and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying, Acts 21:40 (NASB) Hebrew Dialect – Sometimes I am simply amazed at the theological assumptions that are built into our translations. Most of us never know that we are reading the bias of the translation committee. You might think…
“Let us, then, go down and confound their speech there, so that they shall not understand one another’s speech.” Genesis 11:7 (JPS) Confound – God has a real sense of humor, even when it comes to terribly important events. I would say that God has an Englishman’s sense of humor; that sort of dry wit…
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 Living – Is the Bible a living Word for you? This…
The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied Psalm 16:4 Multiplied – Life without the Lord is increasingly miserable. That’s the biblical message. It sometimes doesn’t appear that way. After all, the systems of this world support rebellion against God, rewarding those who actively engage in disobedience. But, as the…
As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. Psalm 16:3 Majestic Ones – Isn’t it nice to know that when we become His servants, God calls us majestic (or excellent). The way up is down. Down to the ground in humility and acknowledged…
You have said to YHWH, “You are my Lord, I have no good apart from You.” Psalm 16:2 No Goodness – It helps if we see the literal rendering of this verse. “My goodness is not apart from You.” Why is this important? Because the difference in the word order shows us what is emphasized…
“therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.” Matthew 23:3 All – David called YHWH Lord. King David put himself under the rule of his God, proclaiming that he was the slave of his Master. Because…
You have said to YHWH, “You are my Lord, I have no goodness except in You.” Psalm 16:2 Said – The Hebrew verb amar is fairly common. It is used in all kinds of situations where the next phrase is a quotation. Since Hebrew has no punctuation, it’s a useful little verb, showing us…
Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. Psalm 16:1 (English text) Take Refuge – Do you really want God to give you shelter? Guess what? Unless you are Jonah, you will have to do something in order for that to happen. David doesn’t cry out and then sit around waiting for God…
Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. Psalm 16:1 (English text Preserve – The Hebrew verb shamar is used more than 300 times in the Scriptures. It covers the ground from Genesis to Malachi. It means “to keep, to obey, to observe, to preserve, to guard, to be careful, to watch” in…
