Today’s Word
Better Bull
Let me praise God’s name in song, and let me extol Him in thanksgiving. And let it be better to the LORD than oxen, than a horned bull with it hooves. Psalm 69:31-32 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Than oxen – There’s no problem with the translation here, or in most English Bibles. The Hebrew is…
Saving Grace
But I am lowly and hurting. Your rescue, O LORD, will protect me. Psalm 69:30 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Rescue – By far the most common English rendition of this word is “salvation.” Virtually all the popular English Bible use “May Your salvation” or something similar. Given that the Hebrew is yĕšûʿât, it’s easy to…
Sponge Bob
Let them be wiped out from the book of life, and among the righteous let them not be written. Psalm 69:29 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Be wiped out – First, let’s be clear about the technique. “. . . erasures in ancient leather scrolls were made by washing or sponging off the ink rather than…
Punitive Damages
Add guilt upon their guilt, and let them have no part in Your bounty. Psalm 69:28 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Guilt – In order to understand the ramifications of this Hebrew word—ʿāwōn—we need to read the explanation provided by Schultz: We note in the first place that the noun is a collective. Thus God says…
In Remembrance
For You—whom You struck they pursued, and they recounted the pain of Your victims. Psalm 69:27 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Recounted – Think about the implications here. First, the “victims” are God’s victims. God is the One who caused the initial pain. And God is the One with whom you must deal. The enemies are…
Down and Out
For You—whom You struck they pursued, and they recounted the pain of Your victims. Psalm 69:27 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Whom You struck – When did God strike you? The verb is nākâ, used some 500 times in the Tanakh, often for physical injury or even death. But that’s not the way it’s used here. …
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