january 19 bible reading

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

The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 19.

No New Testament reading today.

Hebrew root words.

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12

More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psa 19:10

Job 23 was yesterday’s reading, but my mind immediately went back to it upon reading Psalm 19 this morning. We have been talking about what it means to receive God’s word for ourselves; and now we add the concept of treasuring His Word.

Job 23:12 to treasure. Strong’s H6845 צפן tsaphan, a primitive root meaning, “to conceal;” also “to lay up, to store up.” The 3-letter root is tsadey + pey + nun.

tsadey צ, ץ = the trail, thus a man concealed, journey, chase, hunt
pey פ, ף = the mouth, thus open, blow, scatter, edge
nun נ, ן = the seed, thus continue, heir, son

The story: A concealed (tsadey) mouth (pey) causes to continue (nun), that is, a treasure which is hidden remains so when the mouth never speaks of it. Does this mean we never speak His Word? No, but it does indicate what great value we place on it; for only the greatest treasure of all is kept covered over, hidden, and completely concealed, so that it is never lost or stolen.

Since “to treasure” also means, “to lay up,” I went back to Job 22 to see if it was the same word.

Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His word in your heart. Job 22:22

No, it is not; we looked it up already; it is Strong’s H7760 שום shuwm, meaning “to appoint.” As breath passes through the teeth, hooking water vapor with it and expelling it outside the body, so a man’s character is outwardly expressed from that which is laid up within his heart.

Psa 19:10 to desire. Strong’s H2530 חמד chamad, to desire something as strongly as the heat of lust.