Psalm 119:160

Psalm 119:160

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

a. NLT:  The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.

b. NIV: All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: The sum of Thy word is truth, And to the age is every judgment of Thy righteousness!

d. Amplified Bible: The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever.

e. Septuagint: The beginning of thy words is truth; and all the judgments of thy righteousness endure for ever.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Your very first utterance is truth, and Your every righteous ordinance is for all time.

1. “Thy word is true from the beginning…”

a. word [1697 * dabar][Strong: from 1697; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, + eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt, + iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, + please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that, X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings, what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.][Condensed Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon: speech, word, speaking, thing, speech, saying, utterance, word, words, business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)]

b. true [571 * ‘emeth][Strong: contracted from 539; stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness:--assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity.]           [Condensed Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon: firmness, faithfulness, truth, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance, faithfulness, reliableness, truth, as spoken, of testimony and judgment, of divine instruction, truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge, true doctrine.]

c. beginning [7218 * ro’sh][Strong: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.][Condensed Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning, head (of man, animals), top, tip (of mountain), height (of stars), chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest), head, front, beginning, chief, choicest, best, head, division, company, band, sum.]

d. The KJV & the NIV are the best translations here in presenting the meaning of the verse at least to different cultures and mindsets. The Jewish mindset is if the beginning is true it is all true, but in an American mindset not at all familiar with Scripture the thinking may be just because the beginning is true does not mean it is all true. The truth conveyed in this verse, is continuing the mindset of the faithful believer and their godly attitude toward the Scripture, which is that all of God’s word is true from the beginning to the end.  

1). Psalm 33:4 For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

2). Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

3). Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

4). Romans 3:3, 4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5). 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

6). 2 Peter 3:15, 16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

2. “…and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

a. righteous [6664 * tsedeq][Strong: the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity:--X even, (X that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous) (cause, -ly, - ness).][Condensed Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon: justice, rightness, righteousness, what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures), righteousness (in government), of judges, rulers, kings, of law, of Davidic king, Messiah, of Jerusalem as seat of just government, of God's attribute, righteousness, justice (in case or cause), rightness (in speech), righteousness (as ethically right), righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity.]

b. judgments [4941 * mishpat][Strong: properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.]

c. endureth forever [5769 * ‘owlam][Strong: properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end).]

d. Commentary

1). Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, David Brown: God has been ever faithful, and the principles of His government will ever continue worthy of confidence.

from the beginning--that is, "every word from Genesis (called so by the Jews from its first words, 'In the beginning') to the end of the Scriptures is true." HENGSTENBERG translates more literally, "The sum of thy words is truth." The sense is substantially the same. The whole body of revelation is truth. "Thy Word is nothing but truth" [LUTHER].

2). Adam Clark Commentary: Thy word is true from the beginning - ראש rosh, the head or beginning of thy word, is true. Does he refer to the first word in the Book of Genesis, בראשית bereshith, "in the beginning?" The learned reader knows that ראש rash, or raash, is the root in that word. Every word thou hast spoken from the first in Bereshith (Genesis) to the end of the law and prophets, and all thou wilt yet speak, as flowing from the fountain of truth, must be true; and all shall have in due time, their fulfllment. And all these, thy words endure for ever. They are true, and ever will be true.