Meditation In Hebrew Culture: Understanding Its Significance

what does meditation mean to hebrews

Biblical meditation is an important spiritual practice for Christians, but it can be confusing for those who associate the word with New Age or Eastern practices. The Bible's take on meditation is quite different and involves a deep focus on Scripture, which is seen as a way to connect with God and gain a better understanding of His will.

The English word meditate is listed 14 times in Strong's Concordance, with just two occurrences in the New Testament. In contrast, the Hebrew word hagah, meaning to murmur, ponder, imagine, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, or utter, is used 24 times in the Old Testament, mainly in the Psalms. Another Hebrew word for meditation is siyach, which means to ponder, converse with oneself, utter, complain, meditate, muse, or pray.

Biblical meditation is not about emptying the mind but rather filling it with God and His word. It is an active process of pondering and reflecting on Scripture, which helps to bridge the gap between instruction and application. It is also about consciously choosing to think about something and bringing every thought into alignment with Christ.

Characteristics Values
Definition "To ponder", "to converse (with oneself, and hence aloud)", "to utter", "to murmur", "to muse", "to imagine", "to mourn", "to roar", "to study", "to talk", "to mutter", "to speak", "to commune", "to complain", "to declare", "to pray", "to be occupied with", "to be concerned about", "to revolve in the mind", "to imagine", "to devise", "to plot", "to converse", "to utter", "to commune", "to complain", "to declare", "to pray", "to contemplate", "to utter", "babbling", "communication", "complaint", "musing", "plaint", "anxiety", "trouble", "talk" "Hâgâh (H1897)", "Śı̂ychâh (H7881)", "Higgâyôn (H1902)", "Śı̂yach (H7878)", "Śı̂yach (H7879)", "Meletaō (G3191)"
Hebrew terms Hitbodedut/Hisbodedus, Hitbonenut/Hisbonenus
Hebrew Bible references Psalms, Joshua, Genesis
New Testament references Luke, Timothy

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Hebrew terms for meditation

The Hebrew language has several terms for meditation, which is referred to as an important spiritual practice in the Bible. The English word "meditate" is listed 14 times in Strong's Concordance, with six of those appearances being in the Old Testament. The Hebrew words for meditation are:

  • Hagah: This word means "to utter in a low sound", like the growling of a lion or the cooing of a dove. It is often associated with the act of reciting Scripture in a low murmur.
  • Siach: This word means "to be occupied with" or "to be concerned about". It implies that meditation is the act of repetitiously going over a matter in one's mind because it is of utmost importance.
  • Hegeh: The masculine noun form of Hagah.
  • Hagut: The feminine noun form of Hagah.
  • Hagig: The masculine noun form of Hagah.
  • Higgayon: This word refers to meditational music.
  • Siyach: This word means "to ponder", "to converse with oneself", or "to utter". It is used in Psalm 119 and Psalm 104:34.
  • Sı̂yach: This word means "to ponder", "to converse", "to utter", "to complain", "to declare", or "to pray".

Meditation, as a spiritual practice, involves a combination of studying Scripture and praying. It is an essential part of a balanced Christian life, helping believers to commune with God and be renewed spiritually.

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The role of meditation in Christian life

Meditation is an important part of the Christian's relationship with Christ. Biblical meditation involves our minds. By focused thought upon God’s truth, we reflect upon the meaning of words or phrases. It is the key to productive Bible study and is the element that ties together other spiritual "tools" like prayer, Bible study, and fasting.

The English word "meditate" is listed fourteen times in Strong’s Concordance, only two times in the New Testament, and one of those—Luke 21:14—should be "premeditate". "Meditation" is listed six times, all in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word used most for "meditate" is hagah, which means to murmur (in pleasure or anger), to ponder, imagine, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, or utter. The other word used most for "meditate" is siyach, which means to ponder, converse with oneself, utter, complain, meditate, muse, or pray. It is very similar to hagah in meaning and use.

Biblical meditation is not about emptying our minds, as in some pagan mystical religions. Instead, it is about emptying the mind of ourselves and our natural thoughts, and then filling it with God. Biblical meditation is about consciously choosing to think about something, a process that Paul says entails "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (II Cor. 10:5).

Meditation is not necessarily a silent undertaking. Both the meaning of the words and how they are translated in various places and translations indicate that meditation often includes muttering or talking to ourselves or to God, musing out loud, or even discussing with others. Our brains are wired to gain deeper understanding of concepts and work through problems by talking through them out loud or writing things down.

Meditation is taking a passage we have read, a message we have heard, or a conversation we have had, and rolling it around in our minds. It is actively ruminating on what a particular Bible passage means, what other passages it relates to, and what God intends for us to do with it. Ultimately, it should produce action in us.

Meditation is only mentioned twice in the New Testament. Jesus instructed Christians to meditate beforehand on their attitude toward persecution (Luke 21:14). Paul advised Timothy to meditate on the matters about which Paul had written to him (1 Timothy 4:15).

The greatest enemy of meditation is busyness and noise. To be successful in meditation, we have to cultivate a quietness of mind. As you meditate, try to figure out if you’re tuning in to God. Like a radio, we have to be on the same channel and frequency to pick up His signal.

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Meditation in the Old Testament

The word "meditate" first appears in the Bible in Genesis 24:63, where Isaac "went out to the field one evening to meditate". The Hebrew word used here is suwach, which means "to meditate, muse, commune, speak, or complain".

The Hebrew word hagah is used in Joshua 1:8, where God told Joshua to "meditate on his law day and night". Hagah means "to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder: imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter… speak, study, talk, utter". This word is also used in Psalm 1:2, which describes the blessed person whose "delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night".

The other Hebrew word for meditation in the Old Testament is siyach, which is used in Psalm 119:97: "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long". Siyach means "to lovingly rehearse or go over in one’s mind; but in contrast to hagah, siyach can be either spoken out loud or said silently in one’s heart".

Biblical meditation involves "pondering" or reflecting upon Scripture, rather than simply reading or studying it. It involves focusing one's thoughts on God's truth and reflecting upon the meaning of words or phrases. This may have included the repeated vocalisation of God's truth, rehearsal of it in the mind, and focused thought upon it after it was read or heard.

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Meditation in the New Testament

Meditation is a key component of a Christian’s growth. While meditation isn’t described in Scripture as many think of meditation today, which is greatly influenced by Eastern meditation methods, meditation in the Bible is associated with growth and prosperity.

The New Testament gives numerous instructions on how to direct our thoughts, but the word "meditate" is not often used. For example, Colossians 3:2 (NIV) says:

> Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

The Bible mentions 23 occurrences of some translation of "meditate": 19 of them appear in the Psalms, and of the 23, 20 refer specifically to meditating on the Lord in some way. We are told to meditate on God's actions, law, or testimonies – all of which are found within the Scripture.

There are several words in the Bible that translate as a form of "meditate", depending on their context, including speak, utter, study, imagine, and muse. (There is even one instance of it being translated as sing.) The Bible uses meditation as deep contemplation, a turning over and around in the mind to gain greater understanding and be changed by God’s truth.

Biblical meditation is not about sitting with an empty mind, mindlessly repeating a single word or phrase, burning candles, sitting calmly on a rug, or listening to sonorous music. It is not even primarily for relaxation, although one may find it calming and comforting. It is never mindless; instead, meditation means that one's mind is focused on God and the Scripture.

Biblical meditation is about focusing on God through contemplation of the Scripture, and it's about quieting our hearts with the Scripture and a deeper intimacy with Jesus. The particulars of biblical meditation can vary, but the practice isn’t complicated.

Meditation on Scripture is a way to experience God. In Psalm 143, David meditated on his past experiences with God when his current experience was overwhelming.

Meditation: Asians' Daily Ritual

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Meditation as a form of worship

Meditation is a form of worship that involves settling the mind, introspection, visualisation, emotional insight, contemplation of divine names, or concentration on philosophical, ethical or mystical ideas. It is a way to commune with God and be spiritually renewed.

In Hebrew, the term for meditation is "hitbodedut" or "hisbodedus", which literally means "self-seclusion". Another term is "hitbonenut" or "hisbonenus", which means "contemplation".

Hebrew terms for meditation include "hagah", which means "to murmur in pleasure or anger; to ponder, imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, or utter", and "siyach", which means "to ponder, converse with oneself, utter, complain, meditate, muse, or pray".

Meditation is often associated with the repetition of God's truth, the rehearsal of it in the mind, and focused thought upon it. It is a way to ponder or reflect upon the meaning of words or phrases in Scripture, with a receptive heart, trusting the Holy Spirit to work through those words.

Meditation is not about emptying the mind, but rather, it is about emptying the mind of oneself and one's natural thoughts, and then filling it with God. It is a way to consciously choose to think about something, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Meditation is a bridge between instruction and application, helping to internalise and personalise Scripture so that the Holy Spirit can work to alter thoughts and actions. It is a way to actively ruminate on what a particular Bible passage means, how it relates to other Scriptures, and what God intends for us to do with it.

Meditation is a form of worship that helps to renew the mind, transform thoughts and actions, and deepen the relationship with God.

Frequently asked questions

The Hebrew word "hagah" is used to denote the growling of a lion or the cooing of a dove and is often translated as "to murmur (in pleasure or anger); to ponder, imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, or utter". The word "siyach" is also used and means "to ponder, converse with oneself, utter, complain, meditate, muse, or pray".

Biblical meditation is about emptying the mind of oneself and one's natural thoughts and filling it with God. It is not about achieving a state of calmness or emptying one's mind, as in some other forms of meditation. Instead, it involves actively pondering or reflecting upon the words of Scripture with a receptive heart, trusting the Holy Spirit to work through those words.

Christian meditation involves taking a passage from the Bible and ruminating on it – thinking about what it means, how it connects to other scriptures, and what God intends for us to do with it. It is a form of worship that helps to renew us spiritually and bring us closer to God.

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