But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14 NASB 1995 Trust – By now we should be quite familiar with bāṭaḥ (trust). TWOT’s reminder is important: in Hebrew, bāṭaḥ expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is significant that the LXX never…
My God, in You I trust. Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me. Psalm 25:2 Robert Alter translation Trust – While we’re on the subject of trust, two prior Today’s Word editions are worth reviewing (today and tomorrow): Trust in God is more than a motto on the back of…
For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth. Psalm 71:5 NASB 1995 Hope – How can we hope? Does that seem like a strange question? Maybe not in a world that seems to be falling apart. Yes, we could espouse the theological assertion that “God is our hope,”…
Reprove your son while there is hope, and to his moaning pay no heed. A very hotheaded man bears punishment, try to save him—you will make things worse. Proverbs 19:18-19 Robert Alter Hope – What does “hope” mean and how is it connected to discipline? Unfortunately, it’s not possible to run to some biblical text…
Reprove your son while there is hope, and to his moaning pay no heed. A very hotheaded man bears punishment, try to save him—you will make things worse. Proverbs 19:18-19 Robert Alter You will make things worse – What do translators and scholars do with biblical Hebrew words or phrases that don’t make any sense? …
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. Job 13:15 NASB I will hope – You’ll recall that a few months ago we looked at the rather famous verse and noticed that there was a difference between the written text and the way the text is read. I…
They who sow in tears in glad song will reap. Psalm 126:5 Robert Alter In tears – Since we’re thinking about the difference between Job and John, we should review our examination of David’s idea of hope. We looked at this verse more than a year ago. Remember? Don’t take this verse out of context. …
I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and [h]perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:9 NASB Patmos – What do you know about Patmos? I will arrive there in a few days, but what I’ll see now isn’t at all what…
“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and there will be no escape for them; and their hope is to breathe their last.” Job 11:20 NASB To breathe their last – Take a guess. וְ֜תִקְוָתָ֗ם מַֽפַּח־נָֽפֶשׁ (transliterated: ve-tikvatam mapach-nephish). You’ll recognize the word translated “breath” (nephesh), remembering that its umbrella includes “soul, creature, person, appetite” and “mind.”…
