Psalm-119
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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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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Tehillim - Psalm 119 verses 17 to 24: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh):
Let us commence to read the following verses, first in Ivrit - Hebrew followed by the English translation.
גְּמֹל עַל-עַבְדְּךָ אֶחְיֶה; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה דְבָרֶךָ 17
גַּל-עֵינַי וְאַבִּיטָה נִפְלָאוֹת, מִתּוֹרָתֶךָ 18
גֵּר אָנֹכִי בָאָרֶץ; אַל-תַּסְתֵּר מִמֶּנִּי, מִצְוֺתֶיךָ 19
גָּרְסָה נַפְשִׁי לְתַאֲבָה אֶל-מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ בְכָל-עֵת 20
גָּעַרְתָּ, זֵדִים אֲרוּרִים הַשֹּׁגִים, מִמִּצְוֺתֶיךָ 21
גַּל מֵעָלַי, חֶרְפָּה וָבוּז: כִּי עֵדֹתֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי 22
גַּם יָשְׁבוּ שָׂרִים, בִּי נִדְבָּרוּ עַבְדְּךָ, יָשִׂיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ 23
גַּם-עֵדֹתֶיךָ,
שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי
אַנְשֵׁי עֲצָתִי 24
17 ... GIMEL ... “Deal bountifully with Thy servant
that I may live and I will observe Thy word.
18 ... Open Thou mine
eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Torah (law).
19 ... I am a sojourner
in the earth; hide not Thy commandments from me.
20 ... My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thine ordinances at all times.
21... Thou hast rebuked
the proud that are cursed, that do err from Thy commandments.
22 ... Take away from me
reproach and contempt; for I have kept Thy testimonies.
23 ... Even though
princes sit and talk against me, Thy servant doth
meditate in Thy statutes.
24 ... Yea, Thy testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors”.
Let us look at the structure and flow of these eight verses:
These eight verses form the ‘Gimel’ section of Tehillim - Psalm 119, gives us a moving plea for personal sustenance (vv. 17-18) to a confident affirmation of trust (vv. 23-24).
Verses 17–19: Earnest petitions, life, insight, divine presence.
Verses 20–22: Deep longing, acknowledgment of correction, request for vindication.
Verses 23–24: Despite opposition, delight in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s statutes as guiding counsel.
This arc reflects a journey from dependence and vulnerability toward spiritual resilience.
Key Themes:
Dependence: “Deal bountifully … that I may live” (v. 17) underscores human fragility.
Illumination: The request to open eyes (v. 18) signals desire for deeper revelation.
Exile and belonging: The psalmist as sojourner (v. 19) highlights life’s impermanence.
Longing and correction: Soul’s ache for ordinances (v. 20) and rebuke of pride (v. 21).
Vindication: Removal of shame (v. 22) affirms integrity under divine standard.
Opposition: Princes deride the psalmist (v. 23), yet statutes become counsel (v. 24).
These motifs weave together a covenantal trust with the dynamics of community and conflict.
Linguistic and Emotional Resonance:
The Hebrew root ga’rash (“break,”) in verse 20 conveys a soul shattered by yearning, a vivid metaphor for spiritual hunger. Verse 19’s term ‘ger’ - “sojourner” evokes Israel’s historic exile, tying personal plea to collective memory. When “princes sit and talk” (v. 23), the Hebrew literally portrays rulers scheming yet the Psalmist remains anchored in meditation on the Torah (Law).
This language invites readers to feel both the ache of separation and the strength found in divine instruction.
Personal Reflection:
Psalm 119:17–24 speaks directly to anyone who has felt spiritually adrift. Beginning with a fragile plea for life and ending in steadfast delight, it models how honest vulnerability can lead to robust faith. By laying bare our dependence, we open ourselves to transformation finding instruction and counsel not in human wisdom, but in the enduring word.
What passages in your life feel like a sojourn? How might embracing that vulnerability lead you to “behold wondrous things” beyond current sight?
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However, let us now take a look at the entire Tehillim - Psalm 119, and do so from ‘Aleph’ to ‘Tav’, and find some guidance from it as we can look at our own lives, and how we can make it better!
ALEPH: Blessed are they whose ways are blameless.
Beth: How can a young man keep his ways pure?
Gimel: I am a stranger on the earth.
Daleth: I am laid low in the dust.
Heh: Turn my eyes away from worthless things.
Vav: I will talk about Your statues before kings.
Zayin: Your decrees are the theme of my song.
Heth: It was good for me to be afflicted.
Yodh: Let your compassion come to me.
Kaph: How long must Your servant wait?
Lamedh: Your Word O LORD is eternal.
Mem: I see more clearly than the ancients.
Nun: Your Word is a Lamp unto my feet.
Samekh: Away from me you evildoers.
Ayin: It is time for You to act O LORD.
Peh: Streams of tears flow from my eyes.
Tzadhe: Your promises have been thoroughly tested.
Ooph: I rise before the dawn and cry for help.
Resh: Your Salvation is far from the wicked.
Shin: Great peace have they who love Your Law.
Tav: I have strayed like a lost sheep.
In Conclusion, a Question to
Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of this study, verse or a line has touched
you the most? And how do you feel, are you being a faithful Jew upholding
as many of our Mitzvoth’s? I am well aware that the modern world sadly contains
far too many problems as well as enticements, which usually tends to throw some
off track. Thus, the various struggles that may be taking place in your life in
today, can so often have sad and cruel effects upon your life?
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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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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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