I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, Lord, according to Your word. Psalm 119:107 NASB Revive – By this time it will come as no surprise that the verb here is ḥāyâ (to live, have life). The choice of “revive” comes from the tone of the verse, not from the literal translation. As you can see in the…
If Your Law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my misery. Psalm 119:92 NASB Misery – Carefully consider this statement. Could you say the same thing? Is the law of God so wonderful, so amazing, so encouraging to you—so shaashuim, delightful—that without it you would be destroyed in affliction? Can I be…
I know, Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and that You have afflicted me in faithfulness. Psalm 119:75 NASB You have afflicted me – So you want to be a witness for the Lord. You want people to see you and recognize a person whose life reflects the Creator. You want your actions to speak louder than your…
It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I may learn Your statutes. Psalm 119:71 NASB Good for me – Read it again. Slowly. Pause on the first phrase. Do you really believe what the poet writes? Is it goodto be humbled, oppressed, forced into submission, punished? Before you let your theological better…
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. Psalm 119:67 NASB Before – Well, before we look at “before,” let’s review what we learned about this verse before. Here are the previous three investigations: April 25, 2005 the word “afflicted” April 26, 2005 the word “astray” April 27, 2005 the…
This is my comfort in my misery, that Your word has [s]revived me. Psalm 119:50 NASB Comfort/misery – The NASB translation renders the Hebrew ʿŏnî as misery. This derivative comes from the root (ʿānâ) III, afflict, oppress, humble.[1] “The primary meaning of ʿānâ III is ‘to force,’ or ‘to try to force submission,’ and ‘to punish or…
My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your word. Psalm 119:28 NASB Weeps – The psalmist likes unusual words. That’s stock and trade for poetry. It makes the reader pay attention. So, here he uses dālap, found in only two other places (Job 16:20 and Ecclesiastes 10:18). The context tells us that once it…
For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I admit my guilt; I am full of anxiety because of my sin. Psalm 38:17-18 NASB Ready to fall – These two verses are so full of deeper meanings that it’s impossible to feel the full impact in a one-page analysis. Let’s explore these Hebrew words,…
For my life is exhausted in sorrow and my years in sighing. Through my crime my strength stumbles and my limbs are worn out. Psalm 31:11 (Hebrew Bible) Robert Alter Crime – Note Robert Alter’s remark: “The translation follows the Masoretic Text, which has ba’awoni here. But the Septuagint and the Peshitta read be’onyi, ‘in…
I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. Me He drove off, led away—darkness and no light! Lamentations 3:1-2 Robert Alter Affliction – I’ve lived long enough to know. To know defeat. To know heartache. To know loss. To know distress. To know evil. To know adversity. To know…
