Jō

In Paleo Hebrew Jō was drawn as Scales. The Scales concept shows up throughout the books of (7) Judges, (29) Proverbs and (51) Galatians. By studying Scales in these books all of Jō's meanings can be learned.

In Judges Jō is _____

Judah and Simeon are brothers who help each other (7 Judges 1:3)

Judah asks his brother Simeon to help him take his inheritance in exchange for Judah helping Simeon do the same. The trade here is equal, like two items compared on a balance. The idea of brother is also in balance. Brothers are equal as opposed to father and son or aunt and neice or some other pair that crosses generations or families.

Bezek's thumbs and big toes cut off (7 Judges 1:6-7)

Master Bezek cuf off thumbs and big toes of kings he conquered through war. When he was caught by Judah and Simeon they cut off his thumbs and big toes. So the thing Bezek had done was done to him. The two are in balance. The two were a fair trade or barter. This feels like reaping what you sow, but the difference is reaping what you sow always works in the same domain. Seeds only beget more of the same. Balancing two things to test whether they are equal is necessary because it's not apparent, without the balance, whether the two things are the same or equal. In the case of Bezek's story the domain happens to be the same, both his captives and he lost their thumbs or big toes.

Hebron was also known as Kiriath Arba (7 Judges 1:10)

The idea that a place has two names, Hebron and Kiriath Arba, means the two are equal. They both describe the town. Of course we could weigh which name is better. Other books have this same two name pattern for towns, but there are several of these right at the beginning of Judges, as if to show the balance is the concept we should be looking for in Judges.

Debir was also known as Kiriath Sepher (7 Judges 1:11)

Another town known by two names.

Bethel was also known as Luz (7 Judges 1:23)

Another town known by two names.

Evil behaviour matched to years of oppression (7 Judges 3:7-8)

Anyone who has read Judges is familiar with the structure of the book. Israel sins against Yahvah and in turn they are oppressed by their enemies for some number of years. Then they cry to God in prayer and he raises up a "judge" to deliver Israel from their enemies. Then the land has rest for some number of years. What's happening in terms of a balance, is God is matching years of oppression and years of rest to the strength or value of Israel's sin and revivals. You've sinned so bad I'm weighing you, paying you, trading you x years of oppression by a certain enemy. Okay, you've come to me in prayer and repentance and done so with fervency worth x years of rest in the land.

Repentance matched to years of rest (7 Judges 3:9-11)

The sincerity of the revival determines how many years of rest the nation gets. The two are measured, matched, equal. This is the concept of comparing or matching two things on a balance.

In Proverbs Jō is _____

The structure of a proverb (29 Proverbs of Solomon 10:1)

Proverbs 10:1 reads, "A wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish son brings shame to his mother" (BRB). In terms of a balance there are 3 measurements in this and every other proverb. The first statement, "a wise son makes his father glad," is the first measurement, and it's equal. The second statement, "a foolish son brings shame to his mother," is the second measurement, and it also is equal even though negative. The third measurement is a comparison of the glad father with the shamed mother, which turns out not to be equal as someone whose glad wins over someone whose shamed. Essentially every proverb in the book works this way. By applying the balance you get the meaning of a proverb.

In Galatians Jō is _____

Jesus gave himself for our sins (51 Galatians 1:3-4)

Galatians opens with the normal introductions and greetings, but mentions that "Jesus gave himself for our sins." To say Jesus' life is equal to the world's sins is a balance kind of statement. If they were not equal Jesus' life would not have been an effective substitution for our sins, but they are a fair trade, because they are balanced.

God does not discriminate among men (51 Galatians 2:6)

God does not put men on the balance relative to each other...? Some kind of balance thing going on here.

Peter to the circumcision, Paul to the uncircumcision (51 Galatians 2:7-10)

Paul is called to minister to the uncircumcised while Peter is sent to the circumcised. The two are compared and contrasted here in Galatians. They are weighed on the balance. To say Paul and Barnabas are given the right hand and Peter and others the left (by inference) is to say the two are equal. Of course the following passage reveals that Paul rebuked Peter and so one has to ask if they really are equal. Whether they are equal or not equal, that they are being compared on a balance is obvious.

Man is not justified by the works of the law (51 Galatians 2:16)

There are a number of statements such as this in Galatians. These statements boil down to something is or is not equal to something else. This particular one, "man is not justified by the works of the law," says justification is not equal to keeping the law. On a balance these two ideas do not equal. The same verse goes on to say "we are justified by the faith of Messiah." So that man is justified and the faith of Messiah, are equal.

Those who trust in faith are the children of Abraham (51 Galatians 3:7)

Trusting in faith does balance with children of Abraham.

Those who rely on works of the law are under the curse (51 Galatians 3:10)

Relying on the works of the law balances with being under a curse.

The righteous live by faith (51 Galatians 3:11)

Being righteous balances with living by faith.

Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree (51 Galatians 3:13)

Hanging on a tree (as in crucifixion) balances with being cursed.

Paul's concern about possibly having labored in vain (51 Galatians 4:11)

Paul says "perhaps I have labored among you in vain." He's worried that the results he's seeing does not equal the amount he's put into the Galatian churches. Maybe it's not a fair trade. Maybe it's not a wise investment. Maybe I could be more effective or efficient elsewhere. It's something Paul weighs on the balance.

Abraham's 2 wives symbolize 2 contracts (51 Galatians 4:22-24)

Paul's uses a symbolic algebra here to say that symbolically speaking Abraham's 2 wives represent 2 major contracts God made with us. There are several balances inferred here. First, that the wives symbolize contracts is a balance that's equal. Secondly, Paul goes on to say Hagar represents (equals) the contract made on Mount Sinai. Those are equal, an algebraic statement that balances.

If you are circumcised then Messiah is of no benefit to you (51 Galatians 5:2)

To turn the statement around, Messiah is a benefit to people who are not trying to keep the law by circumcising.

You have ceased to adhere to Messiah who seek justification by law (51 Galatians 5:4)

Nother one.

The whole law is fulfilled in one saying, that is, You will love you neighbor as yourself (51 Galatians 5:14)

A profound statement. Loving your neighbor as yourself is equal to fulfilling the whole law when you weigh the two on a balance.

If you are led by the Holy Spirit you are not under law (51 Galatians 5:18)

Another wonderful comparison. Being led through a relationship where Jesus speaks to you is not equal to making decisions based on law, rules or principles.

Summary

Jō is:

• weigh
• measure
• compare
• value
• consider
• determine
• judge
• equal
• equality
• equity
• fairness

Jesus

Jesus is the Judge who weighs decisions on the Scales.

Jesus weighs the kingdom of Babylon on the scales and decides it is not equitable so he gives it to the Medes and Persians. Jesus is acting as Judge over the kingdoms of men. It's interesting that to this day scales are used to depict decision making.

By Ryan Eaton
Posted Monday, Dan 30, 13000