SIVAN 5786

SIVAN 5786

So much happens in April/May of the sacred and national calendar year. Such fullness has made it difficult to carve out time for writing about the Hebraic month of Sivan.  Add Mother’s Day and Memorial Day to the annual celebration of Pentecost and you can be celebrating Sivan almost 24/7. It is all good though. At least we are still inside the month of Sivan, It will not last much longer. I’m finally able to be writing this article about Sivan’s significance. Yes; Sivan is winding down. It has been amazing so far.  Here are a few thoughts.

MEANING OF THE WORD SIVAN

Sivan began on the secular date of May 17^th. I’m writing in the secular year of 2026. The word “Sivan” has the meaning of “a season” or “a fixed date or time.  This month carried us through a very important biblical holy day called Pentecost.  The Hebrew name for Pentecost is “Shavuot.” 

Most followers of Yeshua began counting the Omer right after Passover.  When we reached Day 50, we passed over into The Day of Pentecost for this year. I hope your celebration was as blessed as ours. This year we were small in number but large in heart. One of our daughters was able to join us at home for a Pentecost brunch. I did take pics of my early preparations, but forgot to take pics of the three of us together. We were enjoying too much good conversation and I wasn’t paying attention to photos. It was a beautiful brunch. Just three made it cozy and intimate. Afterwards we caught up with Jacob’s Tent and viewed their on-line services. The Presence of God was felt in every aspect of the Day.

SYMBOLIC FOODS

By the way, we did fill those plates with eggs and french toast. To clarify, this early meal was the beginning of the first day of the celebration. So, we chose to eat only dairy foods. Later that same day, my husband and I enjoyed a dinner celebration with meat as the main course.

If you know the traditions, you know we only eat dairy in the early celebration. There is a pause with no eating in the middle. This first dairy meal is to symbolize how we lived before receiving Torah. We were like babies who could not eat meat. Therefore, I filled our plates with eggs, French toast, and fresh fruits.

Our dairy dessert/treat later (midday) consisted of a pear mouse topped with fresh blueberries. We ate this in the middle of the day followed by a pause with no food at all as we played The Story Game for the first time. This game was great fun, and our stories were imaginative and a bit funny. Next Pentecost we are only going to allow stories about Pentecost. Consequently, that will make the game a lot harder. Meanwhile, a much later dinner was symbolic of AFTER receiving Torah. This is when we became mature enough to eat meat.

THE TIME OF PENTECOST

If you aren’t familiar with Pentecost, click this link for more detailed information. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/everything-pentecost/. 

Actually, Pentecost started out being an agricultural celebration of the wheat harvest.  The ancients brought in the barley harvest at Passover. After Passover, they counted 50 days to arrive at Pentecost.  That would open the celebration of the time of harvesting the wheat crops.  At both harvests the very first sheaf of grain was brought to the Temple.  The waive sheafs were offered up to God as a thanksgiving offering for the harvest.  Annually, this offering to God would be offered before the people began to enjoy the harvest’s blessings. Most importantly, God always gets the first and the best of our abundance.

On the other hand, this annual appointed time was forgotten or forbidden when the Children of Israel became slaves in Egypt.  However, through a series of plagues, God persuaded Pharaoh to release the people.

Consequently, the Children of Israel were finally able to go out to the wilderness and worship Yahweh. As a result, that journey through the wilderness eventually brought the people to Mt. Sinai.On the mountain, God met with Moses and gave them the Torah.  In addition, the giving of Torah happened on the day that was once known only as the celebration of the wheat harvest. 

A GREATER SPIRITUAL HARVEST

Annually, the people celebrated receiving this grain for their daily bread.  Additionally, they began to celebrate receiving the Torah too. Then, Messiah came.  Further, after Messiah was crucified on Passover, He miracalously rose alive from the grave on the third day. 

In those 50 days between Passover and Pentecost, Yeshua was a living, dying, resurrected symbol. He symbolized the physical wheat harvest which had a parallel meaning for spiritual souls.  At Passover Yeshua Messiah was crucified and died. Like a seed, He was planted in the ground.  Three days later, He rose from the grave. Yeshua Messiah was symbolically like a vine making its way out of the earth. The vine began peaking through the ground and brought new life.  Therefore, Yeshua told His disciples to be in Jerusalem at the end of the 50 days after Passover. Certainly, there was a good reason for this request. Above all other things we celebrate, this was the day God sent The Holy Spirit to live within Yeshua’s disciples.

Though Yeshua would no longer be physically with YHVH’s people, His Spirit would dwell in their bodies. The Holy Spirit would become the conduit which connected Heaven to Earth. This happened by The Holy Spirit coming to live within the spirits of all believers and followers of Yeshua Messiah.  This new type of spiritual harvest was the fuller meaning of the appointed annual date called Pentecost. Today we celebrate all of these things!

A REVERSAL OF BABEL

Yeshua Messiah made a permanent connection between heaven and earth available to us. By doing so – He reversed the curse of The Tower of Babel.  Those who once had their languages divided were now allowed to understand one another.  A people long divided could now be gathered into one body united under Yeshua.

The story is recorded in your Bible in Acts Chapter 2.  Pentecost is known as the day God gathered a people and moved into their hearts.  We are now the walking Temples of God. His Holy Spirit is housed inside His people and dwells inside their hearts.

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN SIVAN

We’ve spoken of Pentecost and noted The Torah was given to Moses during this month.  This was also the month when King David died in 940 BCE. This seems almost too much for one month’s history. Yet there are many more things to think about when we approach the month of Sivan.  Here are some more of the symbols we remember when we think of this interesting and fruitful  month.

TRIBE OF ISRAEL REPRESENTING SIVAN

The tribe representative of Sivan is Zebulun.  Zebulun represents movement, trade, and flow.  The flow is both physical and spiritual. This tribe teaches us how to live in alignment with divine abundance and purpose. The scriptures declare, “Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall adjoin Sidon.” (Genesis 49:13.)

Zebulon was a tribe of traders. They had a connection to maritime activities. Perhaps this month will reveal trading as well as wars on the seas. That posibility shoud sound a little familar to those in the modern day world. Moses said of Zebulun, “For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand.” (Deuteronomy 33:19.) Could one of those “treasures hidden in the sand” be oil? I wonder. 

The tribe of Zebulun was associated with harvesting Chilazon. Chilazon is the aquatic creature that creates the blue dye associated with the blue tassels on the tallit. Zebulun had an anointing for abundance and locating hidden treasures. It also seems that Zebulun modeled generosity.  Jewish scholars teach that the tribe of Zebulun was very generous. They supported the tribe of Issachar in their Torah study.   Zebulun’s generosity was shown through commercial endeavors. This modeled that ALL deeds can be carried out to pursue and glorify the name of God. By supporting their brothers, the tribe of Zebulun demonstrated a heart that honored God’s Word through the gift of generosity. 

BATTLE READY

The tribe of Zebulun was recognized for its willingness to step into the battle. We see this in the following scripture passages. Zebulun and Naphtali were called by Deborah and Barak to fight against Sisera (Judges 4:6.) The people of Zebulun risked their lives, and so did Naphtali on the terraced fields (Judges 5:18). From Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000 (1 Chronicles 12:33). Are we ready to do spiritual battle?

WORSHIP READY

The tribe of Zebulun was also remembered for being a very humble tribe. Zebulun came to Jerusalem for Passover in response to Hezekiah’s call (2 Chronicles 30:10-11.) This moment marked a return to the Lord. It became a great physical and spiritual unifier for the people of God. Are we worship ready today?

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM ZEBULUN

Zebulun teaches us to effectively embrace our own inheritance. Also this tribe teaches how to embrace the specific role or purpose God has set before each of us. This tribe encourages us to take the borders. They are a good example of embracing challenges, The fruit of embracing challenges brings hidden treasures. It provides the abundance of the fruits of the Spirit. These are helpful spiritual traits which advance God’s Kingdom.

LIVING WITH GENEROSITY

This tribe of Zebulun challenges us to learn to live generously and support God’s Word.  They teach us to realize even the mundane things of life can further His Kingdom. The mundane becomes sacred when your life is submitted to Him. Zebulun was a living example of the practice of sewing seeds.  Their ways showed life isn’t just about giving one gift, but practicing a whole lifestyle of giving.  How do you do this?  You choose to show up for battle when you are called to do so.  Also, you decide to show up for worship with humble hearts whenever God calls. When you see a brother in need, you help.

IMITATING THE HEART OF YESHUA 

It is interesting that Yeshua Messiah’s ministry began in the lands given to the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. This was the Galilee. His Galilee ministry became a fulfillment of the prophetic words spoken by Isaiah.

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:12-17)

Perhaps this season is a good time for our witness of the Gospel to flourish and thrive.  Who have you shared Yeshua’s message with today?  Are you constantly planting seeds? Many are waiting to be offered this hope for a future.

GEMSTONE ON HIGH PRIESTLY EPHOD 

This observance of a monthly gemstone from the ephod comes from the biblical description of the High Priest’s breastplate.  On this breastplate each of the 12 tribes of Israel are represented by a precious stone. The stone for Zebulun is the diamond. The diamond symbolizes the tribe’s qualities of prosperity, generosity, and spiritual insight.  The brilliance of a diamond represents clarity and truth.

CONSTELLATION

The sign of Sivan from the Mazzaroth is Gemini—Twins. The duality here again invites contemplation: two sides, two souls, two natures, working toward harmony. This duality also appears in the Hebrew letters associated with the month. Those letters are Zayin and Reish. Together they spell zair, meaning “small” or “crown.” The combination of these two letters also hints to the word raz, meaning “secret.” Sivan holds the “secret” of balancing opposites and accessing our inner crown.

The Torah calls Sivan the “third month.” This is the third month following the first month of Nissan. Nissan represents the godly soul. The second month of Iyar is aligned with the animal soul. Nissan is the month of sudden leaps—like the goat (the sign of Nissan.) God’s people left Egypt with spiritual urgency. Iyar, (associated with the ox,) represents the slow, effortful refining of the physical self. Sivan is what happens when those two forces meet. It is the synthesis of the spontaneous and the steady. It represents the spiritual connection of the physical, the divine and the earthly. That’s why the giving of Torah occurred in Sivan—because Torah itself is the bridge between heaven and earth.

CONNECTION FROM RECEIVING TORAH

Looking at this mazal (constellation) in Sivan, we think of the twins symbolizing two identical “tablets of the covenant.” This Covenant was given to Moses during the month of Sivan. Tradition teaches it was on Rosh Chodesh Sivan that the Israelites “camped at the foot of Sinai.” They waited in preparation to receive the Torah (Exodus 19:6). The verb used for “camped” in this verse is in the singular. It is taught that the moment the Israelites determined to receive the Torah, they were united in heart and mind. All were like One single person. This is exactly what the true church should be today.

Sivan’s symbol of the twins pictures two distinct human beings sharing one womb. The twins represent the harmony that manifests when people celebrate their differences while coming together to work for a higher goal. In the case of the Israelites, the goal was receiving and following the Torah. What was good for them is still good for us today.

HEBREW ALPHABET FEATURED IN SIVAN

Zayin is the Hebraic alphabet symbolic for Sivan.  Zayin means weapon, sword, or crown. The letter comes from the word meaning “sustenance or nourishment.” God’s Word is all of these things.  It is a  sword and spiritual weapon (Hebrews 4:12.)  Also, we can see Torah as a form of nourishment (Jeremiah 15;16.)  Torah is also described as a crown of glory (Proverbs 4:7-9.)  The sword is a weapon in both the physical and spiritual realms. Both the possession and observance of God’s instructions empower and wield the sword in your hand. 

A TIME OF WHOLENESS AND COMPLETION

In Sivan we celebrate the integration of the spiritual and the material. This is to bring wholeness and completion. We recognize the two realms often share attributes. These attributes, once united, prepare us to receive. Unity, not only with one another but within ourselves, positions us to receive from the Father’s heart.

For instance, we can see with our physical eyes, but also with our spiritual eyes. True empowerment comes when we can discern in our spirits and truly see natural situations from a spiritual perspective. It is from this place that we can glean God’s direction. 

The spiritual and the physical are inseparable. However, we often live as if they are completely autonomous. In the Hebrew month of Sivan we seek to rectify that. In this season we have the opportunity to receive a fresh impartation of God’s instruction. We are equipped, filled, and crowned to walk toward the promises of God from a place of wholeness. 

CONNECTING HEAVEN AND EARTH

Observing God’s instruction transforms the mundane of the material world into a powerful Kingdom tool. It facilitates a connection between Heaven and Earth. Sivan is the spark that fuses the two worlds. It allows the spiritual to empower the physical, thus unlocking Kingdom destinies. Again, we see this modeled through the tribe of Zebulun.

NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH SIVAN

The number 7 is associated with Sivan.  In God’s Word, the number 7 plays a significant role in His instruction. Seven is God’s perfect number, representing wholeness and/or completeness.  There are seven days of creation. All creation was completed in this perfect number of days.  The seventh day is the Sabbath. The Sabbath is God’s perfect desire for us to walk in rest and relationship. 

Every seventh year is a sabbatical year. Seven sets of seven years (49 years) result in a Jubilee restoration.  Yom Teruah, the beginning of the Hebrew calendar civil year, is celebrated in the seventh month (Leviticus 23:23-25). 

According to Proverbs 9:1, the world was built upon seven pillars of wisdom (James 3:17).  Seven lampstands (the menorah), seven stars, and seven churches are mentioned in Revelation 1:20. Seven nations were cast out before the Israelites, according to Deuteronomy 7:1-5. Seven species listed in Deuteronomy 8:8 represent an abundant economy and God’s provision for the nation of Israel. These species are; wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. 

We know of seven festivals which guide and enrich the year. These are Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Hanukkah.  There are seven days of Passover and Sukkot. Also, there are seven days for sitting shivah (the mourning period in Judaism). There are seven gates we are each responsible for: 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils, and one mouth. 2+2+2+1=7. (Deuteronomy 16:18). 

SENSE REPRESENTING SIVAN

The sense symbolic of Sivan is walking.  Walking refers to the sense of continuous, ongoing progress.  It teaches the dynamic quality of Torah which is a Tree of Life. This tree continues to be revealed in new ways. Each law of the Torah is called a halacha, from the word ‘to walk.’ “The walking of the world belongs to him.”  A wise rabbi once proposed that we do not read this word as walking (halichot) but laws (halachot).  The Torah gives us the power to walk ahead. It helps us to leave our initial premises in order. We do this first to locate and then to elevate fallen divine sparks present throughout reality. And so it is said of Zebulun (the tribe of the month) “Be happy Zebulun when you go out.” 

It is said “The angels, who did not merit receiving the Torah are called “standers.” They do not possess the essential life dynamic of the souls of Israel. The souls of Israel, who received the Torah, are called “walkers amongst the standers.” The whole idea is to always continue to move on.  We are to learn new ways. God’s people must avoid being complacent and stagnant. With regard to the ‘strength’ of the Torah, it states, “They shall proceed from strength-to-strength, every one of them appears before YHVH in Zion.”  

From this concept of “walking” we learn the righteous have no rest. They rest neither in this world nor in the world to come. Even in the absolute state of rest and tranquility of the world to come, the souls of the righteous experience simultaneously the sense of ‘infinite progress.’ They are experiencing the progress of ‘walking ahead.’

SYMBOLIC BODY PART FOR SIVAN

The body parts symbolic of Sivan are the feet.  Sivan holds great significance for the feet, because the feet are for “walking.” (See the sense of the month of Sivan as discussed above.)  Walking is something we take for granted, but if we recall learning to walk as children, it required learning balance. First the right foot. It symbolizes inspiration, divine spark, leaping forward. Then the left foot. It symbolizes grounding, implementation and integration. Walking is how we bring inspiration into reality.

As we walk through this month of Sivan, we are not just marking time. We are entering into a process. This is the process of learning how to walk, spiritually and physically. This is also a process of merging opposites within ourselves. It is a process of bringing the divine into the practical. We see the revealing of the sacred in the seemingly mundane. May we merit to walk in balance, with both feet grounded and both eyes lifted. May we receive the Torah anew, not just as law, but as life. And may this month be one of blessing, clarity, and sacred integration for all of us.

 SYMBOLIC COLOR FOR SIVAN

 The symbolic color of the month of Sivan is blue. This association comes from the Chilazon. Chilazon is the mythical sea creature described in the Torah. This is the creature which produces the blue dye used to color the tzitzit (tassels) on the tallit (prayer shaw.) The tribe of Zebulun is linked with Sivan as a connection to the Chilazon and the blue dye.

Blue is also the color of the tzitzit. Tzitzit are worn as a reminder of God’s commandments. They symbolize truth, spirituality, and divine connection which are themes central to Sivan.

In addition to blue, Sivan is also associated with greenery and flowers. The greenery and flowers reflect the harvest season. These portray the natural beauty of the Land of Israel . However, the most traditional symbolic color tied to the month is blue. This use of blue is representing the divine revelation and the spiritual light of the Torah.

OTHER TRADITIONS OF SIVAN

As mentioned earlier, we celebrate Shavuot (Pentecost) during Sivan. One of the traditions of Shavuot (Pentecost) is to read the book of Ruth. Her story took place during this season. She moved to Israel during the barley harvest. Her romance with Boaz leads up to the time of the wheat harvest. This story reflects someone fully embracing her identity (Ruth 1:22.)

In Sivan, the newly born nation of Israel had to fully embrace its identity as the Chosen People. They were no longer slaves of Egypt. Their identity was founded the moment they received the Torah, God’s instruction. However, it was walked out over generations. They had to embrace a new mindset. Likewise, we must fully embrace and live in our identity as a new creation in Him (Corinthians 5:17). We must embrace this identity of the Bride of Yeshua. It is received in a moment but walked out over a lifetime. 

CONCLUSION

We simply do not have enough pages to explain the magnificence and significance of this amazing month of Sivan. If not for the limitation of time and space, I could cover this subject right on through eternity. I hope it has been a great learning month for all of you. 

VERSE:  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the ^[a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)

PRAYER: Father, please continue to bless us and teach us about the blessings which come from observing Your calendar and following Your ways. May our lives be lived out on earth as if in Heaven. Please continue to guide us through Sivan. Amen.

A Song for Sivan: https://youtu.be/wEQRt-TrHQs?si=sZC8IxXCAUlbZ3uf. Breathe On Us | Shavuot / Pentecost | English-Hebrew Messianic Worship Song