HEBREW WORD STUDY – THE THRONE OF GRACE – KURSIA TIVOTA

כורסיא טיבותא Kap Vav Resh Samek Yod Aleph Teth Yod Beth Vav Taw Aleph

Hebrew 4:16: “Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

So, what is this throne of grace? I used to hear this verse quoted throughout my children on Christian radio as the station would have a time of prayer. They would begin by quoting this verse saying “Let us come boldly onto the throne of grace.” I would then picture in my mind boldly entering this throne room and Jesus sitting on this magnificent throne surrounded by dozens of attending angels, marching right up to Him and presenting my requests.

As I grew older I began to learn that Jesus dwells within us and that our bodies are the Temple of God. So, if there is a throne room it is in our bodies. Then again, I find no mention of a throne in the Temple.

I went to the Aramaic, which was Paul’s native language and I found that the word throne is kursia which is really a seat of honor. It is used for the chairs that a bride and groom sit in when they are lifted up by the celebrants during the wedding reception. The Talmud teaches that the guest are to form a circle around the bride and groom and dance. At some point during this dancing they are placed in chairs and lifted up. It is believed that this is because men and women did not dance together at a wedding but formed a separate group called a mechitzah. At some point the bride and groom were placed in a kursia or chair and lifted up so they could peer over the barrier between the men and women and see each other. The couple could connect with each other by holding either end of a handkerchief over the mechitzah. This was a very bold move for the bride and groom to connect with each other in public. It is breaking traditional protocols allowing the bride and groom to make a connection during the celebration before they are allowed to enter the bridal chamber and consummate their marriage. Despite not being proper protocol it is accepted because they are married after all and the whole thing takes place while everyone is dancing, rejoicing and having fun.

This may be what Paul is talking about incoming boldly before the throne of grace. We are allowed to break traditional protocols as the bride of Christ to connect with Jesus the groom. I believe what Paul was trying to say is that to approach the throne of grace it is not really a somber moment but a time of rejoicing, celebrating and dancing as one is being given the grace to become the bride of Christ.

The Talmud in Avoda Zara 3b talks about two metaphorical thrones that God sits upon in relation to a proselyte. This is the throne of judgment and the throne of mercy and grace. A proselyte was an idol worshipper, non-Jew who forsook his idolatry and converted to become a Jew. A proselyte is considered born again, one who enters a new life forsaking his pagan beliefs. He is one who is leaving idolatry to become a follower of God. But proselytes many times will convert for lessor motives than a desire to follow God. It may be a woman who just wants to marry a man who is Jewish so accepts his faith to become his bride. Just as in Christianity many become Christians for motives not centered on following God but maybe to just escape hell, or get certain benefits. Such a proselyte finds God sitting on the throne of Judgement.

However, if the proselyte is like Ruth who only wants to be a follower of Jehovah then that person will enter the throne of grace not judgment. The bride of Christ will get a glimpse of Her Groom and even be allowed to make a certain connection before that relationship is consummated.

The word for grace explains clearly why the protocol is allowed to be broken. You see in the Jewish wedding the bride and groom are married and in just a short time they will consummate their marriage so why would it be so bad if they publicly connected if just to glimpse each other and connect on opposite ends of a handkerchief? When we accept the grace of Jesus Christ we are married to Him and it is just a short time until we leave this body and consummate our marriage to Him. So, why not in this time of celebration of receiving this grace, a time of rejoicing and dancing that we would catch a glimpse of the presence of our Savior.

The word bold in Aramaic is very interesting. It is galya (sounds like gala) and means to uncover to be visible. Just as during a mechitzah when the celebrates at the wedding are dancing and having fun, they will make the bride galya, visible to the groom, by lifting her in a kursia. So too when we enter into the grace of God we are lifted up in a kursia with Him so He can uncover Himself not as a judge but as a loving bridegroom filled with passion.

You see the word grace Aramaic is tivota which is a word used among the Semitic people in ancient times, and even today when one is granted entrance into a family community. Bedouins often encamped as a family with all brothers and cousins putting up their tents in a circle. Only, a blood relative had access to this encampment. If someone was not a blood relative he could not enter. Although a good friend, one who is beloved by a member of the family may explain why this friend deserves the same rights and privileges as a blood relative and after a certain vetting process could he enter being accepted as a family member, but he must be considered a member of the family. Even today in the Middle East if someone considers a friend worthy of the privileges of a blood relative he will call that friend “My brother.” That is tivota, grace, being granted the privileges of being a blood member of a family. We are welcomed into the family of God by the Son of God who shed His blood for us to allow us to become a member of His family through marriage.

Let us come boldly before the throne of grace means we have been granted the privileges of being a family member of God as the bride of His Son Jesus Christ.