This is one of our Creator’s greatest mysteries now being revealed as we approach the return of Messiah, and a key part of how He will regenerate this old groaning creation in order to make the new heaven and earth that will last forever and which He has promised His people shall inherit…
Cannabis and the joys of biblical Hebrew!
Let’s talk about cannabis!
No, not the actual plant. I’m far more interested in its cool etymology.
Do you know that “cannabis” comes from the Hebrew word “קנבוס” (“KaNaBoS”)?
And קנבוס actually comes from the ancient Biblical term, “קנה בשם” (“KaNeH BoSeM”), one of the ingredients of the anointing oil delineated in Exodus 30:23!
“KaNeh Bosem” was a pungent and aromatic stalk plant used to soak in the sacred oil, most likely hemp.
The Hebrew root קנה (“KaNeH”) means a reed or stalk, as in the thick stalk of a hemp plant.
Amazingly, this word found its way to countless other languages, from Syriac word ‘qunnappa,’ to Arabic ‘kunnab,’ Greek ‘kannabis,’ and Latin ‘canabum.’
The original pot-smokers are thought to be the ancient Scythians, who are believed to have adopted the name for cannabis from their Semitic neighbors, our Hebrew-speaking ancestors
However, cannabis isn’t the only English word that comes from the Biblical root “KaNeH.”
That’s just the beginning.
Latin “canna” derived from there, and came to mean a reed or pipe.*
Here’s a partial list of some of the modern English words that are believed to be cognates of Hebrew “KaNeh”:
Cane. It’s reed-like. That’s right! Important human staples sugar cane** and cannibus are both from Hebrew.
Candy. From the cane of sugar cane.
Cannon. Also shaped like a hollow reed.
Gun. Believed to be a phonetic variation of cannon. “G” and “C” are both guttural-palatal.
Canal. Shaped like a pipe or groove.
Channel. Same as canal.
Canyon. A long narrow valley, like a groove.
Canoe. A hollowed shaft of a tree or giant reed.
Canvas. Sturdy cloth made from fibrous stalk of hemp, cannabis.
Canon. Law, standard used for judging. Long, straight reeds were used as measuring rods.
Canonize. To admit as authoritative by law.
Cinnamon. From Hebrew KiNaMoN, it’s also believed to be a cognate of KaNeH, since the aromatic bark is shaped like a reed.
Cannoli. From Italian cannolo, hollow tube or reed.
Canister. A tubular container, like a hollow reed. Or perhaps from reed wicker basket.
Can. From canister.
Can you now understand how wonderfully versatile this Hebrew root “KaNaH” is?
Yes you can!
But the “reed” meaning of קנה is just the tip of the iceberg.
The root קנה KaNah actually has many other cognates in Biblical Hebrew. Here are some of them:
KaNeh קנה can also mean windpipe or trachea, like a hollow reed.
KaNah קנה as a verb means to acquire or to affix in place (like a reed).
KaN קן means a nest, or that which is fixed in place.
MiKNeh מקנה, livestock that you acquired.
KaYiN קין means a spear, like a sharp reed.
KiNah קנה and לקונן might mean a dirge that is fixed in regular or rigid stanzas.
KaNeh קנה was a branch of the candelabra (Menorah), like a reed or pipe.
KaN קנא means jealousy, one who is fixated on something, like a reed firmly standing implanted in the earth.
TiKeN תקן means to fix or affix something.
K’NaS קנס means a fixed penalty or fine in Mishnaic Hebrew.
So as you can clearly see, Hebrew KaNah has truly come full circle. From cannabis, candy, canoes, canyons and cannons, you have Biblical Hebrew to thank for all those words.
Next time you hear researchers tout the health benefits of cannabis, remind them of the all wonderful linguistic and spiritual benefits of Biblical Hebrew, the language that gave us “cannabis” and much more!
Next time you taste that candy, savor the sweetness of the Holy Tongue.
The world’s most ancient language that’s very much a vibrant language to this day… in the study halls, synagogues, and even on the streets of Jerusalem.
The language of the Book, still spoken by the People of the Book…
The language of our ancestors, the language of our children, and the language of our destiny. Our past, present and future.
A timeless tribute to a timeless language!
Addendum:
As modern science rediscovers the ancient benefits of cannabis, could it be that this rediscovery is a harbinger of another awesome rediscovery that is yet to come in the imminent future, that of the sacred anointing oil?
This holy oil that Moses made, the “שמן משחת קודש,” has been in hiding since the days of King Yoshiyahu in circa 445 BCE (see Talmud, Horayot 11b, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Beit Habechira 4:1), along with the Holy Ark and several other sacred items, which are destined to be rediscovered in the time of the Future Redemption.
If cannabis is indeed the ingredient referred to as קנה בשם, “KaNeH BoSeM,” the pungent stalk listed in Exodus 30:23, the resurgence of cannabis in contemporary times would be a most fitting prelude to the discovery of the ancient oil that stores the fragrance of that original KaNeh BoSeM that Moses prepared 3,330 years ago...
MASHIYACH or MESSIAH translates to ANOINTED ONE in Hebrew and refers to the Christ (chrism ‐ both derived from the Greek word chriein) and/or those saints keeping His word and walking in His likeness. This, referring to the same holy anointing which was given by the Almighty and commanded in the Torah to all the prophets and kings of ancient Israel by ceremonial pouring of the following specific holy anointing oil ingredients upon their heads at the appointed times…
COMMANDED BY YHWH IN THE TORAH: the holy oil used to anoint sacred objects – including the incense – as well as the priests – were to be made of four of the principal spices — myrrh, cinnamon, qaneh-bosem, and cassia — carefully prepared with olive oil.
The word בשם קנה – qaneh-bosem -- deliberately mistranslated as ‘calamus‘ (or in some of the following examples as ‘sweet cane‘) appears a total of five times in the scripture: in addition to the above verse at Exodus 30:23, it can be found in Song of Songs 4:14, Isaiah 43:24, Jeremiah 6:20, and Ezekiel 27:19...
As we can see from the above scripture, in the garden of the Lord… qaneh-bosem - calamus - sweet cane is decidedly considered to be amongst the chief herbs and spices.
Most careful notice should likewise be taken of how it is also strongly associated with incense - and the manner in which it is offered - or, as is found in the previous example, not offered at all - in this instance by the people to whom He first gave his commandments: the nation of Israel.
In previous verse, we may observe how the Most High is not at all pleased with what might today be called holding to a staunchly 'prohibitionist' attitude which seeks to avoid offering and even using qaneh-bosem entirely, as well as create unjust ‘legalisms’ which can force others -- some who may even offer it with reverence and humility in the name of YAH -- to abstain as well, whilst stigmatizing, marginalizing, subjugating, imprisoning -- and at times, even murdering those who will not comply.
In this verse, one finds His people going to the opposite extreme, wherein the He rejects all of their offerings of 'sweet cane' as 'not acceptable' — but in this instance because Israel had failed to keep His commandments, and therefore, sadly -- due to the fact that they really should have known better, they have become no different the heathen who offer it to false gods all the day long, some even worshipping the creation over the One who created it – committing idolatry by making the plant itself into a false god.
As His word clearly reveals, the Creator of qaneh-bosem does not find it at all acceptable when His people go to either extreme in regards to their use of it (Deuteronomy 5:32 & Matthew 7:13-14).
Being on the one hand, either completely against offering it at all -- or on the other, offering it blasphemously whilst living in rebellious violation of His law -- which since the first coming of Messiah has been for all mankind to repent and keep the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) known commonly as the “golden rule”.
Simply put, THE MOST important thing to understand regarding qaneh-bosem aka cannabis — and this cannot be emphasized enough — is what the Creator of the plant desires from those who use it in any way; specifically that one must offer it in HIS NAME.
First and foremost it is to be offered in remembrance of Yahshua HaMashiyach – Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, whenever one is breathing incense or eating it as the holy shewbread or body and blood of the Lord, which shall be discussed more shortly.
Those with wisdom and understanding will heed diligently the warnings in these verses where the word qanehbosem-calamus-sweet cane specifically appears and the judgments for scoffing at it -- or using it in an idolatrous manner, are extremely severe.
The overwhelmingly clear message from the above study is that whether Jew or Gentile, the Almighty is ready to judge any and all inhabitants of the earth who violate His commandments regarding cannabis and make sacrifice to idols instead of the Most High alone.
BOTTOM LINE: The scripture is abundantly clear on this matter -- it is crucial to understand that only pure offerings in His name and while living by His commandments are acceptable in His presence.
In this context, let us look back a bit now to recall very carefully THE SYMBOLISM of how the Lord first appeared to Moses and spoke with him at the burning bush, and then how He instructed the holy men of Israel to make offerings as they were led by the pillars of clouds and fire through the wilderness before entering into into the promised land.
Thus, regarding all holy offerings such as these – and in particular, after the wilderness period as they moved to the promised land and built the temple – let us now return to the related subject of the offering of incense, for which there were strict commandments -- starting always with remembrance of the first one, as given in the Torah to Moses and the temple priests -- and many more throughout the scripture which display the Most High’s very clear indignation towards anyone who makes these kind of sacrifices to anyone or anything besides Him alone…
In the book of the prophet Isaiah, one will find a similar theme at work...
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