I was foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before you. Psalm 73:22 Hebrew World translation Beast – In Hebrew Man is never classified with the animals. Let’s say that again. No place in Scripture can you find any reference at all that justifies calling Man one of the animals. Hebrew makes a clear…
When my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my insides, Psalm 73:21 Hebrew World translation Grieved – When you were grieved, did you think of sourdough? If you read Hebrew, you would. Asaph uses the word hamets (chamets). You recognize this word, I hope. It is the word for leaven. In association with…
As a dream when one awakes, so O Lord, when you awake, you shall despise their image. Psalm 73:20 Hebrew World translation Dream – Ah, so you didn’t realize that Frank Herbert[1] employed Hebrew thinking, did you? Well, maybe it was just an accident (really?). The Hebrew word halom (dream) has a decidedly different use…
Surely you set them in slippery places; you cast them down into ruin. How they are brought into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors! Psalm 73:18-19 Hebrew World translation Terrors – What does Asaph have to do with the prayer of Jabez? You will have to read both in Hebrew to know the…
Surely you set them in slippery places; you cast them down into ruin. How they are brought into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors! Psalm 73:18-19 Hebrew World translation Slippery places – How many promises have been made to you that were broken? In an election year like this one, we will probably…
Surely you set them in slippery places; you cast them down into ruin. How they are brought into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors! Psalm 73:18-19 Hebrew World translation Surely – What do you know for sure? What is it that absolutely cannot be doubted? That is a question that has plagued the…
Till I came to the sanctuaries of God, understood what would be their end. Psalm 73:17 (Robert Alter translation) End – The amazingly insightful Hebrew word aharit commonly refers to what comes after, later or behind. We have noted Wolff’s description of the “backwards” nature of its temporal connection. We think of the future “ahead”…
Another view of India
But in vain I kept my heart pure and in innocence washed my palms. For I was afflicted all day long, and my chastisement, each new morning. Psalm 73:13-14 (translation – Robert Alter) Afflicted – There are two kinds of purity in Scripture: ritual and moral. Some prescriptions address ritual impurity without any suggestion of…
