Hebraic Musings – Why are some
Psalms done in Acrostics?
Q - What’s an acrostic? A - When each section begins with a specific letter of the (Hebrew)
aleph-bet.
There are several reasons why some Psalms are done in
acrostics:
(1) It may be an artistic device used to add a certain
beauty to the psalm, as rhyme does in our poetry.
(2) It is a way to explore the nature and value of the
written Word of God exhaustively, as we might say – the subject is being
covered from A to Z.
(3–my favorite) The acrostic was a way to assist the children
in learning the psalms. That is probably
why many Old Testament passages are poetry rather than prose. Poetry is easier
than prose to memorize!
Psalm 119 is the most complete acrostic psalm. It is
the longest chapter of the Bible. It is divided into 22 sections, each section
is titled by one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Here’s the Hebrew Letter and it’s related
verses in Psalm 119. Aleph (1-8), Beth
(9-16) Gimel (17-24) Daleth (25-32) He (33-40) Heth (57-64) Waw (41-48) Zayin
(49-56) Teth (65-72) Yodh (73-80) Kaph (81-88) Lamedh (89-96) Mem (97-104) Nun
(105-112) Samekh (113-120) Ayin (121-128) Pe (129-136) Tsadhe (137-144) Qoph (145-152) Resh (153-160) Sin / Shin (161-168) Taw
(169-176) = 22 Hebrew Aleph-Bet letters.
You might enjoy noting in your Bible the Hebrew symbolic definition(s) or
meanings as headers for each section in Psalm 119 in your Bible!?!? (See chart below)
Psalm 9 is another acrostic. However, it has an interesting problem; where
there should be the fourth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet, there is nothing. The Hebrew letter “Dalet” is missing! If you are reading your Bible in English, you
won’t notice the missing “Dalet.” What
does the Hebrew word for missing “Dalet” symbolize? The answer is “door.” For centuries Israeli children kept pestering
their parents, “Where is the Dalet (door)? Where is the Dalet (door)?” Of course, the parents had no answer . . .
until Jesus arrived.
It is interesting that in John 10:1-2 Jesus
said “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who
does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some
other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is
the shepherd of the sheep.”
And Jesus continues in vs.9, “I am the door.
If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,”
I wonder if
Jesus was also referring to the missing Dalet in Psalm 9 when He said “Make every
effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell
you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the
house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside
knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.'” Luke
13:24-25 NIV
And if you want to learn a little Hebrew, let’s start
with the aleph-bet chart below; and notice that every letter in Hebrew
represents both a number and a symbol and a meaning.
Points to Ponder
What are we
missing by not reading the Bible in Hebrew?
How much gets lost when translating languages? Especially when translating the Bible?
Appreciate and enjoy the
symbolism in the Hebrew language!
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd June
24, 2025
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring
the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”
|
|
Aleph - Bet |
||||||
|
Q W E R T Y |
Sound |
Value |
PCBS Hebrew Outline |
Hebrew |
Picture |
Meaning |
Symbol Represents or Best Word |
|
a |
(silent) |
1 & 1000 |
a |
Aleph |
Ox Head; Bull UNITY |
Strong; Leader; Power FATHER
Invisible God |
Strong Leader - FATHER God's Nature or Character |
|
B - b |
B (w/Dot) Bed V Very |
2 |
B b |
Beit Bet - Veth |
Tent Floorplan; House WITNESS |
Family; HOUSE; In SON-YESHUA-Housed in Flesh |
House SON-YESHUA-Housed in Flesh |
|
G - g |
G
go or GH GHana |
3 |
G g |
Gimel - Ghimel |
Foot;
Camel PERFECTION |
Pride; Walk; Carry; Lift Up |
Benefactor; Lift Up; HELPer
- HOLY SPIRIT |
|
D - d |
D Dog - TH THis |
4 |
D d |
Dalet - Daleth |
Tent Door CREATION |
Pathway; Hang; Enter |
DOOR (closed to God); so Needs Help |
|
h |
H Hat
(Breath) |
5 |
h |
Hei He Heh |
Window; Raised arms of man; God's
GRACE |
Look; Reveal; Breath of God;
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit=New Creation |
Breath of God (As prefix = "THE"; suffix = "FEMININE") |
|
w |
W Windmill v, u Very |
6 |
w |
Vav or Waw |
Hook; Nail; Tent Peg MAN |
Add; Secure; Hook |
Hook
(and) (Soul?) |
|
z |
Z
Zeal |
7 |
z |
Zayin |
Weapon; Sword or Mattock COMPLETE |
Food; Cut; Nourish; Weapon |
Completion or Nurishment |
|
j |
CH baCH |
8 |
j |
Chet
CHeth |
Fence; Tent Wall NEW BEGINNING |
Private; Outside; Divide; Separate |
Life;
Wall; Divide |
|
f |
T Ten |
9 |
f |
Tet
Teth |
Snake (Head & tail); Twist; FRUIT
Basket |
Surround; Contain; Mud |
DEATH, GOOD or EVIL; Surround;
Contain |
|
y |
Y
Yet |
10 |
y |
Yod Yodh
Yud |
Closed Hand; Arm LAW |
Work; Throw; Make; Worship; "The
Hand of GOD" |
HOLY SPIRIT; Work; Worship |
|
K - k |
K King or
CH LoCH |
20 |
K k |
KAF - Khaph |
Open PALM of Hand |
Cover; Bend; Open; Allow; Tame |
PALM |
|
I - i |
K King or
CH LoCH |
500 |
Ii |
KAF Khaph (sofeit) |
Open PALM of Hand |
Cover; Bend; Open; Allow; Tame |
PALM |
|
l |
L
Long |
30 |
l |
Lamed Lamedh |
Ox-goad; Shepherd's Staff |
Teach; Prod; Yoke; Toward; Bind |
Prod; Teach |
|
m |
M
Men |
40 |
m |
Mem
(open) |
Water |
Massive; Mighty; Chaos; Blood -
REVEALED |
Living Truth Revealed |
|
< |
M Men |
600 |
< |
Mem (Sofeit- Closed) |
Water |
Massive; Mighty; Chaos; Blood - CONCEALED |
Living Truth Concealed |
|
n |
N
New |
50 |
n |
Nun |
Fish; Seed |
Activity; Continue; Activity; Life;
Heir; Son |
Life |
|
/ |
N New |
700 |
/ |
Nun (Sofeit) |
Fish; Seed |
Activity; Continue; Activity; Life; Heir; Son |
Life |
|
s |
S
Sign |
60 |
s |
Samech Samek |
Prop; Thorn |
Support; Grab; Hate; Protect; Turn |
Support or Protect |
|
u |
(silent) |
70 |
u |
Ayin |
Eye |
See; Know; Shade; Experience |
See & Know |
|
P - p |
P
Pond - PH Fish |
80 |
Pp |
Pe
w/Dot -
Phe |
Mouth |
Speak; Open Mouth; Blow; Word; Scatter |
Speak |
|
(?) - [
|
P Pond - PH Fish |
800 |
[[ |
Pe w/Dot
- Phe (sofeit) |
Mouth |
Speak; Open Mouth; Blow; Word; Scatter |
Speak |
|
x |
TZ
caTS |
90 |
x |
Tzaddi Tsadhe Tsade |
Fish-hook; Man on his side (Kneeling) |
Catch; Wait; Chase; Snare; Hunt;
Desire; Need |
Righteous-ness |
|
J |
TZ caTS |
900 |
J |
Tzaddi (Sofeit) |
Fish-hook (hanging) |
Catch; Wait; Chase; Snare; Hunt; Desire; Need |
Righteous-ness |
|
q |
K
or Q uniQue
or C Candle |
100 |
q |
KOF
KUF Qoph |
BACK of the HEAD; Sun on Horizon |
Behind; Least; Last; Condense;
Circle; Time |
HOLINESS - Holy |
|
r |
R Run |
200 |
r |
Resh |
Head of man |
First; Top; Head; Highest; Beginning |
Head; Highest |
|
c - v |
S So - SH Ship |
300 |
cv |
Sin - Shin |
Two Front TEETH |
Consume; Sharp; Press; Destroy,
Protector; Two |
PEACE |
|
T - t |
T Toe - TH PaTH |
400 |
Tt |
Tav Taw (w/Dot)
- Thav
Thaw |
Crossed Sticks |
Covenant; Sign; Mark; Seal |
Covenant |
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