Article June 19, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"With them thou hast quickened me" (Ps. 119:93)—The word "quicken" is, of course, used here in its somewhat archaic sense of "to make alive" or "bring to life," and when thus understood it provides a literal rendering of the Hebrew. Smith suggests the translation: "By them thou didst keep me alive."

"Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me" (Ps. 119:98)—The Hebrew consonantal text can be translated: "Thy commandments make me wiser," or, "Thy commandment makes me wiser ... for it is ever with me." In any event, it is plain from the idiom of the original that it is the "commandment" (or commandments) that are said to be "ever with me," and not the "enemies."

"I understand more than the ancients" (Ps. 119:100)—The rendering "the ancients" would seem to suggest that the reference is to "men of old"; while, in reality, the Hebrew "zekenim" means more literally "the old," or "the elders," and so might well refer to men who were living in the Psalmist's own day (cf. Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 278). Consequently, the Revised Version has: "I understand more than the aged;" and Moffatt: "I know more than these sages;" while Kent suggests: "More understanding than my elders have I;" and Smith renders: "I have more discretion than the aged."

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