angela hormberg

Tag: Psalm 119

  • Psalm 119:129-136

    Psalm 119:129-136

    Pe, Pey, or Peh

    Commonplace –

    “I opened my mouth and panted: for I longed for thy commandments” (Psalm 119:131).

    Here the psalmist compares his longing for God’s commandments to a deep thirst. His longing is so strong he pants for it. While we drink with our mouths, we also breath through our mouth, when we take deep breaths, when we need air. David’s desire is to breath in God’s word. As Matthew Henry notes, “The degree of that desire…as one overcome with heat, or almost stifled, pants for a mouthful of fresh air. Thus strong, thus earnest, should our desire be towards God and the remembrance of his name” (584).

    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: Pe, Pey, or Peh

    Psalm 119: Pe, Pey, or Peh

    Part 17:Pe, Pey, or Peh verses 129-136

    The 17th part is Pe or Pey or Peh, which is the seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

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

    “The letter PEH means ‘mouth’ in Hebrew. As symbolic of a mouth, the PEH represents the differentiating factor between humans and animals: the capacity for speech and self-expression.

    The PEH alludes to the Oral law (Talmud) She Be’al PEH, and its significance in Judaism. The Oral Law was transmitted at the same time as the Torah, in the form of verbal teachings and explanations.

    The letter PEH, being the seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, equals the word tov (numerically calculated to mean ‘good’)” (“Peh”).

    Hebrew4Christians expands on Pey, noting,

    “The word Peh means “mouth” and by extension, “word”, “expression”, “vocalization”, “speech”, and “breath”. In the order of the Hebrew alphabet, Pey follows the letter ‘Ayin’, suggesting the priority of the eyes (i.e., understanding, awareness) before verbal expression (negatively, reversing this order results in “blind consumption” or mindless chatter). The chokhmah (wise one) is swift to observe and then to offer an opinion about something. ‘Ayin gives insight, but it is the peh (mouth) that gives insight expression” (“Pey”).

    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.

    “Peh”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/peh/, Accessed 21 July 2025.

    “Pey”. Hebrew4Christians.com. John J. Parsons. https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Pey/pey.html, Accessed 21 July 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:121-128

    Psalm 119:121-128

    Ayin or Ain

    Commonplace –

    “Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness” (Psalm 119:123).

    “David, being oppressed, is here waiting and wishing for the salvation of the Lord, which would make him easy.

    1. He cannot but think that it comes slowly: My eyes fail for thy salvation. His eyes were towards it and had been so long. He looked for help from heaven (and we deceive ourselves if we look for it any other way), but it did not come so soon as he expected, so that his eyes began to fail, and he was sometimes ready to despair, and to think that, because the salvation did not come when he looked for it, it would neve come. It is often the infirmity of goo men to be weary of waiting God’s time when their time has elapsed.
    2. Yet he cannot hope that it comes surely; for he expects the word of God’s righteousness, and no other salvation than what is secured by that word, which cannot fall to the ground because it is a word of righteousness. Though our eyes fail, yet God’s word does not, and therefore those that build upon it, though now discouraged, shall in due time see his salvation” (Henry 582).

    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: 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