Why is there a Hebrew character and word at the start of each section of Psalms 119?
Psalms 119:1 - 176
ESV - 1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.
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Asked May 19 2021
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, in which each set of 8 verses begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm 119’s structure allowed for easy memorization. It is fun and easy to remember—this literary device known as an acrostic poem. It follows an alphabetical order with a stanza of 8 verses each. This happens 22 times, that is, encompassing the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Another commentator says, "This literary form may have been intended as an aid to memory, but more likely it was a poetic way of saying that a total coverage of the subject was being offered -- as we would say, 'from A to Z.' "
Tim Maas
Supporter
The characters and words (aleph, beth, gimel, daleth etc.) mentioned are the letters, along with their English renderings or translations, of the Hebrew alphabet. (It would be the same as an English speaker designating consecutive portions or sections of a document as a., b., c., and so forth.) Each section contains eight verses, and the Hebrew text (but NOT the English translations) of all the verses in each section begins with the Hebrew letter for which the section is named. This type of poetic form is known as a acrostic. Acrostic puzzles in English are similar, with the first letters of the answers to each of the clues spelling out the last name of the author and the name of the author's work from which the collective letters of the answers are arranged in the puzzle grid to spell out a quotation. (Examples of acrostic puzzles can be found by doing an internet search for that term.) Also, the letters "aleph" and "beth" (as well as other letters in the Hebrew alphabet) are notably similar (in their English spellings) to the corresponding letters of the Greek alphabet (which begins with alpha and beta), from which the English word "alphabet" itself derives.
Singapore Moses
Supporter
Biblical Hebrew consists of 22 letters, all consonants, none of which are lowercase. Each letter has its own sound and numerical value. Each distinct part of PSALM 119 has eight verses headed by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in an acrostic poetic fashion. An acrostic is a poem where a Hebrew alphabets, usually the initial, from each line or paragraph makes another word or sentence, typically linked to the theme of the poem. ✿ Let us look into how the Hebrew alphets are used to categoriese acrostically in detail. ① The first: 'Aleph Blessings of the Word of God (Ps. 19:7; Rom. 1:16; 10:17; Eph. 5:26; 2Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17 Heb. 8:6; 1Pet. 1:23) ➊ Produces character: sixfold character of a blessed man (Ps. 1:3; Ps. 15:2-4 Ps. 32:1; Ps. 36:5; Ps. 37:39) ➋ Incites consecration: one command; one request; two vows ② Beth Cleansing by the Word (Eph. 5:26) ➊ Cleansing power stated ➋ Five secrets of cleansing; two requests ➌ Fourfold vow to God ③ Gimel Enlightenment by the Word (Ps. 19:8) ➊ Prayer and hunger for enlightenment: four requests ➋ Three secrets of enlightenment ④ Daleth Sustaining power of the Word (Ps. 1:2-3) ➊ Four requests concerning the Word ➋ Three requests; testimony and vow ⑤ He Prayer for the blessings of the Word (Jn. 17:17) ➊ Four requests for help and two vows to obey the Word ➋ Five requests for power to overcome ⑥ Waw Salvation by the Word (Rom. 1:16) ➊ Two requests and a reason ➋ Seven vows: the outward working of salvation ⑦ Zayin Comfort in the Word (Rom. 15:4) ➊ One request; basis of comfort ➋ Tenfold testimony ⑧ Cheth Satisfaction by the Word (Ps. 19:10) ➊ Satisfaction stated ➋ Seven secrets of satisfaction; two requests ⑨ Teth Chastening power of the Word (Heb. 4:12) ➊ Testimony; two requests ➋ Purpose of chastening; one vow ⑩ Yod Righteousness of the Word (Ps. 19:9) ➊ Testimony; one request ➋ Five requests for justice ⑪ Kaph The source of hope (Rom. 10:17) ➊ Eightfold distress; hope in the Word ➋ Two requests; Word the source of stability ⑫ Lamedh Eternality of the Word (1Pet. 1:25) ➊ God's Word eternal ➋ The Word is the source of help for all generations: two vows; two requests ⑬ Mem The Word is the source of wisdom and knowledge (2Tim. 3:16-17) ➊ The Messiah wiser than enemies; one reason ➋ The Messiah wiser than teachers; one reason ➌ The Messiah wiser than the ancients; one reason ➍ Six secrets of the Messiah's wisdom ⑭ Nun The Word is the source of light and joy (Ps. 19:8) ➊ Source of light; one vow ➋ Three requests for help ➌ Five secrets of joy ⑮ Samech The Word is the source of security (Prov. 3:2) ➊ Place of security ➋ Four requests for security ➌ Testimony of security ⑯ The sixteenth: `Ayin The Word is the source of confidence (Prov. 3:4) ➊ Testimony of faithfulness; six requests ➋ Confidence in God's Word ⑰ Pe Guidance by the Word (Ps. 19:11) ➊ Faith in it's guidance ➋ Seven requests for guidance ⑱ Tsaddi Character of the Word (Ps. 12:6) ➊ Five characteristics of God and His Word ➋ Human frailties need the Word ⑲ Qoph The Word is the source of strength (Col. 3:16) ➊ Four requests; two vows ➋ Confidence before enemies ⑳ Resh The Word is the source of deliverance (Rom. 1:16) ➊ Six requests for help according to the Word ➋ Sinners disobey the Word; two requests for help ㉑ Shin The Word is the source of peace (Prov. 3:2) ➊ Testimony of peace in trouble ➋ Testimony of obedience to the Word ㉒ Tau Prayer for the Word's blessings (Jn. 17:17) ➊ Four requests for wisdom and help from the Word; two vows ➋ Four requests for salvation by the Word
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