Rise up, O Judge of the earth, bring down on the proud requital. Psalm 94:2 Robert Alter Requital – The biblical idea of justice is summarized in the phrase “measure for measure.” In legal parlance, this is lex talionis, the principle of exact retaliation or reciprocal justice. For example, in biblical justice, if a man…
“May the Lord reward your work, and may your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12 NASB Reward – It’s such a shame that the translation of this Hebrew word into English leaves us without all the deep connections it should imply. Take a look…
O love the Lord, all you His godly ones! The Lord preserves the faithful and fully recompenses the proud doer. Psalm 31:23 NASB Proud doer– There’s a problem here. The Hebrew ‘ose(h) gaʾăwâ can be translated as “proud doer” (NASB) or as “the one who acts in pride” (ESV). The NIV reorders the words as “the proud he pays back in full.” …
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Psalm 103:2 NASB Forget none – David repeats the opening (and unusual) rhetorical phrase. We have explored its importance. Now David adds an additional, explanatory thought. Ve’al-tishkehi kol-gemoolav. When we explore this addition, we must remember that Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas, not phonemes….
I will sing to the LORD because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6 NASB Dealt bountifully – In Hebrew the entire thought in the conjunctive phrase (beginning with “because”) is merely three words, ki gamal alay. ki is translated “because” although it could just as easily be translated “surely,” or “when,” or “if.”…
and lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, for You recompense a man according to his work. Psalm 62:12 NASB Recompense – At what hour of the day were you hired? Ah, you’re immediately transported to that parable about the graciousness of God. You know; the one where the master hires workers at all hours of the…
