Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:135 NASB Shine upon – An idiom, of course. But a nice one with a long, long history. The idiom is based on the verb ʾôr, found first is the fifth verse of Genesis. It means “to become light, to shine.” “Light is…
Redeem me from oppression by man, so that I may keep Your precepts. Psalm 119:134 NASB Redeem me – First position in the verse. Important. Imperative. Important. Etymology. Important. Now let’s unpack it all. pādâ is the Hebrew verb translated “redeem.” But it doesn’t mean what most Christians would expect. When those who grew up…
Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any wrongdoing have power over me. Psalm 119:133 NASB Any wrongdoing – Of course, this follows from the previous verse. God’s graciousness extends to those whom He calls His own. But things can interfere. Customarily, followers find favor. But even followers fall. When the psalmist asks for God…
Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is right for those who love Your name. Psalm 119:132 NASB As is right for – Now we discover just how broad Hebrew words can be. The phrase “as is right for,” in the the Chabad translation (“Turn to me and favor me as is Your…
I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for Your commandments. Psalm 119:131 NASB Panted – Decades ago I started writing Today’s Word. At times it seems like yesterday. I’ve just scratched the surface of the text. After a few years of writing, I thought I needed a business card. The one I created was a…
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130 NASB Simple – How often have I thought to myself, “If only I could have just a simple faith again.” Religion would be so much easier if I didn’t have all these questions. How nice it would be to say, “I’m comfortable…
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul complies with them. Psalm 119:129 NASB Chabad translations פְּלָא֥וֹת עֵֽדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֜֗ן נְצָ֘רָ֥תַם נַפְשִֽׁי Your testimonies are hidden; therefore, my soul kept them. פֵּ֖תַח דְּבָרֶ֥יךָ יָאִ֗יר מֵבִ֥ין פְּתָיִֽים The commencement of Your words enlightens; You make the simple understand. פִּ֣י פָ֖עַרְתִּי וָאֶשְׁאָ֑פָה כִּ֖י לְמִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָ יָאָֽבְתִּי I opened my mouth and panted…
Therefore I carefully follow all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way. Psalm 119:128 NASB Carefully follow – Step one: recognize that the miṣwōt are designed to ensure the success of society. Step two: do them! Now you know why ʿǎl-·kēn opens each of these last two verses in this section of the acrostic. There’s no…
Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above pure gold. Psalm 119:127 NASB Therefore – Why does the psalmist begin this verse with עַל־כֵּן (ʿǎl-·kēn means “for that reason, therefore”)? What is the “therefore” there for? It immediately tells us that as a consequence of the previous verse, the following statement is supplied. In other…
It is time for the Lord to act, for they have broken Your Law. Psalm 119:126 NASB For the Lord – Notice the change in the Chabad translation (the same by Robert Alter): “A time to do for the Lord; they have made void Your Torah.” What happened? Here’s the Hebrew verse: עֵת לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה הֵ֜פֵ֗רוּ תּֽוֹרָתֶֽךָ I’ve highlighted…
