Psalm 37:37, A Christian Word Study
Introduction
When reading the Bible, particularly an English translation (as is found on the Bereansearching.com website…the King James Version), it is easy to breeze through and not realize the depth of the riches of the words as can be found when looking at the original Hebrew words. Moreover, it is easy to miss the context and cross-correlations that might be found where the exact same word in the original Hebrew can be translated in an entirely different way, and thereby miss important connections that God had placed there. This study is intended to provide a brief tutorial on how important it is to view key words in the Bible within the broader context of the entire Bible…bearing in mind that the Old Testament is translated into English from the original Hebrew, while New Testament is translated from the original Greek and Aramaic. Additional insights on the importance of such word studies can be found in these previous posts that focus upon some of the “hidden spiritual gems” that can be found through the conduct of similar efforts regarding Genesis 6:14, Judges 4:6, Ruth 3:9, Psalm 119:18, Proverbs 25:2, 2 Kings 14:25, and Nehemiah 2:13 &15. May all these studies serve to edify and strengthen the faith of the Saints, the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
An Example Word Study
Psalm 37:37, “Mark (שָׁמַר (šāmar))H8104 the perfect (תָּם (tām))H8535 [man], and behold the upright (יָשָׁר (yāšār))H3477: for the end of [that] man [is] peace (שָׁלוֹם (šālôm))H7965.”
The word in the original Hebrew that is translated as “Mark”(a verb, and not a name) is שָׁמַר (šāmar)H8104 which has been translated into English variously as keep (283x), observe (46x), heed (35x), keeper (28x), preserve (21x), beware (9x), mark (8x), watchman (8x), wait (7x), watch (7x), regard (5x), save (2x), miscellaneous (9x). So it can be fair to say that in this instance the word could therefore also be translated as be to be aware of, observe, and heed The One Who is Perfect. And only Jesus Is Perfect.
Jesus Is “Perfect“!
The word that is translated as “perfect” in the original Hebrew is תָּם (tām)H8535 that is found only a few times in the Old Testament which has been translated into English variously as perfect (9x), undefiled (2x), plain (1x), upright (1x).
Some of the times that it was translated as “perfect” are found in the following verses:
Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect H8535 and uprightH3477, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” and Job 1:8, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect H8535 and an uprightH3477 man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” and again in Job 2:3, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect H8535 and an uprightH3477 man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.“
It would seem therefore that God intended to use Job as a “Type” for the Lord Jesus Christ. While there are many deep spiritual implications throughout the Book of Job, we can at least see that just as Job lost everything because of the devil’s actions, due to the fall of Adam because of the devil’s lies, Jesus had to lose everything to save a people for Himself. In the end, just as Job had his wealth restored and had been granted a new family, Jesus was resurrected to the right hand of God, The Father, with His Kingdom restored and now has a new family, the church of the New Testament.
Proverbs 29:10, “The bloodthirsty hate the upright (תָּם (tām))H8535: but the just seek his soul.“
Jesus Is “Upright” (Righteous)!
Note that the word translated as “upright“, found also three time in the book of Job together with “perfect“, could also be translated “righteous” as in the original Hebrew the word is יָשָׁר (yāšār)H3477, which is translated into English variously as right (53x), upright (42x), righteous (9x), straight (3x).
And also note the use in the following verses: Psalm 92:15, “To shew that the LORD [is] upright: H3477 he [is] my rock, and [there is] no unrighteousness in him.” and Psalm 107:42, “The righteous H3477 shall see [it], and rejoice:and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.” and Psalm 112:4, “Unto the upright H3477 there ariseth light in the darkness: [he is] gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” [and that last word translated as “righteous” is from the original Hebrew word צַדִּיק (ṣadîq)H6662, which can also be translated as “just”.]
Proverbs 2:7, “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: H3477 [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” (note that the word translated here as “uprightly” is another Hebrew word, תֹּם (tōm)H8537, which is more often understood to mean “integrity“. The King James translators interpreted variously as in the following manner: integrity (11x), upright (2x), uprightly (2x), uprightness (2x), venture (2x), full (1x), perfect (1x), perfection (1x), simplicity (1x).)
The only time that the original Hebrew word תָּם (tām)H8535 was translated as “plain” was in the contrasting between Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25:27, “And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob [was] a plain H8535 man, dwelling in tents.”
In the New Testament, we see the use of the Greek word, τέλειος (teleios)G5046…
which is also translated into English as “perfect” [perfect (17x), man (1x), of full age (1x)] in these example verses:
Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect G5046, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect G5046.“ Reminding us similarly of Luke 6:36, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” But the key point to remember here is not that this is a “command” from Jesus, but a “pronouncement” from Jesus upon all believers who are made perfect in Him because He Is Perfect. No human can have the power to become perfect apart from being given the Good and Perfect Gift from God The Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and His Salvation.
1 Corinthians 13:10, “But when that which is perfect G5046 is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (Please review this further within the context of 1 Corinthians 13:9-12.)
1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men G5046.” …hence this verse could also be read as “in understanding be perfect“.
Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect G5046 man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:“
Philippians 3:15, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, G5046 be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.“
Colossians 1:28, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect G5046 in ChristJesus:
Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, G5046 [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” “Full age” is actually the same word as “perfect”.
James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect G5046 gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.“
Jesus Is the Prince of “Peace“!
The word for “peace” in the original Hebrew of the Old Testament is שָׁלוֹם (šālôm)H7965 which is found ~276 times and has been translated by the King James translators variously as peace (175x), well (14x), peaceably (9x), welfare (5x), salute (with H7592) (4x), prosperity (4x), did (3x), safe (3x), health (2x), peaceable (2x), miscellaneous (15x).
Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (שָׁלוֹם (šālôm))H7965.“
And the end of Jesus’ Work is Peace! Isaiah 32:17, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace (שָׁלוֹם (šālôm))H7965; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.“
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