From Psalm 96, the verse “yismahu hashamayim vetagayl ha’aretz yiram hayam umlo’o” translates as follows: “Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Let the sea and all it contains roar in praise.
Within the body of the yud is a scene representing the heavens, earth and sea, and a hand (another meaning of yud). Egg shapes appear, symbolizing renewal – a theme of the psalm.
The number ten repeats in the Tablets of the Law. Ten bars or stepping stones representing the Ten Commandments march up the side of the Tablets to lead the eye upwards.
The crown at the upper side of the Tablets was inspired by the words in the preceding verse “The Lord is King,” and later, “The Lord comes to rule the earth, to rule the world justly, the nations with His faithfulness.” Leaves and vines here represent earth. The field of blue above the Tablets of the Law represent the sky and a band of waves below symbolizes the sea.