Read Psalm 19 at Bible Gateway.
The law of YHVH is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of YHVH is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of YHVH are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of YHVH is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of YHVH is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of YHVH are true and righteous altogether. Psa 19:7-9
PERFECT Strong’s H8549 תמים tamiym, an adjective meaning, “perfect;” from Strong’s H8552 תמם tamam, a primitive root meaning, “to be complete.” The 3-letter root is tav + mem + mem .
tav ת = crossed sticks, thus mark, sign, signal, monument
mem מ, ם = the water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
mem מ, ם = the water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
The story: The cross (tav) covered by the mighty (mem) blood (mem) of Yeshua finishes and makes complete.
SURE Strong’s H539 אמן aman, a primitive root meaning, “to support, to stand firm, to believe.” The 3-letter root is aleph + mem + nun.
aleph א = the ox head, thus strength, power, leader
mem מ, ם = the water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
nun נ, ן = the seed, thus continue, heir, son
According to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, ancient people used to put animal hides in a pot of boiling water, and skim off the thick substance that formed at the surface. This strong (aleph) water (mem) was used as glue (and is still the basis of glue production today). In fact the concrete noun related to the verbal root is “glue.” The story being told is of the bond (aleph + mem) that continues (nun). The Hebrew language defines the abstract concept of “belief” as ideas or truths that stick with us continually.
RIGHT Strong’s H3477 yashar, an adjective meaning, “right, upright, straight;” from Strong’s H3474 ישר yashar, a primitive root meaning, “to be straight.” The 3-letter root is yud + shin + resh.
yud י = the closed hand, thus work, throw, worship
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
According to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, in ancient days, a cord was made when two (shin) strips of leather or sinew were attached at the top (resh) and then twisted together in such a fashion so as to lock their fibers. A cord is tied to the meaning of straight, in that when a weight is attached to one end of a cord and held above the ground, the cord hangs exactly vertical to the ground as a plumb line, and can be used to measure that a wall is being straightly built. The story: The hand (yud) holding the cord (shin + resh) as a straight plumb line, so also upright.
PURE Strong’s H1249 בר bar, an adjective meaning, “clean, pure;” from Strong’s H1305 ברר barar, a primitive root meaning, “to separate or sever, to select or choose.” The 3-letter root is bet + resh + resh.
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within
resh ר = head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
resh ר = head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
The story: Bet + resh together is painting the picture of the family (bet) of heads (resh), i.e. ripened grain. Ripened grain, after it is harvested, is threshed to separate the wheat from the chaff, thus selecting the choice (resh) or usuable portion of the grain. The connection to clean, pure, is that the grain stalks were then burned, and the ash used to make soap used for cleaning.
You might say that the commandments of YHVH are like soap to clean the eyes from the filth of the world that they may be subjected to, that is, to enlighten them.
CLEAN Strong’s H2889 תהור tahowr, an adjective meaning, “clean, pure;” from Strong’s H2891 טהר taher, a primitive root meaning, “to shine, to be bright.” The 3-letter root is tet + hey + resh.
tet ט = the basket, thus surround, contain, hold, mud
hey ה = the man with upraised arms, thus look, reveal, wonder, worship, breath
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
Tet can sometimes signify mud, as baskets were most often used to carry mud. The story: When mud (tet) or tarnish covers an item, polishing it so that it shines (taher) reveals it (hey) as it was at first (resh).
One cognate word from this verbal root is prison, the place that contains or holds (tet) the man (resh). The purpose of the prison is to either purify society from lawbreakers, by removing them, or purify the man from lawbreaking, by removing his freedom and hopefully cause him to reflect on why he is there; so that he leaves off folly and gains wisdom.
TRUE Strong’s H571 אמת emeth, an abstract concept meaning, “truth” (as in, that which is firm or faithful), from Strong’s H539 אמן aman, a primitive root meaning, “to believe.” See the above story.
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