40. Bereshit 43:11 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיהֶם אִם כֵּן אֵפוֹא זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחוּ מִזִּמְרַת הָאָרֶץ בִּכְלֵיכֶם וְהוֹרִידוּ לָאִישׁ מִנְחָה מְעַט צֳרִי וּמְעַט דְּבַשׁ נְכֹאת וָלֹט בׇּטְנִים וּשְׁקֵדִים.
41. Bereshit 43:15 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיִּקְחוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים אֶת הַמִּנְחָה הַזֹּאת וּמִשְׁנֶה כֶּסֶף לָקְחוּ בְיָדָם וְאֶת בִּנְיָמִן וַיָּקֻמוּ וַיֵּרְדוּ מִצְרַיִם וַיַּעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי יוֹסֵף.
⦁ Genesis 43:11-15
11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.
42. Bereshit 44:17 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר חָלִילָה לִּי מֵעֲשׂוֹת זֹאת הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא הַגָּבִיעַ בְּיָדוֹ הוּא יִהְיֶה לִּי עָבֶד וְאַתֶּם עֲלוּ לְשָׁלוֹם אֶל אֲבִיכֶם.
⦁ Genesis 44:17
17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so זאת; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
43. Bereshit 45:17 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יוֹסֵף אֱמֹר אֶל אַחֶיךָ זֹאת עֲשׂוּ טַעֲנוּ אֶת בְּעִירְכֶם וּלְכוּ בֹאוּ אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן.
44. Bereshit 45:19 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְאַתָּה צֻוֵּיתָה זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחוּ לָכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עֲגָלוֹת לְטַפְּכֶם וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶם וּנְשָׂאתֶם אֶת אֲבִיכֶם וּבָאתֶם.
45. Bereshit 45:23 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּלְאָבִיו שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת עֲשָׂרָה חֲמֹרִים נֹשְׂאִים מִטּוּב מִצְרָיִם וְעֶשֶׂר אֲתֹנֹת נֹשְׂאֹת בָּר וָלֶחֶם וּמָזוֹן לְאָבִיו לַדָּרֶךְ.
⦁ Genesis 45:17-23
17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father (these things) like this כזאת: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey.
46. Bereshit 48:4 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי הִנְנִי מַפְרְךָ וְהִרְבִּיתִךָ וּנְתַתִּיךָ לִקְהַל עַמִּים וְנָתַתִּי אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לְזַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ אֲחֻזַּת עוֹלָם.
⦁ Genesis 48:3-4
3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’
- the land the this…
47. Bereshit 49:28 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כׇּל אֵלֶּה שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר כְּבִרְכָתוֹ בֵּרַךְ אֹתָם.
⦁ Genesis 49:28
28 All these (are) the twelve tribes of Israel, and this (is) what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.
48. Bereshit 50:24 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹסֵף אֶל אֶחָיו אָנֹכִי מֵת וֵאלֹהִים פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֶתְכֶם וְהֶעֱלָה אֶתְכֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב.
⦁ Genesis 50:24
24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” – the land the this…
- Recall that ארץ is either “land” or “earth.”
● 22 verses in Ezekiel – I chose Ezekiel from the prophets because, to me, he is often the most critical of earlier (mis)interpretations of Scripture.
416. Yechezkel 3:1 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי בֶּן אָדָם אֵת אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֱכוֹל אֱכוֹל אֶת הַמְּגִלָּה הַזֹּאת וְלֵךְ דַּבֵּר אֶל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל.
417. Yechezkel 3:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וָאֶפְתַּח אֶת פִּי וַיַּאֲכִילֵנִי אֵת הַמְּגִלָּה הַזֹּאת.
418. Yechezkel 3:3 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי בֶּן אָדָם בִּטְנְךָ תַאֲכֵל וּמֵעֶיךָ תְמַלֵּא אֵת הַמְּגִלָּה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן אֵלֶיךָ וָאֹכְלָה וַתְּהִי בְּפִי כִּדְבַשׁ לְמָתוֹק.
⦁ Ezekiel 3:1-3
1 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this הזאת scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat (that)this הזאת scroll.
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this הזאת scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.
419. Yechezkel 5:5 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱ־הֹוִה זֹאת יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם בְּתוֹךְ הַגּוֹיִם שַׂמְתִּיהָ וּסְבִיבוֹתֶיהָ אֲרָצוֹת.
⦁ Ezekiel 5:5
5 “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘This זאת (is) Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her.
420. Yechezkel 6:10 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְיָדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי י־ְהֹוָה לֹא אֶל חִנָּם דִּבַּרְתִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת.
⦁ Ezekiel 6:10
10 And they shall know that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would bring this הזאת calamity upon them.”
421. Yechezkel 11:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָי בֶּן אָדָם אֵלֶּה הָאֲנָשִׁים הַחֹשְׁבִים אָוֶן וְהַיֹּעֲצִים עֲצַת רָע בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת.
422. Yechezkel 11:6 (Mikraot Gedolot)
הִרְבֵּיתֶם חַלְלֵיכֶם בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת וּמִלֵּאתֶם חוּצֹתֶיהָ חָלָל.
⦁ Ezekiel 11:2-6
2 And He said to me: “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this הזאת city, 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.’ 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!”
5 Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me, “Speak! ‘Thus says the LORD: “Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind. 6 You have multiplied your slain in this הזאת city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.”
423. Yechezkel 16:29 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַתַּרְבִּי אֶת תַּזְנוּתֵךְ אֶל אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן כַּשְׂדִּימָה וְגַם בְּזֹאת לֹא שָׂבָעַתְּ.
⦁ Ezekiel 16:29
29 Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea; and even then בזאת you were not satisfied.
- more literally, “and even in this…”
424. Yechezkel 17:7 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיְהִי נֶשֶׁר אֶחָד גָּדוֹל גְּדוֹל כְּנָפַיִם וְרַב נוֹצָה וְהִנֵּה הַגֶּפֶן הַזֹּאת כָּפְנָה שׇׁרָשֶׁיהָ עָלָיו וְדָלִיּוֹתָיו שִׁלְחָה לּוֹ לְהַשְׁקוֹת אוֹתָהּ מֵעֲרֻגוֹת מַטָּעָהּ.
⦁ Ezekiel 17:7-8
7 “But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers;
And behold, this הזאת vine bent its roots toward him,
And stretched its branches toward him,
From the garden terrace where it had been planted,
That he might water it.
8 It was planted in good soil by many waters,
To bring forth branches, bear fruit,
And become a majestic vine.“‘
425. Yechezkel 20:27 (Mikraot Gedolot)
לָכֵן דַּבֵּר אֶל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּן אָדָם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱ־הֹוִה עוֹד זֹאת גִּדְּפוּ אוֹתִי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בְּמַעֲלָם בִּי מָעַל.
⦁ Ezekiel 20:27
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “In this זאת too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me.
426. Yechezkel 21:31 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱ־הֹוִה הָסִיר הַמִּצְנֶפֶת וְהָרִים הָעֲטָרָה זֹאת לֹא זֹאת הַשָּׁפָלָה הַגְבֵּהַּ וְהַגָּבֹהַּ הַשְׁפִּיל.
427. Yechezkel 21:32 (Mikraot Gedolot)
עַוָּה עַוָּה עַוָּה אֲשִׂימֶנָּה גַּם זֹאת לֹא הָיָה עַד בֹּא אֲשֶׁר לוֹ הַמִּשְׁפָּט וּנְתַתִּיו.
● Ezekiel 21:26-27(31-32H)
26 thus says the Lord GOD:
“Remove the turban, and take off the crown;
(Nothing)(Same not) (shall remain the) same.
Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted.
27 Overthrown, overthrown,
I will make it overthrown!
(Also this/same not was)(It shall be no longer),
Until He comes whose right it is,
And I will give it (to Him).“‘
- זאת this(fem.) cognate permutations (nurture/inhibit progress)
428. Yechezkel 23:38 (Mikraot Gedolot)
עוֹד זֹאת עָשׂוּ לִי טִמְּאוּ אֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וְאֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי חִלֵּלוּ.
⦁ Ezekiel 23:38
38 Moreover they have done this זאת to Me: They have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My Sabbaths.
429. Yechezkel 36:37 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱ־הֹוִה עוֹד זֹאת אִדָּרֵשׁ לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם אַרְבֶּה אֹתָם כַּצֹּאן אָדָם.
⦁ Ezekiel 36:37
37 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this זאת for them: I will increase their men like a flock.
430. Yechezkel 43:12 (Mikraot Gedolot)
זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַבָּיִת עַל רֹאשׁ הָהָר כׇּל גְּבֻלוֹ סָבִיב סָבִיב קֹדֶשׁ קׇדָשִׁים הִנֵּה זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַבָּיִת.
⦁ Ezekiel 43:12
12 This זאת (is) the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop (is) most holy. Behold, this זאת (is) the law of the temple.
- Both times, “law of the temple” is literally “instruction of the house.” Think about what it could mean in light of our prior discussions on “house.” 🤔
431. Yechezkel 45:3 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּמִן הַמִּדָּה הַזֹּאת תָּמוֹד אֹרֶךְ [חֲמִשָּׁה] (חמש) וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף וְרֹחַב עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים וּבוֹ יִהְיֶה הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קֹדֶשׁ קׇדָשִׁים.
⦁ Ezekiel 45:3
3 So this הזאת is the district you shall measure: twenty-five thousand (cubits) long and ten thousand wide; in it shall be the sanctuary, the Most Holy (Place).
432. Yechezkel 45:13 (Mikraot Gedolot)
זֹאת הַתְּרוּמָה אֲשֶׁר תָּרִימוּ שִׁשִּׁית הָאֵיפָה מֵחֹמֶר הַחִטִּים וְשִׁשִּׁיתֶם הָאֵיפָה מֵחֹמֶר הַשְּׂעֹרִים.
433. Yechezkel 45:16 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כֹּל הָעָם הָאָרֶץ יִהְיוּ אֶל הַתְּרוּמָה הַזֹּאת לַנָּשִׂיא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
⦁ Ezekiel 45:13-16
13 “This זאת (is) the offering which you shall offer: you shall give one-sixth of an ephah from a homer of wheat, and one-sixth of an ephah from a homer of barley. 14 The ordinance concerning oil, the bath of oil, is one-tenth of a bath from a kor. (A kor is) a homer or ten baths, for ten baths are a homer. 15 And one lamb shall be given from a flock of two hundred, from the rich pastures of Israel. These shall be for grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement for them,” says the Lord GOD. 16 “All the people of the land shall give this הזאת offering for the prince in Israel.
434. Yechezkel 47:14 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּנְחַלְתֶּם אוֹתָהּ אִישׁ כְּאָחִיו אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת יָדִי לְתִתָּהּ לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם וְנָפְלָה הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לָכֶם בְּנַחֲלָה.
435. Yechezkel 47:20 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּפְאַת יָם הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל מִגְּבוּל עַד נֹכַח לְבוֹא חֲמָת זֹאת פְּאַת יָם.
436. Yechezkel 47:21 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְחִלַּקְתֶּם אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לָכֶם לְשִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
⦁ Ezekiel 47:14-21
14 You shall inherit it equally with one another; for I raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers, and this הזאת land shall fall to you as your inheritance.
15 “This (shall be) the border of the land on the north: from the Great Sea, (by) the road to Hethlon, as one goes to Zedad, 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which (is) between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazar Hatticon (which (is) on the border of Hauran). 17 Thus the boundary shall be from the Sea to Hazar Enan, the border of Damascus; and as for the north, northward, it is the border of Hamath. (This is) the north side.
18 “On the east side you shall mark out the border from between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan, and along the eastern side of the sea. (This is) the east side.
19 “The south side, toward the South, shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the Great Sea. (This is) the south side, toward the South.
20 “The west side (shall be) the Great Sea, from the (southern) boundary until one comes to a point opposite Hamath. This זאת (is) the west side.
21 “Thus you shall divide this הזאת land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
- I am not a historian, nor do I follow current events, but some of these discussions make me wonder whether they might have anything to do with border disputes at some point in time. Perhaps a history buff could explore further?
- זאת this(fem.) cognate permutations (nurture/inhibit progress)
437. Yechezkel 48:29 (Mikraot Gedolot)
זֹאת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תַּפִּילוּ מִנַּחֲלָה לְשִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵלֶּה מַחְלְקוֹתָם נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יֱ־הֹוִה.
⦁ Ezekiel 48:29
29 This זאת (is) the land which you shall divide by lot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these (are) their portions,” says the Lord GOD.
Hopefully you know Scripture well enough that these “hints” will remind you of the context in which they arise. If not, please search out the context.
The idea of the LORD creating an “ezer kenegdo” עזר כנגדו (NKJV says “helper comparable to him,” BDB more literal says “help like opposite him”) is a complex one (and probably quite variable among each individual relationship), but a “big picture” view might be that woman/man interactions, sometimes nurture expression of traits and sometimes inhibit expression of traits. We would like to say that we encourage the positive and inhibit the negative in one another; such would be ideal. But we all know that sometimes it works the other way around. Such is life on “this earth הארץהזאת.” And typical of the image of cycles… when they work well, they provide a moderating factor. When is there to be nurturing and when is there to be inhibition of progress? I like Sarah Bessey’s thought, “love ‘this’ in particular.”
Apologies that it was a long one, but you can see the AlHaTorah search was quite truncated. There may be many more insights in passages not explored.
Blessings, PG
Ⓒ Copyright Philip E. Gates; LogAndSpeck.com November 2025. Please cite if you use this material.