-->If we are Believers and Followers of the Master Yahushua, then we find ourselves compelled, by the mercy of Yahuah that has been extended to us, to...
"Afflict your soul" = "deny yourself" = "give up your right to yourself"... "cause subjection of the desires within yourself to be subject to Yahuah." DAILY!!!
Otherwise, these desires will kill us and others... for eternity! The wages of sin is death.
Greek: Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 2 Timothy 2:13
"yourself"... 1438 heautou {heh-ow-too'} - himself, herself, yourself, itself, themselves, etc....
In other words... to lose sight of one's self and one's own interests in capitulation to a greater cause or calling...
2 Timothy Chapter 2
1) You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace... the mercy and loving kindness of Yahuah, expressed in the actions which reveal the good will toward you... that is in the Anointed One, Yahushua;
2) And the things that you have heard from me, as I spoke of them among many witnesses, the same things are you to commit to... that you are to lay the task and duty of trust and responsibility for them on... place the responsibility for them in the care of... faithful men, who shall then be able to teach these things to others also.
3) You, for this very reason, are to endure hardness,... 2553 kakopatheo {kak-op-ath-eh'-o} - the afflictions of poor, rough conditions of living, and the troubles that are associated with them... as a good soldier... 4757 stratiotes {strat-ee-o'-tace} - a soldier... of Yahushua the Anointed One.
4) No man that wars... 4754 strateuomeai {strat-yoo'-om-ahee} - No one who leads soldiers to war or to battle... or who is a soldier... entangles himself with the affairs of... 4230 pragmateia {prag-mat-i'-ah} - in the business or the day to day occupation of time and resources while endeavors are made to procure for ones self... life... 979 bios {bee'-os} - any of that by which life is sustained and made more comfortable. Such as resources, wealth, or goods and possessions...; so that he may please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier... 4758 stratologeo {strat-ol-og-eh'-o} - so that he can be approved of by the commander who has chosen him to be one of the assets and forces he has collected together, to serve as a soldier under him...
5) Or, if a man who lives every day life also strive... 118 athleo {ath-leh'-o} - suffers and endures as he contends with others in a contest in the public games... for masteries,... 4737 stephanoo {stef-an-o'-o} - so that he can be the victor in the contest; and be honored because of the crown he has earned as a mark of his prowess... yet is he not crowned,... 4737 stephanoo {stef-an-o'-o} - still, he will not be victorious and be able to wear the crown of honor... except... unless... he strive... 118 athleo {ath-leh'-o} - suffers and endures as he contends... lawfully... 3545 nominos {nom-im'-oce} - properly... in a manner that is agreeable to the rules and regulations of the game or contest he is participating in...
6) The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits.... 2590 karpos {kar-pos'} - the fruit... the results... that which originates or comes from something... in this case, the results of the labors and diligence of the husbandman...
8) Remember that Yahushua, the Anointed One from the seed... 4690 sperma {sper'-mah} - the collective geneaological lineage... of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel... 2098 euaggelion {yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on} - my good news... my good report regarding the kingdom and dominion of Yahuah on the earth, which began to exist with the arrival of the only Son of mankind ever fathered by Yahuah. Which is the Master Yahushua. Who rose from the dead; and will return as King of the earth and High Priest of all Israel. A dominion and kingdom that will never be overthrown or end for the remainder of the time of mankind on the earth...
9) Because of this news I suffer trouble; and am treated as if I am an evil doer. Even to the point of being taken captive and held, as a prisoner, bound with chains. Nevertheless, even though this may be so, the word of Yahuah, our Elohim, is not bound.
11) It is a faithful saying:... This, that I have just written, is a statement of faith. For my reasoning is this...: If we are dead together with him, then, because He has risen, we shall also live together with him.
12) If we suffer... 5278 hupomeno {hoop-om-en'-o} - if we remain stedfast, and endure; and bear up under the load of provocations, adversities, and persecutions that are associated with our comprehension and conviction of Truth regarding Who and What He is..., then we shall also reign together with him; and if we deny... 720 arneomai {ar-neh'-om-ahee} - if we reject... Him... if we reject the concepts and ideas of Who and What He is..., then He also will deny... 720 arneomai {ar-neh'-om-ahee} - reject... us... and we have no salvation from the destruction to come from and that is not of His Father's Order; and we do not obtain the eternal state of perfection in which we would have existed...
13) For, even if we, who have been called... we, who have been beckoned by Yahuah to receive His Salvation and Rescue through Yahushua... do not believe Who and What He... Yahushua... is, in some way or part, He still remains faithful to all of Who and What He is. He cannot deny... 720 arneomai {ar-neh'-om-ahee} - He cannot reject... He cannot disregard His own interests and prove out to be false to... Himself...
Regardless of what we do or not do, He cannot deny any part of Who and What He IS!!!...
"afflict"
6031 `anah {aw-naw'} - to humble... to afflict... to weaken oneself... to submit... to subject ones self... to humiliate someone... to mishandle... to defile...
afflict them - Genesis 15:13-16 13 And He... Yahuah... said to Abram: Know of a surety... be aware of the fact... that your seed... your offspring... your children... your descendants and progeny... shall be a stranger... will be foriegners... in a land... a country or territory...; and that they shall serve as subjects and labor for those who do own that land or country; and that they who do occupy and rule within that land shall afflict... 6031 anah {aw-naw} - will impose distress on them, with mental and/or bodily pain, and humble them... cause them to be in subjection to them... for four hundred years. 14 Know also that the nation, whom they shall serve, I will judge; and that afterward they shall come out from that land and servitude with great substance. 15 You shall go to your fathers... you will die and be numbered together with your ancestors... in peace... shalom... You shall be buried in a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they shall come hither... 2008 hennah {hane'-naw} - here... there... again... (the understanding of this portion of the text is hypothetical for now) They will return again to this land that I have promised to give to you in the fourth generation of your descendants that will continue after they have come out from that foreign land and oppression...(must check historical timeline and account, if possible, where Abram is at this moment on the earth)... For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
dealt hardly or harshly with (Gen 16:6) -
Genesis 16:1-5 - for context - Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian whose name was Hagar; 2 And Sarai said to Abram: Look now, Yahuah has restrained... prevented... me from bearing children. I pray... I ask... you to go in to my maid. It may be that I can obtain children through her. Abram hearkened to... listened to the reasoning of... the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her Egyptian maid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan; and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 So he went in to Hagar and she conceived; and Sarai saw that Hagar had conceived and that her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 Sarai then said unto Abram: My wrong is upon you. I have given my maid into your bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahuah judge what has been done rightly or wrongly between me and you.
6 But Abram said to Sarai: Look! See with your mind and understand that your maidservant is in your hand... is in the confines of your power and authority... Do to her as it pleases you. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her... 6031 anah {aw-naw} - in the Piel sense - when Sarai chastised Hagar..., humbled Hagar in a harsh manner with the force of her authority and position.., she fled from her face... Hagar ran away from Sarai's presence... 7 And the messenger that had been sent by Yahuah found... met... her by a fountain of water in the wilderness. Which is the fountain that is found along the roadway to Shur... Shur is a place on the eastern border of Egypt... Israel passed through the wilderness of Shur after crossing the Red Sea... It is also called "the wilderness of Etham" in Numbers 33:8, which compares with Exodus 15:22. Also Etham, and the wilderness at its border, is found in Exodus 13:20... 8 And he said: Hagar! Sarai's maid! From where did you come? And where will you go? And she said: I have run away from the face of my mistress Sarai.
submit yourself (Gen 16:9) - 9 And the messenger sent from Yahuah said to her: Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under... 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - place yourself in subjection to... her hands... the power and authority of her status and position... 10 Then, the messenger sent from Yahuah said to her: I will multiply your seed... your offspring... your number of collective descendants... your progeny... exceedingly, so that it shall not be able to be numbered because of its multitude.
defiled her (Gen 34:2) - Dinah, the daughter of Leah who bore her, gave birth to her, and delivered her to Yacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled... 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - in the Piel sense - humbled and mishandled... her.
taskmasters to afflict them - Exodus 1:7-14 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people: Look!, The people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we are! 10 Come! We must deal wisely with them! So that they do not multiply any more; and so that, if it comes to pass that a war breaks out, that they join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and in so doing get themselves up out of the land. 11 So it was that for this reasoning they did appoint taskmasters over them to afflict them... 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - in the Qal sense - to cause them to be occupied... to be busied and bowed down... with their burdens; and they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, named Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more the Egyptians afflicted the children of Israel, the more they multiplied and grew; and the Egyptians were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 Because of this the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour... 6531 perek {peh'-rek} - with harshness... with severity... with cruelty... 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage. In the making and use of mortar, and in the production of brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All the service work, in which they made the Israelites serve them, was with rigour... with harshness, severity, and cruelty...
humble yourself - Exodus 10:3 Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him: This is what is intended to be said from my heart, says Yahuah, Elohim of the Hebrews: How long will you refuse to humble yourself... 3031 `anah {aw'-naw} - Niphal sense - bow down... humble yourself... allow yourself to be humbled... before me... before My face... in My presence...? Let my people go! So that they can serve ME!
afflict, as in oppress - Exodus 22:22-24 22 You shall not afflict - 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - Piel sense - oppress, mishandle, cause affliction to... any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict... 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - Piel sense - oppress, mishandle, cause affliction to... them in any way; and they cry out at all to me, I will surely hear their cry. 24 Then my wrath shall become kindled, and it will burn toward you, and I will kill you with the sword; and then, your wives will be widows, and your children will be fatherless.
sing, as in the act of weakening ones self, in this case, through the actions and behavior associated with revelry, partying, and celebration -
Exodus 32:15-18 And Moses turned and went down from the mount, and the two tablets of the testimony were in his hand.... Moses was carrying the two tablets that bore witness to what had been spoken of by Yahuah in commandment to His chosen, pre-selected People while they were gathered at the base of Mount Hermon, or Sinai after having been rescued from slavery and opression in a land that was not their own, as was promised to Abraham 430 years before... The tablets were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 The tablets were the work of Elohim, and the writing was the writing of Elohim, which was engraved upon the tablets. 17 And when Yahoshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses: There is a noise... a sound... of war in the camp. 18 And Moses said: It is not the voice of those who shout... 6030 `anah {aw-naw'} - loud shouting of those who are responding and giving a strong vocal answer... for mastery... 1369 gebuwrah {gheb-oo-raw} - which the mighty and brave make during acts of valor and contention for conquest..., neither is it the sound of those who cry for... 6030 `anah {aw-naw'} - cry out in a strong response to... being overcome; but instead, it is the noise of those who are singing... 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - Piel sense - It is the sound of those who are weakening themselves through the loud, boisterous merrymaking and singing that takes place during a party or celebration... that I hear.
***The word 06031 `anah {aw'-naw} - weakening or humbling - appears 84 times in O.T.
"your soul"
5315 nephesh {neh'-fesh} - self... appetite... mind... desire... emotion... passion... the base, natural, instinctive needs or wants of any man/woman/child... includes the associated inherent character traits and behavior reflected in external manifestations of selfishness, pride, greed, envy, self preservation, and quest for domination through promotion of the idea that the self is better or greater in some way(s) than the self of others...
Leviticus 16:29-31 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: In the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, ye shall afflict - 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - humble... cause to be weak... your souls... 5315 nephesh {neh'-fesh} - your selves... All that makes you what you are as a part of mankind... suppress your appetites and desires, your emotions and passions, all that makes you who and what you are while on this earth and in this life. Subject them to my will and authority..., and do no work at all. No work of any kind is to be done by any of you who are native born to the land, or by any among you that are foreigners to the land that are traveling among you: 30 For on that day shall an atonement be made for you... which you cannot make for yourselves..., to cleanse you. So that you may be clean from all your sins before Yahuah. 31 A sabbath of rest is this day to you; and you shall afflict your souls... and you will cause yourselves to be weak and humble before Me..., by a statute... according to this limitation that has been prescribed for you, by Me,... for ever.
Leviticus 23:27-32 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and you... collectively... shall afflict your souls... 06031 `anah 05315 nephesh - purposely weaken and humble yourselves before Me...; and offer an offering made by use of fire to Yahuah. 28 And you shall do no work in that same day. For it is a day of atonement. A day to make an atonement for you before Yahuah your Elohim. 29 For whatever soul it is that will not be afflicted... whoever it is that will not cause him/herself to be humble before Me... in that same day, he/she shall be cut off from among his/her people. 30 Whatsoever soul it be that doe any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work. It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be to you... collectively... a sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict your souls... 6031 `anah {aw'-naw} - humble... cause to be weak... 5315 nephesh {neh'-fesh} - your selves... All that makes you what you are as a part of mankind... suppress your appetites and desires, your emotions and passions, all that makes you who and what you are while on this earth and in this life. Subject them to my will and authority..., you will cause yourselves to be humble before Me... In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, shall you rest and observe your sabbath.
Here is Isaiah 58:5 through 14 in three parts
*** Here is Yahuah's answer to the attitude and behavior of these people given through the prophet Isaiah***
*** First – a strong rebuke!
Look! In the day of your fast you find delight in being taskmasters who are exerting oppressive, demanding pressure upon all who are doing your labors for you. 4 Look! You fast for the cause of creating controversy and contention, and to attack others with the fist of wickedness! You will not fast... You will not abstain from food and/or drink... for a day in order to make your voice to be heard on high.
*** Second – Yahuah points out the flaws in their teaching and pursuance of only the mechanics of His statute for this set apart day of Atonement for them.
Isaiah 58:5-14 Is this a fast that I have chosen? Is this a day for a man to afflict his soul? To bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out a bed to lay in made of sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this, that you are doing on this day, a time of abstaining from your appetites and desires and an acceptable day to Yahuah?
*** Third – Yahuah corrects the perception of what is supposed to be taking place on this day – as well as on this day every fifty years of release – on the year of Jubilees
6 Isn't the manner of fasting... abstaining..., that I have chosen for you, to take off the bonds and bondages that come from the indentured servitude which you achieve unjust gain(s) from because of the wickedness that is in your hearts? Isn't it to undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free? Isn't it that you are to break every oppressive, binding yoke that comes from wickedness and unjust gain? 7 Is it not my intention that you are to divide up your bread and give it to the hungry? That you are to bring the poor that have been thrown out to your house? When you see the naked one, isn't it my intention that you are to cover him; and that you are not to hide yourselves from your own blood relatives so that you will not have to be responsible for them?
*** Fourth – Now Yahuah points out the differences between the blessings and cursings that must be;. That it is the cursings that they are now living in; and that there are different, merciful and much less greedy and pride filled choices that His Beloved Chosen People should be making, and why!
8 Do these things, for these reasons, and your light will then break open like that of the morning, and your health will be caused to grow speedily; and it is then that your righteousness precede you wherever you go. The honor, abundance, and splendor of Yahuah will be your rearguard. 9 Then will you call, and Yahuah will answer. Then you shalt cry out and He will say, Here I am. If you take away, from out of the midst of yourselves, the yoke... the yoke of oppression and bondage that comes from greed, selfishness, and pride..., the putting forth of the finger... with which you point out every flaw in others... demanding subjection to your will... while never accusing yourself, and the speaking of vanity... the words of falseness... which stem from wickedness and created trouble for others...; 10 Also, if you draw out... give what pleases... your soul... yourself... if you give what pleases who and what you are in this life... to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul... and give satisfaction to the ones who themselves are humble and know their place before Yahuah. Who are not contentious and causing strife, yet still in need...; then will your light rise... shine out... in obscurity... in the darkness and secret places..., and your darkness will be like the light that shines in the middle of the day. 11 Also, Yahuah will guide you continually, and satisfy your thirst in drought, and make your bones fat; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters never fail to flow. 12 And they who shall be a part of you... collectively... shall rebuild the old, wasted places. You... if you listen to what I am telling you... shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called: The repairer of the breach! The restorer of paths to dwell in! 13 If you return your foot toward the sabbath and not continue doing what is your pleasure on my holy day. And if you call the sabbath a delight! The holy of... the set apart consecrated day that belongs only to... Yahuah! IF you are honorable; and shalt honor him by not doing your own ways... customs... traditions..., nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking and teaching your own words: 14 Then you will delight yourself in Yahuah; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Yacob, your father! For the mouth of Yahuah has spoken!
How do we "`anah nefesh" today? Yahushua said to take up your "torture stake"... give up your right to yourself... and follow Him... accompany Him as He leads. Follow His example and follow the instructions of His Spirit and Word to His people... His Sheep. YHWH will lead us into all truth, change us into His glory, and show us what to change in our lives. We are to "submit to YHWH" and by doing so we naturally "resist the devil" and "`anah nefesh." We weaken ourselves, or our perception of ourselves, by causing our desires, of whatever kind, to be subject to His Spirit, Nature, and Order. We experience a type of Yom Kippur every single day when we willingly give ourselves to our Master, the High Priest, Yahushua, to entrust Him with our lives and eternal well being.
The Apostle, Saul, said: "Let this mind be in you...
...form of Yahuah
Colossians 2:8-9 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition(s) of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to the teaching, instructions, and example of the Anointed One. 9 For in him... in the Anointed One, Yahushua, dwells... lives... all the fulness of the Nature and Order of Yahuah bodily.
Return to Phillippians 2...
..., thought it not robbery for Him to be equal with Yahuah and still be in subjection to Yahuah; 7 But He, instead, made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and He was made, by Yahuah, to be in the likeness of men; 8 And being found in the form and fashion of a man, He further humbled Himself and became obedient to the death that mankind must undergo, even the type of death that comes from the torture stake. 9 Wherefore Yahuah also has highly exalted Him, and given him a name... a reputation... a fame... a memorial and authority... which is above every name that exists in Yahuah's Creation except for Yahuah Himself...: 10 So that at the name of Yahushua every knee should bow. Those in heaven. Those in the earth, and those that are under the earth; 11 Also, so that every tongue should confess that Yahushua the Anointed One is the Master to Whom they belong. This will be done to the glory of Yahuah the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as you have done in my presence only; but now, much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is Yahuah Who works within you. In both His purpose and in His workings to put forth energy for the sake of benevolence and good will.
