Tehillim–Psalm
121:
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Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:.
1. Torah =
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*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
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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).
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“Tehillim - Psalm 121”
(Often said during time
of uncertainty or unrest).
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
“Behold, He
that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep”. Verse 4.
This Tehillim - Psalm has everything should troubled times come
upon us, and אֱלֹהִים- יָהוָה(the LORD Elohim (God)
blessed be His Sanctified Name, is always there to console us!
In this
special study we shall first read this Tehillim,
after which we will take a closer look at this Tehillim’s ‘Structure and flow’, followed by a
‘Verse-by-Verse Analysis’:
Tehillim - Psalm 121:1-8. (SEF):
1. “A Song of Ascents.
will lift up mine
eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?
שִׁ֗יר
לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת
אֶשָּׂ֣א
עֵ֭ינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִ֑ים
מֵ֝אַ֗יִן
יָבֹ֥א
עֶזְרִֽי
2. My help cometh from יָהוָה - the LORD, who made heaven
and earth.
עֶ֭זְרִי
מֵעִ֣ם
יְהֹוָ֑ה
עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה
שָׁמַ֥יִם
וָאָֽרֶץ
3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He
that keepeth thee will not
slumber.
אַל־יִתֵּ֣ן
לַמּ֣וֹט
רַגְלֶ֑ךָ
אַל־יָ֝נ֗וּם
שֹׁמְרֶֽךָ
4. Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep.
הִנֵּ֣ה
לֹֽא־יָ֭נוּם
וְלֹ֣א
יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗ר
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
5. יָהוָה is thy keeper; יָהוָה is thy shade upon thy right
hand.
יָהוָה שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ יָהוָה צִ֝לְּךָ֗
עַל־יַ֥ד
יְמִינֶֽךָ
6. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the
moon by night.
יוֹמָ֗ם
הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ
לֹֽא־יַכֶּ֗כָּה
וְיָרֵ֥חַ
בַּלָּֽיְלָה
7. יָהוָה shall keep thee from all evil;
He shall keep thy soul.
יָהוָה יִשְׁמׇרְךָ֥
מִכׇּל־רָ֑ע
יִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר
אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ
8. יָהוָה shall guard thy going out and
thy coming in, from this time forth and for ever”.
יָהוָה
יִשְׁמׇר־צֵאתְךָ֥
וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ
מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה
וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם
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Tehillim - Psalm 121 is a
powerful piece from the Tanakh as it provides a
reading in regard to themes of protection and Divine reassurance. This Tehillim encapsulates the essence of seeking help and
comfort in times of distress, making it a cornerstone in both our religious practices,
but especially within our personal faith.
In today’s fast-paced and
troubled world, where sadly uncertainties abound, understanding the
significance of Tehillim 121 will provide a sense of
solace and assurance.
Let us now take a much
closer look on what this Tehillim contains.
Tehillim - Psalm 121 -
Structure and flow:
This Tehillim divides very neatly into two stanzas, each being
four lines long:
Verses 1-2: Covers a ‘personal question and an answer’.
Verses 3-8: Provides
‘Divine protection spelled out in six assurances’.
This shift
from the pilgrim’s gaze (“I will lift up mine eyes”) to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s watchful care
creates a movement from human need to Divine response.
Verse-by-Verse Analysis:
Verse 1: “I lift my
eyes to the hills from where will my help come?”
The verb קָמַתִּי (I
lift) is perfect, indicating a completed action of turning one’s gaze. The
hills (הֶֽהָרִים)
evoke both physical obstacles on the pilgrim road and symbols of human
vulnerability.
Verse 2: “My help comes from יְהוָה - the
LORD, Maker of heaven and earth.”
עֶזְרִי (my
help) in the masculine singular, matching the pilgrim’s personal appeal. עֹשֵׂה (Maker) and functions as an
active participle, stressing אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s ongoing creative
power.
Verses
3-4: “He will not let your
foot slip; He who keepeth over you will not slumber.”
There are two
promises in parallel:
The foot (כַּף־רַגְלְךָ)
remains steady. The guardian (שׁוֹמֵר) is
Hebrew for “guard” or “keeper” does not sleep.
Verses 5-6: “Behold,
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
The switch
to יִשְׂרָאֵל - Israel broadens the promise from one pilgrim to the
whole community. חֲרוֹן
עַיִן (slumber) vs. יְנוּם (sleep) intensifies watchfulness.
Verses 7-8: “יְהוָה - the LORD keeps you from all evil; He watches over
your life. יְהוָה - the LORD watches over your coming and going from now
and forevermore.”
The paired
verbs לְהַצִּיל and לִשְׁמֹר bracket
“life” (נַפְשֶׁךָ),
emphasizing total care. בֹּאוֹ and יְצִיאֲךָ cover
every direction of life’s journey. עַד־עוֹלָם (forever) underlines the unending nature of this
protection.
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This site was
originally for those who needed to return to our blessed and wonderful faith,
thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or of possible three
times a day and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance!
But as you may have discovered it has become very much a teaching site!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim,
blessed be He, said the following, via a number 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. MEC).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto
is as follows;
“The More
Torah, the More Life”.
For our Elohim 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 - Te’fee’lah’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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