Musing - How were Hebrew children able to memorize Scripture?

 Hebraic Musing - How were Hebrew children able to memorize Scripture?

Psalm 34 is entitled “Taste and See That the LORD Is Good”.  Hebrew children were fed honey so they would enjoy reading Scripture.  David wrote this Psalm when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away.   It is also one of the “acrostic” Psalms, each verse starts with or references a letter in the Hebrew alphabet.  For each verse, here’s the Hebrew letter & name; its symbolic meaning; and the verse in ESV italicized.

Praise God!  He Saved Me

v.1 a Aleph - Bull or strong leader; I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

v.2 B Bet – Family or house; My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

v.3 G Gimel – Pride or walk; Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

v.4 D Dalet – Door, pathway; I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

v.5 h Hei – Window, breath of God; Those who look to him are radiant,

v.5b w Vav – Hook, peg; and their faces shall never be ashamed.

v.6 Z Zayin – Weapon; This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

God Delivers those Who Fear Him

v.7 j Chet – Fence, wall; The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

v.8 f Tet – Good/Evil; Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

v.9 y Yod – Hand of God; Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!

v.10 K Kaf – Open hand; The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Learn the Fear of the Lord

v.11 l Lamed – Prod, teach; Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

v.12 m Mem – Water, living truth; What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?

What is the Fear of the Lord?

v.13 n Nun – Seed, life; Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

v.14 s Samech – Thorn, support, protect; Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

God Delivers the Righteous

v.15 u Ayin – Eye, see & know; The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

v.16 p Pe – Mouth, speak; The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

v.17 x Tsadi – Hook, righteousness; When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

v.18 q Qof – Last, Holiness; The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

No Condemnation in Him

v.19 r Resh – Head, highest; Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

v.20 c Shin – Teeth, peace; He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

v.21 t Tav – Cross, covenant; Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

v.22 p Pe - Mouth, speak; The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Points to Ponder

Were you able to find that the Hebraic symbolism reflected in each verse?

It’s no wonder the Hebrew children memorized whole Psalms!  (Acrostics & Honey!)

Want to learn more Hebrew?    I can email three more acrostic analyses to you, if interested.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      March 5, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”