dabar

  • Speed Reading?

    Then afterward he read all the words of the Law, the blessing and the curse, according to everything that is written in the Book of the Law.  Joshua 8:34  NASB    All the words – According to the text, following the successful conquest of Ai, all Israel gathers between two mountains and a series of religious rituals are performed.  One of these,…

  • Qere/Ketiv

    I arose early, when it was still night, and I cried out; I hoped for Your word. Psalm 119:147  Chabad For Your word – Compare these three Hebrew renditions of this verse: קדמתי בנשף ואשועה לדבריך יחלתי קִדַּ֣מְתִּי בַ֖נֶּשֶׁף וָֽאֲשַׁוֵּ֑עָה לִדְבָֽרְךָ֥ (כתיב לִדְבָֽרְיךָ֥) יִחָֽלְתִּי קִדַּ֣מְתִּי בַ֭נֶּשֶׁף וָאֲשַׁוֵּ֑עָה (לדבריך) [לִדְבָרְךָ֥] יִחָֽלְתִּי Aside from the fact that the first version…

  • Take Two Aspirin

    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…

  • Nun

    Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  Psalm 119:105  NASB נֵר־לְרַגְלִ֥י דְבָרֶ֑ךָ וְ֜א֗וֹר לִנְתִֽיבָתִֽי   105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי וָֽאֲקַיֵּ֑מָה לִ֜שְׁמֹ֗ר מִשְׁפְּטֵ֥י צִדְקֶֽךָ 106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous judgments. נַֽעֲנֵ֥יתִי עַד־מְאֹ֑ד…

  • Standing on the Promises

    Forever, O Lord, Your word stands firm in the heavens.  Psalm 119:89  Chabad Stands – The Hebrew verb nāṣab has two meanings.  The first is “to stand (upright);” the second “to establish.”  Perhaps you can see the relationship.  What’s important here is that the English translation chooses one but not both, while we need both…

  • Teth – Keep Your Eyes Open

    You have treated Your servant well, Lord, according to Your word.  Psalm 119:65  NASB טוֹב עָשִׂ֣יתָ עִם־עַבְדְּךָ֑ יְ֜הֹוָ֗ה כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ ט֚וּב טַ֣עַם וָדַ֣עַת לַמְּדֵ֑נִי כִּ֖י בְמִצְו‍ֹתֶ֣יךָ הֶֽאֱמָֽנְתִּי טֶ֣רֶם אֶֽ֖עֱנֶה אֲנִ֣י שֹׁגֵ֑ג וְ֜עַתָּ֗ה אִמְרָֽתְךָ֥ שָׁמָֽרְתִּי טוֹב אַתָּ֥ה וּמֵטִ֗יב לַמְּדֵ֥נִי חֻקֶּֽיךָ טָֽפְל֚וּ עָלַ֣י שֶׁ֣קֶר זֵדִ֑ים אֲ֜נִ֗י בְּכָל־לֵ֚ב | אֶצֹּ֬ר פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ טָפַ֣שׁ כַּחֵ֣לֶב לִבָּ֑ם אֲ֜נִ֗י תּוֹרָֽתְךָ֥ שִֽׁעֲשָֽׁעְתִּי טֽוֹב־לִ֥י כִֽי־עֻנֵּ֑יתִי…

  • Public Debate

    I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed. Psalm 119:46  NASB Shall not be ashamed – If you’ve discovered anything at all in this vav section, it’s that each of these verses not only begins with a vav but also is a past statement of God’s faithfulness and the poet’s…

  • The True Foundation

    Establish Your [m]word to Your servant as that which produces reverence for You.  Psalm 119:38  NASB [m]word – Notice the footnote attached to this translation.  That note is to tell you that the usual Hebrew isn’t what we have in this verse.  Instead of dābār we find ʾimrâ, both translated “word” in English so you wouldn’t…

  • Public Debate

    I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed. Psalm 119:46  NASB Shall not be ashamed – If you’ve discovered anything at all in this vav section, it’s that each of these verses not only begins with a vav but also is a past statement of God’s faithfulness and the poet’s…

  • Silent Consent

    One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.  Psalm 15:2 NASB In his heart – “Speaks truth in his heart.”  What is that?  Unvoiced agreement?  Inner affirmation?  What good is it in the public arena to speak the truth in the heart?  If you don’t say a word, who would know?  What…