In modern Hebrew the letter Nun has two different forms - the regular letter נ and the special final letter ן used at the end of words. If we look at the word נתן (natan), gave, we see that it starts and ends with the letter Nun. This shows us that the letter represents giving and teaches us the reciprocal nature of giving. When one gives to another person, it comes back to him/her in some way.
The image of the Nun is believed to be derived from an Egyptian hieroglyph of a snake. The word in Hebrew for snake is נחש nahash, which begins with the letter Nun.
Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet (or aleph-bet) has a numerical value. The numerical value of the letter Nun is 50. Jewish sages say that 50 years old is the age of advice. This is an age when someone is wiser and knowledgeable and is able to give good advice to those around him.
Nun is actually the Aramaic word for fish and has been incorporated into the Hebrew names of several marine creatures such as דיונון (dyonun) squid and תמנון (tamnun) octopus. This teaches that this letter is also connected to the element of water.
Nun as an abbreviation can stand for nekevah, feminine. In medieval Rabbinic writings, Nun sophit (final nun) stood for "Son of".
Nun is also one of the seven letters which receive a special crown called a tag when written in the scrolls of Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, Mezuzot and the Five Megillot. The Hebrew name for this scribal feature is כתר keter. Both tag and keter mean "crown" in Aramaic and Hebrew respectively.
Nun is also one of the seven letters which receive a special crown called a tag when written in the scrolls of Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, Mezuzot and the Five Megillot. The Hebrew name for this scribal feature is כתר keter. Both tag and keter mean "crown" in Aramaic and Hebrew respectively.
Finally, in the game of dreidel, a four-sided spinning top played during the holiday of Chanukah, a rolled Nun passes play to the next player with no other action. The four letters on the dreidel spell out: Nes (נ-miracle), Gadol (ג-great), Haya (ה-happened) and Po (פ-here).
* This post has been shared on All Seasons, The Good. The Random. The Fun., Inspire Me Tuesday and Creatively Crafty.
11 comments:
A little masterpiece.
That's beautiful. I'm not sure I acquired great wisdom and understanding at 50 though! :0) xx
I love your posts on the Hebrew alphabet and nun is probably one of my favs. Beautiful and I do love your narrative too.
Your work is always so detailed. - Margy
I love your papercuts!
That is really pretty. There is so much detail and I imagine a lot of work that goes into things like this x
beautiful work... I find the meaning very interesting as well. Thanks for sharing
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The paper cut is beautiful!But it boggles me that one letter can have so many meanings - how in the world do people keep up with all the meanings of the alphabet (how many letters do you have - also 26, or?)?
To learn Hebrew is on my bucket list, to understand the Bible better, but I have to admit, all these meanings kind of hold me back.
Many thanks for sharing nun with All Seasons, and have a lovely week - hope you are doing okay! Jesh
This is beautiful Lisa! The meanings of the word nun are wonderful.
It's beautiful! Have you tried making words instead of just letters?
Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.
Wow Lisa, this is beautiful and so interesting too, thanks for sharing all this.
You make me what to get my craft knife out again, it's been ages since I did any papercutting.
This will be one of the features over at Handmade Monday later today :-)
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