Peace of the Home! Many years ago my dear friend and faith family- Cheryl Salem began sharing with me about the importance of words in Hebrew. She and Uncle Harry also helped ordain me into ministry and have been faithful friends and mentors.
Many of you know that Jeff and I have a miracle marriage and the meaning of Shalom Bayit speaks volumes to me. I learned to fight for my family and not with my family.
Here is the meaning: from Wikipedia- Shalom bayit[1] (Hebrew: שְׁלוֹם בַּיִת, lit. peace of the home) (also sholom bayit or shlom bayit, or (Yiddish) sholom bayis or shlom bayis) is the Jewish religious concept of domestic harmony and good relations between husband and wife. In a Jewish court of law, shalom bayit is the Hebrew term for marital reconciliation.[2]
A dear friend, Cassidy reminded me of this phrase recently. It made me begin to think how in the English language “I love you” is more of an expression of feeling deep on the inside of me. It’s all about me. All about the way I feel.
But if I say those same words in Hebrew, the meaning is different. The word “love” in Hebrew shares the same root as the verb: to bring. This means love is not a feeling but an action. So loving requires me to take action. “I love you,” literally translates in Hebrew as “I bring you,” or “I bring to you.” That means love is really not about me but it is about the other person. All about what I can give.
When I read the words Shalom Bayit it challenges me to be love in action. It challenges me to bring Father God’s love to others. And at home- First with my husband!
Shalom means “peace” and a bayit is a “home.” Maintaining peace in one’s home, shalom bayit. In Hebrew marriage between man and wife is seen as a manifestation of Father God’s relationship with His church. And He definitely put love in action- John 3:16.
We have to fight for love! As couples when we encounter storms during our walk together the key ingredient to a smooth journey is our attitude of love in action. We miss have an absolute determination and resolve to stay in love!
Marriage comes with bumps and sometimes mountains, and sometimes cliffs, and sometimes ocean views. Father God has given His love to us so it can flow through us- we are equipped to handle the journey! And it is important to keep the fire 🔥 an everlasting flame of Love ❤️.
Marriage is not just a relationship of a man and a woman, but a three-way relationship that must include God as well. Actually He is the center of it all! I remember Aunt Cheryl talking about the Hebrew meaning of man and woman many years ago- it stuck with me.
I learned that the Hebrew word for man, ish, is the same as the Hebrew word for woman, isha, with the exception of one letter in each word. The word for man has a “yud” and the word for woman has a “hei,” which are the two letters that represent God’s name. The letters that they share in common spell aish, fire. The idea is that a man and woman together are like a fire. And How do you keep your fire on so that it can illuminate? You keep God in the center!
If you feel burnt out, cold or maybe like a flicker- don’t quit! Don’t go on the feeling of love but put love in action. Put Father God in the center! Let your marriage illuminate God’s love! Let your life be a lighthouse of love!
““So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”” John 13:34-35 TPT
And a big shout out to my soul sister- Laura for the Shalom Bayit picture
Allison Bramlett 