My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. Psalm 119:167 NASB My soul – It’s no surprise that the English translations of this verse use a word that is thoroughly Greek. “Soul” came into English through Greek philosophy, and as such, represented that invisible, eternal element of human being that eventually left the corrupt material…
Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies. Psalm 119:157 NASB Persecutors – The Beatitudes are not Greek blessings. They are Hebrew character descriptions. If you don’t connect this verse in the Psalms with Yeshua’s remarks on the hillside, you’ve missed something important for both verses. Let’s start with Matthew…
From long ago I have known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever. Psalm 119:152 NASB Long ago – The Hebrew perspective on time isn’t concerned with uniformity, event progression, or exactness. We, on the other hand, are time possessed. Since the industrial revolution, our days are consumed with the exact hour, minute, and second,…
I called to You; save me and I shall keep Your testimonies. Psalm 119:146 Chabad Called – We know that Hebrew often repeats words in order to add emphasis. That’s what you do in a language that doesn’t have punctuation. But the repetition of the verb qārāʾ in this second sentence might be a bit…
You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness and great faithfulness. Psalm 119:138 NASB In righteousness – Even in Hebrew this sentence doesn’t seem to work very well. The English just makes it worse. Chabad translates it as “You commanded Your testimonies, [which are] righteousness, and they are exceedingly faithful.” The translators have to add “which are” to…
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul complies with them. Psalm 119:129 NASB Chabad translations פְּלָא֥וֹת עֵֽדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֜֗ן נְצָ֘רָ֥תַם נַפְשִֽׁי Your testimonies are hidden; therefore, my soul kept them. פֵּ֖תַח דְּבָרֶ֥יךָ יָאִ֗יר מֵבִ֥ין פְּתָיִֽים The commencement of Your words enlightens; You make the simple understand. פִּ֣י פָ֖עַרְתִּי וָאֶשְׁאָ֑פָה כִּ֖י לְמִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָ יָאָֽבְתִּי I opened my mouth and panted…
You have removed all the wicked of the earth like impurities; therefore I love Your testimonies. Psalm 119:119 NASB All the wicked – Well, I certainly wish this were true. Perhaps some day it will be, but right now this statement seems as fictitious as you could imagine. I can’t think of any period in any culture in human…
I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. Psalm 119:99 NASB More insight – Do you remember Goldberg’s remark, “In the well-known verse Prov 4:7, ‘understanding’ is not a higher stage than ‘wisdom,’ but a poetic synonym used for emphasis.”[1] We’ll want to keep this in mind as we examine…
The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I will diligently consider Your testimonies. Psalm 119:95 NASB Diligently consider – Do you feel safe? I mean really safe, like not a care at all because no one can do you harm. Totally protected. Bulletproof all around. No chance of disaster, ruin, robbery, assault, collapse, surprise? Most…
Of old I have known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever. Psalm 119:152 NASB Founded – Why don’t you pick up your Bible and read this verse? KJV, ESV, RSV and NKJV retain “testimonies.” NLT uses “laws.” NIV translates “statutes.” Since the psalmist claims that these are established forever, it would be…
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