Hebrew Mysteries


 Week 27


Psalm 90:10-12

Marlene Bredenkamp • 15 October 2026


Recap Hebrew

  • There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet.
  • Hebrew is a alpha numerical language
  • Each letter has a pictograph
  • ELS reveals hidden mysteries
  • The effect of revers numbers (inverses)
  • Root words
  • Sofit letters
  • Nouns
  • Verbs
  • Directions
  • Triple numbers
  • Future tense
  • Letter kaf ךכ Sofit kaf
  • Double numbers
  • The letter yod
  • Number of appearances
  • The definite article
  • Equations
  • Hebrew calendar
  • Antonyms
  • Synonyms
  • Diacritical marks - dagesh (kal)
  • Gender
  • Acrostic passages
  • Repeated texts
  • Old Testament Types
  • Sha’atnezgets letters
  • Legal concepts
  • Doxologies
  • The letter shin
  • Theophanies
  • Covenants


Additional:

  • Chiasmus

Scripture Reference

Psalm 90:10-12 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet is their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who consider the power of Your anger; and Your wrath according to the fear of You? So teach us to number our days, that we may get us an heart of wisdom.



Psalm 90:10 in Hebrew


Additional Scripture

Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”


Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”



Chiasmus

Definition: Chiasmus is a rhetorical and literary device where two or more clauses are balanced against each other by reversing their grammatical structures or concepts in an ABBA pattern.


Use of chiasmus:

Central Focus: Unlike modern linear writing, which puts the climax at the end, ancient chiastic writing puts the most important spiritual or thematic point right in the middle.



Memorization: The mirror pattern of chiasmus acts as a memory aid in oral cultures.


Confirmation: Certain words display a chiastic nature through the numerical value of the Hebrew words. The ordinal value, which is the value of the letter that indicates the position of the letter in the alphabet, is a “chiasmus” of the standard value of the letter, which is the value assigned to a number.



Chiasmus with a central theme

   Proverbs 6:16–19

    A: Haughty eyes

    B: A lying tongue

    C: Hands that shed innocent blood

    Center : A heart that devises wicked plans

    C: Feet that make haste to run to evil

    B: A false witness who breathes out lies

    A: One who sows discord among brothers 



Chiasmus for memorization

Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”


Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”



Jesus and chiasmus

Matthew 23:12  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.


Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart that one believes and is justified,

and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.



Chiasmus to aid memorization

Matthew 23:12



A: who exalt themselves

B: will be humbled

B: those who humble themselves

A: will be exalted



Chiasmus with a central theme

Romans 10:9–10


A: If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord 

B: and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead

Central theme: You will be saved

B: For with the heart one believes and is justified

A': And with the mouth one confesses and is saved 



"Chiasmus" in numbers

The central theme of Psalm 90:12 is “So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” The mirror effect, or differently stated, the “numerical chiasmus” of the word wisdom, 37-73, serves as a confirmation.


The Hebrew word for wisdom in Hebrew is chokmah חכמה



Conclusion

Both the Old and New Testament use chiasmus as a literally device. The Old Testament uses this device to reflect, amongst others, the Law. The New Testament uses this device to illustrate that Christ has fulfilled the Law and salvation is by confessing that Jesus is Lord.


Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:30 that Christ has become our Wisdom.



The mirror image of the numerical values, ordinal and standard, of the word wisdom reflects the fulfilment of the Law. 



Prayer

May the Lord give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you. 


Next Focus

Psalm 34:8

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ give you a spirit of  wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.