Hebrew Word of the Week

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Hebrew Word of the Week

Based on the Weekly Torah Portion

The Hebrew word of the week is eikev, an adjectival that means "as a consequence" or "because." Eikev comes from the shoresh akav (to "take by the heel"), as does the name Ya'akov (Jacob), who had "grabbed the heel" of his twin brother Esau while still in the womb of Rebecca. Ya'akov was later renamed Israel in commemoration of his struggle with Malakh Adonai (the Angel of YHVH) at Peniel. The Lord then declared to him, "Your name shall no longer be Ya'akov ("supplanter") but Yisrael ("Israel"), for as a prince (sar) you have striven (sarita) with God and with men and have prevailed" (Gen. 32:28).

The first occurrence of the root word appears in Genesis 3:15, where the LORD prophesied that though the Mashiach of Israel's heel (akeiv) would be bruised, the very head (rosh) of the serpent (satan) would be crushed. B"H.

The word eikev is the keyword of the parashah by the same name, and occurs in Deuteronomy 7:12. Click the graphic below to learn the Hebrew for this verse:

Related Words:

Scripture Passages:

And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
because you have obeyed my voice. Gen 22:18

...that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word
that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deut 8:3b

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