february 28 bible reading

Today’s Old Testament chronological reading is in Exodus 25 and 26.

The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 59.

The New Testament reading is in Mark 15.

Hebrew root words.

There is quite a variation between the JPS translation of Psalm 59, and the KJV, so I went to the Hebrew roots to discover the meaning.

… set me on high from those who rise up against me … Psa 59:1, JPS

… defend me from those who rise up against me … Psa 59:1, KJV

Strong’s H7682, שגב shagab, a primitive root meaning, “to be inaccessibly high.” The 3-letter root is shin + gimel + bet. However, according to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, the shin was transposed from an original sin.

sin ס = thorn, thus grab, hate, protect
gimel ג = foot, thus foot, walk, gather
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within

The story: To be protected (sin) as upon the archway (gimel, from the arch of the foot) of the house (bet), that is, to be set upon the highest elevation of the house, a metaphor for inaccessibility.

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the impudent gather themselves together against me … Psa 59:3, JPS

the mighty are gathered against me … Psa 59:3, KJV

Strong’s H5797, az, a concrete noun meaning, “something hard,” in the sense of cruel strength, from Strong’s H5810, עזז azaz, a primitive root meaning, “to strengthen.” The 3-letter root is ayin + zayin + zayin.

ayin ע  = the eye, thus watch, know, shade
zayin ז  = the mattock, thus tool, food, cut, nourish
zayin ז  = the mattock, thus tool, food, cut, nourish

The story: Watching over (ayin) while wielding one tool or weapon (zayin) after another (zayin), i.e., employing all necessary tools in defense. The positive spin on the verb is strength for defense, the negative spin, as is found here, is strength used to oppress.

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… Show no mercy to any iniquitous traitors. Selah Psa 59:5, JPS

… be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. Psa 59:5, KJV

Strong’s H898, בגד bagad, a primitive root meaning, “to act treacherously.” The 3-letter root is bet + gimel + dalet.

bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within
gimel ג = foot, thus foot, walk, gather
dalet ד = door, thus enter, move, hang

The story: To deal with the people to whom you belong (bet) in a treacherous manner, that is, to walk (gimel) back and forth (dalet, as a door swings to and fro on its hinges) with them. It means to say one thing and do another, to deal falsely, or to be double-minded, unstable.

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The God of my mercy shall come to meet me … JPS

The God of my mercy shall prevent me … KJV

Strong’s H6923, קדם qadam, a primitive root meaning, “to precede.” The 3-letter root is quph + dalet + mem.

quph ק = on the horizon, thus condense, circle, time
dalet ד = door, thus enter, move, hang
mem מ ם = the water, thus chaos, mighty, blood

The story: The sun on the horizon (quph) in the east enters into (dalet), that is, precedes, the day, making the sky red (mem, the color of blood). The idea of “to meet” is to go before the face of; but it also carries the idea of bringing necessary aid with, when going to meet. Thus,

“… they have heard that You, YHVH, are among this people, that You, YHVH, are seen face to face, and that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.” Num 14:14

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. Psa 95:2