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The Hebrew Words
The name of this week's parashah contains two Hebrew words: chayei and sarah.
- חיי [chayei - from Strong's #2416, meaning "alive" or "life"]. It is used 255 times in 218 verses in the Tanakh.
- שׂרה [sarah - Strong's #8283, meaning "princess"]. This is the name of Abraham's wife, Sarah. It is used 38 times in 32 verses in the Tanakh, and in every instance, it refers to the matriarch Sarah.
First use in Scripture
The first time chai is used in Scripture is in Genesis 1.
Then G-d said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens." (Genesis 1:20)
The first time Sarah is used in Scripture is in Genesis 17.
Then G-d said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. (Genesis 17:15)
Last use in Scripture
The last time chai is used in Scripture is in Zechariah 14.
And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. (Zechariah 14:8)
The last time Sarah is used in Scripture is in Isaiah 51.
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. "Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him." (Isaiah 51:1-2)
Parashah Outline
- Death and Burial of Sarah - Genesis 23:1
- A Bride for Isaac - Genesis 24:1
- Rebekah is Chosen - Genesis 24:15
- Isaac Marries Rebekah - Genesis 24:62
- Abraham's Death - Genesis 25:1
- Descendents of Ishmael - Genesis 25:12
Portraits of Messiah
Isaac pictures and foreshadows Messiah, and in a similar fashion, Isaac's bride, Rebekah, pictures Messiah's bride:
| Isaac and Rebekah | Christ and His Bride |
|---|---|
| A servant (traditionally believed to be Eliezer, mentioned in Genesis 15:2) is sent to bring the bride to the groom (Isaac). | The Holy Spirit is sent to bring the bride of Messiah to Him. |
| Abraham's servant is sent under a binding oath. When he arrives, he examines the heart of the young woman he encounters to determine if she is the right woman. | The Holy Spirit is sent and examines the heart (Jeremiah 11:20, Isaiah 11:3-4, Hebrews 4:12) to determine if who He finds is indeed the right "woman" to be the bride. |
Other Observations
Commandments In the Parashah
None of the traditional 613 commandments is found in this parashah.
Related Verses In the Torah
Pending
Related Verses In the Prophets
Pending
Related Verses In the Writings
Pending
Related Verses In the Apostolic Writings
Pending
Appendix
218 verses that include chai (Strong's #2416)
View the list of verses on BlueLetterBible.com
32 verses that include sarah (Strong's #8283)
View the list of verses on BlueLetterBible.com
