Sound (Psalm 119:59)

Transliteration:

heeshavtee derahai, va'a'sheevah raglai el-aydoteyha

Vocabulary Guide:

I considered my ways, and turned my feet unto the path of your testimonies.

Translation:

I considered my ways, and turned my feet unto the path of your testimonies.

Manuscripts:

Looking at other texts: Interpretations are not always the same. Don't let small differences keep you from learning the original languages!

Greek Septuaginta says your ways, not my ways as in our Hebrew text.

Compare the difference between the Dead Sea Scrolls (estimated many centuries earlier than the Masoretic text). Parts of the letters may seem to be missing because of the deterioration of the scroll but can be distinguished easily. There are many jpg's of the verses 59-64 on the Internet. Look at the last letter in the second word in verse 59. It is hard to tell whether it is a yud or a vav; however, it certainly does not look like and isn't a final kaph. I will explain my observation. Also notice the last two letters in the last word; the kaph is followed by a hey instead of being shortened to a final kaph with a cawmatz inside (as in the later texts). Considering that point, I don't see how the Greek Septuaginta came up with “your ways”. They did not use nikkud (points) at that time and the words were longer (relatively to the Masoretic text) by using letters as vowels.

There were other variations also, esp. the spelling the name of Jehovah (wherein at least reverence for the older language was emphasized in v. 64) which was written even in an earlier language form in the Psalms Scroll. Nevertheless, take a look at how the “Lord your God” is spelled in the Great Isaiah Scroll (v. 37.4). By the way, “your” is expressed kaph heh also.

Transliterate the Vocabulary Guide back to the Hebrew transliteration:

Go to verse 119:60