Read Psalm 3 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
3:1-8 {p} Many are my adversaries, but YHVH sustains me and saves me
Psalm 3:1-8 Chiastic Structure:
In this psalm, YHVH
acts as a shield surrounding us, that is, walking with us as a defender so that we continue;
uplifts our head;
To uplift is Strong’s H7311, רום ruwm, a primitive root meaning, “to rise up, to be exalted.” The ancient Hebrew pictographs are the resh + vav + mem.
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
vav ו = the tent peg, thus add, secure, hook
mem מ ם = the water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
The Hebrew Root Word parable is telling of pre-eminence (resh) secured (vav) by might (mem), i.e., to be lifted up.
answers our call, that is, looking us in the eyes continually while revealing what is known;
When someone is answering with a true report, they look you straightforwardly in the eye, but if they are trying to hide something, as a falsehood, they tend to hide their eyes. This word is most often used of solemn declarations, as when YHVH makes a decree, a judge hands down a sentence, or a witness testifies in court.
sustains us, that is, surrounds us with a hedge of thorns placed against chaos so that we are upheld rather than overwhelmed;
strikes our enemies;
breaks the teeth of the wicked;
executes salvation, that is, actively, sharply, diligently watching out for danger, so as to prevent or rescue;
blesses His people;
To bless is Strong’s H1293, berakah, a concrete noun meaning “blessing,” from Strong’s H1288 ברך barak, a primitive root meaning “to bless.” The ancient pictographs are bet + resh + kaph.
bet ב = the house, thus house, household, family, in, within
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
kaph ך , כ = the open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
The Hebrew Root Word parable is telling of the family (bet) of heads (resh), an idiom for ripened grain; we still call the top of a ripened stalk of wheat a seed head. By extension the meaning is to fill, to make fat, and also to slaughter (as cattle were fattened for slaughter by taking them off grass and feeding them on grain). To bless, then, is to fill (bet + resh) the palm (kaph) – the blessing fills the palm, the upturned hands, of the one being blessed, with good things; and also, the father filled his palm with his sons’ heads when conferring the blessing.
No wonder David wasn’t afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against him all around! And we have no need to fear also!
If there are questions, these are a good resources:
Hebrew Root Words and their Mountain-Top Meanings – Christine Miller
Index of Hebrew Roots – Christine Miller
I Need Not Fear – Christine Miller
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