Hebrew Letter Hey: Unlocking the Hidden Meaning for Christians

The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Hey (ה), contains rich truths for those seeking to grow deeper in faith. 

After exploring the previous letter Dalet – picturing an open door, we now come to Hey. In John 10:9, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, He will be saved.” Having entered through the open door of Christ, we now receive the breath and Ruach (Spirit) of God, represented by the letter Hey. 

Just as God breathed life into Adam, He breathes new life into us through salvation. As we study Hey, we will see how it symbolizes the Holy Spirit who lives within believers. By digging into God’s Word, we equip ourselves to thrive in our relationship with Him.

1. The Appearance of Hey in Hebrew

The Hebrew letter Hey sheds light on how the written script developed over Israel’s history. From ancient pictographic roots to standardised modernity – Hey’s form adapted across three periods while retaining symbolic meaning.

• Ancient Early Hebrew Script (Pictograph)

Back in ancient times when people wrote in a special way called the Early Hebrew script, the letter Hey looked like a man standing with his arms raised . It was like a drawing of a person praising God. Why? Because Hey means “behold” and calls us to lift our eyes to the Lord.

• Middle Hebrew Script (Paleo-Hebrew)

By the middle Hebrew period, Hey evolved into the Paleo-Hebrew or Ketav Ivri script. This middle transitional script gave Hey a simplified human shape, with a vertical line for the body and three horizontal lines for the arms and leg . The abstract person form reflected lifting one’s hands up in praise.

• Modern Hebrew Script

Today Hey is written more abstractly as one vertical line with a small horizontal stroke . This modern form lost the full human but kept the essence of arms lifted up. The vertical line evokes our posture of looking up to God.

2. The Revelatory Symbolism of Letter Hey

As the fifth letter in the Hebrew alphabet, Hey (ה) contains rich symbolism for people pursuing God. In its form, Hey resembles a person standing with arms raised. In the alphabet, Hey comes after Dalet which portrays an open door to salvation. Hey then represents the Holy Spirit being received.

The name “Hey” means “Look! Behold!” As a human figure with uplifted arms, Hey reminds us of our posture before the Almighty – humble, receptive, and open. Like Hey, we lift our eyes to Heaven, attentive to hear His voice and see His revelation.

As a human figure, Hey represents:

• Humble posture before God
• Looking upward in dependent prayer
• Praise and thanksgiving to the Lord
• Seeking God’s presence and revelation

As uplifted arms, Hey symbolises:

• Receptivity to God’s Spirit and grace
• An openness to hear from Heaven
• Crying out to the Lord Most High
• Waiting patiently on the Lord

God’s Revelation Through Adding Hey

God transformed Abram אַבְרָם (exalted father) to Abraham אַבְרָהָם (father of a great multitude) and Sarai שָׂרַי (my princess) to Sarah שָׂרָה (princess) by adding the letter Hey, conveying His desire to reveal Himself more fully to them. This foreshadowed the new covenant of revelation that was to come through Christ. The added letter Hey symbolized God’s divine breath, revelation and light entering their lives in a new way.

Hey calls us to live in readiness for fresh revelation from the Spirit of God. As our namesake and covenant partner, the Lord faithfully guides us into a deeper relationship with Him.

Hey’s meaningful imagery encourages believers to actively posture themselves before God. With arms lifted high, we stand ready to receive fresh revelation and outpouring of the Spirit. By studying Hey, concealed truths about relating to God are unveiled.

With humility and receptivity, Hey moves us forward into deeper communion with our Creator.

3. The Number 5 and the Significance of Hey

The Hebrew letter Hey holds special meaning for Christians, especially when connected to the number five. This connection reveals hidden messages and spiritual truths, helping us understand ideas like grace and God’s presence.

• Grace – 5 represents grace. Hey, as the fifth letter, reminds us of God’s unmerited favour and blessings.
• God’s Presence – The number 5 symbolises God’s presence. Hey pictures a human standing humbly before the Almighty.
• Pentateuch – The first 5 books of the Bible are the Pentateuch, relaying God’s early dealings with mankind. Hey and 5 show God revealing Himself.
• 5 Offerings – There were 5 main offerings in the Old Testament – burnt, grain, peace, sin, and trespass. Hey calls us to give God offerings of praise.
• 5-fold Ministry – The 5-fold ministry offices are apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher (Ephesians 4:11). Hey shows God equipping His church.
• Holy Anointing Oil – The Holy Anointing Oil, significant of the Holy Spirit, was made up of 5 parts: Myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil (Exodus 30:23-25). Together these costly spices and oil symbolized Jesus’ sacrifice, righteousness, consecration, healing, and the fullness of the Spirit. Hey and 5 remind us of being anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit.

So, in summary, the number 5 represents grace, God’s presence and voice, Old Testament patterns, equipping God’s people, and the precious Holy Spirit anointing. Hey teaches us important things about drawing near to the Lord and living in His purposes. It’s like a compass guiding us closer to Christ.

4. Letter Hey and its Meaningful Messages for Christians

Meditating on the fifth Hebrew letter, Hey can enrich spiritual understanding. What inspiring messages does this remarkable letter hold?

‣  Humble Posture Before God

As a human figure with uplifted arms, Hey reminds us of our posture before the Almighty – humble, receptive, and open. Hey calls us to stand in God’s presence with gratitude, acknowledgement of His greatness, and dependent prayer. Like Hey, we lift our eyes to Heaven, attentive to hear His voice.

‣  Seeking More of the Holy Spirit

Following Dalet, the open door of salvation, Hey represents receiving the Holy Spirit into our lives. As Hey, we cry out for fresh fillings of God’s Spirit, longing for His gifts, guidance, and power. This letter signifies a lifestyle of relying on the Spirit’s work within us.

‣  Growing in Passionate Praise

The uplifted arms of Hey portray heartfelt praise and thanksgiving to our King. Hey directs our focus to offering sacrifices of worship in Spirit and truth. As we grow in understanding God’s goodness, Hey reminds us to exalt Him with renewed passion.

‣  Waiting Patiently on the Lord

Hey, picturing a standing figure, conveys patient waiting upon the Lord for His perfect timing and purposes. This letter encourages perseverance and trust as we intercede, making our requests known while submitting to God’s sovereign plans. Hey reminds us of His promise: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31).

‣  Living Yielded and Open to God’s Commands

With arms lifted up, Hey models surrender to God’s will, yielded like clay in the Potter’s hands. This posture allows Heaven’s directives to flow freely into our lives. Hey signifies sensitivity to the Spirit’s promptings and obedience to divine assignments.

‣  Preparing Our Hearts for the Messiah’s Return

Hey calls us to live in readiness for Christ’s coming, just as John the Baptist proclaimed “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3). With repentant and expectant hearts, sensitive to God’s Spirit, Hey reminds us to make straight the paths for our coming King and Savior.

Recommended Articles for Inspiration: 
‣  Hebrew Letter Aleph – What Does it Mean?
‣  Hebrew Letter Bet: Exploring its Christian Significance
‣  Hebrew Letter Gimel: Unlocking the Hidden Meaning for Christians
‣  Hebrew Letter Dalet: Exploring Its Christian Significance
‣  The Significance of Number 11:11 from a Hebrew Perspective
‣  Christ-Centred Abundance: Transforming Every Area of Your Life

5. Applying the Hebrew Letter Hey to Everyday Life

• Cultivate a Posture of Humility – Begin each day acknowledging your dependence on God. Lift your eyes to Him in prayer, maintaining a heart of humility before the Lord (Psalm 131:1-2).
• Ask for Fresh Fillings of the Spirit – Just as Hey represents receiving the Holy Spirit, ask regularly for new outpourings of God’s power and presence (Ephesians 5:18).
• Make Time for Heartfelt Worship – Let your praise and thanksgiving flow genuinely from the heart, not just routine. Offer Him sacrifices of worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
• Wait Patiently on God’s Timing – When praying or hoping for change, submit to God’s perfect timing and will. Let Hey remind you to wait patiently on the Lord (Psalm 27:14).
• Remain Yielded and Open to God’s Wishes – Maintain sensitivity to the Spirit’s guidance, allowing Him to shape your desires and actions. Be pliable to His will like clay (Isaiah 64:8).
• Watch for New Revelation from God – Come to Scripture with fresh eyes, expecting new insights into His character. Behold what the Spirit desires to reveal to you (Jeremiah 33:3).
• Remove Hindrances to Deeper Devotion – Examine what obstructs your fellowship with God. Clear away clutter and distractions to draw nearer to Him.
• Stay Ready for Christ’s Return – Live in active anticipation of Jesus’ second coming. Keep your spiritual eyes open through prayer and vigilance (Luke 12:35-40).
• Thank God for His Faithfulness – Let Hey remind you regularly of God’s steadfast presence and His promises which never fail (Lamentations 3:22-23).

6. Reflection: Living in God’s Presence

The remarkable letter Hey contains a comforting invitation from Christ, the fulfilment of this ancient pictograph. He gently calls to us:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

May we daily accept Yeshua’s call to abide in His presence, lifting our eyes to behold Him. As we reflect on the uplifted arms of Hey, let us rely wholly on Christ to sustain us in each moment.

Just as Hey stands upright in stillness, may it give us patience to wait on the Lord and trust His timing. When busyness and stress threaten to distract us, may we pause to fix our gaze on Jesus!

May the wisdom of Hey remind us we live constantly before God’s face. In our Savior, we have an anchor for the soul who understands our struggles and will never leave us alone.

As we follow our Guide through the unfolding journey of faith, may we stay tuned to the Spirit’s voice and be sensitive to His promptings. May we live with a posture of humility and readiness to respond to Heaven’s directives.

Hey illuminates the path, showing us our Needs and our Nurture. May we remain ever present before our Shepherd and King! Amen.

Declarations of Faith: Hey’s Bold Proclamations

Almighty God,

You are the great I AM, eternal and ever-present. I stand humbly before You with eyes fixed on Heaven. You are my ever-present Help in times of need.

Your Spirit fills and empowers me. You are my living Source, and I will not lack. Your grace sustains me in seasons of waiting. Through You, I persevere with patience.

Your revelation brings fresh understanding. You open my eyes to behold new wonders. Your will guides me on the path ahead. You transform me into Christ’s image.

You are my rock, fortress and deliverer in times of trouble. I cry out to You alone. Thank You for the bold wisdom of Hey! Manifest Your presence powerfully in me, I pray. Amen!

How is the Hebrew letter Hey directing you to posture your heart before God today to draw nearer to Him?

Consider making time to wait quietly in God’s presence, reflecting on how He wants to reveal more of Himself to you. Open your heart to the Spirit’s voice through prayer, worship and Scripture meditation. Let Hey remind you of God’s constant presence with you.