THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DEAR DOCTOR MICHAEL BROWN FOR YOUR TEACHING ABOUT THE MESSIAH, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, OR “YESHUAH HAMASHIAH!”, AS HE IS KNOWN AMONG THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
MY PARENTS WERE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS, THEY ARE BOTH DECEASED. I BELIEVE THAT ON MY MOTHER’S SIDE THE FAMILY WAS JEWISH, BUT LATER CONVERTED. THEY CAME FROM ROMANIA. ANYWAY, I AM NOW ALONE, LOOKED AFTER MY FATHER UNTIL HE WAS 95 YEARS OLD. I KNOW A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO IS JEWISH SECULAR, AND WE GET ON VERY WELL AS FRIENDS. THERE IS SOMETHING WHICH WORRIES ME A LOT NOW AND THAT IS THAT HE IS INVOLVED IN HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY. I TOLD HIM THAT THAT IS A SIN. I PRACTICE THE FAITH AND THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW OF GOD, THE TORAH. HOW DO I GET THROUGH TO HIM THAT HE HAS TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH AND TURN AWAY FROM THIS SIN. I CAN ONLY DEAL WITH THIS IN PLAIN TALK. I MISS HIM WHEN I DON’T SEE HIM. HE FEELS THE SAME. WE ARE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS. I THINK THAT I SHOULD FAST FOR HIM, I AM PRAYING OF COURSE FOR HIM. HE IS VERY INTELLIGENT AND RELIES ON WORLDLY WISDOM. HE NEEDS THE LORD AND TO COME AWAY FROM THAT WAY OF LIFE. I CANNOT LEAVE MY FAITH AND BECOME SECULAR, IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS OF REAL VALUE IN MY LIFE. I AM HAPPY TO ATTEND CHURCH AND TO PARTAKE OF THE HOLY GIFTS IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THIS MATTER TO OUR PRIESTS BECAUSE THEY WILL SAY THAT I HAVE TO FORGET ABOUT THIS MAN. AS A CHRISTIAN I CANNOT BE INVOLVED WITH THIS MAN, AND I AM NOT INVOLVED IN A SEXUAL WAY, BUT WE ARE REAL FRIENDS, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND I NEED TO GET THROUGH TO HIM THAT HE NEEDS TO CHANGE, TO REPENT FROM THIS WAY OF LIFE. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR HIM I SUPPOSE. BUT HE NEEDS TO SEE THAT THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED FOR HIM TO COME TO THE LORD. I NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS. I AM PRAYING FOR KENNETH, THAT IS HIS NAME. HE IS A NEW YORKER IN LONDON. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WORDS TO USE. I DON’T WANT TO BE SEEN AS BEING “HIGH AND MIGHTY”, YET I HAVE TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART. I REALLY AM PRAYING AND ASKING THE LORD FOR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR POWERFUL WITNESSING. ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY IS SO STRICT, VERY MUCH LIKE THE JEWISH FAITH, AND I CANNOT BE INVOLVED OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE WITH ANYONE, AND I CANNOT MARRY ANY OTHER THAN A CHRISTIAN, OR CONVERTED CHRISTIAN.
Brother Michael Brown, I received this reply, that I was hoping you could look at, if you have the time, please take a look at this, and provide your viewpoints, Blessing in Messiah.
As far as the name Yeshua the end of the spelling is: H7770 שׁוּע shûa‛ shoo’-ah …The same as H7769; shua, a Canaanite: – Shua, Shuah. Which would not translate as salvation. Also the H7769 root is (A haloo -cry riches). So in my opinion this rules out Yeshua as the name of our Savoir. H3091
יהושׁע יהושׁוּע yehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ yeh-ho-shoo’-ah, yeh-ho-shoo’-ah From H3068 and H3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (that is, Joshua), the Jewish leader: – Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare H1954, H3442. This is only the meaning of Joshua’s name and doesn’t translate as “Yah is our salvation.” So in my opinion once again it wouldn’t be the name either.
This is where I learned about the Uau but I believe I provided the link to you previously. It’s about the phonics and pronounciation of the “oo” sound which comes from the U.
In the Besorah (Paleo translation of the Scriptures and Messianic writings into english) Joshua’s name is rendered as Yahusha as is the Mashiach’s name. This is what I percieve as the truth. Shalom:)
Good evening Dr. Brown. First I want to thank you for your obedience and servanthood to the Kingdom of God. My question is, how do I become more desperate? I want the fir in my life to consume everything in me that’s not God and for God to be God in full measure within me. It’s all I think about. I have to have Him.
Travis,
This is absolute linguistic nonsense, plain and simple. It has as much credibility as the latest Elvis sighting, and even to interact with it is to give it credence it doesn’t deserve. Pity those who take this stuff seriously — and may Yeshua, our Messiah and King, be highly exalted!
This is part of what I posted to the person that posted that to me.
As far as Yeshua, I see what you are saying, that is a correct understanding, and definition, but also as we can see Neh. 8:17 is another way to say Yehoshua, so they also can have the same meanings, sometimes people limit the meanings, and that is not correct to do. Also I see what you are saying about Yehoshua, does come from the two you said. and the 3068 YHWH is said to come from 1961 HaYaH. 3050 Yah is a contraction(a shortening of the word) or it is assumed by some to come from 3068 YHWH and has the same meaning, even though because of more letters the longer could have more meaning, but once we learn the longer we can see the meaning of the shorter too. So YHWH is saved is correct along with YHWH is salvation(saved, saving, liberated, liberating, delivered, delivering, victorious, victory, spacious to receive, and even more meanings). Also that means Yehoshua can mean YaH is all of those things too.
Which specific part is linguistic nonsense?
Travis,
Virtually every part of it.
First, the ridiculous reasons why Yeshua’s name is not pronounced Yeshua.
Second, that Yehoshuah’s name is not related to Yahweh and salvation.
Third, that there is such a thing as “paleo translation” of the NT.
Yes, I agree Yeshua is one of the ways to say Messiah’s name. That person was trying to tell me that Yehoshua means Jehovah-saved, but doesn’t mean Yah saved. Really I disagree with that, because of the connection of the Hebrew Words. I believe Jehovah-saved and Yah saved is correct, and that Yeshua is another way to say Yehoshua, therefore has the same meanings. Certainly though I see that Yeshua can be thought of in a different way, as many scr.s can. For example. HaYaH is the root of eheyeh that Moshe was told about in Shemot/Ex. about what the name of Eloheem/God is. HaYaH being the root is also used in many other scr.s in a seeming different context.
Travis, again, my articles explain these key points. Remember: Yeshua is a shortened form of Yehoshuah (like Mike is to Michael or Tom is to Thomas or, more extremely, Dick is to Richard), while Yah is a shortened form of Yahweh (there is no such name as Jehovah). Please refer to the articles I linked for further details.
Yes, I plan on looking at the articles. When I said Jehovah I was just using that way of the understanding of the YHVH, I don’t really think that is the original way, but it is another way to say YHVH, or YHWH. Just like Jesus is another way to say Yeshua, or Yehoshua, because the Yah/Lord often looks in mercy upon people regardless of the language. Jesus was not originally the name of Yeshua, but it was because of the other languages that Yeshua, or Yehoshua became known as Jesus.
I was just noticing that the Hebrew vowels for Yeshua, sound like Yayshua, that sounds very much like a combination of an “a”, and an “e”. Often people say Amen, but the Hebrew is said Amayn. It appears in those two cases that the e often has a sound of both a and e, like ay. Could that also explain the more complex form of Yehoshua, maybe said Yayhoshua. Could that also explain the YHVH, or YHWH? Maybe sounding similiarly like the others, also the eheyeh that Moshe is talked about in Shemot/Ex. 3 that has the root of HaYah, maybe the e’s of eheyeh sounds like the combination of the “a”, and “e”. Just a thought.
Dr Brown, What is YOUR toughest faith question you ever had to struggle with?
Eli,
Great question! For the most part, I never struggle in my faith and walk in confidence of God’s goodness and His promises and His nearness to me 24X7 (for which I am very, very thankful, beyond what words can express). Terrible losses that trouble others don’t trouble me in terms of my overall faith in God (although, to be sure, I feel real pain over these things and have been broken and torn by the deaths of people near me). Even in the midst of great disappointment, I’m sure God is good and Jesus is Lord and His purposes will be accomplished in the end. No doubt about it! This, by God’s grace, is how I live every day.
But, since you’re a Lubavitch rabbi and counter-missionary, I will be totally candid with you and share here my greatest faith question in the past. After spending hours with Lubavitch rabbis in the mid-1970’s, I went home in an agony of soul: What if I was wrong? What if Jesus was not really our Messiah? What if these sincere rabbis were right?
I wrestled with the issues deeply for some time and finally, in desperation, got on my face before God, pouring out my heart to Him in prayer: “God, if traditional Judaism is right and if Jesus is not the Messiah, then I don’t care what reproach I have to suffer and how many friends I have to lose. I will be a traditional Jew! But if, as I have believed (since late 1971), Jesus is our Messiah, then even if my Jewish people reject and scorn me, I will be true to You and to Your Messiah, regardless of the cost. I only want to please You and follow You, no matter what!”
At that moment, in a somewhat supernatural way, God overwhelmingly spoke to me through His Word, making absolutely clear again that, what I had believed about Jesus was absolutely true, confirming it since then in hundreds (if not thousands) of different ways — spiritually, intellectually, and experientially. To this day, I remain profoundly grateful to God.
How about you? Do you care to share YOUR toughest faith question you’ve had to struggle with?
Again, thanks for asking.
Ive got a lot of big questions concerning our existence and faith-matters. Here is two which bothers me:
How can God send anyone to enternal hell over sins committed in time i.e. infinte consequences for finite actions?
Why did God have to everything concerning life so hard and difficult? The myths of Genesis does not convince me to the fullest so to speak…
Magnus
Brandon, I think if we want God’s fire to burn up anything in us that is of no value, all we have to do is ask, for if we ask anything according to his will, he will hear us. (I John 5:14)
So if and when worthless and temporary things flare up, remember to take them to the cross, and overcome them.
I’ve been learning that with every act of obedience comes a blessing,(sooner or later) and that disobedience robs us.
Brother Michael, I have another comment, I am desiring your input on the Semitic Language Hebrew.
The long form of Yeshua is Yehoshua, and Yehoshua is said to mean Yahweh saved. So since those two are connected the (Yehoshua) meaning (Yahweh saved, saves), why is the “e” used in Yehoshua instead of the Yah in Yahweh.? I have looked at the links you gave, but that to me, doesn’t provide necessary meaning that I am looking for in this understanding, because those two words are connected. I know Yeshua is pronounced Yayshua, which appears to have an “a, and e” sound, so does that mean the “a & e” sound should be used in Yehoshua too, because the name means Yahweh saved, saves. I think it also is noteworthy that the Hebrew appears to be pronounce eheyeh when Eloheem/God spoke to Moshe, but the root is HaYaH.
Travis,
I’m generally not able to respond to most questions here, but since this comes up a lot, let me try to respond briefly.
1) The original root for “to be” was h-w-h, which then became “h-y-h.” Hence, the discrepancy between Yahweh (with h-w-h) and, say, “ehyeh” (I am or I will be) with h-y-h. It’s the same root, just in a later form. Yahweh, as explained in my article, would be a causative form (called Hiphil), meaning, “He who causes all things to be; He who makes things happen” or the like.
2) Throughout the Hebrew language (and Semitic languages in general), as accents shift or parts of words are combined or syllables are shortened, there can be shifts in pronunciation. (This is common to many languages, in fact.) Thus, yahweh would be contracted to yahu (the final w becoming u — the same letter in Hebrew, of course), and then to yeho, depending on the word and accentuation. We thus have Elijah spelled ‘eliyahu in Hebrew (note the yahu ending), but at the beginning of a word, as in Joshua (yehoshu’ah), it becomes yeho. People who don’t Hebrew or can’t understand its diachronic development come up with all kinds of weird theories to explain this, but it’s as simple as what I just wrote.
3) As for the pronunciation of yeshu’a, again, it represents a further breaking down of the sounds through a further contraction of vowels and consonants, with the longer e sound (close to “ay” as in “pay” in English). Both the Septuagint vocalizations and the later Masoretic vocalizations points to this same pronunciation, and we have no reason to reject it. Changes like this happen!
4) Lastly, just for the record, there is nothing sacred about the “ya” sound in Hebrew, unless it is used as a short form for the divine name, as in halleluyah. Otherwise, it occurs all the time in third person, imperfect, causative verbal forms, so, yamleek (this is not a proper spelling, but it will help you to pronounce it; the “ya” is pronounced “yah”) means “he will someone cause to rule”; yalbeesh means “he will cause someone to be clothed”; and on and on. In other words, the “yah” sound is found all over the Hebrew Bible. No one was suppressing it!
I may not be able to respond further, but if you’re able to get to a library and read the very detailed linguistic article on YHWH in the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, I’d encourage you to do so.
I sent this before for some reason it didn’t go through.
Dr Brown, Thank you for your response. I’m not sure I can interpret what the question was. A)What if these people are right and therefore able to have a meaningful realationship with out Jesus or B) What if I’m wrong about my allegiance to a faith outside of the Mesorah? or C) none of the above. As for me the biggest faith question is why hasn’t G-d redeemed the world yet? It bothers me no end. Lomo yomru bagoyim ayeh Elokeihem? Psalm 79:10 “Why should the Nations say “Where is their G-d” … “
I am not able to express my appreciation as I desire too, but thank you very much for that explanation, I think, it is exactly what I was needing.
Eli Cohen,
It is pretty clear at this point that the nations are not saying anything about G-d at all, pro, con, or indifferent–the reality is just not in the mix of outlook, except when radical strain on economny, environment, health, etc. occur. Look at “them”, or even at themselves from their perspective, at this stage it is still the Nations attempting to keep on keeping on as it has been. All those experts working on this or that problem don’t even factor prayer into their equations.
Recall too that Daniel spoke of two “Ages”, the present Age of the Nations followed by the “Age to Come,” where Messiah reigns and rules from Jerusalem. Significant stuff regarding the essential placement and intention of G-d in the future and present scheme of events. There are all kinds of studies on G-d’s choices, freedom of human choice, limits on evil set as to time allowed from heaven, etc.–centered in both the Tenach and in the Brit Hadasha as to G-d quietly exercising his Plans for REDEMPTION. Why does an outworking of events in history not yet culminate in the Promised eternal throne of David in visible assention on earth? is what you are really troubled by. The whole notion formed after the loss of the second Temple of the Jewish burden to heal the world is actually impossible to achieve without the actions and hand of the invisible G-d making it so. He is a G-d who has a Plan, needs to be trusted to gain his insight, and, indeed, wishes to restore and heal after the present “Age” of Goyem relevancy proves fatal and flawed indeed. Get ready, for the time is short.
Rabi, Ever read Jeremiah 30???? Or the redemptive future plans of G-d in Isaiah? Or, like the conservative wing of Judaism, is the prophetic deemed dead since the destruction of the second Temple in your wonderfully community building group’s outlook as well. The Prophets of Old still have much to say on the question you have shared being on your own heart and mind. L’Chaim is G-d’s position in these writings.
Rabi, I should mention I am not speaking for G-d; I am restating what these Prophets have promised. It is a promise not of any group fixing what is broken–the world–but of G-d himself visibly reentering history, from Jerusalem,to make it so. Thanks to these Tenach promises being alive in those of faith in the Nations and in the chosen Nation, it will be so. This seems to be the kind of assurrance Mikael Brown was sharing when he pondered in heart his own inner alliance with Yeshua. The Ruach Ha Kodesh within is why.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DEAR DOCTOR MICHAEL BROWN FOR YOUR TEACHING ABOUT THE MESSIAH, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, OR “YESHUAH HAMASHIAH!”, AS HE IS KNOWN AMONG THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
MY PARENTS WERE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS, THEY ARE BOTH DECEASED. I BELIEVE THAT ON MY MOTHER’S SIDE THE FAMILY WAS JEWISH, BUT LATER CONVERTED. THEY CAME FROM ROMANIA. ANYWAY, I AM NOW ALONE, LOOKED AFTER MY FATHER UNTIL HE WAS 95 YEARS OLD. I KNOW A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO IS JEWISH SECULAR, AND WE GET ON VERY WELL AS FRIENDS. THERE IS SOMETHING WHICH WORRIES ME A LOT NOW AND THAT IS THAT HE IS INVOLVED IN HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY. I TOLD HIM THAT THAT IS A SIN. I PRACTICE THE FAITH AND THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW OF GOD, THE TORAH. HOW DO I GET THROUGH TO HIM THAT HE HAS TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH AND TURN AWAY FROM THIS SIN. I CAN ONLY DEAL WITH THIS IN PLAIN TALK. I MISS HIM WHEN I DON’T SEE HIM. HE FEELS THE SAME. WE ARE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS. I THINK THAT I SHOULD FAST FOR HIM, I AM PRAYING OF COURSE FOR HIM. HE IS VERY INTELLIGENT AND RELIES ON WORLDLY WISDOM. HE NEEDS THE LORD AND TO COME AWAY FROM THAT WAY OF LIFE. I CANNOT LEAVE MY FAITH AND BECOME SECULAR, IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS OF REAL VALUE IN MY LIFE. I AM HAPPY TO ATTEND CHURCH AND TO PARTAKE OF THE HOLY GIFTS IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THIS MATTER TO OUR PRIESTS BECAUSE THEY WILL SAY THAT I HAVE TO FORGET ABOUT THIS MAN. AS A CHRISTIAN I CANNOT BE INVOLVED WITH THIS MAN, AND I AM NOT INVOLVED IN A SEXUAL WAY, BUT WE ARE REAL FRIENDS, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND I NEED TO GET THROUGH TO HIM THAT HE NEEDS TO CHANGE, TO REPENT FROM THIS WAY OF LIFE. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR HIM I SUPPOSE. BUT HE NEEDS TO SEE THAT THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED FOR HIM TO COME TO THE LORD. I NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS. I AM PRAYING FOR KENNETH, THAT IS HIS NAME. HE IS A NEW YORKER IN LONDON. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WORDS TO USE. I DON’T WANT TO BE SEEN AS BEING “HIGH AND MIGHTY”, YET I HAVE TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART. I REALLY AM PRAYING AND ASKING THE LORD FOR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR POWERFUL WITNESSING. ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY IS SO STRICT, VERY MUCH LIKE THE JEWISH FAITH, AND I CANNOT BE INVOLVED OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE WITH ANYONE, AND I CANNOT MARRY ANY OTHER THAN A CHRISTIAN, OR CONVERTED CHRISTIAN.
Brother Michael Brown, I received this reply, that I was hoping you could look at, if you have the time, please take a look at this, and provide your viewpoints, Blessing in Messiah.
As far as the name Yeshua the end of the spelling is:
H7770
שׁוּע
shûa‛
shoo’-ah
…The same as H7769; shua, a Canaanite: – Shua, Shuah.
Which would not translate as salvation. Also the H7769 root is (A haloo -cry riches). So in my opinion this rules out Yeshua as the name of our Savoir.
H3091
יהושׁע יהושׁוּע
yehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛
yeh-ho-shoo’-ah, yeh-ho-shoo’-ah
From H3068 and H3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (that is, Joshua), the Jewish leader: – Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare H1954, H3442. This is only the meaning of Joshua’s name and doesn’t translate as “Yah is our salvation.” So in my opinion once again it wouldn’t be the name either.
This is where I learned about the Uau but I believe I provided the link to you previously. It’s about the phonics and pronounciation of the “oo” sound which comes from the U.
http://www.fossilizedcustoms.com/w.html
In the Besorah (Paleo translation of the Scriptures and Messianic writings into english) Joshua’s name is rendered as Yahusha as is the Mashiach’s name. This is what I percieve as the truth. Shalom:)
Good evening Dr. Brown. First I want to thank you for your obedience and servanthood to the Kingdom of God. My question is, how do I become more desperate? I want the fir in my life to consume everything in me that’s not God and for God to be God in full measure within me. It’s all I think about. I have to have Him.
Travis,
This is absolute linguistic nonsense, plain and simple. It has as much credibility as the latest Elvis sighting, and even to interact with it is to give it credence it doesn’t deserve. Pity those who take this stuff seriously — and may Yeshua, our Messiah and King, be highly exalted!
This is part of what I posted to the person that posted that to me.
As far as Yeshua, I see what you are saying, that is a correct understanding, and definition, but also as we can see Neh. 8:17 is another way to say Yehoshua, so they also can have the same meanings, sometimes people limit the meanings, and that is not correct to do.
Also I see what you are saying about Yehoshua, does come from the two you said. and the 3068 YHWH is said to come from 1961 HaYaH. 3050 Yah is a contraction(a shortening of the word) or it is assumed by some to come from 3068 YHWH and has the same meaning, even though because of more letters the longer could have more meaning, but once we learn the longer we can see the meaning of the shorter too. So YHWH is saved is correct along with YHWH is salvation(saved, saving, liberated, liberating, delivered, delivering, victorious, victory, spacious to receive, and even more meanings). Also that means Yehoshua can mean YaH is all of those things too.
Which specific part is linguistic nonsense?
Travis,
Virtually every part of it.
First, the ridiculous reasons why Yeshua’s name is not pronounced Yeshua.
Second, that Yehoshuah’s name is not related to Yahweh and salvation.
Third, that there is such a thing as “paleo translation” of the NT.
For a simple and clear discussion about Yeshua’s name, see: http://askdrbrown.org/ask-dr-brown/35-ask-dr-brown/79-what-is-the-original-hebrew-name-for-jesus-and-is-it-true-that-the-name-jesus-greek-isssous-is-really-a-pagan-corruption-of-the-name-zeus
For a simple discussion about Yahweh’s name, see: http://askdrbrown.org/ask-dr-brown/35-ask-dr-brown/133-is-jehovah-gods-true-name
Yes, I agree Yeshua is one of the ways to say Messiah’s name. That person was trying to tell me that Yehoshua means Jehovah-saved, but doesn’t mean Yah saved. Really I disagree with that, because of the connection of the Hebrew Words. I believe Jehovah-saved and Yah saved is correct, and that Yeshua is another way to say Yehoshua, therefore has the same meanings. Certainly though I see that Yeshua can be thought of in a different way, as many scr.s can. For example. HaYaH is the root of eheyeh that Moshe was told about in Shemot/Ex. about what the name of Eloheem/God is. HaYaH being the root is also used in many other scr.s in a seeming different context.
Travis, again, my articles explain these key points. Remember: Yeshua is a shortened form of Yehoshuah (like Mike is to Michael or Tom is to Thomas or, more extremely, Dick is to Richard), while Yah is a shortened form of Yahweh (there is no such name as Jehovah). Please refer to the articles I linked for further details.
Yes, I plan on looking at the articles. When I said Jehovah I was just using that way of the understanding of the YHVH, I don’t really think that is the original way, but it is another way to say YHVH, or YHWH. Just like Jesus is another way to say Yeshua, or Yehoshua, because the Yah/Lord often looks in mercy upon people regardless of the language. Jesus was not originally the name of Yeshua, but it was because of the other languages that Yeshua, or Yehoshua became known as Jesus.
I was just noticing that the Hebrew vowels for Yeshua, sound like Yayshua, that sounds very much like a combination of an “a”, and an “e”. Often people say Amen, but the Hebrew is said Amayn. It appears in those two cases that the e often has a sound of both a and e, like ay. Could that also explain the more complex form of Yehoshua, maybe said Yayhoshua. Could that also explain the YHVH, or YHWH? Maybe sounding similiarly like the others, also the eheyeh that Moshe is talked about in Shemot/Ex. 3 that has the root of HaYah, maybe the e’s of eheyeh sounds like the combination of the “a”, and “e”. Just a thought.
Dr Brown, What is YOUR toughest faith question you ever had to struggle with?
Eli,
Great question! For the most part, I never struggle in my faith and walk in confidence of God’s goodness and His promises and His nearness to me 24X7 (for which I am very, very thankful, beyond what words can express). Terrible losses that trouble others don’t trouble me in terms of my overall faith in God (although, to be sure, I feel real pain over these things and have been broken and torn by the deaths of people near me). Even in the midst of great disappointment, I’m sure God is good and Jesus is Lord and His purposes will be accomplished in the end. No doubt about it! This, by God’s grace, is how I live every day.
But, since you’re a Lubavitch rabbi and counter-missionary, I will be totally candid with you and share here my greatest faith question in the past. After spending hours with Lubavitch rabbis in the mid-1970’s, I went home in an agony of soul: What if I was wrong? What if Jesus was not really our Messiah? What if these sincere rabbis were right?
I wrestled with the issues deeply for some time and finally, in desperation, got on my face before God, pouring out my heart to Him in prayer: “God, if traditional Judaism is right and if Jesus is not the Messiah, then I don’t care what reproach I have to suffer and how many friends I have to lose. I will be a traditional Jew! But if, as I have believed (since late 1971), Jesus is our Messiah, then even if my Jewish people reject and scorn me, I will be true to You and to Your Messiah, regardless of the cost. I only want to please You and follow You, no matter what!”
At that moment, in a somewhat supernatural way, God overwhelmingly spoke to me through His Word, making absolutely clear again that, what I had believed about Jesus was absolutely true, confirming it since then in hundreds (if not thousands) of different ways — spiritually, intellectually, and experientially. To this day, I remain profoundly grateful to God.
How about you? Do you care to share YOUR toughest faith question you’ve had to struggle with?
Again, thanks for asking.
Ive got a lot of big questions concerning our existence and faith-matters. Here is two which bothers me:
How can God send anyone to enternal hell over sins committed in time i.e. infinte consequences for finite actions?
Why did God have to everything concerning life so hard and difficult? The myths of Genesis does not convince me to the fullest so to speak…
Magnus
Brandon, I think if we want God’s fire to burn up anything in us that is of no value, all we have to do is ask, for if we ask anything according to his will, he will hear us. (I John 5:14)
So if and when worthless and temporary things flare up, remember to take them to the cross, and overcome them.
I’ve been learning that with every act of obedience comes a blessing,(sooner or later) and that disobedience robs us.
Brother Michael, I have another comment, I am desiring your input on the Semitic Language Hebrew.
The long form of Yeshua is Yehoshua, and Yehoshua is said to mean Yahweh saved. So since those two are connected the (Yehoshua) meaning (Yahweh saved, saves), why is the “e” used in Yehoshua instead of the Yah in Yahweh.?
I have looked at the links you gave, but that to me, doesn’t provide necessary meaning that I am looking for in this understanding, because those two words are connected.
I know Yeshua is pronounced Yayshua, which appears to have an “a, and e” sound, so does that mean the “a & e” sound should be used in Yehoshua too, because the name means Yahweh saved, saves.
I think it also is noteworthy that the Hebrew appears to be pronounce eheyeh when Eloheem/God spoke to Moshe, but the root is HaYaH.
Travis,
I’m generally not able to respond to most questions here, but since this comes up a lot, let me try to respond briefly.
1) The original root for “to be” was h-w-h, which then became “h-y-h.” Hence, the discrepancy between Yahweh (with h-w-h) and, say, “ehyeh” (I am or I will be) with h-y-h. It’s the same root, just in a later form. Yahweh, as explained in my article, would be a causative form (called Hiphil), meaning, “He who causes all things to be; He who makes things happen” or the like.
2) Throughout the Hebrew language (and Semitic languages in general), as accents shift or parts of words are combined or syllables are shortened, there can be shifts in pronunciation. (This is common to many languages, in fact.) Thus, yahweh would be contracted to yahu (the final w becoming u — the same letter in Hebrew, of course), and then to yeho, depending on the word and accentuation. We thus have Elijah spelled ‘eliyahu in Hebrew (note the yahu ending), but at the beginning of a word, as in Joshua (yehoshu’ah), it becomes yeho. People who don’t Hebrew or can’t understand its diachronic development come up with all kinds of weird theories to explain this, but it’s as simple as what I just wrote.
3) As for the pronunciation of yeshu’a, again, it represents a further breaking down of the sounds through a further contraction of vowels and consonants, with the longer e sound (close to “ay” as in “pay” in English). Both the Septuagint vocalizations and the later Masoretic vocalizations points to this same pronunciation, and we have no reason to reject it. Changes like this happen!
4) Lastly, just for the record, there is nothing sacred about the “ya” sound in Hebrew, unless it is used as a short form for the divine name, as in halleluyah. Otherwise, it occurs all the time in third person, imperfect, causative verbal forms, so, yamleek (this is not a proper spelling, but it will help you to pronounce it; the “ya” is pronounced “yah”) means “he will someone cause to rule”; yalbeesh means “he will cause someone to be clothed”; and on and on. In other words, the “yah” sound is found all over the Hebrew Bible. No one was suppressing it!
I may not be able to respond further, but if you’re able to get to a library and read the very detailed linguistic article on YHWH in the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, I’d encourage you to do so.
I sent this before for some reason it didn’t go through.
Dr Brown, Thank you for your response. I’m not sure I can interpret what the question was. A)What if these people are right and therefore able to have a meaningful realationship with out Jesus or B) What if I’m wrong about my allegiance to a faith outside of the Mesorah? or C) none of the above.
As for me the biggest faith question is why hasn’t G-d redeemed the world yet? It bothers me no end. Lomo yomru bagoyim ayeh Elokeihem? Psalm 79:10 “Why should the Nations say “Where is their G-d” … “
I am not able to express my appreciation as I desire too, but thank you very much for that explanation, I think, it is exactly what I was needing.
Eli Cohen,
It is pretty clear at this point that the nations are not saying anything about G-d at all, pro, con, or indifferent–the reality is just not in the mix of outlook, except when radical strain on economny, environment, health, etc. occur. Look at “them”, or even at themselves from their perspective, at this stage it is still the Nations attempting to keep on keeping on as it has been. All those experts working on this or that problem don’t even factor prayer into their equations.
Recall too that Daniel spoke of two “Ages”, the present Age of the Nations followed by the “Age to Come,” where Messiah reigns and rules from Jerusalem. Significant stuff regarding the essential placement and intention of G-d in the future and present scheme of events. There are all kinds of studies on G-d’s choices, freedom of human choice, limits on evil set as to time allowed from heaven, etc.–centered in both the Tenach and in the Brit Hadasha as to G-d quietly exercising his Plans for REDEMPTION. Why does an outworking of events in history not yet culminate in the Promised eternal throne of David in visible assention on earth? is what you are really troubled by. The whole notion formed after the loss of the second Temple of the Jewish burden to heal the world is actually impossible to achieve without the actions and hand of the invisible G-d making it so. He is a G-d who has a Plan, needs to be trusted to gain his insight, and, indeed, wishes to restore and heal after the present “Age” of Goyem relevancy proves fatal and flawed indeed. Get ready, for the time is short.
Rabi, Ever read Jeremiah 30???? Or the redemptive future plans of G-d in Isaiah? Or, like the conservative wing of Judaism, is the prophetic deemed dead since the destruction of the second Temple in your wonderfully community building group’s outlook as well. The Prophets of Old still have much to say on the question you have shared being on your own heart and mind. L’Chaim is G-d’s position in these writings.
Rabi, I should mention I am not speaking for G-d; I am restating what these Prophets have promised. It is a promise not of any group fixing what is broken–the world–but of G-d himself visibly reentering history, from Jerusalem,to make it so. Thanks to these Tenach promises being alive in those of faith in the Nations and in the chosen Nation, it will be so. This seems to be the kind of assurrance Mikael Brown was sharing when he pondered in heart his own inner alliance with Yeshua. The Ruach Ha Kodesh within is why.