The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 NASB 1995 My shepherd – Hardly needs any introduction. This verse is possibly the most recognized verse in the “Old Testament,” and other than the evangelical emphasis on John 3:16, might just be the most recognized verse in the whole Bible. But familiarity often…
And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. Psalm 39:7 NASB For what – Remember that Hebrew has no punctuation. No commas. No question marks. And “Lord” isn’t found in the middle of the sentence. So, is this, “For what do I wait?” or is it, “And now that I wait,…
And it happened after the LORD has spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My wrath has flared against you and your two companions because you have not spoken rightly of Me as did My servant Job. Job 42:7 Robert Alter Rightly – The end of the story is…
Therefore, I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:6 NASB 1995 Retract – Submit—to give in, to back down, to capitulate, to agree, to consent, to accede. Comply—to obey, to adhere to, to conform, to acquiesce, to consent, to accept. Which is it? Or is it both? The Hebrew term, māʾas, is…
Now the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard about it; and the men were grieved, and they were very angry because he had done a [d]disgraceful thing in Israel by [e]sleeping with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done. Genesis 34:7 NASB A disgraceful thing – The story of…
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1 ESV Heresies – The Greek word haíresis has been given a bad rap by Christian and Jewish theologians alike. Why? Because…
O Lord, You have deceived me and I was deceived; You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. Jeremiah 20:7 NASB Deceived – I am sure you remember our investigation of Jeremiah’s use of the words pātâ and ḥāzaq. We recounted Heschel’s analysis: “This standard rendition…
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8 NASB Remember – One thing we have learned from the text of Job is the absolute necessity of an other-worldly solution to the temporal limits of human living. Without the promise of redemption from this mortal domain, religious zeal becomes elective ethical duty, ultimately rendered…
“By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19 NASB Blood, sweat, and tears – In Rabbi Michael L. Munk’s book, The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet, zayin, the seventh letter of…
