Trust: A Biblical Hebrew Word Study

 

The rainbow is the sign of God's covenant with His children (Genesis 9:12–13)

Hebrew Word for Trust: "Betach בטח"

Several Hebrew words are translated as "trust" in the Old Testament. One in particular, betach בטח, stands out regarding what it looks like to trust in God when viewed in its pictographic form. The following is an example of the context in which this specific Hebrew word we will study is used.

Hebrew Is Rooted in Pictographs

Before we begin, it is beneficial to understand that the Hebrew language has its roots in pictographic symbols. In its most ancient form, the letters were once expressed by images representing illustrative concepts. Pictographs, therefore, help us comprehend the foundational substance of the words that contain them. In modern biblical studies, these images can help us unlock the deeper meaning of the text. 

These pictographic roots connect us to the ancients who came before us. When the concepts behind words are stable, we can be assured that what we think a word means is the same as what it meant thousands of years ago. When language is not attached to concrete ideas, it can become fluid. Word associations and meanings can change dramatically over time without such a system.

According to those who study them, languages with pictographic roots are understood to be more geared toward function and purpose as they apply to life. This difference in thought might help explain why Westerners struggle with trusting God's Word; we have separate compartments for knowledge and functional application. We can read the text and be entirely disconnected from how it translates into purposeful action.

... be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves ... 

— James 1:22

May we, like the ancients of old, be interested not only in learning something new, as the Athenians (Westerners) in Acts, but also in desiring to more deeply understand God's truth so that we may better live out these beautiful revelations. 

For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing. 

— Acts 17:21

Definition of "Trust"

Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament defines the word "trust" as "to set one's hope and confidence upon" and "to be secure, fearing nothing." It is also frequently translated as "confidence," "security," and "hope." Now, let us examine the pictographs of each letter that form the Hebrew word "trust" (betach בטח) and see how they can reveal valuable insights into this word.

The Hebrew letters in betach are "bet ב," "tet ט," and "chet ח." 

The Hebrew letter "bet ב" is the first letter of "betach בטח."

Hebrew Letter "Bet ב": Inside a Tent or Home

"Bet ב" is the first letter of the Hebrew word betach. It is a picture of a tent, home, or family. It speaks of being on the inside, abiding, and resting. When "trust" is used in Scripture, "in" frequently follows.

... we have trusted [betach בטח] in His holy name. 

— Psalm 33:21

Being in a home and family can, and ideally should, be associated with safety, security, trust, and rest.

Aghan nomads, seated outside their tent, 1919

"Bet ב" and Genesis

The first word of the entire Scripture is "Bereshit," which translates to "In the beginning." The first letter of this word is "bet." Everything starts with God's desire to create a home and family. The creation account is about preparing a place to do just that, and it ends with the sabbath, a time to rest and abide.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 

— Genesis 2:1–3

Sin and the Resurrection 

Sin separated us from that original plan and left us orphans outside of the household of the Heavenly Father. But God restored us through the death and resurrection of His only Begotten Son on our behalf.

... ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ ... or through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. 

— Ephesians 2:12–13, 19

"In Him": In Covenant With God

Being "in" covenant with God through His Son, Jesus, is about being in His family.

... according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence (trust) through faith in Him ... For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. 

— Ephesians 3:11–15 

He chose us in Him ... In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins ... In Him also we have obtained an inheritance ... in Him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise ... In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. 

— Ephesians 1:4–13

The Gospel of John and the Epistle of 1 John contain more references to the phrase "in Him" than any other gospel and epistle. John is often referred to as the disciple Jesus loved in the Gospel of John and is considered part of the inner circle of the most frequently mentioned disciples. According to Steven Coxhead on his website Berith Road, The Gospel of John records that rebirth in the Spirit is necessary.

"Rebirth by the Spirit is necessary for entering "into" the kingdom family of God (John 3:5), and for experiencing eternal life and immortality (John 3:6). In the new covenant age." 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

—John 3:16 

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 

— I John 4:15

There is no security or trust outside of Him. In Him, there is nothing to fear.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 

— I John 5:20

The Hebrew letter "tet ט" is the second letter of "betach בטח."

Hebrew Letter "Tet ט": Wrapped

The second letter of the Hebrew word for trust, betach, is "tet." It is a picture of something wrapped or coiled, like a snake, or it can resemble a basket in terms of its weave. 

The letter "tet ט" suggests being wrapped, like a swaddled baby. 

The wrapping concept relates to a baby being swaddled and tightly wrapped in a blanket. It seems soothing for babies to be bundled this way. Biblically, to be unswaddled was likened to abandonment.

As for your nativity, on the day you were born, your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. 

— Ezekiel 16:4 

 

"Tet ט" can also represent distinguishing what is good through experience, as the reference to the snake suggests. A snake has a double-forked tongue to taste and distinguish the atmosphere around it.  

"Tet ט" is also the first letter in the Hebrew word for good: tov טוב.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

— Psalm 34:8

Trust has to do with distinguishing that God is good. To be wrapped and swaddled in the goodness of His everlasting arms.

The eternal God is your refuge (place of trust),
And underneath are the everlasting arms.

— Deuteronomy 33:27 

 

The Hebrew letter "chet ח" is the third letter of "betach בטח." 

Hebrew Letter "Chet ח": Fenced and Protected

The final letter of the word betach is "chet ח," which is depicted with a fence or a wall. It is attached to the concepts of surrounding, protecting, and embracing. It also suggests the idea of exclusivity. 

Regarding exclusivity, "chet" is closely associated with covenantal concepts. Much like "bet," it is only in relationship with the God of all creation through His one and only Son, who covenanted on the cross on behalf of us, that we can abide and trust in Him. Christ secured for us that indescribable gift and privilege.

The letter "chet ח" suggests the protection of a fence.

God Protects the Faithful

"Chet ח" differs in thought from "bet" because it speaks more of boundaries. Our part in trusting God, as it concerns this letter, is to stay within the limits of God's purpose and plan. God is not obligated to protect us when we step outside those fences He has built for our protection. The promise of these protections is for the faithful, believing, and obedient.

Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, 

For My salvation is about to come, 

And My righteousness to be revealed. 

Blessed is the man who does this, 

And the son of man who lays hold on it; 

Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, 

And keeps his hand from doing any evil." 

Do not let the son of the foreigner 

Who has joined himself to the Lord 

Speak, saying, 

"The Lord has utterly separated me from His people"; 

Nor let the eunuch say, 

"Here I am, a dry tree." 

For thus says the Lord: 

"To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, 

And choose what pleases Me, 

And hold fast My covenant, 

Even to them 

I will give in My house 

And within My walls, a place and a name 

Better than that of sons and daughters; 

I will give them an everlasting name 

That shall not be cut off. 

— Isaiah 56:1–5

Lack of Trust and Loss of Protection

The very first occurrence of the word betach in Scripture illustrates this in its negative form. God informs His children that living in direct disobedience to Him, through a lack of trust, will cause those walls of protection to come down.

They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you. 

— Deuteronomy 28:52

One of the words that appears in Scripture to mean compassion, mercy (God's faithful, loyal love), and favor is chesed. This word also begins with the letter "chet. ח"

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy [chesed חסד] shall surround him.

— Psalm 32:10

Trust involves knowing and believing that we are surrounded and protected by His mercy.

Understanding the symbols hidden within each letter of betach reveals the deep meaning of the word

Combining the Concepts

The three Hebrew letters that form the word betach בטח convey the ideas of being on the inside, embraced, and protected. Combining these ideas into a unified concept, we can understand this word to mean that trusting God is abiding and resting in Him by discerning His goodness and greatness. In so doing, we are protected, embraced, and surrounded by His covenant love, compassion, and favor.

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favor, You will surround him as with a shield.

— Psalm 5:12

Proverbs 3:3–5

The following is a video on how to pronounce a much-quoted Hebrew verse on trust. The first word of the verse is betach בטח.

Trust [betach] in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

— Proverbs 3:3–5 

 

© 2010 Tamarajo