angela hormberg

Category: Reading Through the Psalms

  • Psalm 119: Ayin or Ain

    Psalm 119: Ayin or Ain

    Part 16:Ayin or Ain verses 121-128

    The sixteenth part is Ayin or Ain, which is the sixteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey or Hebrew4Christians

    “The letter AYIN ע represents the number seventy in the Hebrew alphabet and numerology. It is a symbol of perception and insight.

    The word AYIN means ‘eye’. The eye reveals more about the physical realm than any other sensory organ.

    The eye is considered to be symbolic of the individual’s entire being. The eye reflects the innermost point of a person, a miniature world itself.

    The word for tree (‘etz‘ עץ) begins with AYIN, signifying the Tree of Life.

    AYIN alludes to the eye of God, as mentioned in the Torah.

    The number seventy represents the seventy archetypal nations and languages. These are said to be the seventy descendants of Noah, who were dispersed throughout the world after the fall of the Tower of Babel.

    The number seventy denotes spirituality, signifying the seventy names of God. These are interpreted to be the seventy faces or dimensions of God as revealed to Moses” (“Ayin”).

    Hebrew4Christians mentions that the letter ‘Ayin’ means ‘eyes’ and “the two eyes represent the choice or the actions of the will (i.e. the heart). We can choose whether to use the good eye or the evil eye to perceive things; we can choose to see the glass as half full rather than half empty” (“Ayin”).

    “A person is said to be ‘olam katan’, a miniature world. The eye reflects the world outside and reveals the whole world inside. A person’s outlook reveals their inner character. This is part of what Jesus meant when He said, “The eye is the light of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matt. 6:22-23)” (“Ayin”).

    Finally, we’ll touch on the gematria. Ayin’s gematria is 16, 17, 70 and 130, with 70 being the commonly referenced number. Following is information from Hebrew4Christians:

    “Of particular interest, however, is the number 70, since it occurs frequently within Scripture and Jewish tradition. In Scripture, we read that 70 souls went into Egypt, 70 elders of Israel saw the God of Israel on Mt. Sinai, 70 sacrifices made for the nations (during the festival of Sukkot), and Israel was subject to 70 years of exile in Babylon. In Jewish tradition, there are 70 members of the Sanhedrin, 70 words of Kaddish, 70 “faces of Torah”, 70 Names of God, and 70 birth pangs until the coming of Mashiach” (“Ayin”).

    Works Cited

    “Ayin”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/ayin/ , Accessed 13 July 2025.

    “Ayin”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/ayin/, Accessed 13 July 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:113-120

    Psalm 119:113-120

    Samech or Samekh

    Commonplace –

    “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word” (Psalm 119:114).

    In regard to the second half of this verse, Matthew Henry notes,

    “I hope in thy word, which has acquainted me with thee and assured me of thy kindness to me” (Henry 581).

    It is appropriate that this section falls under the letter Samech. Hebrew4Christians comments on “The Miracle of Samekh”.

    “The letter Nun, which immediately precedes the letter Samekh in the alphabet, suggests someone who is “bent”, or someone who humbles himself in brokenness and submission to the Lord God. Putting [Nun and Samekh] together, we have the Hebrew word nes, miracle. A person of faith is a walking miracle! The LORD gives support to the fallen and broken ones who put their trust in Him” (“Samekh”).

    We only have access to God’s kindness when we are humble. We are humbled in the face of His Word.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Samekh”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons. accessed 5 July 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:Samech or Samekh

    Psalm 119:Samech or Samekh

    Part 15:Samech or Samekh verses 113-120

    The fifteenth part is Samech or Samekh, which is the fifteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “The letter SAMECH equals the number sixty in Hebrew numerology. Its circular form is symbolic of the endless cycle of life.

    The letter SAMECH is a symbol of support and protection. This is inferred by its all-encompassing shape, and asserted by its meaning: ‘support’.

    The letter SAMECH is one of the only two fully closed letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the other being the letter mem in final form.

    SAMECH stands for soolam, meaning ‘ladder’, a key symbol in Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), referring to one’s inner journey.

    The number sixty represents completeness. This is due to it being the greater part of the number one hundred, which signifies perfection.

    The circular shape of the letter SAMECH alludes to the wedding ring, with all its symbolism” (“Samech”).

    The point about the circular shape is very interesting. I found more information about that on the Hebrew4Christians website.

    “According to the Chaz’l (sages), Samekh is said to represent the endless and ever ascending spiral of God’s glory in the universe. This cycle is hinted at in the divine (seder) of creation, and is revealed in both the seasons and in the rhythm of the Jewish mo’deim (festivals)” (“Samekh”).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Samech”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/samech/ , Accessed 5 July 2025.

    “Samekh”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons. accessed 5 July 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:105-112

    Psalm 119:105-112

    Nun

    Commonplace –

    “They testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

    I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end” (Psalm 119:111-112).

    David humbly inclines his heart to follow God’s statutes and that becomes its own reward, leaving him rejoicing in his heart. Matthew Henry beautifully noted what this looks like, when we walk out our faith.

    “Those that have the blessings of God’s testimonies must come under the bond of his statutes. We must look for comfort only in the way of duty, and that duty must be done.

    1. With full consent and complacency: “I have, by the grace of God, inclined my heart to it, and conquered the aversion I had to it.” A good man brings his heart to his work and then it is done well. A gracious disposition to do the will of God is the acceptable principle of all obedience.
    2. With constancy and perseverance. He would perform God’s statutes always, in all instances, in the duty of every day, in a constant course of holy walking, and this to the end, without weariness. This is following the Lord fully” (Henry 580).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:Nun

    Psalm 119:Nun

    Part 14:Nun verses 105-112

    The fourteenth part is Nun, which is the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey or Hebrew4Christians

    “The letter NUN has a numerical value of fifty, and is the symbol of faithfulness.

    There are two forms of the letter NUN: the bent one and the elongated one. The long NUN is only used at the end of a word.

    The Hebrew word for soul (neshamah), and candle (ner) both begin with the letter NUN.

    The Hebrew word for faithful one, ne’eman, is signified by the letter NUN.

    In Aramaic NUN means ‘fish’, symbolic of fertility because they multiply rapidly.

    The number fifty signifies the fifty days of the counting of the Omer, from the first day of Passover to the first day of Shavuot” (“Nun”, BJE).

    Hebrew4Christians also notes that Nun represents faithfulness, but they note that Nun also represents “the reward for faithfulness” (“Nun”) and quote James 4:10, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up”. Further, Hebrew4Christians expands on the gematria of Nun,

    “According to Jewish gematria, Nun represents the number 50 – a number representing freedom and fullness of life.

    • 50 days from the Exodus to the giving of the Torah (50 days for the count of the Omer)
    • 50 years for a Jubilee Year (yovel)
    • 50 references to Exodus in the Torah
    • 50 years of age before one has wisdom

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Nun”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/nun/ , Accessed 29 June 2025.

    “Nun”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons, https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Nun/nun.html, Accessed 29 June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:97-104

    Psalm 119:97-104

    Mem

    Commonplace –

    “Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

    Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me” (Psalm 119:97-98.

    Matthew Henry expounds on what it means to meditate.

    “What we love we love to think of; by this it appeared that David loved the word of God that it was his meditation. He not only read the book of the law, but digested what he read in his thoughts, and was delivered into it as into a mould: it was his meditation not only in the night, when he was silent and solitary, and had nothing else to do, but in the day, when he was full of business and company; nay, and all the day; some good thoughts were interwoven with his common thoughts, so full was he of the word of God” (Henry 578).

    As mentioned in the previous post, Mem, meaning water, “represents the sea of Torah, the ocean of Talmud, knowledge, wisdom” (“Mem”). David’s reference to God’s law being his “meditation all the day” means David was allowing the ocean of knowledge that is God’s law to wash over him. Like baptismal water symbolically washes away our sin, so meditating on God’s law washes our thoughts clean. As Henry noted, this allowed “some good thoughts” to interrupt David’s common thoughts, directing him to higher things. When we are meditating on higher things, we are not distracted by worrying thoughts of the day or wallowing in the mucky, dirty water of sinful thoughts.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Mem”. Angela Hormberg, Angela Hormberg, https://angelahormberg.com/2025/06/26/psalm-119-mem/, Accessed 29 June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Mem

    Psalm 119: Mem

    Part 13:Mem verses 97-104

    The thirteenth part is Mem, which is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey.

    “The letter MEM begins and ends the word mayim (water), signifying the lifeforce.

    In Jewish thought, the number forty represents the span of time necessary for things to come into fruition in nature. The forty years in which the Jewish people wandered in the desert.

    The number forty also signifies the meaning of the mikveh (Jewish ritual cleansing bath), which must be forty seah (a unit of measure) deep” (“Mem”).

    Hebrew4Christians defines Mem as water, but adds a bit more to the definition.

    “Traditionally, Mem has several related meanings: “waters”, “people”, “nations”, “languages”, and “tongues”. The name of the letter probably signifies water itself, and its most ancient [written] forms bore a resemblance to the waves of waters. As such, Mem represents the sea of Torah, the ocean of Talmud, knowledge, wisdom, etc.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Mem”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/mem/ , Accessed 26 June 2025.

    “Mem”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons. https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Mem/mem.html, Accessed 26 June 2025

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: 89-96

    Psalm 119: 89-96

    Lamed

    Commonplace –

    “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should have perished in mine affliction.

    I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me” (Psalm 119:92-93).

    Building on what we learned about Lamed in the last post, this section stays true to its title. In verses 92-93, we find David praising God for His word, which saved David from his “affliction” and which “quickened” him. Clearly, God’s word went straight to David’s heart. Lamed is about understanding with the heart. It’s also about action. David is fulfilling the true spirit of Lamed as a psalmist, using what he learns to teach others, while praising God all the while. David’s learning spurred him to action: writing and teaching others.

    In his writing on these verses, Matthew Henry notes, “

    “It was so now in [David’s] affliction; [God’s law] afforded him abundant matter of comfort, and from these fountains of life he drew living waters, when the cisterns of the creature were broken or dried up. His converse with God’s law, and his meditations on it, were his delightful entertainment in solitude and sorrow. A Bible is a pleasant companion at any time if we please” (Henry 577).

    Further, Henry states,

    “Ministers can prophesy upon the dry bones, they cannot put life into them; but, ordinarily, the grace of God works by the word and makes use of it as a means of quickening, and this is a good reason why we should never forget it, but should highly value what God has put such honour upon, and dearly love what we have found and hope still to find such benefit by. See here what is best help for bad memories, namely, good affections. If we are quickened by the word, we shall never forget it; nay, that word that does really quicken us to and in our duty is not forgotten; though the expressions be lost, if the impressions remain, it is well” (Henry 577).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119: Lamed

    Psalm 119: Lamed

    Part 12:Lamed verses 89-96

    The twelfth part is Lamed, which is the twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey or Hebrew4Christians

    “The letter LAMED is equivalent to 30 in numerical terms. It is known as the majestic letter, symbolic of the King of Kings, towering higher than all the others in the Hebrew alphabet.

    The number 30, as represented by the LAMED, signifies the number of days in a full month according to the Jewish calendar.

    LAMED refers to the word ‘lamad’, signifying both teaching and learning in the biblical sense.

    LAMED is an acronym of lev mevin daat (a heart that understands wisdom)” (“Lamed”, BJE).

    This reference to teaching and learning is echoed in the information given for Lamed on the Hebrew4Christians website.

    “…the goal of learning and teaching (lamed) is heart knowledge. Moreover, since it is the only letter allowed to ascend above the other letters in the sacred writings, Lamed represents the prominence of learning and understanding to the Jewish heart” (“Lamed”, Hebrew4Christians).

    Finally, on the Hebrew4Christians, we learn that Lamed, which resembles a staff or goad, is not calling us to learning as an end in itself.

    “Learning in the Jewish tradition is not an end in itself, but should spur us on to action” (“Lamed”, Hebrew4Christians).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Lamed”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/lamed/, Accessed 25 June 2025.

    “Lamed”. Hebrew4Christians. John J. Parsons, https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Lamed/lamed.html, Accessed 25, June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:81-88

    Psalm 119:81-88

    Kaf or Khaf or Caph

    Commonplace –

    “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word” (Psalm 119:81).

    David is tired, yet he hopes. It’s interesting that he begins this section of Psalm 119 crying out to God in weariness, yet expressing his hope in God’s word. As noted in the post on Kaf, “The word KAF means ‘the palm of the hand’, implying productivity and potentiality” (“Kaf”). David is weary, but, despite his weariness, he continues to read God’s word and hope in God’s word. David does not put off his study or his work, even when he is tired. Matthew Henry that David longs for the help and he waits for it.

    “Waiting for that help, assured that it will come, and tarrying till it come: But I hope in thy word; and but for hope the heart would break. When the eyes fail ye the faith must not; for the vision is for the appointed time, and at the end it shall speak and shall not lie” (Henry 575).

    Even when the work is tiresome, we must persevere, never turning from our duty, continuing to hope in God’s word.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    “Kaf”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/kaf/ , Accessed 24 June 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg