About DESERT

Hebrew Name

מִדְבָּר

English Name

DESERT

Phonetic Spelling

MID-BAR

What does DESERT mean?

The grammatical root of midbar reflects its role as the setting for so many profound spiritual experiences. The same letters, in the very same order, can be pronounced as midaber, meaning “speaking.”

וְהַנָּחָשׁ֙ הָיָ֣ה עָר֔וּם מִכֹּל֙ חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֔וּ מִכֹּ֖ל עֵ֥ץ הַגָּֽן׃
Now Moshe, tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, drove the flock into the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of Hashem.
v'-ha-na-KHASH ha-YAH a-RUM mi-KOL kha-YAT ha-SA-deh a-SHER a-SA a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM, va-YO-mer el ha-i-SHA, af KEE-a-MAR e-lo-HEEM, lo to-KHE-lu mi-KOL aytz ha-GAN.
Exodus 3:1

בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י לְצֵ֥את בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה בָּ֖אוּ מִדְבַּ֥ר סִינָֽי׃
On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone forth from the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai.
ba-CHO-desh ha-sh'-lee-SHEE l'-tze-TAT b'-nay yis-ra-AYL may-E-retz mitz-RA-yim ba-YOM ha-ZEH ba-U mid-BAR si-NAI
Exodus 19:1

Description about DESERT

The desert, or midbar in Hebrew, plays a significant role in some of the most foundational stories in the Bible. All of the patriarchs were shepherds, spending much of their lives alone with their sheep in the desert. Moses’ first encounter with God took place in the desert at the burning bush, and the children of Israel received the Torah in the desert at Mount Sinai. After fleeing from King Ahab, Elijah encountered God in a powerful spiritual experience at the very same mountain. The grammatical root of midbar reflects its role as the setting for so many profound spiritual experiences. The same letters, in the very same order, can be pronounced as midaber, meaning “speaking.” In the emptiness and quiet of the desert, the voice of God can be heard more clearly. When the noise of our everyday lives is removed, we can better hear the message that God is speaking to us. Why did God give the Torah to the people of Israel in the desolate desert? The sages explain: “Anyone who does not make himself ownerless, like the desert, cannot acquire the Torah.” When we are full of ourselves, it is difficult to make space for the will and wisdom of God. Before we can receive the lofty spiritual wisdom of the Bible, we must humble and empty ourselves before God, like the desert. Jewish tradition teaches that even before the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed due to the nation’s sins, God’s presence left Jerusalem and settled in the desert. All who come to the desert seeking closeness to God with an open heart will find what they are looking for.

Attribute of DESERT

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