May Your favor [ad]comfort me, according to Your [ae]word to Your servant. Psalm 119:76 NASB Comfort – We start this investigation by noting two things: 1) the opening in Hebrew is not translated in this NASB version. That opening is necessary for the acrostic pattern. It is יְהִי־נָ֣א, with a yod, and should probably be translated “O,…
I have remembered Your judgments from [t]of old, Lord, and comfort myself. Psalm 119:52 NASB Comfort myself – Wait a minute! Didn’t we just look at this idea (v. 50)? Remember the discussion about “comfort” versus “consolation”? And what is “consolation” in these situations? The poet chooses the term, neḥāmâ, found in this form only once more in…
With my many cares within me, Your consolations delighted me. Psalm 94:19 Robert Alter Many cares – Aretha Franklin’s rendition of “God Will Take Care of You” is found on the best selling Gospel album of all time. It’s powerful and worth listening to (CLICK HERE). Since music is such an emotional experience, perhaps we…
Therefore, says the Master, LORD of Armies, Israel’s Mighty One: Oh, I will settle scores with my foes and take vengeance on my enemies. Isaiah 1:24 Robert Alter Settle scores – It’s surprising that Alter’s translation employs a modern euphemism, but examination of the actual Hebrew might justify his choice. The NASB 1995 attempts a…
The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Genesis 6:6 NASB Was sorry – Forget the discussion of anthropomorphism. Forget the theological back peddling of analogous attribution. Instead of worrying about the doctrinal issues, pay attention of the spiritual concern in this verse. God is grieved about…
The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Genesis 6:6 NASB Was sorry – This verse is a problem for most theologians. It’s not a problem because we can’t understand the words. It’s a problem because theology doesn’t think of God in biblical terms. Theology is the victim…
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13 NASB Comfort– The needs of the world press upon us. Who will answer? You and I, of course. We who have been blessed must respond to the great agony of life, the teeming masses whose worlds are confined to…
For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon 1:7 NASB Joy and comfort – We return to the Greek term chará in Paul’s letter to Philemon. Now we are equipped with a broader appreciation for the Hebraic background of Paul’s Greek. Paul attaches joy to comfort. …
“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. Isaiah 40:1 NASB Comfort – “They will lick the dust like a serpent, like reptiles of the earth. They will come trembling out of their fortresses; to the Lord our God they will come in dread and they will be afraid before You” (Micah 7:17). The God…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3 ESV Comfort – Do you remember? Do you remember sitting in your father’s lap, safe, his arms around you, holding you as the most precious person in all the world? Do you…
