Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
The Hebrew letter mem, equivalent to our English letter “M,” has a fascinating characteristic: it has two forms. The “open mem” appears at the beginning or middle of a word, with a small opening in its design. The “closed mem,” however, is used exclusively as the final letter in a word, fully sealed in its appearance. This distinction is consistent throughout the Hebrew language—except for one extraordinary exception found in the Bible.
In Isaiah 9:6-7, we find this exception within the word l’marbeh, which means “to the increase.” Normally, the word would have with an open mem, but here, a closed mem is used instead. This unique occurrence appears in Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” The closed mem is a deliberate anomaly, drawing attention to this passage and pointing to a deeper truth about the Messiah.
Rabbinic tradition connects the letter mem to the womb. An open mem symbolizes a womb that is ready to give birth, while a closed mem represents a sealed womb. This detail in Isaiah’s prophecy aligns perfectly with the earlier prophecy in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel [God with us].” The closed mem in l’marbeh hints at the miraculous virgin birth of the Messiah, whose arrival would defy natural understanding.
This small, yet profound detail in the Hebrew text reminds us that God’s Word is intricately woven with meaning. The Messiah’s birth was no ordinary event; it was a miraculous act of God’s divine plan to bring salvation to the world. As we reflect on this, let’s marvel at the richness of God’s Word and His perfect design, which points us to the glory and majesty of Yeshua (Jesus), the promised Savior.
No matter how impossible your situation may seem, remember this: Yeshua, the Messiah, is the ultimate Breaker. He broke forth from the closed womb to fulfill God’s plan, and He broke free from the tomb to give us victory over sin and death. He tore down every barrier that once separated us from God and from one another. If you’re feeling stuck, trapped, or in need of a breakthrough, take heart! The same Messiah who opened the way for all of humanity can bring freedom and hope to your life. Trust Him to make a way where there seems to be no way—He’s the God of breakthroughs!
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]The Hebrew letter mem, equivalent to our English letter “M,” has a fascinating characteristic: it has two forms. The “open mem” appears at the beginning or middle of a word, with a small opening in its design. The “closed mem,” however, is used exclusively as the final letter in a word, fully sealed in its appearance. This distinction is consistent throughout the Hebrew language—except for one extraordinary exception found in the Bible.
Yeshua (Jesus) gave a remarkable parenthetic instruction in the middle of His Olivet discourse on the time of His coming and the end of the age. While it is unlikely that He himself said this, He certainly inspired Matthew to insert, “..let the reader understand”, concerning this critical event prophesied by Daniel, the Abomination of Desolation. His exhortation intended us (the readers of Matthew’s gospel) to learn what this means.
In John Bunyan’s best-selling book, Pilgrim’s Progress, the central character, Christian, begins his journey leaving the city of Destruction and ventures on his way toward the Celestial City. Early on his journey, Christian decides to depart from the narrow path onto an easier one which leads him to the territory of Despair and its stronghold, Doubting Castle.
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During this frigid weather across the United States and the devastating fires in California, millions have been grappling with widespread electricity blackouts. Thousands of people across the country remain without power. Across the United States, many teens are experiencing life without electricity for the first time—an adjustment that also means living without their cell phones. Can you imagine?
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It reminded me of when we first arrived in Israel about fourteen years ago, my wife was almost eight months pregnant…