HEBREW WORD STUDY – THE MANUFACTURER –  O’OSAH  עשׁה

Psalms 121:2:  “My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”

I was reading this verse in my Hebrew Bible and I was intrigued by the Psalmist’s use of the word ‘osah which practically every translator renders as made or create.  It is curious that the Psalmist did not use the word bara’ which means create. 

The word bara’ create is to make something out of nothing.  God only created two things, the heavens, and the earth. From that point on He called everything else into being.  He created the substance from which everything is formed.  Everything that exists in the physical world is made up of the same thing, molecules, and atoms.  God simply put them together, caused them to vibrate a certain way and voila’ a tree, a mountain, you and me.  

So that doesn’t answer my question as to why the Psalmist did not use the word bara’ or create in the verse.  My help comes from the one who created this thing in the first place.  What better place to go for help than back to the one who created it in the first place?  

The word ‘osah is a word used for a laborer or a worker or one who produces something.  It is an agricultural term used for the production of things from the ground.  We go to the produce store to purchase fruits and vegetables, not meat or processed food but things that are grown or produced from the ground.  We called it produce or ‘osah in Hebrew. 

I think it is important to make the distinction here between creation and production. If we go to the creator for help that would imply we are going to someone who has finished His work.  He wound up the clock, started it ticking and then went off doing other things leaving us to straighten out all our bumps and bruises. 

Instead, the Psalmist uses the word ‘osah which tells us that the producer or manufacturer did not just produce a product and ship it out.  He, the  Manufacturer is still actively involved in his product, tweaking it, modifying it and bringing it to perfection which will take our lifetime.

I once had a car that had a problem. I took it to a local mechanic who could not fix it.  I took it to another mechanic who could not fix it, but this mechanic told me it is a manufacturer’s problem and that I need to take it to a dealer who was certified by the manufacturer.  Once I did this the problem was resolved because that mechanic specialized in that particular brand and was trained by the manufacturer of that brand. 

Therein lies the importance of the word ‘osah in this study verse. When we have a problem we run to various mechanics, be it a physician, a counselor, a teacher, a family member or trusted friend.  They can help and many times that do help us resolve our issue.  However, there are just some problems that require the ‘osah, the manufacturer to help us.