Spoke 8 Ruth, Amos, 1 Thessalonians
The angel of the LORD encampeth (chanah) round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. AV Psalm 34:7

The Eighth Letter represents a fence, hedge, wall, or enclosure. This coheres with its ancient form that looks like two fence poles with two or three rails. It gave rise to the Greek and Latin forms of the Letter H. The number of Chet KeyWords expressing similar ideas is truly astounding. There really is no other Letter with such a dense and consistent grouping of associated ideas. Its symbolic meaning is particularly evident in words that start with Chet Bet, like chov (bosom), chavav (cherish), chavar (friend), chevel (cord), and so forth as listed in the table. Note that Chet is pronounced as an "h" with rough breathing, like the "ch" in Bach. God used four of the KeyWords listed in the table in the Chet Alphabetic Verses; one cited above, and these three:

• She girdeth (chagar) her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. AV Prov 31:17
• The bands (chevel) of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. AV Ps 119:61
• I am a companion (chavar) of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. AV Ps 119:63

These verses establish the fundamental meaning of Chet as something that surrounds, binds, holds things together, both physically as a wall, and socially as friendship and love. It is, therefore, a great joy to see the one KeyWord that God used most frequently in the Chet Alphabetic Verses carries within itself the fundamental message of the Gospel, grace and mercy!

• ... the LORD is gracious (channun) and full of compassion. -- AV Ps 111:4b
• ... he is gracious (channun), and full of compassion, and righteous. -- AV Ps 112:4b
• The LORD is gracious (channun), and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy (chesed). -- AV Ps 145:8

In the all three verses, gracious appears in conjunction with the Resh KeyWord racham (compassion, BW book pg 342), spelt Resh Chet Mem. In the third verse, God used it in conjunction with another Chet KeyWord chesed, that He also used as the primary KeyWord in two other Alphabetic Verses:

• The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy (chesed): teach me thy statutes. -- AV Ps 119:64
• It is of the LORD'S mercies (chesed) that we are not consumed, because his compassions (racham) fail not. -- AV Lam 3:22
• They are new (chadash) every morning: great is thy faithfulness. AV Lam 3:23

The third verse is consecutive with Lamentations 3:22 and should be read with it. It introduces the KeyWord chadash (new) which correlates with the universally recognized symbolic meaning of the Number 8 as New Beginnings. Note the associated KeyWord chinnam (free) in the table; it describes the nature of God's grace. Putting all these ideas together, we see the essential promise of God and message of the Gospel: We are hedged about on every side with God's free Mercy and Grace! Now that's the Gospel!

Next article: Ruth - The Undying Bond