Psalm 115:9-15

Psalm 115:9-15
Third Sunday of Advent – A Women’s Lectionary

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O Israel,A trustB in the Lord!C

Notes on verse 9a

A “Israel” = Yisrael. From sarah (to persist, exert oneself, contend, persevere, wrestle, prevail) + el (God or god). This is Israel, meaning God strives or one who strives with God; new name for Jacob and for his offspring. This refers to the people and to the land.
B “trust” = batach. This is to hide for refuge, be secure or sure. Figuratively, it refers to trust, being confident, or hoping.
C “Lord” = YHVH. From havah (to be, become) or hayah (to come to pass, become, be). This is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal one, the tetragrammaton. This pronunciation has been lost to time so “Lord” is generally used in its place.

    He is their helpD and their shield.E

10 O houseF of Aaron,G trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.

Notes on verses 9b-10

D “help” = ezer. From azar (to help, protect, support, ally; properly, to surround so as to provide aid). This is help, aid, or helper. This word is used in Genesis 2:18 when God decides to make for Adam, “a helper as his partner.” If the same word can be used of God’s help (as in Psalm 121:1), then we should not downplay the significance of this formulation of “help.”
E “shield” = magen. From ganan (to surround, cover, defend, protect). This is a shield, defense, or figuratively a protector. It can also be used for a crocodile’s hide.
F “house” = bayit. Probably from banah (to build, make, set up, obtain children; to build literally or figuratively). This is house, court, family, palace, temple.
G “Aaron” = Aharon. Derivation uncertain. May mean “bearer of martyrs” OR be related to Ancient Egyptian ꜥḥꜣ rw (warrior lion) OR elevated, exalted, high mountain. This is Aaron. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aaron

11 You who fearH the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.

12 The Lord has been mindfulI of us; he will blessJ us;
    he will bless the house of Israel;
    he will bless the house of Aaron;

13 he will bless those who fear the Lord,
    both smallK and great.L

Notes on verses 11-13

H “fear” = yare. From the same as yare (to fear, be afraid, dreadful; also fearful reverence – to fear in a moral sense is to say to revere, respect). This is fearful or morally reverent.
I “been mindful” = zakar. This is to remember, to mark something so that it can be recalled, to be mindful of, to mention.
J “bless” = barak. This is to kneel, to bless. It is blessing God as part of worship and adoration or blessing humans to help them. It can be used as a euphemism to say curse God.
K “small” = qatan. From quwt (grieved, cut off, to detest). This is least, small, young, little one. It is literally smaller whether in amount or size. Figuratively it is smaller in the sense of younger or less important.
L “great” = gadol. From gadal (to grow up, become great, become wealthy – to advance. The root meaning may be to twist in the sense of the process of growing). This is great, high, bigger, noble, old, marvelous. It can also refer to someone who is powerful or distinguished.

14 May the Lord give you increase,M
    both you and your children.N

15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who madeO heavenP and earth.Q

Notes on verses 14-15

M “give…increase” = yasaph. This is to add, increase, continue, exceed.
N “children” = ben. Related to “house” in v10. From banah (see note F above). This is son, age, child. It is son in a literal or figurative sense.
O “made” = asah. This is to make, do, act, appoint, become in many senses.
P “heaven” = shamayim. Root may mean being lofty. This is sky, the air, or heaven. It is in a dual noun form so this might refer to the part of the sky where the clouds move on the one hand and the part beyond that where the sun, moon, and stars are on the other hand.
Q “earth” = erets. Root may mean to be firm. This is earth, ground, field land, or country.


Image credit: “Rosh HaNikra” in Israel by Itamar Grinberg, 2012.

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