The Extra Large "B" in the First Letter of the Bible
If you read an English translation of the Bible, you would never know about the Jewish custom of writing some letters larger or smaller than other letters. You would only see this in a Hebrew text or Torah scroll. 17 times in the five books of Moses, a letter is printed either larger or smaller than the surrounding letters. In Hebrew, there are no capital letters - all letters are normally the same size. The first time this occurs is in the first word, "BERESHIT" which means "In the beginning [of]".
Three approaches have been identified on how to interpret the text based on these large or smaller letters: A) Letter Interpretation - based on the meaning of the letter itself, B) Magnification/Diminuation - how the size of the letters increases or diminishes the meaning of the word C) Addition/Omission - interpreting a large letter as doubled, or a small letter as omitted.
Now, back to the enlarged "BEIT" (BEIS for ashkenazi pronunication) on the first word of the Genesis (Bereshit). The Ba'al HaTurim explains that the Torah begins with "B" (BEIT) because it is associated with "BRACHA" (blessing), as opposed to the first letter "A" (ALEPH), which is associated with "ARUR" (curse). The Torah wants to begin on a pleasant note, as Mishlei (Proverbs) 3:17 states: "Its way are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace."
Which of the three methods did the Ba'al HaTurim use? He was emphasizing the meaning of the letter or "letter interpretation". He also points out that the letter "BEIT" has the numeric value of two, which also suggests duality. This could allude to heaven and earth, or the physical world and the spiritual world to come.
Dualtiy is also expressed in creation. Reproduction occurs between male and female. Genesis also refers to the contrast of the sun and the moon. From a physics perspective, the parts of the molecule have positive and negative charges, as does electricity and magneticism. One balances the other.
Hebrew students also know that "BEIT" is not just a letter, it is also the word for "house". The tabernacle is called the "BEIT HA-MISHKAN" (place of dwelling), and the temple is called the "BEIT HA-MIKDASH" (place of holiness). Thus, the large "BEIT" at the beginning of Gensis can also allude to the first and second temple, which represents God dwelling among men. - 2361
Three approaches have been identified on how to interpret the text based on these large or smaller letters: A) Letter Interpretation - based on the meaning of the letter itself, B) Magnification/Diminuation - how the size of the letters increases or diminishes the meaning of the word C) Addition/Omission - interpreting a large letter as doubled, or a small letter as omitted.
Now, back to the enlarged "BEIT" (BEIS for ashkenazi pronunication) on the first word of the Genesis (Bereshit). The Ba'al HaTurim explains that the Torah begins with "B" (BEIT) because it is associated with "BRACHA" (blessing), as opposed to the first letter "A" (ALEPH), which is associated with "ARUR" (curse). The Torah wants to begin on a pleasant note, as Mishlei (Proverbs) 3:17 states: "Its way are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace."
Which of the three methods did the Ba'al HaTurim use? He was emphasizing the meaning of the letter or "letter interpretation". He also points out that the letter "BEIT" has the numeric value of two, which also suggests duality. This could allude to heaven and earth, or the physical world and the spiritual world to come.
Dualtiy is also expressed in creation. Reproduction occurs between male and female. Genesis also refers to the contrast of the sun and the moon. From a physics perspective, the parts of the molecule have positive and negative charges, as does electricity and magneticism. One balances the other.
Hebrew students also know that "BEIT" is not just a letter, it is also the word for "house". The tabernacle is called the "BEIT HA-MISHKAN" (place of dwelling), and the temple is called the "BEIT HA-MIKDASH" (place of holiness). Thus, the large "BEIT" at the beginning of Gensis can also allude to the first and second temple, which represents God dwelling among men. - 2361
posted by Marcondes Allen at 12:54 AM
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