Psalm-34
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Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations
of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected
like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have completly disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ – ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
The Psalm addresses the “adversaries” and the “hosts” that encamp against us, but it teaches that the physical battle is secondary to the spiritual one. David’s true goal is not just victory over enemies, but a singular, focused desire to dwell in the Presence of the Holy One.
Let
us first read Tehillim - Psalm 34: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh):
1. (A Psalm) of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
2. I will bless יְהוָה - the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
3. My soul shall glory in יְהוָה - the LORD; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
4. O magnify יְהוָה - the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.
5. I sought יְהוָה - the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
6. They looked unto Him, and were radiant; and their faces shall never be abashed.
7. This poor man cried, and יְהוָה - the LORD heard, and saved him out of all his troubles.
8. The angel of יְהוָה - the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.
9. O consider and see that יְהוָה - the LORD is good; happy is the man that taketh refuge in Him.
10. O fear יְהוָה - the LORD, ye His holy ones; for there is no want to them that fear Him.
11. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek יְהוָה - the LORD want not any good thing.
12. Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of יְהוָה - the LORD.
13. Who is the man that desireth life, and loveth days, that he may see good therein?
14. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
15. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
16. The eyes of יְהוָה - the LORD are toward the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.
17. The face of יְהוָה - the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
18. They cried, and יְהוָה - the LORD heard, and delivered them out of all their troubles.
19. יְהוָה - the LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.
20. Many are the ills of the righteous, but יְהוָה - the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
21. He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken.
22. Evil shall kill the wicked; and they that hate the righteous shall be held guilty.
23. יְהוָה - the LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants; and none of them that take refuge in Him shall be desolate.
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Here
is our popular ‘verse by verse’ with explanations:
Verse 1:
I will bless יְהוָה
- the Lord at all times - a vow of continual praise; worship is
habitual, not only occasional.
Verse 2:
My soul boasts in the
Lord - inner joy becomes
public encouragement for the humble.
Verse 3:
Magnify יְהוָה
- the Lord with me - an invitation to corporate exaltation;
praise multiplies.
Verse 4:
I sought יְהוָה -
the Lord, and he answered me -
prayer as the means of deliverance; testimony of answered prayer.
Verse 5:
Those who look to him
are radiant - trust transforms
countenance; confidence removes shame.
Verse 6:
This poor man cried,
and יְהוָה -
the Lord heard him אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה
- the LORD Elohim’s special care
for the lowly and afflicted.
Verse 7:
The angel of יְהוָה -
the Lord encamps around those who fear him - imagery of divine guardianship in danger.
Verse 8:
Taste and see that יְהוָה -
the Lord is good - an
experiential summons: faith begins with encounter, not argument.
Verse 9:
Fear יְהוָה -
the Lord, you his saints -
reverent awe leads to provision and sufficiency.
Verse 10
Young lions suffer
want - contrast: human
strength can fail; seeking אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה
- the LORD Elohim secures true
provision.
Verse 11:
Come, O children,
listen - teaching mode: the
psalmist becomes a mentor in the fear of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim.
Verse 12:
Whoever desires life,
love days - ethical
exhortation linking conduct to flourishing.
Verse 13:
Keep your tongue from
evil - practical wisdom:
speech and peace preserve life.
Verse 14:
Depart from evil and
do good
- active righteousness paired with avoidance of harm.
Verse 15:
The eyes of יְהוָה -
the Lord are toward the righteous אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’s attentive care for those aligned with him.
Verse 16:
The face of יְהוָה -
the Lord is against evildoers
- moral accountability; אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’s opposes persistent wickedness.
Verse 17:
When the righteous cry
for help יְהוָה -
the Lord hears - prayer of the
upright is effective; אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’s responds.
Verse 18:
The Lord is near to
the brokenhearted - pastoral
comfort for grief and repentance.
Verse 19:
Many are the
afflictions of the righteous -
reality of suffering, yet with sustaining purpose.
Verse 20:
He keeps all his
bones; not one is broken -
poetic assurance of preservation.
Verse 21:
Affliction will slay
the wicked - moral consequence
contrasted with divine rescue for the faithful.
Verse 22:
The Lord redeems the
life of his servants - summary
promise: redemption and deliverance for those who trust.
Verse 23:.
“יְהוָה - The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants; and none of them that take refuge in Him shall be desolate”.
Below is a breakdown of verse 23 as it is vital to the teaching of Psalm:
1. The Divine
“Seal” of Redemption:
While the previous verses (12-22) gave us instructions on what we must do (keep our tongues from evil, seek peace, cry out), Verse 23 tells us what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim does.
“The Word”, "Redeemeth” (Podeh): In Hebrew, this implies a “buying back” or a release from bondage. It suggests that even if we have stumbled or found ourselves in the “misfortunes” mentioned in verse 20, the Holy One pays the price to bring us back to safety.
The Shift: The alphabet ends at verse 22 (the letter Tav). By placing this verse outside the alphabet, the Psalmist is saying that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s mercy is greater than the alphabet, it cannot be contained within a human structure.
2. The Remedy for “Desolation”:
.The JPS-1917 uses the word “desolate” (ye’shamu). In some contexts, this implies being found guilty or being left alone in ruins.
Teaching Point: I need to explain that to be “desolate” is to be without hope or a foundation. David promises that for the one who takes “refuge” (chozim) in Him, that state is impossible. You are never truly ‘alone’ or ‘truly ruined’ if your soul is anchored in the Almighty.
3. The
“Aleph” Connection (A Hidden Lesson):
As I mentioned, there is a beautiful tradition about the letters that start the first, middle, and final verses:
Verse 1. starts with Aleph (א).
Verse 12. starts with Lamed (ל).
Verse 23. starts with Pe (פ). Together, they spell ‘ALEPH’ (אלף).
The Meaning: The root ‘Aleph’, ‘Lamed’, ‘Pe’ means “to teach” or “to be a master”. This tells us that the entire Psalm, from the first “I will bless” to the final “Redeemeth” is a complete course in spiritual mastery. It is a full circle of learning.
Conclusion
to Psalm 34: The Full Circle of Faith:
I need to emphasize that David began by acting like a madman due to the stress he was under (in the superscription) but ended by speaking with the “wisdom of a prophet”.
He proves that even when we are “poor” (v. 7) or “broken-hearted” (v. 19), we are never “desolate” (v. 23). The “Land of the Living” is a place where אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s redemption is the final word. It is a message of ultimate security: no matter how many “misfortunes” the righteous may face, they will never be left in the ruins.
Psalm 34 invites us to praise from ‘experience’, to ‘teach others’, and to live ‘reverently’ and ‘practically’ trusting that אֱלֹהִים hears, protects, and redeems!
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located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be
His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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