1 Samuel 1:10-11 -- In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV) -- During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
In Matthew 23:37-39 and Luke 19:41 Jesus wept over Jerusalem's spiritual blindness and its future destruction. His tears reflected anguish over the people's rejection of Him and their impending judgment.
The Hebrew word for "tear" is דִּמְעָה (dimah). A dimah דִּמְעָה symbolizes human vulnerability and heartfelt pleas to God, reflecting grief or communal suffering.
Hebrew letters give us a pictographic representation of the meaning of each letter. When applying these to an entire Hebrew word, I look at the root letters of the word. Biblical Hebrew words are comprised of three root letters.
The root letters of dimah are root ד-מ-ע (dama), meaning "to weep" or "to shed tears." It is often used in Biblical and modern Hebrew to express deep emotional responses, such as sorrow, repentance, or joy.
The root letters and their images are:
- Dalet - a door/pathway- Mem - water- Ayin - eyes
This describes the physical process of tears forming in our eyes and flowing like water down one's face. (So cool. ❤️ this.)
Together, the root letters of dama forms an image of tears forming in our eyes (ayin) and flowing like water (mem) down our face. When our tears are intended for Hashem, how shall they reach Him. Through a door (dalet). Wow! (I could also picture the tears rolling into our mouth as one cries out.)
- ב (Bet) = 2- כ (Kaf) = 20- ה (Hei) = 5
I said the letters appear TWICE in the last two words in that verse. Therefore, there is actually a value of 27x2=54. It would take too much space to explain, but I will just say that the number 54 embodies divine grace, stability, and spiritual growth, reflecting God's benevolence and guidance for humanity's redemption. It is tied to covenantal promises and the journey from darkness to light, highlighting God's intervention in human history. Wow!
Despite her pain, Hannah poured out her heart to God, demonstrating unwavering faith. Her silent but fervent prayer shows her reliance on God rather than human intervention.
1 Samuel 1:15 - "Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.
Hannah's tears led to a vow and eventual blessing—a son, Samuel—highlighting God's compassion for the brokenhearted and His response to Hannah's sincere prayers.
1 Samuel 1:20 -- So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
Samuel in Hebrew means, "God has heard."
Following the Trail of Tears
Since "27" relates to Hannah's tears being "pure," I checked to see where this "trail of tears" would lead me. I looked for verses related to "27" and crying out to the Lord. Here is what I found:
Genesis 27:34: Esau cries out with a "great and exceedingly bitter cry" after losing his father's blessing to Jacob. This scene underscores deep emotional pain and the consequences of deception
Psalm 27:7: "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me." This verse expresses a heartfelt plea for God's presence and deliverance, resonating with themes of trust amidst despair.
Matthew 27:46-- Jesus cries out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This moment reflects profound anguish, fulfilling Psalm 22 and highlighting the depth of His suffering for humanity's sins.
Just after that, the veil tears!
The temple veil was secured with hooks/nails. In the Torah, the Hebrew letter vav (ו) is symbolically associated with a nail or peg, representing connection and unity. Its ancient pictographic form resembles a hook or nail, emphasizing its role in joining two entities.
The vav appears prominently in the construction of the Tabernacle, where gold covered hooks are used to hang the veil separating the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:31-32).
The Hebrew words for "tear" (דִּמְעָה, dimah, meaning a tear shed from crying) and "tear" (קָרַע, qara, meaning to rip or tear apart) share thematic connections in their symbolic meanings.
Root Letters:
- דִּמְעָה (dimah): Root ד-מ-ע (dalet-mem-ayin), which relates to tears and weeping. This root emphasizes emotional expression, sorrow, or repentance.
- קָרַע (qara): Root ק-ר-ע (qof-resh-ayin), which means to tear or rip apart. This root often symbolizes physical separation, mourning, or dramatic change.
Mourning Tears
When Jews lose a family members, at the burial service they tear their clothing. The Jewish practice of tearing clothing, known as Kriah, is a mourning ritual performed upon the death of a loved one. It symbolizes grief and expresses the mourner's pain and sorrow. This ritual tearing is only done by the closets direct relative of the loved one. Typical a child for a parent.
Tearing garments is a physical manifestation of a "broken heart," symbolizing the emotional separation caused by loss of a parent or child.
Conclusion
The Biblical connection with tearing our clothes is rooted in the stories of Jacob tearing his garments upon believing Joseph was dead (Genesis 37:34) and David mourning Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:11). This brings us back to story's related to tears. Hannah's tears produced Samuel. David's tears lead to Messiah. And with Jesus’s tears, the Temple Veil was torn.
When a Jewish child loses their parent, if they knew the Christian scriptures as I just described, they might be reminded of Jesus. That's amazing to me! Sadly, My Jewish family and friends don't have ayin (eyes) to see.
Link to my thoughts on the letter Ayin.
Epilogue:
I wrote this today in honor of a friend's tears. Tony, your tears are dear to us. Writing about "tears" brought a amazing revelations to me. I started out to write about Hannah's tears, but now I understand Matthew 27:50-51 much better. Seeing the relationship between a tear and a tear.
"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."
