What’s Timshel?

The word comes from my favorite book “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck. I don’t have to tell you that he is a great writer and gets to the heart of human life. I have read this book every year for the last 20 years. Did I mention it was one of my favorites?  Each year as my life changes, the book takes on new meaning for me.

Timshel is the Hebrew word for “mayest” – as in you have a choice, you may or may not…..you can choose.

In short one of the main characters, Sam Hamilton has a deep philosophical talk with a Chinese cook named Lee, who is actually a very educated man.  They are discussing the bible story of Cain and Able. The Chinese cook, Lee, reminds us that we are all descendants of Cain, the one who murders his brother.

Lee becomes enchanted with the story and seeks out advise from wise Chinese elders, who eventually also seek out the advice and wisdom of wise rabbi elders. And this was their conclusion.

In The American standard bible they use the word “shall” “you shall triumph over sin.” This they decide is an order, you must obey it.

The King James version uses “will” “ you will triumph over sin” this is more of a promise that it will happen and gives  hope that it will be done.

But in the Hebrew version the word is  “timshel” which actually translates to  “mayest” indicating that you “can” triumph over sin.  That indicates that man has a choice. And the Chinese cook, Lee feels that  this might be the most important word in the world, it says we have a way open. We can always choose.

This word throws life back in our hands. If you choose, you can also choose not to.  That word makes man great, he can choose his course and fight through it.  Choose your life, and if something bad happens to you, that you did not choose, you can choose your attitude toward it and choose to fight it or give in to it.

Maya Angelou once said: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can not change it or the circumstances, change your attitude.”  The glory of choice makes man a man – cats have no choice; bees have no choice; man has a choice.  Pick up this book, read it again, it will influence your life.