Recently, I spoke at our church on "The Path of the Just."
After the message, several people asked me for my notes, specifically for the charts I showed about the Hebrew words for sin, and the Hebrew words for the several different ways Psalm 119 talks about the "Word of God." My lovely bride, Allison Schroeder, made the charts for me, and I would like to share them with you. Obviously the understanding of the different words isn't original with me, but I did dig in and try to understand the thoughts behind the words for myself with my very limited understanding. I do not speak or read Hebrew, but I want to learn more all the time. Click the video above to watch my teaching on it, and for those interested, find below some notes and the pictures of the charts I used!
The Path of the Just
We tend to think of “being saved” in a very binary way. Sometimes I’ll start a conversation about the Bible with someone and they cut me off by saying, “Oh, I’m already saved.” As if they don’t ever need to hear about the Bible again. Thinking about salvation this way CAN be a helpful binary in some ways, but in other ways, it can get in our way. Using this binary, we can immediately sort people into groups of whether they are saved or unsaved. The problem is that depending on how you lean, you may want to raise or lower the threshold that puts someone in the “saved” group. Now, to be clear, I do believe there is some truth to the saved/unsaved binary. I believe there IS a point of time when we are saved, when we have passed from darkness to light, when we are born again. And we can point back to that point when we were born again and be confident that we are justified and have joined God’s family.
However, if we think of it as a task that we have completed and now are saved without reservation, I am not okay with it. Unfortunately, saying, “I’m saved” for some people can be a way to wiggle out of any further growth and discipleship. The Bible actually talks about being “saved” as a past, present, and future reality.
Instead, it may be good to think about salvation in terms of our relationship with God and our walk with Him. When a baby is born, there is an expectation that they will continue to grow and mature, and if they don’t there’s a problem. The same is true when we are born again. See, it’s not just about being born–it’s about LIFE! Yes, life starts when we’re born, but then are we going to continue growing to have a healthy and happy life? Once a baby is born, if it doesn’t develop properly, it will die. Same with being born again. Once a prisoner is set free and forgiven, if a change in life doesn’t happen, they will end up in bondage again.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of our calling. And sometimes we have to lay down the automatic defensiveness we get whenever we are challenged to grow because we already believe we are saved. Maybe God doesn’t just want you to only defend your title of salvation, but rather grow into the calling He has for you to be everything He has called us as the church to be in this world and to prepare for the next!
So how do we grow in this way? What if we thought of our salvation more as a path we are either walking or not walking rather than a status or an event we either did or didn’t do?
When we talk about living for God the Scripture often uses the metaphor of walking on a path. If we go back to our initial Scripture and look at the surrounding verses, we can see the metaphor of the path fleshed out a little bit.
Proverbs 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
Proverbs 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Proverbs 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Proverbs 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Proverbs 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
This passage of Scripture emphasizes the idea of two different ways we could go in our lives. Which path will we be on? The path of the just or the path of the wicked? I would say being born again is getting on the right path, beginning to go the right direction. But there’s more to following God than simply BEING on the right path…it also matters HOW we walk the path. The Jews have a concept called “Halakha.” It refers to the body of Jewish law that covers the way people practice Judaism in specific ways of how they live their lives. The literal meaning has to do with “walking out” the commandments. It comes from this word:
H1980 הלך hâlak
BDB Definition: 1) to go, walk, come
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (figuratively)
1c1) to traverse 1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
Proverbs 4:12 When thou goest, (halak) thy steps shall not be straitened;
It’s tempting to turn your brain off and say, “Well, I’m on the right path, so I don’t really need to think any more about the way I live.” But if we go a little further in the chapter, we see the father urging his son to think about HOW he walks the path.
Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Proverbs 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Is it possible to be on the right path but to turn to the right or to the left? Is it possible that though you’ve started on the right path your ways are not yet “established”? So here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Are you on the right path?
- Are you going the right way?
- Are you stepping off the path?
- Are you making progress on the path?
Transgression (Pesha) - Rebelling Against the Path; pesh’a - meaning “crime” in modern Hebrew; breaking away from a covenant agreement and commitment–you said you would walk the path but you’re not; revolt, rebellion, coming from a word meaning to break away from authority, from a word meaning to stride with the legs in an aggressive manner, used in Isaiah 27:4 to talk about pushing through thorns. Intentionally and obstinately leaving the path.
Trespass - (Ma’al) Pretending to Walk the Path, But Sneaking Away, and Abandoning the Path; ma‛al - an unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass against man or God; from root word meaning to ascend or incline,
Iniquity (Avon) - Distorting the Path; avon from root word “avah” - twisted, crooked, or distorted (opposite of upright) could be walking on the path but doing it in a twisted way–taking what God has asked and twisting it; being bent, twisted, bowed down, perverted.
Iniquity (Aven) - Exerting Yourself in the Wrong Direction, Pointlessly; 'âven aw'-ven From an unused root perhaps meaning properly to pant (hence to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol: - affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners (-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked (-ness.)
Guilt - (Asham) Neglecting Needs on the Path so you Perish on the Path; asham; guilt - Gesenius uses the word picture of a slow or weary camel, slowing down on the path so much that you’re not making any progress, referencing neglect, needing water, etc. used for guilt offering.
Sin (Chata) - Missing the Path; khata - Hebrew and Greek similarly use archery term for missing the mark; chata - taking a step off the path
Let’s think about that last word for “sin” for a minute, the most basic way of talking about messing up in our relationship with God. The Hebrew word usually translated “sin” is “chattah” which is an offence according to Strong’s, and comes from a word (also often translated as “sin”) which has the root meaning to miss; to sin; by inference to forfeit, lack, (causatively) lead astray.
Brown Driver Briggs Definition:
1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit
1a) (Qal) 1a1) to miss the goal or path of right and duty 1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin,
1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to miss the mark 1c2) to induce to sin, cause to sin 1c3) to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment
1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way
The New Testament has an Equivalent Word:
G266 ἁμαρτία hamartia ham-ar-tee'-ah also meaning “offence”.
Thayer Definition: 1) equivalent to 264
1a) to be without a share in 1b) to miss the mark 1c) to err, be mistaken 1d) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong 1e) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin
2) that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act
3) collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many.
Isn’t it interesting how many times the definition refers to going off the path? There is a clear path we are supposed to be on, and “sin” is when we have missed the path or wandered from the path.
So now that I’ve given you all the bad words and all the ways we can mess up on the path, how do we keep on the path in the right way? How do we structure and organize our lives to walk out God’s commandments and stay on His path without veering off or twisting what He’s said or breaking our agreement with Him or slowing down and not making any progress? The Psalms give us a solution:
Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
So let’s talk about Psalm 119 for a minute. I think it’s time for a little Psalms trivia. This is a section of Psalms that is ripe for trivia! Ready?
- Longest chapter in the Bible - Psalm 119
- Shortest chapter in the Bible - Psalm 117
- Center chapter of the Bible - Psalm 118
- Center verse of the Bible - Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
- What’s the longest chapter in the Bible about? The Word of God.
- What’s the shortest chapter in the Bible about? Praising God.
- Psalms 113-118 are called the “Hallel” and they are the psalms they would sing at Passover, culminating with Psalm 118 which is full of Messianic prophecies about Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the Passover.
- Psalms 120-134 are called “The Songs of Ascent” which the Jews would sing as they would travel on pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts. It was their roadtrip playlist, if you will.
What are the Psalms? They are fundamentally prayers, but many of them are music and poetry and songs that were sung to God. They are the discipleship soundtrack. How many of you have music playing in your head as you go throughout life? I’m curious what your life’s soundtrack is. What are your playlists like? Do you have a roadtrip playlist? For some of you older hyphen, what was on your iPod…or really older folks, did you ever have a mix tape? Did you know that God gave us a soundtrack for our spiritual walk in the Bible? It’s called the Book of Psalms.
- How many verses are in Psalm 119? 176.
- Why 176 verses? Because 8 x 22 is 176.
Now, don’t worry, we’re not going to go through all 22 letters, though you should on your own. However, for the purposes of this lesson, I WOULD like to look at the first two. As we go through these verses, I’d also like us to look for the metaphor of the path, and for how to walk in the path, and notice the different words for “sin” which we’ve already touched upon. Ready?
Psalm 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled (entire, complete, without blemish) in the way, (derek) who walk (halak) in the law (torah) of the LORD.
One more aspect of this psalm is all the different synonyms used for the Word of God.
Way: H187 דֶּרֶךְ derek deh'-rek
From H1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively a course of life or mode of action, often adverbially: - along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, [east-] ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, [high-] [path-] way [-side], whither [-soever].
BDB Definition: 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (figuratively) 1f) of moral character (figuratively)
Comes from the root word “darak” meaning to tread, or sometimes, to bend a bow.
Notice that it’s the opposite of sin–missing the mark or leaving the path.
The next has a negative connotation for us: law. But what we think of as “law”, I think is probably the Hebrew word for “commandments.” Check out what the word “law” means.
Law - tôrâh - BDB Definition: 1) law, direction, instruction 1a) instruction, direction (human or divine); comes from H3384 יָרָא יָרָה yârâh yârâ' yaw-raw'
A primitive root; properly to flow as water (that is, to rain); transitively to lay or throw (especially an arrow, that is, to shoot); figuratively to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach: - (+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach (-er, -ing), through
Notice again, the connotation of an arrow associated with teaching. The law is pointing at something, flowing towards something, aiming at something. And blessed are undefiled in the way who walk in that flow!
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep (natsar - protect like a watchman) his testimonies, (edah) and that seek (darash - to tread, frequent, follow, ask, worship - 3rd level of Hebrew Biblical interpretation, pashat - literal, remez-hinted at, darash-seek, sod-mysterious) him with the whole heart.
Testimonies - H5713 עֵדָה ‛êdâh ay-daw'
Feminine of H5707 עֵד ‛êd ayd From H5749 עוּד ‛ûd ood A primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication): - admonish, charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call (take) to record, relieve, rob, solemnly, stand upright, testify, give warning, (bear, call to, give, take to) witness. contracted; concretely a witness; abstractly testimony; specifically a recorder, that is, prince: - witness.
in its technical sense; testimony: - testimony, witness. Compare H5712. 1a) always plural and always of laws as divine testimonies
Keep - nâtsar - to guard, watch, watch over, keep 1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers 1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity 1a4) to guard, keep secret 1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded 1a6) watchman (participle)
Psalm 119:3 They also do (do or make, practice) no iniquity (aval - distort): they walk (halak) in his ways. (derek)
Psalm 119:4 Thou hast commanded (tsavah - root of mitzvah, send messenger) us to keep (shamar - hedge of thorns) thy precepts (piqqud) diligently (me’od).
There is actually a different word for “Keep” here than there was in verse 2.
Keep - shâmar shaw-mar' A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.: - beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).
Precepts - H6490 פִּקֻּד פִּקּוּד piqqûd pik-kood' From H6485 פּקד pâqad
BDB Definition:
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for (verb) 1a1) to pay attention to, observe 1a2) to attend to 1a3) to seek, look about for 1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack 1a5) to visit 1a6) to visit upon, punish 1a7) to pass in review, muster, number 1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking 1b2) to be visited 1b3) to be visited upon 1b4) to be appointed 1b5) to be watched over 1c) (Piel) to muster, call up 1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer 1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit 1f) (Hophal) 1f1) to be visited 1f2) to be deposited
1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted 1g) (Hithpael) numbered 1h) (Hothpael) numbered 2) musterings, expenses (noun masculine plural abstract) Part of Speech: see above in Definition
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root ; properly appointed, that is, a mandate (of God; plural only, collectively for the Law): - commandment, precept, statute.
Psalm 119:5 O that my ways (derek) were directed (erect, appointed, established, fixed) to keep (shamar - hedge of thorns) thy statutes! (choq)
Statutes - H2706 חֹק chôq khoke From H2710 חקק Châqaq A primitive root; properly to hack, that is, engrave (Jdg_5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (generally) prescribe: - appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver, note, portray, print, set. BDB Definition: 1) to cut out, decree, inscribe, set, engrave, portray, govern 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut in 1a2) to cut in or on, cut upon, engrave, inscribe 1a3) to trace, mark out 1a4) to engrave, inscribe (of a law) 1b) (Poel) 1b1) to inscribe, enact, decree 1b2) one who decrees, lawgiver (participle) 1c) (Pual) something decreed, the law (participle) 1d) (Hophal) to be inscribed Part of Speech: verb: a primitive root
an enactment; hence an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage): - appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree (-d), due, law, measure, X necessary, ordinance (-nary), portion, set time, statute, task. H2706 חק Chôq BDB Definition: 1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due 1a) prescribed task 1b) prescribed portion 1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve 1d) prescribed due 1e) prescribed limit, boundary 1f) enactment, decree, ordinance 1f1) specific decree 1f2) law in general 1g) enactments, statutes 1g1) conditions 1g2) enactments 1g3) decrees 1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God
Psalm 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, (pale, disappointed, delayed) when I have respect (scan, look intently at, regard with pleasure, favor, or care) unto all thy commandments. (mitzvah)
Commandments - H4687 מִצְוָה mitsvâh mits-vaw' From H6680 צָוָה tsâvâh tsaw-vaw' A primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin: - appoint, (for-) bid. (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command (-er, ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order; so mitzvah is a command, whether human or divine (collectively the Law): - (which was) commanded (-ment), law, ordinance, precept.
Psalm 119:7 I will praise (yadah - lift up hands) thee with uprightness (right, equity, meet, straightness) of heart, when I shall have learned (lamad - goad, teach, train) thy righteous (tsedeq - right morally and/or legally, equitable, prosperous) judgments. (mishpat)
Judgments - H4941משׁפּט mishpâṭ BDB Definition: 1) judgment, justice, ordinance 1a1) act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat of judgment 1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man) 1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right, privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan Part of Speech: noun masculine. Root word from H8199 שָׁפַט shâphaṭ shaw-fat' A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively): H8199 שׁפט shâphaṭ BDB Definition: 1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish 1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man) 1a1a) to rule, govern, judge 1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man) 1a3) to execute judgment 1a3a) discriminating (of man) 1a3b) vindicating 1a3c) condemning and punishing 1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment 1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together 1b2) to be judged 1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle) Part of Speech: verb: a primitive root
Psalm 119:8 I will keep (shamar - hedge of thorns) thy statutes (choq): O forsake me not utterly.
Psalm 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? (orach - well-trodden road, from word meaning to travel) by taking heed thereto (shamar-hedge of thorns) according to thy word. (dabar)
Word - H1697 דּבר dâbâr BDB Definition: 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner Part of Speech: noun masculine; from H1696 דָּבַר dâbar daw-bar' A primitive root; perhaps properly to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter, X well, X work.
Parallel with “Logos” in Greek.
Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought (darash - frequent, tread, ask - paralleling with verse 2) thee: O let me not wander (shagah - go astray, reel from intoxication, be enraptured and thus distracted) from thy commandments. (mitsvah)
Psalm 119:11 Thy word (imrah) have I hid (tsafan - hide by covering over, hoard, reserve) in mine heart, that I might not sin (chata) against thee.
Word - H565 אֶמְרָה אִמְרָה 'imrâh 'emrâh im-raw', em-raw' The second form is the feminine of H561, and meaning the same: - commandment, speech, word. BDB Definition: 1) utterance, speech, word 1a) word of God, the Torah; Part of Speech: noun feminine: from H561 - אמר 'êmer BDB Definition: 1) utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command; Part of Speech: noun masculine: from H559 - אמר 'âmar BDB Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) to say, to answer, to say in one’s heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c)to boast, to act proudly 1d) to avow, to avouch; Part of Speech: verb: a primitive root
Parallel with “Rhema” in Greek. Specific sayings, vs broader teaching.
Psalm 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach (lamad) me thy statutes. (choq - enactment)
Psalm 119:13 With my lips have I declared (safar - enumerate, recount, celebrate) all the judgments (mishpat - decisions) of thy mouth.
Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced (sus - be bright, cheerful) in the way (derek) of thy testimonies, (eduth - witness) as much as in all riches.
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate (siyach - muse, mutter, converse with oneself aloud) in thy precepts (piqqud - entrusted responsibility), and have respect (nabat - scan, look intently at, regard with pleasure and care) unto thy ways. (orach - road well-travelled)
Psalm 119:16 I will delight (play, look upon, amuse please self, by cuddling a baby or petting a puppy) myself in thy statutes: (khook-kaw' Feminine of H2706, and meaning substantially the same: - appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute) I will not forget (mislay, be oblivious of) thy word. (dabar)
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for (verb) 1a1) to pay attention to, observe 1a2) to attend to 1a3) to seek, look about for 1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack 1a5) to visit 1a6) to visit upon, punish 1a7) to pass in review, muster, number 1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking 1b2) to be visited 1b3) to be visited upon 1b4) to be appointed 1b5) to be watched over 1c) (Piel) to muster, call up 1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer 1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit 1f) (Hophal) 1f1) to be visited 1f2) to be deposited
1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted 1g) (Hithpael) numbered 1h) (Hothpael) numbered 2) musterings, expenses (noun masculine plural abstract) Part of Speech: see above in Definition
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root ; properly appointed, that is, a mandate (of God; plural only, collectively for the Law): - commandment, precept, statute.
Psalm 119:5 O that my ways (derek) were directed (erect, appointed, established, fixed) to keep (shamar - hedge of thorns) thy statutes! (choq)
Statutes - H2706 חֹק chôq khoke From H2710 חקק Châqaq A primitive root; properly to hack, that is, engrave (Jdg_5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (generally) prescribe: - appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver, note, portray, print, set. BDB Definition: 1) to cut out, decree, inscribe, set, engrave, portray, govern 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut in 1a2) to cut in or on, cut upon, engrave, inscribe 1a3) to trace, mark out 1a4) to engrave, inscribe (of a law) 1b) (Poel) 1b1) to inscribe, enact, decree 1b2) one who decrees, lawgiver (participle) 1c) (Pual) something decreed, the law (participle) 1d) (Hophal) to be inscribed Part of Speech: verb: a primitive root
an enactment; hence an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage): - appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree (-d), due, law, measure, X necessary, ordinance (-nary), portion, set time, statute, task. H2706 חק Chôq BDB Definition: 1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due 1a) prescribed task 1b) prescribed portion 1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve 1d) prescribed due 1e) prescribed limit, boundary 1f) enactment, decree, ordinance 1f1) specific decree 1f2) law in general 1g) enactments, statutes 1g1) conditions 1g2) enactments 1g3) decrees 1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God
Psalm 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, (pale, disappointed, delayed) when I have respect (scan, look intently at, regard with pleasure, favor, or care) unto all thy commandments. (mitzvah)
Commandments - H4687 מִצְוָה mitsvâh mits-vaw' From H6680 צָוָה tsâvâh tsaw-vaw' A primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin: - appoint, (for-) bid. (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command (-er, ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order; so mitzvah is a command, whether human or divine (collectively the Law): - (which was) commanded (-ment), law, ordinance, precept.
Psalm 119:7 I will praise (yadah - lift up hands) thee with uprightness (right, equity, meet, straightness) of heart, when I shall have learned (lamad - goad, teach, train) thy righteous (tsedeq - right morally and/or legally, equitable, prosperous) judgments. (mishpat)
Judgments - H4941משׁפּט mishpâṭ BDB Definition: 1) judgment, justice, ordinance 1a1) act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat of judgment 1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man) 1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right, privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan Part of Speech: noun masculine. Root word from H8199 שָׁפַט shâphaṭ shaw-fat' A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively): H8199 שׁפט shâphaṭ BDB Definition: 1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish 1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man) 1a1a) to rule, govern, judge 1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man) 1a3) to execute judgment 1a3a) discriminating (of man) 1a3b) vindicating 1a3c) condemning and punishing 1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment 1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together 1b2) to be judged 1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle) Part of Speech: verb: a primitive root
Psalm 119:8 I will keep (shamar - hedge of thorns) thy statutes (choq): O forsake me not utterly.
Psalm 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? (orach - well-trodden road, from word meaning to travel) by taking heed thereto (shamar-hedge of thorns) according to thy word. (dabar)
Word - H1697 דּבר dâbâr BDB Definition: 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner Part of Speech: noun masculine; from H1696 דָּבַר dâbar daw-bar' A primitive root; perhaps properly to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter, X well, X work.
Parallel with “Logos” in Greek.
Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought (darash - frequent, tread, ask - paralleling with verse 2) thee: O let me not wander (shagah - go astray, reel from intoxication, be enraptured and thus distracted) from thy commandments. (mitsvah)
Psalm 119:11 Thy word (imrah) have I hid (tsafan - hide by covering over, hoard, reserve) in mine heart, that I might not sin (chata) against thee.
Word - H565 אֶמְרָה אִמְרָה 'imrâh 'emrâh im-raw', em-raw' The second form is the feminine of H561, and meaning the same: - commandment, speech, word. BDB Definition: 1) utterance, speech, word 1a) word of God, the Torah; Part of Speech: noun feminine: from H561 - אמר 'êmer BDB Definition: 1) utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command; Part of Speech: noun masculine: from H559 - אמר 'âmar BDB Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) to say, to answer, to say in one’s heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c)to boast, to act proudly 1d) to avow, to avouch; Part of Speech: verb: a primitive root
Parallel with “Rhema” in Greek. Specific sayings, vs broader teaching.
Psalm 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach (lamad) me thy statutes. (choq - enactment)
Psalm 119:13 With my lips have I declared (safar - enumerate, recount, celebrate) all the judgments (mishpat - decisions) of thy mouth.
Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced (sus - be bright, cheerful) in the way (derek) of thy testimonies, (eduth - witness) as much as in all riches.
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate (siyach - muse, mutter, converse with oneself aloud) in thy precepts (piqqud - entrusted responsibility), and have respect (nabat - scan, look intently at, regard with pleasure and care) unto thy ways. (orach - road well-travelled)
Psalm 119:16 I will delight (play, look upon, amuse please self, by cuddling a baby or petting a puppy) myself in thy statutes: (khook-kaw' Feminine of H2706, and meaning substantially the same: - appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute) I will not forget (mislay, be oblivious of) thy word. (dabar)
No comments:
Post a Comment