Miscellaneous Phenomena.
This Is Appendix 63 From The Companion Bible.
The name given to the Book of Psalms as a whole
by the Jews is
Tehillim; but it is
not recognised by this name in the Book itself.
Our
English name "Psalms" is a transliteration of the Greek
Title of the Septuagint, "Psalmoi", 1 which means
"songs"; while the word "Psalter" is from the
Greek Psalterion, a harp, or other stringed instrument.
There is no correspondence between the Greek and the
Hebrew in these cases. Only once does Psalm bear this word in its title,
and that is Psalm 145 (sing. T ehillah).
T ehillim is invariably
rendered "praises". It is a verbal noun from the root
halal, to make a jubilant sound.
To
make ellell means to rejoice. Compare German
hallen and English halloo, yell.
T ehillim has therefore, a
wide meaning, and includes all that is worthy of praise or celebration;
and, especially the works and ways of Jehovah.
Hence, in this book, we have these works and ways
set forth as they relate to the Divine counsels of God, (1) as to
Man, (2) as to Israel, (3) as to the
Sanctuary, (4) as to the Earth, and (5) as to
Word of Jehovah. See the Structure of the separate Books of
the Psalms, page 720. In those Structures light is thrown upon the
"ways" of God. The need for this instruction is seen from
the other meaning of halal, which in the Hithpael and
Hithpolel means to praise or boast of one's self, hence to be
foolish. Compare 1Kings
20:11; Job
12:17; Isaiah
44:25 (mad); Proverbs
20:14
2
. This instruction is given concerning God's ways and works
exhibited in the Word of God from the beginning to the end.
"As it is written"; or "It
is written" Matthew 4:6 3 (91:11). John
2:17 (69:9); 6:31 (71:24,25). Acts
13:33 (2:7). Romans
3:4 (51:4). 2Corinthians
4:13 (116:10).
"David", or "in David"
4 Matthew
21:43 (110:1). Acts
2:25 (16:8), 34 (110:1). Romans 4:6 (32:1,2); 11:9,10 (69:22,23). Hebrews
4:7 (95:7).
"He (God) saith",
"said", or "spake": Acts 13:35 (16:10). Ephesians
4:8 (68:18). Hebrews
1:10-12 (102:25-27); 4:3 (95:11); 5:5 (2:4); 5:6 (110:4).
"He (God) limiteth": Hebrews
4:7 (95:7).
"He (God) testifieth": Hebrews
7:17 (110:4).
"In the Scriptures": Matthew
21:42 (118:2,3).
"In their law" 5: John
15:25 (35:19; 69:4).
"In your law" 5: John
10:34 (82:6).
"One in a certain place testifieth":
Hebrews 2:6 (8:4; 144:3).
"Spoken by (or through) the prophet":
Matthew 13:35 (78:2).
"The Book of Psalms": Acts
1:20 (69:25).
"The mouth of David" 6: Acts
1:16 (41:9); 4:25,26 (2:1,2).
"The scripture": John 7:42 (132:11); 13:18 (41:9); 19:24 (22:18), 28 (69:21), 36 (34:20), 37 (22:16,17).
"The second Psalm": Acts
13:33 (2:7).
2:9 (Revelation 2:27)
4:4 (Ephesians 4:26).
6:8 (Matthew 7:23).
8:2 (Matthew 21:16).
8:6 (1Corinthians 15:25,17. Ephesians 1:20,22).
9:8 (Acts 17:31).
19:4 (Romans 10:18).
22:1 (Matthew 27:43). The chief priests.
22:21 (2Timothy 4:17).
24:1 (1Corinthians 10:26,28).
27:1 (Hebrews 13:6). See 118:6, below.
34:8 (1Peter 2:3).
40:6-8 (Hebrews 10:5-7).
41:9 (Mark 14:18). 7
48:2 (Matthew 5:35).
50:14 (Hebrews 13:15).
55:22 (1Peter 5:7).
56:4,11 (Hebrews 13:6).
69:9 (John 2:17).
69:21,27 (Matthew 27:34,38 Mark 15:36).
74:2 (Acts 20:28).
78:24,25 (John 6:31).
79:6 (2Thessalonians 1:8).
89:27,37 (Revelation 1:5; 3:14).
91:13 (Luke 10:19).
102:25-27 (Hebrews 1:10-12).
106:20 (Romans 1:23).
110:1 (Mark 16:19. 1Corinthians 15:25,27. Colossians 3:1. Ephesians 1:20,22).
110:4 (Hebrews 5:10).
116:10 (2Corinthians 4:13).
116:11 (Romans 3:4).
118:6 (Hebrews 13:6). See 27:1, above.
118:22 (Acts 4:11. Matthew 21:42. 1Peter 2:4,7).
118:26 (Matthew 21:9).
125:5 (Galatians 6:16).
143:2 (Galatians 2:16).
146:6 (Acts 14:15).
22:18 (John
19:23,24).
34:20 (John
19:36).
35:19 (John
15:25).
41:9 (John
13:18. Acts
1:16).
69:4 (John
15:25).
78:2 (Matthew
13:35).
97:7 (Hebrews
1:6).
109:3} (John
15:25).
119:161} (John
15:35).
THE
FATHER.
T T
2:7 (Hebrews
1:5,6. Acts
13:33).
45:6,7 (Hebrews
1:8,9).
89:26,27 (Hebrews
1:5).
97:7 (Hebrews
1:6).
102:25-27 (Hebrews
1:10-12).
104:4 (Hebrews
1:7).
110:1 (Hebrews
1:13).
18:2 (Hebrews
2:13).
22:1 (Matthew
27:46. Mark
15:34).
22:22,25 (Hebrews
2:12).
40:6-8 (Hebrews
10:5-7,8,9).
45:6 (Hebrews
1:8).
41:9 (Acts
1:16).
95:7-11 (Hebrews
3:7-11).
9:8 96:13 98:9} (Acts
17:31).
34:8 (1Peter
2:3).
45:6 (Hebrews
1:8).
62:12 (Matthew
16:27).
74:12 (1Peter
1:19).
97:7 (Hebrews
1:6).
102:25-27 (Hebrews
1:10-12).
104:4 (Hebrews
1:7).
The word rendered "blessed" in the
"Beatitudes" is not always "barak," to bless;
but 'ashrey, happinesses. Its first occurrence is
Deuteronomy 33:29. It is the plural
of majesty or accumulation, and means "O the happinesses",
or, "O the great happinesses", or, "O How
happy".
'Ashrey occurs
twenty-six times in the book of Psalms. It is translated
"blessed" nineteen times, and "happy" seven
times. In the list below, these latter are marked with an asterisk
(*).
The following is the complete list:
Psalms 1:1; 2:12; 32:1,2; 33:12; 34:8; 40:4; 41:1; 65:4; 84:4, 5, 12; 89:15; 94:12; 106:3; 112:1; 119:1, 2; 127:5*;
128:1,2*;
137:8*,9*;
144:15*,15*;
146:5*.
The word is distributed in five books of the Psalms
as follows: Book I, eight times; Book II, once; Book III, four times; Book
IV, twice; Book V, eleven timesl; making twenty-six in all.
There are nine examples of Acrostics in the Book of
Psalms, while eleven other Acrostic Scriptures are found in the Old
Testament 8.
The first letters being the same in both alphabets,
can be thus presented:
i. Psalms 9 and 10 are linked together by an
Acrostic which, like "the times of trouble" (the great
tribulation), of which the two Psalms treat, is purposely broken, and is
irregular and out of joint. This Acrostic tells us that the subject of the
two Psalms is one, and that they are to be connected together. See notes
there on the many expressions common to both.
ii. Psalm 25. Here, again, the Acrostic is
designedly incomplete, a proof of its genuineness instead of its
"corruption". No writer would or could omit a letter from
carelessness. The Psalm has the same phenomena as Psalm 34, where the same
letter 
(Vau = V) is omitted, and the same letter 
(Pe = P) is
duplicated, in the word Padah, "redeem". The
last verse is thus, in each case, made to stand out prominently by itself.
iii.Psalm 34. See under ii., above.
iv.Psalm 37. In this Psalm the series is
perfect and complete. Every letter has two verses of lines each, except
three: verses 7 (
, Daleth =
D), 20 (
, Kaph = K),
and 34 (
, Koph = K).
v.Psalm 111. In this Psalm the series is
complete. The Psalm has twenty-two lines, each line commending with the
successive letters of the alphabet.
vi.Psalm
112 is formed on the model of Psalm 111, the two Psalms forming a pair
9 ; Psalm 111 being
occupied with Jehovah, and Psalm 112 with the man that revereth Jehovah.
See the notes there.
vii.Psalm 119. This
Psalm consists of twenty-two groups, consisting of eight verses each. The
eight verses in each group begin with same letter. For example: the first
eight verses begin with 
(Aleph = A), the eight
verses of the second group with 
(Beth = B), and so
through the whole Psalm of 176 verses (8 x 22. See Appendix 10).
It is impossible to reproduce this (or any of the
other alphabetical Acrostics), seeing that the Hebrew and English
alphabets do not correspond, either in equivalents, order, or number of
the letters.
It so happens that in the group
beginning with T (verses 65-72), each verse in
the Authorized Version does not begin with T, except verses 67 and 71. These can be
readily conformed by changing "Before" to
"Till" in verse 67; and "It
is" to "Tis" in verse 71.
- Ah! the happinessess of the perfect in the way,
- Such as walk by the Law of Jehovah.
- Ah! the happinessess of the keepers of His testimonies,
- Who seek Him with their whole heart.
- Assuredly they have not worked iniquity:
- In His ways they have ever walked.
- As to Thy commandments - Thou hast commanded us,
- That we should diligently keep them.
- Ah Lord, that my ways were prepared
- To keep Thy statutes;
- Ashamed, then, should I never be,
- While I have respect unto all Thy commandments.
- All my heart shall praise Thee in uprightness,
- While I learn the judgments of Thy righteousness.
- All Thy statutes also I will keep:
- Leave me not utterly.
- By what means shall a young man cleanse his way?
- By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.
- By every means my heart hath sought Thee:
- Let me not err from Thy commandments.
- Besides, I have laid up Thy Word in my heart,
- That I might not sin against Thee.
- Blessed art Thou, O Jehovah:
- Teach me Thy statutes.
- By my lips have I recounted
- All the judgments of Thy mouth.
- By walking in Thy mandates' way,'
- I found joy beyond all wealth.
- By the precepts shall I guide my musings,
- And shall pore over Thy paths.
- By Thy statutes shall I be delighted:
- Thy Word I shall not forget.
viii. Psalm 145. In this Psalm the
Acrostic is perfect, with the exception of the letter 
(Nun = N),
which should come between verses 13 and 14. See note there.
Through the infirmity of some transcriber, the verse
was probably omitted by him. It must have been in the more ancient
manuscripts, because it is preserved in the ancient Versions: videlicet,
the Septuagint, Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic, and Vulgate. One Hebrew Codex is
known which contains it, as follows:
Moreover, the Structure of the Psalm shows that
it originally had its proper place in the Psalm. See the notes on Psalm
145:13,14.
ix. For the other Acrotics in the Psalms, see
the note on Psalm 96:11.
1. The Psalms bearing the name of
"DAVID" are seventy-three in all: thirty-seven in the Book I (3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 28 ,29 ,30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41); eighteen
Psalms in Book II (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64,
65, 68, 69, 70); one in Book III (Psalm 86); two in Book IV (101 and 103);
and fifteen in Book V (108, 109, 110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138, 139, 140,
141, 142, 143, 144, 145).
2. By
"Asaph", twelve Psalms: one being in Book II (Psalm 50), and
eleven in Book III (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83).
3. By "the sons of Korah"
eleven Psalms:seven being in Book II (42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49); and
four in Book III (84, 85, 87, 88), as set out in The Companion
Bible. In Psalms 46 and 88 it is repeated as the
sub-scription of Psalms 45 and 87, and is not the
super-scription of 46 and 88 as in all the Versions.
4. For, or of "Solomon", two
Psalms: one in Book II (Psalm 72), and one in Book V (Psalm 127).
5. "By Heman the Ezrahite", one
in Book III (Psalm 88).
6. By "Ethan
the Ezrahite", one in Book III (Psalm 89).
7. By "Moses the man of God",
one in Book IV (Psalm 90).
In reading the Book of Psalms, we must constantly
bear in mind the character of the Dispensation they belong. The word
"Dispensation" means "administration": and
God's principles of administration varied according as man in a
Dispensation on innocence, or mankind was "without Law", or
Israel was "under Law" , or as we are under grace in this
present Dispensation.
God's principles of
administration have varied with each of these : and in the future they
will vary yet more : in the coming Dispensation of judgment, and in the
Dispensation of millennial glory by which it will be followed.
If we read what pertains to one Dispensation into
another which is administered on different lines, we shall have only
confusion. Unless they be rightly divided, we shall not find "the
truth" (2Timothy
2:15).
Much of what we read in the psalms is truth
for all time: but, some things are peculiar to
that Dispensation of Law, and are neither suitable nor appropriate for the
present Dispensation of grace. That is why many readers stumble when they
judge "the imprecatory Psalms" from the standpoint of grace.
Those Psalms were appropriate for the past Dispensation of works, as they
will be for the coming Dispensation of judgment; but they are not
appropriate for the present Dispensation, in which God's administration is
on the principles of grace (according to Matthew 5:44-48). It was true, in
the former Dispensation of Law, that "when the wicked man turneth
away from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he
shall save his soul alive" (Ezekiel 18:27). But that is not
the way of salvation now. The Scriptures for this present Dispensation are
written and contained in the Pauline Epistles (fulfilling the promise of
the Lord in John 16:13); and these
declare with one voice that we are not saved by works, but by grace
(Romans 3:23,24; 11:6. Ephesians
2:3-9. Titus
3:5-8).
Even so with the "imprecatory Psalms",
and similar expressions in other Psalms: they were true and
appropriate for all that Dispensation, but are equally in-appropriate for
this.
It may conduce to the completeness of the study of
the usage of the Divine Titles, in relation to the Dispensational
character of the five Books of the Psalms, if we give a connected list.
They are given under the Structure of each Book seperately.
A comparison of these numbers will show that they
correspond with the subject of each Book. When "God" is
used, the thought is of the Creator and His creatures. When
"Jehovah" is used, it speaks of a Covenant God, in covenant
relation with His own People.
i. THE
GENESIS
BOOK. (Psalms 1-41),
page 720. ii. T iii. T iv. T v. T
Jehovah occurs 279 times, Elohim only
forty-eight (nine of them connected with Jehovah).
Jehovah occurs only thirty-seven times,
Elohim 262 times (twice in connection with Jehovah). El occurs fourteen
times, and Jah once.
In the First Section
(A1) Jehovah occurs
only fifteen times, while Elohim occurs sixty-five times (twice with
Jehovah).
In theSecond Section
(A2) Jehovah occurs
fifty times, while Elohim occurs only 28 times (four of which are
connected with Jehovah). El occurs five times.
Jehovah occurs 126 times, and Elohim only
thirty-one times (in ten of which it is combined with Jehovah). El occurs
six times.
Jehovah occurs 293 times, while Elohim
occurs only forty-one times (in four of which it is combined with
Jehovah). Jah occurs thirteen times. El occurs ten times. Eloah twice.
The Authorised Version of the Bible of 1611 was
preceded by several other Versions made into the English tongue.
Abjects, worthless persons, 35: brawn, muscle, boar's flesh, 119: cast their heads, consult, conspire,
83: darling, favourite, American Standard
dear-ling, 22: ensue, pursue, 34: fain, glad 71: glory, tongue, (which gives glory),
16: harnessed, armed, root = made of
iron 78: inditing, dictating, 45: knapppeth, snappeth, 46: laud, (Lat.,) praise, 135: make thou all his bed, nurse, 41: nethermost, lowest, 86: ordereth, arrangeth, 40: pate, crown of the head, 7: quick, living, alive, 55: refrain, restrain, 76: set by, esteem highly, 15: tell, count, 22: unto, in comparison with, 16: vengeance, vindication or avengement,
79: water-pipes, cataracts or torrents,
42: Notes:
1. The earliest was by John Wycliffe, about
A.D. 1380. This existed only in Manuscript until 1831, when the New
Testament was printed for the first time, followed by the Old Testament in
1848. The complete Bible was not published till 1850.
2. Tyndale's Version. The New Testament was
published in 1525 and the Pentateuch 1530.
3.
Coverdale's Version followed in 1535, and was the first complete printed
English Bible.
4. Matthew's Bible (largely
based on Tyndsale) was published under this assumed name in 1537 by John
Rogers.
5. The Great Bible followed in 1539.
It was Coverdale's Version revised by himself, and was in large folio,
which gave it its name. In 1540 Cranmer wrote a preface; and hence this
and subsequent editions 10
became known as "Cranmer's Bible". It was from this
Version that the Psalms and other portions of Scripture were taken, and
used in the Prayer Book, from the edition of 1552 to the last revision in
1662.
When the Authorized Version was published in
1611, it was "authorized (or appointed) to be read in
churches" (hence its name), instead of the Versions which had
preceded it, and which were thenceforth superseded. Extracts from it, such
as the opening sentences, and the Epistles and Gospels, were at the same
time substituted for those previously in use 11.
But it was found that, from the use of the Psalms in
Public Worship, people had become so accustomed to the older Version (many
being able to sing or say them from memory), that when the last revision
of the Prayer Book was made in 1662 the Psalter was retained, it being
deemed unwise to make a change which would be so revolutionary.
This is why the Prayer Book Version differs from the
Bible Version.
This is also the reason why a change
in "the names and order" of Books of the Bible to the order
of the Hebrew Canon is likewise now impossible. The translators of the
Septuagint arbitrarily adopted a different order, and gave the books
different names. This was followed by the Vulgate and all subsequent
Version 10. No change in
these respects would now be tolerated.
In comparing
the two Versions, regard must be had:
(1) To the
NUMBER
OF THE VERSES, as these are not the same in each, and differ sometimes in the
numeration. For example, Psalm 19:14,15, in the prayer
Book Version; and Psalm 18:1, 2 in Authorized
Version is 18:1 in the Prayer Book
Version. The reference to the Psalm in The Companion Bible
and its Appendixes is always to the Authorized Version, not to the Prayer
Book Version.
(2) As to OBSOLETE
WORDS
in the Prayer Book Version, the following is a list of the more important,
which will show the extent of the changes made in 1611.
after (prep.), according to
90:15.
apace, swiftly, 58:6.
at large, loose, without restraint,
118:5.
certify, to make certain, 39:5 (verse
4 in Authorize
Version); to show knowledge, 19:2.
comfortable, consoling, 54:6.
conversation, mode of life, 50:23.
discovereth, strippeth of leaves,
29:8 (verse
9 in Authorized
Version).
dragons, serpent, 74:14 (verse
13 in Authorized
Version).
due, appointed, 9:9.
eschew, avoid, shun, 34:14.
fle, Lat. phy, and
expression of disgust, 35:21; 40:18.
fittings, wanderings, 56:8.
froward, perverse, 18:26; 58:3; 64:2.
graven, dig, digged, 7:16.
ground, bottom, 68:26.
health, salvation, 51:14; 67:2; 119:123.
hell, grave, 49:14, 15.
hold of, hold to, 31:7.
holpen, helped, 22:5; 86:17.
horn, head, 75:5, 6, 12; 89:18.
inquisition, search, inquiry, 9:12.
lay to, apply, 119:126.
learn, teach, 25:4, 8; 119:66.
leasing, falsehood, 4:2; 5:6.
lien, lain, 68:13.
lighten, enlighten, 13:3; 34:5.
minished, lessened, 12:1; 107:39.
mistake, take wrongly, 56:5.
noisome,noxious, 91:3.
pit, grave, 6:5; 9:15; 69:16.
poor, oppressed, 34:6; 69:30.
ports, gates, 9:14.
potsherd, broken pottery, 22:15.
prevent, precede, anticipate, 18:18.
quicken, make alive, 119:25, etc.
reins, kidneys, 7:10, etc.
require, ask, 27:4; 38:16.
room, place, 18:36; 31:9.
runagates, rebels, 68:6.
set in, put in the way of, 38:17.
shawms, wind instruments, 98:7.
simple, undesigning, artless, 72:4, 13.
simpleness, artlessness, guilessness, 69:5.
still, silent, 62:1.
stomach, pride, 101:7.
stool, seat, 94:20.
strange, foreign, 18:45; 114:1.
thereafter, according, 90:11.
thievish, given to theft, 10:8.
treadings, footsteps, 73:2.
tush, an expression of impatience, like pish,
or tut, 10:6, etc.
weights, (upon the), scales; that is to say,
when weighed 62:9.
whet, sharpen, 7:13.
wholesome, saving, 20:6; 28:9.
within, within doors, 45:14.
wont, accustomed, 119:156.
worship, worthy of honour, 3:3.
2 As it is foolish
to glory in any object except in Jehovah (Jeremiah 4:2; 9:23,24), so to boast of
oneself is to be foolish in this case (Psalm 49:6. Proverbs
27:1. See Psalms
5:5; 73:3; 75:4; and compare
44:8).
3 This (with Psalm
91:13) was Satan's
quotation, mutilated by a significant suppression and omission.
4 In David. The
Figure of speech, Ellipsis (Appendix 6), that
is to say, "in [the Psalm] of David"; or, "in [the
person] of David".
5
"Law" is used by Figure of speech, Metonymy
(of the Part) for the whole of the Old Testament.
6 David's
"mouth", but not David's words.
One other Divine name in Psalm
96:11. See note there.
One perfect Acrostic in Proverbs 31:10-31. See note there.
In the Book of Lamentations, each of the first four
chapters is characterised by an Acrostic. See notes there.
9 With the further
peculiarity that the first three verses in each Psalm consist of two
portions: the last two, of three portions.