McDowell County, NC
Psalm 19:14 is one of the famous, classic verses of the Bible. It’s one that you may not have memorized by chapter and verse, but very likely have the words memorized. It’s a verse that has been quoted by pastors over and over again at the beginning of services. It’s a beautiful and compelling verse:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 ESV).
In my article today, I want to focus on certain keywords in this verse to help add to our understanding of these powerful words of King David.
In transliterated Hebrew, this verse would read as:
“Yi-yoo le-ratsone im-ray phee, ve-heg-yone lib-bee, le-phah-neh-ka YHVH, tsoo-ree ve-go-eh-lee.”
The keyword phrases that I am referring to are:
- Words of my mouth (im-ray phee)
- Meditation of my heart (ve-heg-yone lib-bee)
- Be acceptable (le-ratsone)
- In your sight, O LORD (le-phah-neh-ka YHVH)
- My rock and my redeemer (tsoo-ree ve-go-eh-lee)
The first two phrases mentioned above, “words of my mouth” and “meditation of my heart,” go hand-in-hand. “Words of my mouth” refers to just that, the words that were spoken by David himself.
The phrase “meditation of my heart” is from the Hebrew ve-heg-yone lib-bee. The noun ve-heg-yone (meditation) is defined as “talk, planning, thinking, meditation, [and even] playing music.” In other words, everything David was thinking about. The accompanying Hebrew word, lib-bee, can be translated as “heart, mind,” or “will.”
A person’s thoughts are followed up with words and then action. David is cutting right to the chase—meditation of my heart, mind, and will. He is asking that his thoughts, plans, and the things that he dwells on are right, so that his actions can be right too.
David is also asking that all his thoughts be acceptable to God. The words “be acceptable” are from the Hebrew le-ratsone. This is an interesting word that is defined as “for goodwill, favor, pleasure, liking” as well as “acceptance.” David is going far beyond just asking that his actions be good, but that even his thoughts, personal plans, and plans for the nation are right, in line with, and in receipt of God’s favor and liking as well as His acceptance.
Does that remind us of Matthew 5:21, where Jesus told the crowd that “everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (ESV)? Jesus likewise was going far beyond just a person’s actions but into thoughts and meditations as well.
The next keyword phrase in this passage is “in your sight, O LORD” (le-phah-neh-ka YHVH).
“In your sight, O LORD” is a simple enough sounding set of words that have strong implications. The Hebrew word le-phah-neh-ka can be translated as “into your presence (face), in front of you, before you.”
Yes, David here is asking God that all his thoughts and plans be pleasant and acceptable to the LORD/YHVH, but also as if he were making them right in His presence, as if he were verbalizing these thoughts right in front of, or face-to-face with, the LORD, with no hidden thoughts or actions.
And the last set of words in this verse, tsoo-ree ve-go-eh-lee, once again has more meaning than at first meets the eye.
The word tsoo-ree is indicative of a rock, although not an ordinary rock or a small rock similar to the one David slew Goliath with. This word has also been defined as “boulder, (large) rock” (A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, William L. Holladay, p. 305).
When we think of a large rock, a boulder in particular, we normally don’t think of it as being a weapon of offense. In Biblical times, probably no one (with the possible exception of Samson) could have picked up a large boulder and hurled it at his enemies as a weapon.
Although a large rock or boulder used as something to hide behind, to prevent darts, arrows, flaming arrows, or other objects from hitting you, is something to be considered.
Or, on the other hand, if we look at a large rock in front of us in spiritual terms—like a shield, a bulletproof vest, or even a forcefield—we have another application.
When we have the forcefield of God in front of us and around us on all sides, we don’t need to stay stooping down behind a rock. With Jesus as our fortress and forcefield, we can stand up and walk forward in faith, even in times of adversity. Even in times when we are being ridiculed, criticized, and laughed at for our beliefs. Even when we are tempted to do wrong, we can still do what is right.
The shield of the Holy Spirit in front of us can drive through temptations like cutting butter with a knife. It will give us the power to reject the temptation to do evil and do what is right.
Jesus will provide the Holy Spirit for defense and offense if we ask, cooperate, and let it happen. The evil thoughts, dwellings, and inclinations that come upon us can be thwarted.
The last Hebrew word in this verse, ve-go-eh-lee, means “and my redeemer.” To redeem means “to recover ownership of something by paying a specified sum or debt” (Webster’s Dictionary).
Jesus is our Redeemer. His paying our debt to God allows us to be forgiven of our sins, to have an abundant life, and eternal life.
I know we have gone through a lot of definitions in this article. Here’s my attempt to put this all together, or what my wife Amy would call the “TT Paraphrased Version” of Psalm 19:14:
“Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations that I dwell on, the plans that I make, the speech that I use, my music, even my times of enjoyment—my mind, my character, my disposition, my inclinations, my loyalties, my concerns, my intentions, my aims, and my purposes—let all of these be for the pleasure, goodwill, acceptance, liking and favor of You; before You, in front of You, in Your sight, and even face-to-face, O LORD, YHVH, my Master, my rock, my boulder, my shield, my guardian, my protector, my champion in the fight against the enemy, and my Redeemer, the One who has bought me back from being a slave to sin, the One who has offered me forgiveness, life, abundant life, and eternal life.”
Amen.
Bar-ooch Ha Shem – Praise the LORD,
Tom Thorne, Th.D.
Note: All Hebrew definitions are either from Holladay’s Lexicon or the Brown, Driver, Briggs Lexicon.
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Tom Thorne recently completed his Doctor of Theology in Old Testament Studies from Andersonville Theological Seminary. Tom and his wife Amy are fellowship coordinators for Avdai El Elyon, Servants of the Most High God Ministries. We invite anyone who would like to attend a Sabbath service to join us. We meet on Saturday’s at 12:00 p.m. For further details, please give us a call at 704-993-1974 or contact us at [email protected].
Read more by Thomas Thorne.
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