The letters of the Hebrew alphabet have meaning and significance. A study of Psalm 119, which is alphabetic, will reveal some of those meanings. (e.g. – Psalm 119:137 – Tzaddi, which means righteousness) There are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The twenty-second letter is the Tav. According to ancient rabbis, the letter Tav means truth, perfection and judgment.

For more information on the Hebrew alphabet, please click HERE.

By our reckoning today, there are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament. At one time the Jews grouped the Old Testament into twenty-two books. Books like First and Second Kings and First and Second Chronicles were combined into “Kings” and “Chronicles.” The entire collection of Minor Prophets were gathered into one book, the twenty-second. This twenty-two book collection of prophets all speak of, or are a foreshadow of, the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus who is truth, perfection and judgment.

A list of the kings of Judah begins with King David and concludes with King Zedekiah, who was the last king of Judah before the Babylonian Captivity. Not including the usurper, Athaliah, the list notes twenty-one kings. The next king will be the promised King of kings and Lord of lords, King Jesus of the House of David. Jesus will be the twenty-second king and will truly represent truth, perfection and judgment.

The twenty-second chapter of Genesis contains the story of the testing of Abraham. Abraham took his only son, the child of promise, to sacrifice him on a mountain. The Lord told Abraham to take Isaac to one of the “mountains of Moriah.” There, he was to sacrifice him. The Lord provided a substitute and Abraham was not required to sacrifice Isaac.

This twenty-second chapter is a foreshadow of God the Father sacrificing His only Son, the Lord Jesus, on a mountain in the same vicinity, perhaps the same mountain. This chapter is about Jesus, again who is truth, perfection and judgment.

The twenty-second Psalm is an uncanny prophecy of the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. It begins, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1) It continues, “But I am a ... reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they … shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” (Psalm 22:6-8) “ … the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” (Psalm 22:16)

By the way, before the time of Jesus, the Tav, the 22nd letter, was written as an “X” or a cross.

Again, the Lord has placed His mark, His imprimatur throughout His Word. His Word is true and correct. Praise His name forever!