Jump to content
  • Welcome Guest

    For an ad free experience on Online Baptist, Please login or register for free

Psalm 119:44


Recommended Posts

  • Members

Our church is currently working through Psalm 119 as our Bible study on Wednesday evenings. 

Psalm 119:44
So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.


It pays to look up every word! I work my way through each word in the verse, checking the Hebrew words to see what they mean. In English we use the phrase "forever and ever" to just mean ongoing, to just emphasize that we mean "always." So, I went to look up the first "ever" and assumed they would both be the same Hebrew word. They weren't.
ever = H5769 "olam" properly, concealed; that is, the vanishing point
ever = H5703 "ad" (as in ad infinitum) properly a (peremptory) terminus; that is (by implication) duration,  in the sense of perpetuity
 

So when I looked up both words it indicates that the distance/time period talked about here it to the point that can no longer be seen, and past that, it keeps going, which immediately brought to mind Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story where his call to arms is "To Infinity and Beyond!"


I will always see "for ever and ever" in scripture now as "To Infinity and Beyond" lol. 

It's the little things that make scripture meaningful and memorable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrators

I have always thought that the word "ever", when used after the word "forever" multiple times, was redundant and uncalled for. Forever is just what it says and adding the word "ever" multiple times does not and cannot make the time span longer.

As an example, I once heard a preacher say it this way trying to make the point in his sermon: 

"Forever and ever and ever and ever and ever." To me repeating the word "ever" in no way makes forever a longer time period; you are only repeating the word "ever", which is not a length of time.

But that's just me being "picky".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
31 minutes ago, Jim_Alaska said:

I have always thought that the word "ever", when used after the word "forever" multiple times, was redundant and uncalled for. Forever is just what it says and adding the word "ever" multiple times does not and cannot make the time span longer.

But that's just me being "picky".

in English that is true, and if I had just gone on that assumption I would have missed this new insight that really made it come more alive for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
16 hours ago, trapperhoney said:

Our church is currently working through Psalm 119 as our Bible study on Wednesday evenings. 

Psalm 119:44
So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.


It pays to look up every word! I work my way through each word in the verse, checking the Hebrew words to see what they mean. In English we use the phrase "forever and ever" to just mean ongoing, to just emphasize that we mean "always." So, I went to look up the first "ever" and assumed they would both be the same Hebrew word. They weren't.
ever = H5769 "olam" properly, concealed; that is, the vanishing point
ever = H5703 "ad" (as in ad infinitum) properly a (peremptory) terminus; that is (by implication) duration,  in the sense of perpetuity
 

So when I looked up both words it indicates that the distance/time period talked about here it to the point that can no longer be seen, and past that, it keeps going, which immediately brought to mind Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story where his call to arms is "To Infinity and Beyond!"


I will always see "for ever and ever" in scripture now as "To Infinity and Beyond" lol. 

It's the little things that make scripture meaningful and memorable.

@trapperhoneySome helpful thoughts there indeed!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • Members

Here is a word that is translated "ever" 24 times, usually in the phrase "for ever." Twice it is translated "strength."

1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

Interesting that the word Strength in the verse above has this meaning:
“from 5329; properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at a distance travelled towards… usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. to the most distant point of view).”
Strong’s # 5329 has this definition:
“properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent… to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.”

The picture that comes to my mind is that of travelling towards a city and seeing the bright lights off in the distance, knowing that those lights bring you closer and closer to your destination, your home. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Strength of Israel - He’s the bright object in the distance, dwelling with Him forever in Heaven is the goal we are travelling towards. Our eternal home is in Him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
3 hours ago, Jerry said:

Here is a word that is translated "ever" 24 times, usually in the phrase "for ever." Twice it is translated "strength."

1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

Interesting that the word Strength in the verse above has this meaning:
“from 5329; properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at a distance travelled towards… usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. to the most distant point of view).”
Strong’s # 5329 has this definition:
“properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent… to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.”

The picture that comes to my mind is that of travelling towards a city and seeing the bright lights off in the distance, knowing that those lights bring you closer and closer to your destination, your home. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Strength of Israel - He’s the bright object in the distance, dwelling with Him forever in Heaven is the goal we are travelling towards. Our eternal home is in Him.

If that is the case then why translate it as "strength" and not "light". Is it because "strength" makes more sense in the verse and this is how the translators were inspired...er...I mean led to translate the word?

The root word for the English word "ever" means "vital force" i.e strength.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
13 hours ago, Jerry said:

Here is a word that is translated "ever" 24 times, usually in the phrase "for ever." Twice it is translated "strength."

1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

Interesting that the word Strength in the verse above has this meaning:
“from 5329; properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at a distance travelled towards… usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. to the most distant point of view).”
Strong’s # 5329 has this definition:
“properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent… to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.”

The picture that comes to my mind is that of travelling towards a city and seeing the bright lights off in the distance, knowing that those lights bring you closer and closer to your destination, your home. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Strength of Israel - He’s the bright object in the distance, dwelling with Him forever in Heaven is the goal we are travelling towards. Our eternal home is in Him.

That is interesting, but it has no connection to the word used as "for ever" in this verse and therefore doesn't fit in with the passage and doesn't really add to the conversation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...