Psalms Chapter 119-yud (10) |
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Psalms 119-yud
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YUD
JOD
This section begins with "yud" (pronounced "yood"). Yud has the numerical value of ten.
Yud (transliterated as "j" in the KJ apparently according to an old system in which "j" was pronounced as "y") in which all eight verses begin with a word whose first first letter in Hebrew is "yod".
Yod is the equivalent in English of "I" and of "Y" and sometimes also of "J".
"Yod" is the smallest letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.
In Greek the equivalent of "Yod" is "iota".
The English expression, "I do not give a jot" means I do not care even a little.
It is supposed to be derived from the Greek with "jot" being the same as "iota" and "iota" being a small letter.
The Greek alphabet is derived from the so-called Phoenician alphabet. The letters are almost exactly the same. There is in fact no real Greek alphabet but simply a Greek application of the Phoenician alphabet with very minor modifications.
The Phoenician alphabet is the same as that of the Ancient Hebrews. The present Hebrew Alphabet was borrowed in the time of Ezra from the Aramaic Akphabet used in Babylon. In Hebrew the present alphabet is called "Ktav Ashuri" i.e. the "Writing of Assyria" meaning that it was borrowed from Assyria or Babylon.
During ancient Revivals of Jewish nationalism (for instance under Bar Kochba) attempts were made to restore the "Phoenician" Alphabet.
On coins of the present State of Israel there are copies of inscriptions in "Phoenician" Script..
For example on the One New Shekel coin there are the letters YHD standing for "Yehudah".
See:
"The Shoshan"
http://star-of-david.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html
The Israeli New Shekel is a replica of - 'Yehud' coin Second half of 4th century B.C.E.Why did Ezra Change the Script?
The question may be asked as to why did Ezra when he lead the Jews back from the Babylonian Exile change the script? One explanation is that this "Ktav Assuri" was actually the original Hebrew script and it had been replaced by the Canaanite Script. Ezra was just returning things back to how they had been in the beginning.
Another explanation is that in Babylon the Jews had gotten used to the Ktav Ashuri used in Babylon so Ezra decided to keep it.
A third answer (found in "Ramat HaMitspeh"?) is that the previous script, i.e. the Ancient Hebrew or "Phoenician" script was also used by other peoples and they had begun to pronounce the letters differently from how they should have been pronounced. Ezra (or the Great Council of Sages which he headed) feared that the Jews would be influenced by these other peoples who also used the Phoenician Script and begin to pronounce the letters incorrectly and to confuse the sounds that should be attributed to each letter. This problem did not exist with "Ktav "Ashuri" where each letter had it is own distinct sounding that was unanimously agreed upon. "Ktav "Ashuri" in Jewish tradition has a sacred significance and the very shape of the different letters has a meaning and message for us.
In Ktav Ashuri (the script used by Jews today) the yud is much smaller than it is in the Greek or Phoenician script.
The English expression "I do not give a jot" therefore makes more sense if it is understand as applying to the "yud" in the Hebrew alphabet.
[Psalms 119:73] THY HANDS HAVE MADE ME AND FASHIONED ME: GIVE ME UNDERSTANDING, THAT I MAY LEARN THY COMMANDMENTS.
God made me us as we are and therefore HE can form us and gives us the means to understand HIS will for us.
[Psalms 119:74] THEY THAT FEAR THEE WILL BE GLAD WHEN THEY SEE ME; BECAUSE I HAVE HOPED IN THY WORD.
In Hebrew it says "Yirayeca Yirayunu" i.e. they that fear YOU will see me and be glad.
There is a play on words here.
Someone who does good and is known to do so makes other good people happy.
[Psalms 119:75] I KNOW, O LORD, THAT THY JUDGMENTS ARE RIGHT, AND THAT THOU IN FAITHFULNESS HAST AFFLICTED ME.
HAST AFFLICTED. In Hebrew "Initani" which also implies "answered me". Another play on words using the two-fold implications of the one word-root.
When we have suffered and repented of our sins God will answer us.
[Psalms 119:76] LET, I PRAY THEE, THY MERCIFUL KINDNESS BE FOR MY COMFORT, ACCORDING TO THY WORD UNTO THY SERVANT.
The goodness of God can comfort us and we can get in touch with the goodness of God through the word of God, i.e. through the Bible. We should all study the Bible. At least to some degree. Reading these lessons on the psalms is also an aspect of Bible Study.
[Psalms 119:77] LET THY TENDER MERCIES COME UNTO ME, THAT I MAY LIVE: FOR THY LAW IS MY DELIGHT.
We should take pleasure in the Bible and learn to receive invigoration and vitality from it.
[Psalms 119:78] LET THE PROUD BE ASHAMED; FOR THEY DEALT PERVERSELY WITH ME WITHOUT A CAUSE: BUT I WILL MEDITATE IN THY PRECEPTS.
The word translated as "proud" here is "zaydim" meaning deliberate evil-doers.
THEY DEALT PERVERSELY WITH ME WITHOUT A CAUSE. In Hebrew "sheker ivituni" meaning they used falsehood to pervert the meaning of my words and deal wrongly with me. They deliberately misinterpreted me and wronged me.
[Psalms 119:79] LET THOSE THAT FEAR THEE TURN UNTO ME, AND THOSE THAT HAVE KNOWN THY TESTIMONIES.
David is saying that these psalms and teaching of his are the same Biblical Precepts. They who fear the Almighty should learn the wisdom of david as revealed in the Psalms.
[Psalms 119:80] LET MY HEART BE SOUND IN THY STATUTES; THAT I BE NOT ASHAMED.
BE SOUND. Hebrew "tamim" meaning "innocent, clean, whole, without blemish, honest".
David asks God to grant him innocence and correctness so that he not give a wrong teaching and cause others to err. We should all be careful of what we teach.
Psalms Chapter 119-yud |
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