Today’s Word

Sneaking Around

He does not slander with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor bring shame on his friend;  Psalm 15:3  NASB Slander – The Hebrew word here is rāgal.  Once you know that, you might be shocked at this translation.  You see, only one time in twenty-four occurrences is it translated “slander.”  In the other twenty-three instances…
Read the full article Sneaking Around

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…
Read the full article Silent Consent

But He’s Such a Good Guy

One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.  Psalm 15:2 NASB Practices righteousness – What does the poet mean by the phrase “practices righteousness”?  If we think in modern terms, we might conclude that this expression describes someone who does what is right, whose cause is ethical and justified, like, for example,…
Read the full article But He’s Such a Good Guy

A Public Faith

One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.  Psalm 15:2 NASB Integrity – Robert Alter’s translation uses English expressions that are a bit closer to the Hebrew originals. In this NASB translation, “integrity” is the Hebrew word tāmîm, derived from the root tāmam.  It actually means “complete.”  Payne notes, “the verb’s fundamental…
Read the full article A Public Faith

Entry Pass

Lord, who will sojourn in Your tent, who will dwell on Your holy mountain?  Psalm 15:1  Robert Alter Sojourn/ dwell – Who do you suppose the psalmist has in mind?  You have all the clues you need: a tent, a mountain, a temporary encampment, a permanent residence.  Who else could it be but Moses?  The…
Read the full article Entry Pass

True Confession

For my life is exhausted in sorrow and my years in sighing.  Through my crime my strength stumbles and my limbs are worn out.  Psalm 31:11 (Hebrew Bible)  Robert Alter Crime – Note Robert Alter’s remark: “The translation follows the Masoretic Text, which has ba’awoni here.  But the Septuagint and the Peshitta read be’onyi, ‘in…
Read the full article True Confession

Search more than 7000 word studies here

Recent Today’s Word

Recent Comments

Archives