Study #14: ZAYIN

ZAYIN AS A MODIFIER OF WORDS

ZAYIN has many shades of meaning – a crown, a scepter, a garden tool or a weapon to prune, pierce, cut or separate.

Let’s see how it modifies the word for GOLD ( ZAHAB ) spelt as Zayin, Hei and Bet.

1. In the conventional sense, GOLD is a commodity that is of utmost value. Its root word comes from the meaning “to shimmer”. We all know the proverb: ” All that glitters is not GOLD”.

2. Pictorially it holds a prophetic message:

ZAYIN = To Pierce

HEY = To behold the following word picture…

BET = Here it is better translated as Son of the House of God.

Hence GOLD is a picture of Christ who will prophetically be “pierced” for our sins.

3. The numerals for ZAHAD draws the prophetic picture even clearer.

ZAYIN = 7 ( Spiritual Perfection )

HEY = 5 ( Grace )

BETH = 2 ( God the Father and God the Son )

The numerals hold the meaning that the perfect spiritual plan of our Heavenly Father is to extend His invaluable grace to us through His Son.

Thus as a modifier ZAYIN transmits GOLD to a higher spiritual meaning symbolising the divinity of Christ.

We see this in the typology of the Old Testament Tabernacle of Moses:

1. The Ark of the Covenant is overlaid with GOLD ( Exodus 25: 11 )

2. The Mercy Seat is to be carved in solid GOLD ( Exodus 25:17 )

In the New Testament, the streets of the New Jerusalem will be paved with GOLD ( Revelation 21:18 ). GOLD will thus be common as dirt.

But ZAYIN has a negative side as a modifier – as GOLD may be used to cast the Golden Calf of Idolatry ( Exodus 32: 3-4 ).

Father God, in today’s devotion, we have a choice – to see GOLD as the embodiment of Christ’s divinity and His grace as the most valuable commodity in life. Or we can see GOLD as an object of lust akin to idolatry. ZAYIN poses two choices, but its cutting edge exhorts us to be detached and separated from the things of the world and to opt for heavenly Holiness instead of earthly Happiness.