Psalms 17:14

“from men, by your hand, YHWH, from men of the world, whose share is in life; and with what you have stored up you fill their belly; the sons are satisfied and leave their remainder to their little ones.”

Psalms 17:14 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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14

Psalms 17:14, word by word

from menמְתִיםmetim

men

Men. "Men of number" means few, easily counted.

Where else “metim” appears
by your handיָדְyad

hand

The part of the body with which one takes, gives and works; also what one does.

Where else “yad” appears
YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
of the worldחֶלֶדcheled

world

The world of the living, with all that passes in it.

Where else “cheled” appears
whose shareחֶלְקָchelka

portion

What falls to one: "YHWH is what I receive".

Where else “chelka” appears
is in lifeחַיִּיםchayim

life

The span and strength of being alive, which come from God.

Where else “chayim” appears
and with what you have stored upצְפוּנְtsefun

treasure up

To cherish and keep, like the word in the heart.

Where else “tsefun” appears
you fillתְּמַלֵּאtemale

fill

To take up all the space of something, or to give someone all it can hold.

Where else “temale” appears
their bellyבִטְנָvitna

belly

The belly; also one's innermost part.

Where else “vitna” appears
the sonsבָנִיםvanim

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “vanim” appears
are satisfiedיִשְׂבְּעוּyisbu

be satisfied

To eat until one wants no more.

Where else “yisbu” appears
and leaveהִנִּיחוּhinichu

leave

To leave something where it is and not take it away; not to hinder.

Where else “hinichu” appears
their remainderיִתְרָyitra

rest

What remains after what has been said or done, like a king's other deeds.

Where else “yitra” appears
to their little onesעוֹלְלֵיolle

young child

A small child, an infant. Said of young children, often together with "the nursing child."

Where else “olle” appears

Translation note

A difficult verse. It can be understood as describing those who have only what belongs to this life: God fills their belly, and they have some left over for their children; the psalmist hopes for something else (verse 15).

The context

13Rise up, YHWH; go out to meet him, make him bend the knee; bring to safety my soul from the wicked with your sword,

14 · This verse (above)

15As for me, in righteousness I will see your face; I will be satisfied, when I awake, with your form.

Read all of Psalms 17

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