HEBREW WORD STUDY – RICHES –  HAMAH -המה 

Psalms 37:16:  “A little that a righteous man hath [is] better  than the riches of many wicked.”

The theme for my workshop on April 28, is to show how the Holy Spirit can use the original languages in your own personal study to guide you to deeper understandings.   You can still sign up for it. If you choose to view the workshop online, you will have five days to watch.

Enough for the commercial. I was reading the works of Rabbi Samson Hirsch this morning and ran across a beautiful example of the multilayered depth of meaning in the Hebrew in Psalms 37:16. 

Different translations translate the word riches or mahamon differently but all related to the basic Semitic root hama. Yet, each gives a different lesson. Hama means to make a noise.  As Rabbi Hirsch points out it is usually associated with the noise from a crowd of people or a mob.  It is sometimes used with regard to inanimate things that noisily clamor for attention as in Jeremiah 51:16:  “When he uttereth [His] voice, [there is] a multitude (hamon – loud noise) of waters in the heavens;” Thus Psalms 37:16 is saying: “A little that a righteous man hath [is] better  than the loud noise of many wicked.”  We hear the wicked making a loud noise all the time. If they don’t like something they riot and vandalize.  They make themselves heard hoping that eventually, everyone will agree with them or at least they will have their own selfish way. 

But notice we have the word rich used in the KJV.  That is because hamon is also used for the wealthy but wealth that causes a lot of noise or a great stir. The wealthy are noticed and called upon for opinions.  Like Tevye in Fiddle on the Roof said: “It doesn’t matter whether you are right or wrong, when you’re rich they think you really know.”  The rich are always clamoring for attention while the poor go unnoticed. It is because of all the noise of the rich that the poor think the rich are happier and this verse clearly shows that happiness can be found when one lives a righteous life having little.

But say, the word hamah also means to multiply. “A little that a righteous man hath [is] better  than the multiplication of noise of many wicked.”  Therein lies another lesson from this verse. You may feel you are in the minority at work, school or even at home with your faith in Jesus. Those around you are making all sorts of noise against your faith and you may feel outnumbered but you are considered better or tov, that is in harmony with the God of the universe than the wicked who are out of harmony with the God of the universe.

One other lesson, hamah is from the same root as hamas which means violence.  When the wicked make a loud noise like a mob it often creates violence.  Wealth and abundance can easily bring about violence.  A righteous person with little often lives in peace without fear of violence.

WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR COMMENTS. WE READ AND APPRECIATE EACH ONE! WE LOVE YOUR INTERACTION : )