Psalm 119 - Introduction to translation - Word Study

 Law – Torah (Strong's #8451) Pronounced TOHR'ah. Meaning law, direction, instruction, custom, ruling or teaching.

The root word for Torah is Yarah (Strong's #3384) and has the meaning of casting or throwing as in shooting an arrow or throwing out the trash. Because the root Moreh (Strong's #4175) is usually translated as teaching, this gives this word Torah a similar meaning in most translation. However, I have a difference of understanding. This word, Moreh also has the meaning of an archer.

When I lived in Jerusalem many years ago, I learned the phrase, "Yesh Tor". In modern Hebrew, this means, "There is a line." The reason I had to learn it is, people would attempt to "Jump the cue" or "break in line" and this would be the phrase to let them know they had to "get in line". I have heard many different definitions for the Hebrew word TORAH which is often translated law, teaching, instructions, etc. But the Word "Line" fits my vocabulary best. One can understand this word picture as shooting an arrow. The direct LINE the arrow goes from the bow to the target is TORAH. And when one sins, the definition for sin is "missing the mark".

Commandments – Mitzvah (Strong's #4687) Pronounced Mitz'VAH. Meaning an order or cammand. It comes from the root word Tzavah (Strong's #6680) meaning give a charge, set in order, send a messenger, I.E. to direct. I chose to translate this word as Directions, as when a father is teaching his son how to do something, he gives him directions.

Testimonies – Edut (Strong's #5707) Pronounced e'duwt. A testimony, witness

Eye-witness reports – Whenever I read this phrase, my mind goes back to the story of Joshua and Caleb and the ten spies. We find this story in the book of Numbers, chapter 13. The twelve spies were tasked with the responsibility of going into the land of Canaan to scope out the land. 10 of the spies brought back an “evil report”, however Caleb and Joshua brought a “good report”. Both reports were “eye-witness reports/accounts”.

When God gave directions concerning convicting someone of a deadly sin, He said that the sentence would only stand with the testimony of two or three witnesses. No matter what part of the Bible you are reading, you are reading the “eye-witness accounts.” When reading the four Gospels, you are reading the “eye-witness reports” of those who saw first hand the works of our Lord Jesus. Although Mark may not have been physically present, he was probably the scribe for Peter's account. Luke, too, may not have been physically present, but he, too, was a scribe for direct accounting of our Lord's work and with all four Gospels, we have eye-witness reports that agree to our Lord's working. Luke was definitely a first-hand “eye-witness” to the things recorded in the book of Acts.

Statute - Chukkah (Stong's # 2708) = the Ch is pronounced gutterally in the back of the throat like the ch in Bach and the whole word rhymes with Hukkah. The meaning is statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed. A beautiful example of this word is found in Proverbs 8:29: “when he gave the sea its BOUNDARY so the waters would not overstep his command...” NIV

Notice the wording here is boundary or a limit that has been set. The word Chukkah is translated as boundary. So we can see from the picture here that God's statutes are His boundaries. Another Hebrew word that means Boundary is Gibul (Pronounced = Gee'bull) (Strong's #1366) and it is used in a similar way in Psalm 104:9 describing God's boundary for the sea: “You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.” NIV. This same word (Gibul) is used in Exodus 19, when God commands Moses to tell the people to sanctify themselves for three days and put a BOUNDARY around the mountain so that man nor beast might cross over and touch the mountain as God descends upon it.

When you read the word Statutes, or in my translation, Boundaries, picture guardrails on the side of the road to prevent you from going over the cliff or ravine, should you veer from the path. 

 

Precept - Piqqud (Stong's # 6490) Pronounced Pi'kood. thing appointed, charge, Other variations of this word in Hebrew mean “oversight, ward, supervision, responsibility” This was a word I struggled with, to find the right translation. At first, I thought about Wards and Guardians, but it didn't flow, especially when David said he would “guard Your guardians” or “Guard Your wardians”. I also thought about how often a supervisor follows guidelines given by the main boss, and I like the word “guidelines”, but it didn't translate adequately. So, I settled on the word “charges” and it shows “responsibility of the supervisor/guardian or ward”

Judgment – Mishpat (Strongs's #4941) Pronounced Mish'POT. Meaning: a verdict, a sentence, a ruling, or a vindication. I arrived at my translation of this word based on these definitions. A judgment is God's decision concerning a matter or His sentence passed over someone judged guilty of a crime or sin.