Lovingkindness

“[The Lord] Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion”.  Psalm 103:4  Lovingkindness – This Hebrew word (hesed) has had quite a controversy about its full meaning.  It seems to be related to the bond between God and His people.  Yet it does not mean that God shows kindness…

Peace

“Thou wilt keep the man of steadfast purpose in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee”.   Isaiah 26:3 Peace – This verse can be translated in several ways.  It might be rendered, “You will keep the nation of steadfast purpose in perfect peace, …” or “You will keep in perfect peace the mind of steadfast…

Mercy

“Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need”.  Hebrews 4:16 Mercy – The Greek word for mercy (eleos) carries with it the sense of active compassion occurring as a special and immediate regard to the misery…

Sufficient

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.””   II Corinthians 12:9  Sufficient – This word (arkeo) is not used frequently in the New Testament.  The word can be used to express the idea that something is adequate for its purpose or it can be used…

Comfort

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners”.  Isaiah 57:18  Comfort – This root (naham) is translated several ways.  It can mean to be sorry, to repent, to regret or to be comforted.  It seems to have come from a…

Blessing

“but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because The Lord your God loves you”.   Deuteronomy 23:5  Blessing – This word is barak.  To receive a blessing in the Old Testament is to receive something favorable from someone greater.  The paradigm of this action is the transmission a of blessing…

Return

“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud, and your sins like a heavy mist.  Return to Me, for I have redeemed you”   Isaiah 44:22  Return – The Hebrew word is shub.  This verb is the twelfth most frequently used verb in the Old Testament with more than 1000 occurrences.  All of the other…

Inscribed

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;”   Isaiah 49:16 Inscribed –  It was common practice in ancient cultures to engrave laws and decrees on tablets of stone or metal.  In this way, the permanence of the law was insured.  This word (haqaq) means to carve or engrave or portray.  It is…

Forget

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb?  Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.”  Isaiah 49:15 Forget – Hebrew – shakah.  The word for “forget” is used 102 times in the Old Testament.  Where it describes relationships, it usually specifies the relationship…

Deliver

“that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  Hebrews 2:14-15   Deliver – This is a Greek combination word (apallasso).  It is made up of a prefix (apo) and…