Article May 14, 1938 Issue

Bible Notes

"The health of my countenance" (Ps. 42:11)—The term which is rendered "health" in this passage means more literally "salvation," but also "welfare, prosperity, deliverance," as well as "health" (cf. Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 477). The word as here used is in the plural, and this, in Hebrew idiom, intensifies the meaning of the singular (ibid.). The Hebrew word "panim," literally translated "face" or "contenance," is often employed in the sense of "person," or simply as an equivalent of the possessive—"the salvation of my person"—that is, "my salvation." Thus Smith renders: "my help."

"Thou upholdest me in mine integrity" (Ps. 41:12)—The noun here rendered "integrity" can also mean "completeness, innocence, simplicity" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 1070), though most translators retain the rendering "integrity." At this point Moffatt renders: "Yes, thou revivest me, for my integrity."

"His soul shall dwell at ease" (Ps. 25:13)—The word which is here rendered "ease" is the Hebrew term "tob," which possesses a wide range of meanings, including "welfare, prosperity, happiness, benefit, good things;" while the phrase translated "his soul" was often equivalent in Hebrew idiom to "he himself" or even "he." As a consequence, Dr. Briggs suggests the rendering: "He himself will dwell in prosperity" (Commentary on Psalms, Vol. I, p. 220).

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