I called to You; save me and I shall keep Your testimonies. Psalm 119:146 Chabad Called – We know that Hebrew often repeats words in order to add emphasis. That’s what you do in a language that doesn’t have punctuation. But the repetition of the verb qārāʾ in this second sentence might be a bit…
I called with all my heart; answer me, O Lord; I shall keep Your statutes. Psalm 119:145 Chabad I cried out with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will comply with Your statutes. NASB קָרָ֣אתִי בְכָל־לֵ֖ב עֲנֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֗ה חֻקֶּ֥יךָ אֶצֹּֽרָה I cried out with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will comply with Your statutes. קְרָאתִ֥יךָ…
Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. Psalm 119:144 Understanding – “Your testimonies.” We’ve seen this before. A lot. ʿēdewōtê, the continuing story of God’s involvement with His chosen. The poet proclaims that the events and circumstances of this story are ṣedeq leʿôlām, and as you will recall, that’s like saying…
A few years ago I met John Saloman, an Indian serving his countrymen in one of the poorest part of India. He asked for our help with blankets for the street people over the winter season. You and I provided. Here are some photos of the delivery to these people who have nothing.
Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight. Psalm 119:143 NASB Trouble and anguish – Sometimes English has difficulty capturing the full range of Hebrew even if multiple words are used. ḥesed is an example. But sometimes that fact that Hebrew uses one word when English requires more than one is just as…
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth. Psalm 119:142 NASB Everlasting – How long is everlasting? Wait, don’t give me a naïve answer, “Well, forever, of course.” Think deeper. The word is ʿôlām. Macrae makes the following remark about this Hebrew word: Probably derived from ʿālam I, “to hide,” thus pointing to what…
I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts. Psalm 119:141 NASB Yet – The translators have added this adverb. The text just says, “small I and despised Your precepts not do I forget.” While the NASB treats ṣāʿîr as “small,” Chabad renders is as “young.” I am young and despised; I have not forgotten…
Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, . . Joshua 8:30-31 NASB Then – The Torah is not a chronological account of Israel’s exploits. In fact,…
Your word is very pure, therefore Your servant loves it. Psalm 119:140 NASB Pure – Think of the ways we use the word “pure.” “Pure as the driven snow.” “Pure white.” “Guaranteed pure.” “Pure breed.” Then there’s the jeweler’s view. When is something “pure gold”? 24 karat and 999.9 fineness are considered pure gold, but in fact…
