Words Are That Powerful

Moshe Kempinski
Torah Portion ; Matot (Numbers 30:2-32:42)


The Torah portion of Matot begins with the admonitions regarding vows, oaths and obligations. The old adage" sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never harm me" is simply false in Judaism. Words are not harmless nor are they harmful. Yet words have power. The world was created with words. Relationships are built up with words. Our children discover themeselves through words...theirs and ours. Words thrown about carelessly can foster hatred and can lead to the destruction of the temple, both spiritual and physical.. Yet on the other hand words can create songs and words become the vessels of prayer.


Yet we are so careless with them! King Solomon wrote "Better that you not vow, than that you should vow and not fulfill.( KOHELLET/ Ecclesiastes 5:4)


Words have an innate power. In Hebrew the name for a “word” is DAVAR and the name for a "thing" is a davar. We learn that words create new reality and at the same time that reality speaks words. That is the basis of our relationship with the Infinite One .We use words to bridge the seemingly impossibly wide chasm between we the finite and He the infinite. At the same time the Creator speaks with us through his creation, things speak. That is the secret of the bridge between us that was taught to Moshe ( Moses) in the cleft in the rock when he asked G-d to show him His Glory.



Our torah portion then warns us of the power, potential and dangers of words and vows. It sets up the danger signals we are to be watchful for upon encountering individuals who throw words aimlessly or who use words as weapons. It also helps mankind be wary of the individual who has so mastered the power of words that he begins to believe that words are more important than truth and more critical than action. We need to be especially aware and wary of individuals like that when they enter positions of power and greatness like the Presidency of the most powerful nation in our physical reality. Such a mixture can be very heady and is extremely dangerous for the world in general and for that individual as well. That is so because words don’t only endanger and harm, they also entice and entrap the speaker.


As in all cases related to the words of the Torah portions , they do not only hearken from the past, they speak to the very present. As our ancient sages have taught us the words of the weekly Torah portion will also speak into the very reality of the week wherein the portion is read.


Listen to the words in the national arena and hear the subtext and be prepared and at the same time be careful with your choice of words in your own very personal relationships.

Words are that powerful