1S1-5: One Of The Most POWERFUL Hebrew Phrases In The Entire Bible

“This man went up from his city every year to worship and sacrifice to Adonai-Tzva’ot in Shiloh. The two sons of ‘Eli, Hofni and Pinchas, were cohanim of Adonai there.”-1 Samuel 1:3

We’re told that Elkanah and his family traveled up to Shiloh every year to worship ADONAI-TZVA’OT in Shiloh.

Now here’s the thing…

This is the FIRST time ever in Scripture this phrase appears.

That’s right folks.

Before the book of 1st Samuel, this phrase is nowhere to be found.

But moving forward we’ll discover they’re actually 3 different variations of this phrase as follows:

ELOHIM TZAVA’OT (God of Hosts)

ADONAI TZAVA-OT (Lord of Hosts)

YHWH TZAVAOT (Yahweh of Hosts)

So what exactly do these phrases mean?

Well, we all know that ELOHIM, ADONAI and YHWH all refer to the one true God of Israel.

But what about hosts?

What does that word mean?

Well, from a Scriptural perspective, when connected to a God title or name, it can only mean one of two things:

Angels or Stars.

In both cases it refers to things located in the heavens.

So it’s speaking of “heavenly bodies” or “heavenly hosts”.

A “host” basically means a huge number or a multitude.

Kind of like in the following expression:

“I will surely bless you
and make your descendants
as numerous as the stars
in the sky and as the
sand on the seashore.”
-Genesis 22:17

Along the same lines, we’ll often encounter the expressions a “host” of angels or a “host” of stars in the Scriptures.

But in this case the word being used is not TZAVA’OT.

It’s TZAVA which is an adjective form of the word.

The point being made here is whether it’s ELOHIM TZAVA’OT, ADONAI TZAVA’OT or YHVH TZAVA’OT… 

The idea is that the God we worship reigns supreme over BOTH the stars and the angels, each that are so huge in number they can’t be counted.

However, there’s also a deeper meaning that can be read into this.

“Stars” are physical objects we can see with our own eyes, right?

They’re visible things we can even take photos of when it gets dark.

But angels are different, right?

Since angels are spiritual entities, they’re invisible to the human eye.

So the REAL point being made here is that the God we worship rules supreme over BOTH the visible and the invisible realms.

Now ain’t that super cool?

This is a majestic expression speaking of God’s sovereignty over all things seen and unseen…

BOTH the living and non-living things He has created.

I LOVE THIS!!!

And find it amazing how’s there so much spiritual power packed into one tiny little Hebrew phrase.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

“For in him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers
or rulers or authorities;
all things have been created
through him and for him.”
-Colossians 1:16

 ^“For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor other heavenly rulers,
neither what exists nor what is coming,
neither powers above nor powers below,
nor any other created thing
will be able to separate us from
the love of God which comes to us
through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.”
-Romans 8:38-39