I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. Psalm 119:14 Testimonies – The bet section of this extended acrostic gives us four terms for God’s instructions in addition to the general category torah. They are: ḥōq (statute), mišpāṭ (ordinance), miṣwâ (commandment), and ʿēdût (testimony). The root of “testimony) is…
With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth. Psalm 119:13 NASB I have told – Oral transmission. How often we forget that Israel’s ancient cultural was oral. Yes, of course, the fundamentals were written on those stone tablets, but the transmission of the message, the training in righteousness, the legacy and history…
Blessed are You, Lord; teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:12 NASB Blessed – Hebrew uses two words translated “blessed.” The one that applies to us, the one used in verses like Psalm 1:1, is ʾāšār. The second word, bārûk, is found in this verse. The difference between the two isn’t obvious in English, but it’s quite…
Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.” Joshua 7:19 NASB From me – מִמֶּֽנִּי “from me.” Notice the personal character of this request. First, it’s not…
I have treasured Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 NASB Treasured – Do you have some treasure? Want to keep it safe? You’ll have to put it where thieves can’t steal it, where moths can’t eat it, and where the elements can’t corrupt it. Where do you…
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Psalm 119:10 NASB Let me wander – “The loving care of the Father in heaven is shown by the fact that he hears all prayers, that there is no seeking without finding and no knocking without opening.”[1] Is Lohmeyer right? Is…
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. Psalm 119:9 NASB How – The poet continues the acrostic with a sequence where every verse begins with bet. You won’t see this in the English translation, so here it is in Hebrew: בַּמֶּ֣ה יְזַכֶּה־נַּ֖עַר אֶת־אָרְח֑וֹ לִ֜שְׁמֹ֗ר כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ בְּכָל־לִבִּ֥י דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אַל־תַּ֜שְׁגֵּ֗נִי מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ…
I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly abandon me! Psalm 119:8 NASB Utterly abandon – The Hebrew text isn’t exactly like this English translation. The syntax in Hebrew is “not forsake me even with power.” “Utterly abandon” might capture the emotion but what’s interesting is the implication that God would deliberately, and with strength, leave…
I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:7 NASB Uprightness – It’s not a familiar English word although we have no trouble reading it. But what exactly does “uprightness” mean? Alter translates yōšer as “honest.” That’s better if we understand the literal meaning of the term….
Then I will not be ashamed when I look at all Your commandments. Psalm 119:6 NASB Not be ashamed – It’s worth reiterating the difference between our contemporary, psychological idea of “shame” and the ancient Hebrew idea. As we’ve discovered before: The primary meaning of this root is “to fall into disgrace, normally through failure, either…
