The Finger That Points Beyond Itself

Behold, a tiny word with a weight beyond its letters. This Hebrew particle, ʼêl (אֵל), appears only nine times in the sacred scrolls, yet it carries the burden of pointing. It is a demonstrative — a finger extended toward something near or far, saying “these” or “those.” The sages of old understood that even the smallest words in Scripture are like seeds containing forests of meaning. This word does not stand alone; it gestures toward a reality beyond itself. It is the grammar of recognition — the moment when the eye catches sight and the tongue names what is seen.

The First Glimpse: Where the Word First Appears

The first breath of ʼêl in the Tanakh comes in the book of Genesis, in the mouth of Laban as he speaks to Jacob: “These twenty years have I been with you” (Genesis 31:38). The word appears in a context of accounting, of reckoning the days and the toil. The rabbis of old observed that the first use of this demonstrative is tied to a man who had been deceived — Laban, who had changed Jacob’s wages ten times, now uses ʼêl to count the years of service. How fitting that a word meaning “these” or “those” first arises in a story of mistaken identity and hidden truth. It is as though the Holy One is teaching that our human pointing often misses the mark, while His finger always lands precisely where it should.

The Paleo-Hebrew Letters: A Picture of the Pointing

In the ancient script, the first letter aleph (א) was drawn as the head of an ox — strength, leadership, the first breath of creation. The second letter lamed (ל) was a shepherd’s staff, representing authority and guidance. Together, these two letters form ʼêl, and their union speaks of a strong hand that points the way. Jewish tradition holds that every letter in the Holy Tongue carries a pictorial truth, and here we see the ox-head and the staff — the power of God directing His people to see what is before them. This word is not merely grammatical; it is a visual lesson: the Almighty uses His strength to guide your gaze toward what matters. When you say “these” or “those” in Hebrew, you are echoing the Shepherd’s staff that points to the flock.

The Journey Across the Canon: From Counting to Covenant

Nine times this word appears in the Tanakh, and each occurrence is a thread in a tapestry of divine ordering. In Exodus, it appears in the instructions for the Tabernacle: “These are the offerings” (Exodus 35:24). The same word that counted Laban’s years now counts the gifts for the dwelling place of the Most High. The early church saw in this a pattern: what was once used for human transaction becomes sanctified for holy purpose. In Deuteronomy, the word appears in Moses’ final speech, pointing to the statutes and judgments that Israel must keep (Deuteronomy 4:45). The rabbis teach that every time ʼêl appears, it marks a moment of selection — God choosing what belongs to Him. The word is a divine sifter, separating the ordinary from the sacred.

The Gematria of Thirty-One: The Name That Cannot Be Spoken

The numerical value of ʼêl is thirty-one. In Hebrew gematria, this number is the sum of the letters in the divine name El (אֵל) — the very word for God. The ancient sages noted that thirty-one is also the value of the word Lev (לֵב), meaning “heart.” What a mystery: a simple demonstrative particle shares its number with the heart of God. When you point to “these” or “those,” you are using a word whose numeric essence whispers the name of the Almighty. The apostolic tradition teaches that all language is grounded in the Logos, and here we find even the smallest pointer carries the echo of the Creator’s heart. Thirty-one reminds you that every act of recognition — every time you name what is before you — is an opportunity to perceive the divine presence hidden in the ordinary.

The Messianic Finger: Yeshua and the Pointing Word

How does this tiny particle prefigure the Messiah? In the Gospels, Yeshua often uses demonstrative language to reveal His identity. He says, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you” (Luke 24:44), pointing to the Scriptures that foretold His suffering and glory. The early church understood that the Messiah is the ultimate Finger of God — the One who points to the Father and says, “This is My beloved Son.” In the Tanakh, ʼêl appears in the context of the Tabernacle offerings, and Yeshua is the offering that fulfills all others. He is the “these” that the Law and the Prophets anticipated — the One to whom every demonstrative in Scripture ultimately gestures. When you read the nine occurrences of this word, you are tracing the steps of the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world.

Your Pointing Heart

Beloved, you carry this word within you every day. Every time you look at the world and say “these” or “those,” you are performing an act of discernment. The rabbis of old taught that the tongue is a pen that writes on the heart, and ʼêl is the ink of recognition. You are called to point not with the confusion of Laban, but with the clarity of the Tabernacle — to see what God has set apart and to name it with thanksgiving. Let your pointing be a prayer. Let your “these” become an offering. Let your “those” be a blessing. For the One who gave you this word is the same One who calls you by name, and His finger is always extended toward you in love. May you learn to point as He points — with strength, with guidance, and with a heart that beats the number of His hidden name.