Kelli Hamann Supporter Pastor's Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Writer, Cellist

The word "wait" in the original text has these meanings according to Strong's Concordance:

a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:--gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).

One other meaning I found in a Hebrew lexicon is to "mutually expect one another."

When you look at the entire group of definitions offered here, you can see a "picture" of sorts begin to develop, which is exactly the way the Hebrew language is meant to be read. When you imagine a person being "bound together" with God, or a person and God "mutually expecting one another," coupled with words like "tarry" and "patiently," the original intent of the Hebrew word that has been translated to our modern "wait" becomes clearer. 

In order for a person to truly be bound together with God, one must tarry patiently in the presence of God, allowing Him time to speak through His word and to move on the person's heart as He wishes. In addition, our stance must be one of expectancy and openness to His word and His guidance.

I believe that the closest English word to the original text translates as "wait" because in order to be wound and bound together with God, a person would need to sit still in God's presence, patiently awaiting His whispers of love and words of guidance and encouragement. Think about a craftsman (or woman) binding hemp strands together to make a rope--this takes time and skill, a master at work, and the proper treatment of the hemp strands in order to create a strong and useful rope. It makes sense in Isaiah 40:31 to say that the person who waits on God will renew his strength because a cord of many strands is stronger than a single strand.

March 18 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Sharon Fernandez

To wait upon the Lord is to look exclusively to Jesus Christ and The Cross on a daily basis, knowing that He will meet your every need. Jesus being the Source and the Cross being the means.

January 26 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report