Ulangan 32:46-47

32:46 he said to them, “Keep in mind all the words I am solemnly proclaiming to you today; you must command your children to observe carefully all the words of this law. 32:47 For this is no idle word for you – it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”

Ayub 23:12

23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. ¹ 

Mazmur 19:7-11

19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect

and preserves one’s life. ² 

The rules set down by the Lord ³  are reliable ⁴ 

and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. ⁵ 

19:8 The Lord’s precepts are fair ⁶ 

and make one joyful. ⁷ 

The Lord’s commands ⁸  are pure ⁹ 

and give insight for life. ¹⁰ 

19:9 The commands to fear the Lord are right ¹¹ 

and endure forever. ¹² 

The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy

and absolutely just. ¹³ 

19:10 They are of greater value ¹⁴  than gold,

than even a great amount of pure gold;

they bring greater delight ¹⁵  than honey,

than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

19:11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; ¹⁶ 

those who obey them receive a rich reward. ¹⁷ 

Mazmur 119:105

נ (Nun)

119:105 Your word ¹⁸  is a lamp to walk by,

and a light to illumine my path. ¹⁹ 

Mazmur 119:160

119:160 Your instructions are totally reliable;

all your just regulations endure. ²⁰ 

Yesaya 8:20

8:20 Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. ²¹  Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened. ²² 

[23:12]  ¹ tc The form in the MT (מֵחֻקִּי, mekhuqqi) means “more than my portion” or “more than my law.” An expanded meaning results in “more than my necessary food” (see Ps 119:11; cf. KJV, NASB, ESV). HALOT 346 s.v. חֹק 1 indicates that חֹק (khoq) has the meaning of “portion” and is here a reference to “what is appointed for me.” The LXX and the Latin versions, along with many commentators, have בְּחֵקִי (bÿkheqi, “in my bosom”).

[19:7]  ² tn Heb “[it] restores life.” Elsewhere the Hiphil of שׁוּב (shuv, “return”) when used with נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “life”) as object, means to “rescue or preserve one’s life” (Job 33:30; Ps 35:17) or to “revive one’s strength” (emotionally or physically; cf. Ruth 4:15; Lam 1:11, 16, 19). Here the point seems to be that the law preserves the life of the one who studies it by making known God’s will. Those who know God’s will know how to please him and can avoid offending him. See v. 11a.

[19:7]  ³ tn Traditionally, “the testimony of the Lord.” The noun עֵדוּת (’edut) refers here to the demands of God’s covenant law.

[19:7]  ⁴ tn God’s covenant contains a clear, reliable witness to his moral character and demands.

[19:7]  ⁵ tn Or “the [morally] naive,” that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly.

[19:8]  ⁶ tn Or “just.” Perhaps the idea is that they impart a knowledge of what is just and right.

[19:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “[they] make happy [the] heart.” Perhaps the point is that they bring a sense of joyful satisfaction to the one who knows and keeps them, for those who obey God’s law are richly rewarded. See v. 11b.

[19:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “command.” The singular here refers to the law as a whole.

[19:8]  ⁹ tn Because they reflect God’s character, his commands provide a code of moral and ethical purity.

[19:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb [they] enlighten [the] eyes.

[19:9]  ¹¹ tn Heb “the fear of the Lord is clean.” The phrase “fear of the Lord” probably refers here to the law, which teaches one how to demonstrate proper reverence for the Lord. See Ps 111:10 for another possible use of the phrase in this sense.

[19:9]  ¹² tn Heb “[it] stands permanently.”

[19:9]  ¹³ sn Trustworthy and absolutely just. The Lord’s commands accurately reflect God’s moral will for his people and are an expression of his just character.

[19:10]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “more desirable.”

[19:10]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).

[19:11]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “moreover your servant is warned by them.”

[19:11]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “in the keeping of them [there is] a great reward.”

[119:105]  ¹⁸ tn Many medieval Hebrew mss read the plural (“words”).

[119:105]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “[is] a lamp for my foot and a light for my path.”

[119:160]  ²⁰ tn Heb “the head of your word is truth, and forever [is] all your just regulation.” The term “head” is used here of the “sum total” of God’s instructions.

[8:20]  ²¹ tn Heb “to [the] instruction and to [the] testimony.” The words “then you must recall” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text vv. 19-20a are one long sentence, reading literally, “When they say to you…, to the instruction and to the testimony.” On the identity of the “instruction” and “testimony” see the notes at v. 16.

[8:20]  ²² tn Heb “If they do not speak according to this word, [it is] because it has no light of dawn.” The literal translation suggests that “this word” refers to the instruction/testimony. However, it is likely that אִם־לֹא (’im-lo’) is asseverative here, as in 5:9. In this case “this word” refers to the quotation recorded in v. 19. For a discussion of the problem see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 230, n. 9. The singular pronoun in the second half of the verse is collective, referring back to the nation (see v. 19b).