Study #5: YOD

PART 1: YOD = 10

YOD’S Gematria value is 10 being the 10th consonant of the Hebrew Alef-Tav.

10 is the number of finality e.g. the 10 Commandments, the 10 Plagues of Egypt.

YOD is often pictured as the “hand” of God. But the ancient Paleo script of YOD is like an arm and not just a hand. It symbolizes God’s power as an outstretched arm.

Thus in the 10 Plagues of Egypt we see the irrresistible arm of God against all the gods of Egypt even Pharaoh himself who was considered a god.

And in the writing on stone of the 10 Commandments, the Bible says it involved the “finger” of God.

JPS Tanakh 1917
“And the LORD delivered unto me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spoke with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly”.

Heavenly Father, in YOD we see Your mercy extended to us in Your outstretched arm. Hence it is never too short to reach out to us. As the psalmist wrote in Psalm 98:1 –
“O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him” and us.