Hebrew Word Study – A Porter – Savalam
Isaiah 53:4: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”
Even look at a Scripture verse that have heard all your life, memorized it, sang it as it was put to music, heard it preached and then one day you look at it and say: “Is that really in the Bible?”
It is at that time that you want to take a closer look at this promise. Clearly, the literal interpretation is that it is referring to Jesus who has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. That sounds really good, but when you stop to think about it, what does that actually mean? Does it mean he feels sorry for us, or pities us? Does it mean that he actually removes it from us?
First, what is grief and what is sorrow and does bearing and carry mean the same thing? The word grief is chalah. This means both physical sickness and pain as well as mental anguish. He bears this. The Hebrew used here for borne is nasa’ which has the idea of being made high or exalted. It also can be used to express the idea of bearing or to carry away. However, what about that idea of lifting up or exalting. The Apostle Paul talks about sharing the suffering of Jesus.
There are many Christians today who have lost or are losing jobs that they know God has given them. Many more Christians are losing the ministry that God has given to them, spouses that God gave them through both death and divorce. It is one thing to suffer sickness or grief as a result of selfish decisions you make, but what about when you made the right decision and did your very best to do the right thing and you end up getting blasted through no fault of your own? Perhaps this passage is also addressing this by saying that God will exalt your suffering, lift it up or honor it, just as He honored Job for enduring the suffering He went through which was the result of no fault of his own.
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
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Then we learn that he carries our sorrows. The word carry here is saval which means to carry, it is also the same word use for a porter or one who carriers a heavy load for another person. The baggage does not belong to the porter, another person still owns it, but the porter bears it’s weight. The word sorrow is k’av which is a deep inner pain or sorrow or burden.
Do you have a deep sorrow or burden that you carry? Jesus is our celestial porter, who will carry that baggage for us. That is all well and good, but you know I have a terrible time giving it over to God. I think I do at times, but then I find myself fretting over the issue all over again. How do we let God pick up our burden? The word for carry is spelled Samek, Beth, and Lamed. This combination of letters suggest that through prayer you enter into the shelter of God’s heart. It is in knowing and understanding God’s heart, the real love He has for you, the concern and the longing for you that allows you to shift your burden to Him. Like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, you take that heavy burden off your back and you lay it at the cross. Then you enter that narrow gate which brings you into the heart of God and you find rest.
Once you enter God’s heart, then whatever happens really does not matter, because it is all part of God’s plan. In God’s heart you can see His lovingkindness and although you may not understand his reasoning behind the affliction, you are resting in that shelter of His heart. Dwelling in the heart of God is to be in constant prayer even if you are not muttering words to God or have your hands folded. You can be busy doing you daily tasks but if you are in the heart of God, you are in prayer. I wonder if that is what Paul meant when he said: “Pray without ceasing.”
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Thank you! How can Samek Beth Lamed mean to enter into Gods presence by prayer? Can you please explain this in more detail? Thank you and God bless you.
Praise God. He has been carrying my burdens all my life, (nearly 80 years) and I get to enjoy His fellowship. Make you want to dance for joy.
Laura, this word study helped me profoundly. It elaborated and confirmed for me what I felt the Holy Spirit wanted me to understand. Chaim did one word study in which he described stopping his bus while waiting for a train to pass. He said that watching for the train to pass was in ways like “the church”. He notices the engine at the front and then watches for the caboose. “The church” pays a lot of attention to the people in the front – the pastor, the worship leaders and the large donors. And there our many ministries set up for those at the end – like for the homeless and drug and alcohol rehab. But like all the many cars on the train between the engine and the caboose, there are many individuals sitting in the pews that pastors and writers do not address the needs of. Chaim and you Laura in a subtle way have mentioned that you struggle financially. Perhaps, God’s purpose is so that you and Chaim could address the feelings and concerns of those of us that are in the middle? those of us who have been saved for a long time, and who have tried very hard to live good Christian lives, but who are struggling with very complex issues, that have no no easy answers. Because of long work hours and exhaustion, I have no time for the many preachers that keep warning about the impending doom coming upon the US because of all the sin. I say to the TV preacher, “there is nothing I can do about the people who live lives like you describe and I gave my life to the Lord many years ago. I am looking for encouragement. I am trying to figure out how to actually, really enter in to the Secret Place so that I can receive what the Holy Spirit is telling me. Even though, I am too exhausted to be able to do in depth studies, daily I turn to your word studies. Your devotionals provide me with so much insight that brings me peace and helps me to “hang in there” despite all the difficulties that surround people like me that are in the middle. Thank You!
Hello Annie, though I would love to take credit for this one, it was actually Chaim who wrote it. My computer has been In the shop and the person who is sending them out right now forgot to send under Chaims name. Thank you for your comment and I agree, perhaps the Lord allows some difficult circumstances in order to develop empathy, depth and relatability in all of us. Blessings, Laura
😭. I so needed to understand this!! Like many many in these times… I am heavy burdened and my heart is broken and my spirit is crushed for the ones I intercede for and the suffering I see them in, I cast my burdens and lay them down at His feet, and then wham… another strike comes and I have to go back! But He is faithful!!! He gives me peace… and I believe He understands my weakness and pain. I pray unceasingly because HE is my only refuge and fortress.. I am so grateful and thankful to Him and I love to give Him all the praises!!!
What do you make of the scripture, ‘He(Jesus) became sin’? Since Jesus is like us in all ways but sin, how can he become sin?
That’s a great question. Chaim answers all questions on the All Access Learning Channel and I think this one would either become an in-depth study or the topic of our Thursday night workshops. I hope you consider joining our online community and posting your question there: http://www.HebrewWordStudy.com Blessings, Laura
Intellectual knowledge is one thing.
Actually giving up the burdens is entirely another matter.
I stand in full agreement.