“Teach me, and I will be silent; and show me how I have done wrong.” Job 6:24 NASB Show me – The verb bîn has a wide range of English translations, but they all surround our idea of understanding in its fullest sense, that is, not merely cognitive but also emotive and intuitive. The verb and…
I am Your servant; give me understanding, so that I may know Your testimonies. Psalm 119:125 NASB So that I may know – What is the job of a servant: to understand or to obey? Of course, it’s nice to know why you’re asked to do something, but it certainly isn’t necessary. Your job as a…
From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:104 NASB Get understanding – What does it mean to “get understanding.” In our word-intensive, dictionary-based culture, we would probably say that it means to gather useful information. For that we can (sometimes) just Google. What’s delivered is information, but that isn’t “understanding” in…
I understand more than those who are old, because I have complied with Your precepts. Psalm 119:100 NASB More than – The grammatical error spreads. Consider the strikingly different translation of Chabad: “From the wise elders I gain understanding, for I kept Your precepts.” The NASB rearranges the syntax and translates מִזְּקֵנִ֥ים as “more than the aged”…
Teach me good [y]discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. Psalm 119:66 NASB Discernment – Do you like broccoli rabe? How about onion ice cream? Maybe something a bit more palatable like lambrusco? Everyone’s tastes differ. A lot of the time what we like is acquired through family recipes, traditions, cultural exposure, and just…
Give me understanding, so that I may comply with Your Law and keep it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34 NASB Understanding – Do you find this request a bit odd? The general pattern of God’s instructions in Torah do not require explanation. In fact, the methodology of Torah learning is not about figuring out why God asks what…
Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wonders. Psalm 119:27 NASB Make me – Not many of us would willingly ask God to do what the psalmist asks. He uses the Hebrew bîn which means“understand, consider, perceive, prudent, regard.”[1] That seems pretty tame. The verb and its derivatives are…
The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s stall. Israel did not know, my people did not pay heed. Isaiah 1:3 Robert Alter Did not pay heed – Robert Alter’s translation captures the urgency of God’s warning. Most translations render bîn with the usual “understand” or “perceive,” but that isn’t strong enough. It’s…
You favor man with perception and teach mankind understanding. Grant us knowledge, understanding and intellect from You. Blessed are You, Adonoy, Grantor of perception. Amidah (Ashkenazi version) Wisdom, intellect and knowledge – The Sephardic version of the Amidah reads as follows: You favor man with knowledge and teach mankind understanding. Grant us wisdom, intellect and…
Mankind in its splendor, yet without understanding, is like the animals that perish. Psalm 49:20 NASB Without understanding – In a Gallup poll in 2017, 86% of Americans said that they believe God exists. Apparently His existence has almost nothing to do with how they behave. Church attendance continues to drop. Atheism is on the rise for the first…
