My Translation of Psalms 138:2

[Neal of Zebulun]

I was reading Psalms 138:2 in the KJV earlier today, and it stuck out like a sore thumb:

Psalms 138:

2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.​

That...just doesn't make sense to me, neither in the context of the verse on its own, nor considering what the rest of Scripture has to say about Yahweh's Name.

So I took a look at the Leningrad:

אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֨ה אֶל־הֵיכַ֪ל קָדְשְׁךָ֡ וְא֘וֹדֶ֤ה אֶת־שְׁמֶ֗ךָ עַל־חַסְדְּךָ֥ וְעַל־אֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ עַל־כָּל־שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ אִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃​

And I got this translation:

Let me bow myself to your set-apart temple and I will praise your Name for your kindness and for your reliability, because you have made your Word great for the whole of your Name's sake!​

Does that make more sense? Tell me what you think. Compare with other translations to get a broader idea!

If you know Greek, give us your take on the Septuagint, I see that it's somewhat different for this verse.

But please, for the love of יהוה, keep in mind:

Psalms 135:

13 Thy name, O Yahweh, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Yahweh, throughout all generations.​

This is not a thread about arguing over His Name!

Praise יהוה

 

[Gregory Thompson]

2 I will worship <07812> (8691) toward thy holy <06944> temple <01964>, and praise <03034> (8686) thy name <08034> for thy lovingkindness <02617> and for thy truth <0571>: for thou hast magnified <01431> (8689) thy word <0565> above all thy name <08034>.

Picking words from the strong's & translation context in online bible

Reverence sacred palace
magnify glory faithful-kindness
Reliable nourish voice
glory

meditation/how it speaks to me

I will give reverence to you who indwell me as your sacred palace
I announce from the rooftops, your faithful-kindness is your glory
Your voice is reliable and nourishes my soul, to your glory.
.
Re: your translation
Sacred and Sanctified (set apart) are similar in a sense, so that can work.

 

[now faith]

It is a foreshadow of Christ.

John 1: 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

His name is exalted above every name.

Philippians 2: 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

[now faith]

Psalms is a beautiful testimony of our Lord.
The literary structure is poetical and prophesy, as well as teaching wisdom.
Psalms is rich in knowledge from God ,yet the events Written By David were over 1000 years before Christ was born.

Psalm 22: 6. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying, 8. He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19. But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25. My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28. For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. 29. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. -

 

[now faith]

Luke 23: 33. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37. And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

Psalms 22:

19 ..O Yahweh..​

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.​

John 17:

25 O righteous Father..​

26 ..I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it..​

Psalms 22:

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto Yahweh..​

Matthew 22:

37 ..Thou shalt love Yahweh thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.​

38 This is the first and great commandment.​

Psalms 22:

27 ..and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.​

Matthew 4:

10 ..it is written, Thou shalt worship Yahweh thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.​

Psalms 22:

28 For the kingdom is Yahweh's: and he is the governor among the nations.​

Matthew 6:

9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.​

13 ..thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.​

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

Really, again, I don't want to argue Father's Name.

I'm talking about Psalms 138:2.

In the KJV, "for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name" makes no sense.

This is Brenton's in that part, translating from the Greek "for thou hast magnified thy holy name above everything."

Both are clearly wrong. The Septuagint apparently drops some words and the KJV makes a non-sensical statement.

Some translations just put a comma in between "thy Name" and "thy Word", but that avoids the meaning of the passage.

This is what that part is more literally

"..you have made great on all your name your word"

I think it's saying "you have made great (on account of all your Name's Reputation) your Word."

Actually that might be how I should translate it. I didn't think to use parentheses. And "reputation" makes more sense than "sake", which is basically the same meaning.

Praise Yahweh!

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

Okay, how's this?:

Let me bow myself towards your set-apart temple and I will praise your Name for your kindness and for your reliability, because you have made your Word great on all your Name's Reputation!​

 

[now faith]

I chose this commentary as a example ,for me as I read the commentaries this one seemed the most logical.


Verse 2. For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. This is one of those expressions of Scripture that seem so comprehensive, and yet so amazing. To my mind it is one of the most remarkable expressions in the whole book of God. "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." The name of God includes all the perfections of God; everything that God is, and which God has revealed himself as having -- his justice, majesty, holiness, greatness, and glory, and whatever he is in himself, that is God's name. And yet he has "magnified" something "above his name" -- his word -- his truth. This may refer to the Incarnate Word, the Son of God, who was called "the Word." "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one": 1 John 5:7 , "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God": John 1:1 . You may take the words either as meaning that God has magnified his Word, his eternal Son -- above all his great name, that is, he has set Jesus on high above all the other perfections of his majesty; or take it as meaning his written word, which is written in the sacred Scriptures. So, in that case, not only the Incarnate Word in the person of Jesus; but also the written word in the Scriptures of truth. He has magnified it above all his name in the fulfilment of it: God's faithfulness being so dear to him, he has exalted his faithfulness above all his other perfections. We see this in nature. Here is a man so to be depended upon, so faithful to his word, that he will sacrifice anything sooner than depart from it: that man will give up his property, or life itself, rather than forfeit his word. So God has spoken of magnifying his word above all his name. He would sooner allow all his other perfections to come to naught, than for his faithfulness to fail. He has so magnified his faithfulness, that his love, his mercy, his grace, would all sooner fail than his faithfulness -- the word of his mouth and what he has revealed in the Scripture. What a firm salvation, then, is ours, which rests upon his word, when God has magnified that word above all his name! What volumes of blessedness and truth are contained therein! so that, if God has revealed his truth to your soul, and given you faith to anchor in the world of promise, sooner than that should fail, he would suffer the loss of all; for he has magnified his word above all his name. --Joseph C. Philpot.

It does agree with my first commentary ,that was based on the greater promise to come for mankind.

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

I chose this commentary as a example ,for me as I read the commentaries this one seemed the most logical.


Verse 2. For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. This is one of those expressions of Scripture that seem so comprehensive, and yet so amazing. To my mind it is one of the most remarkable expressions in the whole book of God. "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." The name of God includes all the perfections of God; everything that God is, and which God has revealed himself as having -- his justice, majesty, holiness, greatness, and glory, and whatever he is in himself, that is God's name. And yet he has "magnified" something "above his name" -- his word -- his truth. This may refer to the Incarnate Word, the Son of God, who was called "the Word." "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one": 1 John 5:7 , "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God": John 1:1 . You may take the words either as meaning that God has magnified his Word, his eternal Son -- above all his great name, that is, he has set Jesus on high above all the other perfections of his majesty; or take it as meaning his written word, which is written in the sacred Scriptures. So, in that case, not only the Incarnate Word in the person of Jesus; but also the written word in the Scriptures of truth. He has magnified it above all his name in the fulfilment of it: God's faithfulness being so dear to him, he has exalted his faithfulness above all his other perfections. We see this in nature. Here is a man so to be depended upon, so faithful to his word, that he will sacrifice anything sooner than depart from it: that man will give up his property, or life itself, rather than forfeit his word. So God has spoken of magnifying his word above all his name. He would sooner allow all his other perfections to come to naught, than for his faithfulness to fail. He has so magnified his faithfulness, that his love, his mercy, his grace, would all sooner fail than his faithfulness -- the word of his mouth and what he has revealed in the Scripture. What a firm salvation, then, is ours, which rests upon his word, when God has magnified that word above all his name! What volumes of blessedness and truth are contained therein! so that, if God has revealed his truth to your soul, and given you faith to anchor in the world of promise, sooner than that should fail, he would suffer the loss of all; for he has magnified his word above all his name. --Joseph C. Philpot.

It does agree with my first commentary ,that was based on the greater promise to come for mankind.

So the reason I argue that it doesn't mean He has put His Word above His Name is simply because of the context of the verse itself.

It says "..I will praise your Name על your kindness and על your stability, because you have made your Word great על all your Name."

1. He's praising the Name.
2. על is the same word in all three places
3. it literally means "on/on top"
4. but figuratively it can mean "on account of/for"

Now, the second clause after "because" is explaining overall why He's praising His Name in the first clause.

It makes sense only if he's saying He's made His Word great on account of all of His Name's Reputation/fame.

That is, because people value and trust on His Name (and the Reputation that goes along with it) and because Yahweh is True to His Word, they hold the Word in high esteem.

(See Zephaniah 3:19 "fame", Nehemiah 6:13 "report", both same word שם)

Praise Yahweh!

 

[now faith]

Yahuah – The ABBA Father

Yahusha 216 times – The Son, the Messiah, Ha Mashiach, The Savior – This Name Mean in Hebrew Yahu Saves & Yahu Delivers.
Wikipedia

 

[Ron Gurley]

Psalm 138:2(NASB)
I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

 

[Matthew13:9]

I was reading Psalms 138:2 in the KJV earlier today, and it stuck out like a sore thumb:

Psalms 138:

2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.​

That...just doesn't make sense to me, neither in the context of the verse on its own, nor considering what the rest of Scripture has to say about Yahweh's Name.

So I took a look at the Leningrad:

אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֨ה אֶל־הֵיכַ֪ל קָדְשְׁךָ֡ וְא֘וֹדֶ֤ה אֶת־שְׁמֶ֗ךָ עַל־חַסְדְּךָ֥ וְעַל־אֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ עַל־כָּל־שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ אִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃​

And I got this translation:

Let me bow myself to your set-apart temple and I will praise your Name for your kindness and for your reliability, because you have made your Word great for the whole of your Name's sake!​

Does that make more sense? Tell me what you think. Compare with other translations to get a broader idea!

If you know Greek, give us your take on the Septuagint, I see that it's somewhat different for this verse.

But please, for the love of יהוה, keep in mind:

Psalms 135:

13 Thy name, O Yahweh, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Yahweh, throughout all generations.​

This is not a thread about arguing over His Name!

Praise יהוה

Psalm 138:2King James Version (KJV)

2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.


The verse above is talking about Christ: The temple of God is Christ in heaven: and Jesus is the Word of God:

Revelation 19:13King James Version (KJV)

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.


John 1:14King James Version (KJV)

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.




Philippians 2:8-10King James Version (KJV)

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;


Hebrews 1:4King James Version (KJV)

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

Psalm 138:2King James Version (KJV)

2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.


The verse above is talking about Christ: The temple of God is Christ in heaven: and Jesus is the Word of God:

Revelation 19:13King James Version (KJV)

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.


John 1:14King James Version (KJV)

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.




Philippians 2:8-10King James Version (KJV)

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;


Hebrews 1:4King James Version (KJV)

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Consider:

Revelation 14:

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.​

Revelation 3:

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.​

 

[Matthew13:9]

Consider:

Revelation 14:

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.​

Revelation 3:

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.​

John 12:44-45King James Version (KJV)

44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

John 12:44-45King James Version (KJV)

44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

Consider:

John 1:

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.​

Genesis 32:

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.​

Exodus 33:

11 And Yahweh spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.​

John 5:

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.​

 

[Matthew13:9]

Consider:

John 1:

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.​

Genesis 32:

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.​

Exodus 33:

11 And Yahweh spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.​

John 5:

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.​

John 6:45-46King James Version (KJV)

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

John 8:47King James Version (KJV)

47 He that is of God heareth God's words:

John 12:44-45King James Version (KJV)

44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

John 6:40King James Version (KJV)

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

John 6:45-46King James Version (KJV)

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

John 8:47King James Version (KJV)

47 He that is of God heareth God's words:

John 12:44-45King James Version (KJV)

44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

John 6:40King James Version (KJV)

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

I'm not arguing with you. Instead of resisting the Word I have quoted you, hear it, and believe it.

 

[Matthew13:9]

I'm not arguing with you. Instead of resisting the Word I have quoted you, hear it, and believe it.

John 14:8-9King James Version (KJV)

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?


John 12:44-45King James Version (KJV)

44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him(CHRIST IN HEAVEN) that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him(CHRIST IN HEAVEN) that sent me.


John 5:24King James Version (KJV)

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him(CHRIST IN HEAVEN) that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

[Neal of Zebulun]

John 14:8-9King James Version (KJV)

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?


John 12:44-45King James Version (KJV)

44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him(CHRIST IN HEAVEN) that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him(CHRIST IN HEAVEN) that sent me.


John 5:24King James Version (KJV)

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him(CHRIST IN HEAVEN) that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Now you're just adding words. I'm not interested in your interpretation. Go away.