Eight Verses for Cross Reference Bible Study

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Jerry

 

I shared the following information with my late brother Mark (Martin) Smith, Pastor Cheatham, and Pastor Wade the year before I began posting on this Real Bible Study site. I trust it will be a blessing also to you. It is meant to encourage Cross Reference Bible Study by suggesting verses I have found most helpful to study this way.

These suggestions apply to using the newest edition (2023, 2024) of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as well as the digital Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury (2016, an eSword premium module). Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible is out of print and no longer available.

 

On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 10:06 PM Jerome Smith wrote:

Dear Mark [and also Pastor Cheatham and Pastor Wade!],

 

You may want to both save this email and attached file as well as print out the attached file to keep with your Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

 

In my list of “hidden” features in the Cross Reference Guide I list 8 passages of Scripture I have found contain especially helpful cross references:

 

(1) 2 Timothy 1:7. This is the very first passage I looked up the references to when I was still a teenager, using the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

 

(2) Colossians 1:10. I have shared this reference with many, and they have thanked me, saying it is most instructive and inspirational.

 

(3) 2 Corinthians 6:2. The cross references at this passage focus on the subject of salvation.

 

(4) Hebrews 6:9, 10. At Hebrews 6:9 I placed many cross reference passages that stipulate what are the things that “accompany salvation.” Verse 10 continues the theme of how genuine salvation results in specific fruits and qualities in our life. The references within these two passages would make a good “discipleship manual” based entirely on Scripture.

 

(5) Psalm 34:4. Sometimes we need encouragement when we encounter reversals and disappointments in life, and the references here are encouraging.

 

(6) Psalm 40:17. Should we ever come to feel that God just doesn’t really notice us, these references emphasize the truth that “the Lord thinketh upon me.”

 

(7) 1 Peter 3:15. This verse tells us to be ready always to have an answer for anyone who asks concerning our faith in Christ.

 

(8) Romans 15:7. These cross references form a unique and complete study of the importance of “receiving one another.”

 

Now all you have to do is get your Bible out and look up all the cross references given in the 8 passages indicated. By doing so you would certainly be blessed spiritually!

 

I attempted to keep the list of ‘hidden’ features to a single page (see the attached file).

 

Of course there are many more important topics to be found and studied from the Bible using Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible. The indexes in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge will usually work for the Cross Reference Guide as well. I did not usually move major reference points, though when I did, I tried to keep the original link alive by using the “+” symbol to get the user to the new location. For example, in the New Treasury I had a note and extensive references on the two ages, “this age,” and “the age to come,” at John 6:54, originally at the keywords last day. The references are no longer given there (since the note was removed), but the references are to be found at +Matthew 12:32, a reference given at the keywords last day. Every once in a while I run across a passage that still leads to +John 6:54, but for the serious student who will turn to +John 6:54 in the Cross Reference Guide by duly following the “+” sign reference, they will still be directed to the full set of references at the new key reference point, +Matthew 12:32  (keywords in this world and the world to come) from there.

 

When using Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible, you will find it most essential to follow the “+” signs in this manner to get the most out of what is in the book. I assumed that the diligent user would be able to get to everything by following the “+” symbol up to three “jumps,” as it were.

 

You mentioned looking up John 10:8. The first keyword, All, is given the cross reference +Exodus 9:6. This reference with a “+” prefixed, given for a single word, lets you know it is likely not a subject or topic reference, but a key word reference, as explained under “Conventions,” next to the last bulleted paragraph at the beginning of the book (following the Introduction). At Exodus 9:6 you will find the keyword all with numerous references to other passages which contain the same or a similar usage of “all.” But notice the reference given there to +Ge 41:56. When you turn to that reference in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible, you will find an extensive note, where Exodus 9:6 occurs with the explanation that “all” sometimes has reference to “most or the majority, or the greater part (+Ex 9:6).” In this usage, “all” is not absolute. In the New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge more information is given, indicating this is an example of Hyperbole or Overstatement; it is also an example of the figure of speech Synecdoche of the Genus, where “all” is put for the greater part.

 

I like the idea you shared, how that you showed a person at church today Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible while waiting for another meeting to finish, then actually showed him how the book worked using John 10:8 as an example. It was good to hear about his excited reaction upon actually consulting the cross references given. It is, indeed, most important to share the book with young people so that they can benefit from using the book for a good portion of their lives yet ahead of them. So many think that the book is exclusively of interest to pastors, or perhaps also to Sunday school teachers. It ought to be used by every Christian who reads the Bible, and that is supposed to be all of them (2 Peter 2:2)!

 

Just lately I tried to find a suitable reference that focuses on the central issue of justice, certainly a major and important Bible theme. Of course Micah 6:8 would be a clear reference; Isaiah 1:17 might be another; so also Luke 16:10 or even Malachi 3:5, not to mention Jeremiah 22:15, 16. The cross references gathered for +Micah 6:8 appear to be the most comprehensive. No reference is given at Mic 6:8 to Mal 3:5, but if one follows the “+” signs at +Mic 6:8, there is a reference to +Luke 16:10, and turning to those references, under the keywords he that is unjust, there is given a reference to +Mal 3:5. Therefore, starting at +Mic 6:8, and following the “+” references, will take you to much of what is in the Bible on the subject of justice.

 

Using the Cross Reference Guide in this way works for me as effectively as a complete concordance to find a verse I want, even when I cannot remember any of the words used in the verse, provided I recall any other verse that is on a similar theme. You can’t do that with a concordance!

 

In the Introduction I make reference to the Bible verse references Psalm 9:10; Luke 4:18; Acts 17:3; John 5:39; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; Joshua 1:8; Acts 17:11. These would also be excellent verses to look up using the Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

 

I hope these hints prove helpful. Thank you for your efforts to let others know about Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

 

Jerry

 

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A Comparison of Cross Reference Bible Study Resources

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Jerry

 

Here is an example taken from successive editions of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge so you can see directly:

Romans 15:7 and its cross references constitute a Bible study of major importance, and must not be missed! This is a passage I have spent some time studying and researching. You can see the progression when you compare the references in the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge with those given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible, and finally, compared to those now newly given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

 

Original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

  1. receive. ch. Ro 14:1-3. Mat 10:40. Mar 9:37. Lu 9:48. [4 cross references]

 

The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

  1. receive. Ro 12:10. *Ro 14:1-3. +Mal 3:16. *Mt 10:40. Mt 25:40. *Mk 9:37-41. *Lk 9:48. 10:38, 39. Jn 13:34. *Ac 9:26-28. *Ac 11:25, 26. *Ac 16:15. 17:7. +*2 Cor 6:9. Ga 6:1, 2. He 13:1, 2. +*1 P 4:9, 10. 1 J 3:14. %2 J 10. %3 J 9, 10. [20 cross references: +Mi 3:16 has been corrected to read +Mal 3:16; the “%” indicates a contrasting reference]

 

Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible:

  1. receive. Ro 12:10, 13. 14:1-3. 16:2. Ps 119:74. +Mal 3:16. Mt 10:14, 15, 40, 42. 18:5. 25:35, 40, 43, 45, 46. Mk 6:11. 9:37-41. Lk 9:5, 48. 10:8, 10, 38, 39. Jn 13:20, 34. Ac 9:26-28, 43. 11:25, 26. 16:15. 17:7. +2 Cor 6:9. 7:2, 13. Ga 6:1. Php 2:29.Col 4:10. Phm 12, 17. He 13:1, 2. +1 P 4:9, 10. 1 J 3:14. 2 J 10. 3 J 8-10. [40 cross references]


The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Romans 15:7
receive. %Rom 1:31 mg, Rom 12:10; Rom 12:13; *Rom 14:1, 2, 3; Rom 16:2, Exo 20:12, Lev 19:3, Job 19:3; +*Job 31:32, **Psa 15:1; **Psa 15:4; %+*Psa 31:11; Psa 34:21; Psa 91:1 note. +**Psa 119:63; Psa 119:74; Psa 133:1; +*Psa 142:7, **Jer 15:16 note. **Jer 37:14 note. Ezk 34:4, Mal 1:6; +*Mal 3:16, *Mat 10:14; *Mat 10:15; *Mat 10:40, 41, 42; Mat 18:5; Mat 25:35; Mat 25:40; Mat 25:43; Mat 25:45, 46, Mrk 6:11; *Mrk 9:37, 38, 39, 41, *Luk 9:5; *Luk 9:48; Luk 10:8; Luk 10:10; Luk 10:16; Luk 10:38, 39; Luk 15:2, Jhn 13:20; Jhn 13:34, *Act 9:17; *Act 9:26, 27, 28; *Act 9:43; *Act 11:1; *Act 11:25; *Act 11:26; Act 15:4; *Act 16:15; Act 17:5; +Act 17:7; Act 21:17, +*1Co 12:21, +*2Co 6:9; +*2Co 6:17; 2Co 7:2; 2Co 7:15, Gal 6:1, Php 2:29, Col 2:19 note. Col 4:10, 1Ti 5:17, Phm 1:12; Phm 1:17, Heb 13:1, 2, 1Pe 2:17; 1Pe 3:8; +*1Pe 4:8, 9, 10, **1Jn 1:3 note, 1Jn 1:7 note. 1Jn 3:14, %2Jn 1:10; %2Jn 1:11, %3Jn 1:8, 9, 10.

 

You can see the progression from 4 to 20 to 40 to 75 cross references given for the keyword receive.

 

By devastating personal family experience, I can testify to how crucial the Bible truth conveyed by this set of cross references is.

It is no fun to be “frozen out of the fellowship.” Both pastor and people must learn to receive one another, and particularly newcomers to the fellowship. In our mobile society people often end up far from their “home church,” and when they attempt to establish a connection to a new church home, it can be exceedingly difficult to find genuine Christian friendship and fellowship in a new setting.

That is not the fault of the newcomer, but the fault of the church and its sociological structure, known technically as a “village church,” often relatively small, where one evidently must be born into the church community to be received into its fellowship. This ought not to be. On judgment day, heads will roll over this one! The other type of church is known, sociologically speaking, as a “camp church.” Such a church is constituted of believers who are there for fellowship and spiritual growth as a result of a vibrant salvation experience, and they experience a warm welcome, and are cared for, sometimes through effective small group ministry, sometimes through the ordinary church structures like the Sunday school and a loving pastor who is genuinely a shepherd of his sheep.

In the heavily Roman Catholic neighborhood where I now have lived since 1975 there are no such Bible believing churches that I could find. I was politely “ushered out” of the one local church that looks to be like a Bible believing church, but apparently is not a genuine one, but is merely a “village church,” all form and no spiritual depth or growth or fellowship to be found. I was accused by the pastor the first time he visited my home, who said, “Jerry, you talk too much about the Bible and too much about the Lord.” I guess Malachi 3:16 is not found in his Bible, or else he hadn’t discovered it yet. Shameful!

A related issue is distinguishing between the major and minor issues of Bible doctrine. We ought not to break fellowship over non-essential issues upon which good men of sound character and spirituality differ. Such non-essential issues would include differences in opinion about Bible prophecy; differences in opinion regarding the mode of water baptism. Now, on the major issues, such as the full deity and humanity of Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and other clearly taught essential matters in the Bible, there can be no equivocation about these. Even so, though, when a person appears to be mistaken, Scripture by example and direction declares we should reach people who differ from us by very patient (2 Timothy 2:24, 25) teaching in order to win them to the truth (Acts 18:26. 1 Timothy 4:16).

 

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Victory despite tragedy

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Jerry

 

It was on this date back in March 13, 1986, on a Thursday morning at 7:15 am, when I was shot in the back of my head at point-blank range in the teachers’ back parking lot of Southeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan.

My career as a reading specialist abruptly ended that morning.

Mysteriously, I had been warned by one of my nicest students about three weeks before that I was in danger of being killed and should immediately transfer for my safety to another school. I took the warning with a grain of salt at the time, but have often wondered since just what and how that student knew what he did.

Sometimes God allows our lives to be interrupted. At the time of the interruption we may have no idea why He allows things to happen the way He does.

If we are living for Him, sometimes we later see why God has allowed these interruptions and, in the long term, used them for our good and for the blessing of others.

In my case, nearly five years away from teaching provided the time to type up and greatly expand the Bible cross references originally given in The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to create The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, which was published in 1992.

My return to teaching in the Fall of 1990 at Denby High School in Detroit provided me a much better environment to teach because the school was under much better control. I no longer was harassed by “hall wandering” students to the degree that I was at Southeastern High School. I continued to teach at Denby until my retirement from teaching.

I can look back over many years past and see how the Lord used what seemed bad at the time for His good in the long term. When I began teaching, I was involved in a roll-over accident in my brand-new VW. I was taken to Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan. I left in a cast on my right hand and had to learn to write with my left hand. Because of my cast, I was off teaching for a month. I was taking courses at Wayne State University. One of my professors, Dr. Donald J. Lloyd, suggested I take the Greyhound bus to East Lansing where he would meet me. He wanted to see the programmed instruction units I had been writing to help my students read and write better. He introduced me to Dr. John Ball, who when he saw what I was writing, said “You’re hired!” I was not expecting to have another job, but I was able to work during summer vacations for Resources Development Corporation writing programmed instruction modules for large corporations.

My reading program is now available on Amazon in printed book format or Kindle format under my name (Jerome Smith), titled The Language Enrichment Program. It constantly amazes me how concerned parents want reading help for their students, but can’t find my program. Whole school districts and even states claim to be so concerned about how students are falling behind in reading skills as measured by the nationally administered reading assessments in the fourth and eighth grade testing and they can’t find it either. They have spent millions of dollars to fix the problem, with little success in most cases.

I already solved the reading achievement problem with my carefully tested program that actually works, yet only a very few copies of my program have been sold. My program raises reading achievement by an average (actually, by a median) of two years in grade level for reading comprehension. Some students improve so much that they are as many years ahead of grade level as they had been behind after using my program. I appreciate what my former chief administrator for the Language Arts department for the school district of Detroit, whose birthday happens to be today, said about me in reference to my reading program. He said, “If Jerry says it works, it works.”

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #937, Psalm 34:22

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:22  The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (KJV)

Psa 34:22  The Lord will claim his servant as his own; they go unreproved that put their trust in him. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:22  The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of those that hope in him shall go wrong. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:22 (34:23) The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:22  The LORD rescues his servants; all who take shelter in him escape punishment. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:22  Yahweh redeems the life of his servants, and none who take refuge in him will incur guilt. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

Psa 34:22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall bear guilt. (Darby translation)

Psa 34:22 Yahweh ransometh the soul of his servants, And none shall be held guilty, who seek refuge in him. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:22  The LORD will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:22  The LORD protects the souls of his servants. All who take refuge in him will never be condemned. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:22 The Lord will be the saviour of the souls of his servants, and no one who has faith in him will be put to shame. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:22  The LORD saves his servants. All who go to him for protection will escape punishment. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:22 The LORD saves the lives of his servants. Run to him for protection, and you won’t be punished. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Psalm 34:22 connects to many additional passages which touch upon the themes mentioned in this verse. These themes may be studied to quite some depth by means of doing word studies for the key words in the original underlying Hebrew language. The word “redeemeth” is the King James Version rendering of the Strong’s Concordance Lexicon number H6299. Strong’s Lexicon gives this as the Hebrew word padah. It is translated by several different English words in the KJV:  deliver, ransom, redeem, rescue. The word means to sever, ransom, release, deliver. Why is this important to know? As far as I can see, this word for “ransom” has nothing to do with any payment but has to do with deliverance. This word is translated “redeemed” in Deuteronomy 7:8, where the meaning is that the Lord delivered Israel out of the hand of Pharaoh; the Lord did not pay any fee to Pharaoh in the process! This may shed some light on the Atonement of Christ (Mark 10:45; Matthew 20:28). Our Lord Jesus Christ did not pay for our sins; His Atonement delivers us from sin and its consequences.

Of course, the other way to dig deeper into Psalm 34:22 is to read and study the cross references which have been gathered for this verse. I have collected these over time and share below the references from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. For this post, I have added some new references that are not given there.

Psalms 34:22
redeemeth. Psa 25:22; Psa 31:5; Psa 71:23; Psa 72:14; Psa 103:4; Psa 106:10; +*Psa 107:2; +*Psa 130:8; Psa 136:24, Gen 19:16; Gen 48:16, Exo 13:13, *2Sa 4:9, Ezr 8:22, Job 5:15, 1Ki 1:29, Lam 3:58, Act 12:11; Act 16:26, Tit 2:14, 1Pe 1:18, 19, Rev 5:9.

soul. Heb. nephesh, +Gen 12:13. *Psa 49:15.

of his servants. +Rom 1:1.

none. Psa 9:9; +*Psa 9:10; *Psa 84:11; *Psa 84:12, **Jhn 10:27, 28, 29, *Rom 8:31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, *1Pe 1:5.

that trust. or, take shelter. Psa 2:12; Psa 5:11, 12; Psa 31:19; Psa 56:4, 2Sa 22:31, **Isa 26:3, Jer 39:18, Dan 3:28.

desolate. Psa 23:1; Psa 34:21;  Psa 121:7, *Isa 49:23, Joh 10:28.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #936, Psalm 34:21

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:21  Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. (KJV)

Psa 34:21  Villainy hastes to its own undoing; the enemies of innocence will bear their punishment. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:21  The death of sinners is evil: and they that hate righteousness will go wrong. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:21 (34:22) The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:21  Evil shall slay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous shall be destroyed. (Lamsa translation)

Psa 34:21 Evil doth put to death the wicked, And those hating the righteous are desolate. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:21  Evil will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will incur guilt. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

Psa 34:21  Evil people self-destruct; those who hate the godly are punished. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:21  But the wicked commit slow suicide. For they hate and persecute the lovers of God. Make no mistake about it, God will hold them guilty and punish them; they will pay the penalty! (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Psa 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:21  Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punished. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:21  Evil will kill wicked people, and those who hate righteous people will be condemned. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:21 Evil will put an end to the sinner, and those who are haters of righteousness will come to destruction. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:21  But troubles will kill the wicked. The enemies of those who live right will all be punished. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:21 Wicked people are killed by their own evil deeds, and if you hate God’s people you will be punished. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I have found, in the past, that the subjects of Psalm 34:21 are not popular with many Christians. But God’s Word is very clear about the fate of the wicked and the fate of unbelievers in this life. I had a geometry teacher when I was a student at Cass Technical High School in Detroit. He often quoted Proverbs 13:15, “The way of transgressors is hard,” as he paced around the room keeping an eye on the work we were doing. In one home Bible study some became quite upset when our studies led us to Isaiah 66:24. There are some unpleasant warnings in the Bible. It is best if we heed them!

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:19 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psalms 34:21
Evil shall slay. Psa 5:10; Psa 37:30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40; Psa 55:23; *Psa 94:23; Psa 140:11; *Psa 145:20, Num 31:8; +**Num 32:23, Est 7:10, Pro 3:31, Isa 3:11, 1Th 2:16, **2Th 1:9.

the wicked. or, a lawless one. Hebrew, rasha’. H7563. Psa 94:13.

they that hate. Psa 21:8; Psa 37:12, 13, 14, 15; Psa 40:15; Psa 86:17; Psa 89:23; Psa 129:5, 1Sa 19:4, 5; 1Sa 31:4, 1Ki 22:8; 1Ki 22:37, 2Ch 18:7, Luk 19:14; Luk 19:27; Luk 19:41, 42, 43, 44, John 7:7; *John 15:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, +**Rom 15:7, 1Th 2:15, 16, 2Th 1:6, 7, 8, 9.

the righteous. or, the Just One. Bishop Horsley renders, “God shall slay the ungodly, and they that hate the Just One shall be made desolate.” Psa 34:19 note. Psa 97:11 note. Zec 9:9.

desolate. or, guilty. Exo 20:7. Psa 18:39, 40; Psa 20:8, %John 5:24, %Rom 8:1.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #935, Psalm 34:20

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. (KJV)

Psa 34:20  Under the Lord’s keeping, every bone of his is safe; not one of them shall suffer harm. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:20  He keeps all their bones: not one of them shall be broken. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:20 He is keeping all his bones, One of them hath not been broken. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:20  He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:20 Keeping all his bones, Not, one from among them, is broken. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:19  Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all;
Psa 34:20  the LORD preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:20  The LORD guards all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:20  God will be your bodyguard to protect you when trouble is near. Not one bone will be broken. (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Psa 34:20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:20  He will protect them completely. Not one of their bones will be broken. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:20 Not one of their bones will ever be broken. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Reading the dozen different translations cited above shows that different translation styles (like literal or dynamic equivalence) affect the English meaning of Psalm 34:20.

“Dynamic equivalence” refers to translating the idea the translators believe is in the underlying original language text into English rather than attempting to translate the original language word for word.

The more literal translations preserve the distinctions (such as singular and plural) of the underlying original text. This is a very important matter at times.

John in his Gospel quotes this text (John 19:36) and applies it to our Lord Jesus Christ. The singular renderings make it easier to see how John could apply this verse that way.

From all this, we can learn that studying the Bible from any of the more literal translations is a must.

The modern English translations are valuable to increase our understanding, but sometimes fail to preserve figures of speech, Bible types, and Bible prophecies which sometimes depend upon literal translation for readers to see and better understand them.

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:19 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Psalms 34:20
He keepeth. Psa 35:10; Psa 37:28; Psa 89:35; Psa 91:12; *Psa 97:10, Pro 1:33, Dan 6:22, 22, 23, 24, Mat 4:6, John 19:31, 32, 33, 2Co 1:10, Eph 5:30.

not one. Gen 22:12, Deut 6:4, Mat 10:29, 30, 31.

of them. Psa 37:15, Mat 4:6.

broken. T1974 (Messiah’s bones were not to be broken). Psa 22:14, 15, 16, 17; %Psa 51:8; Psa 69:20, **Exo 12:46, Num 9:12, +*Luk 24:44, $*>John 19:36 note.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #934, Psalm 34:19

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. (KJV)

Psa 34:19 Though a hundred trials beset the innocent, the Lord will bring him safely through them all. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:19 (34:20) Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:19  Many are the distresses of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

Psa 34:19 Many are the misfortunes of the righteous, But, out of them all, doth Yahweh rescue him. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:19 Many are the evils of the righteous, Out of them all doth Jehovah deliver him. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:19 Many are the adversities of the righteous, but Jehovah delivereth him out of them all: (Darby translation)

Psa 34:19  The godly face many dangers, but the LORD saves them from each one of them. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:19  Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all; (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:19  Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones, the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face. (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Psa 34:19  The righteous person has many troubles, but the LORD rescues him from all of them. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:19 Great are the troubles of the upright: but the Lord takes him safely out of them all. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:19  Good people might have many problems, but the LORD will take them all away. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

The longer we live, the more problems, troubles, bad things, dangers, adversities, afflictions, evils, misfortunes, distresses, and trials we are likely to experience or witness. Sometimes we are rescued or delivered. There will be times when such events or circumstances test our patience. We grow stronger and wiser by having gone through them.

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:19 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psalms 34:19
Many are the afflictions. Psa 34:21. Psa 25:17; Psa 71:20; Psa 73:14; Psa 119:50; +*Psa 119:75; Psa 119:107; Psa 129:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Gen 12:10; Gen 42:36, Ruth 1:3; +**Ruth 1:13, 1Sa 30:3, 2Sa 20:1, Job 1:18, 19; *Job 5:19; Job 30:9, etc. *Job 42:12, Pro 12:21; *Pro 24:16, Isa 54:11, Dan 3:23, Mat 5:10, 11, 12, Luk 16:20, *John 16:33, +*Act 14:22, **Rom 5:3, 2Co 4:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; *2Co 4:17; +*2Co 11:23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 1Th 3:3, 4, *2Ti 3:11; *2Ti 3:12, Heb 11:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, Jas 1:2; Jas 5:10, 11, 1Pe 1:6; *1Pe 4:12; *1Pe 4:13, Rev 7:14, 15, 16, 17.

the righteous. or, the Just One. Bishop Horsley renders, “Great are the troubles of the Just One, but Jehovah delivereth him out of all” (Nine Sermons, p. 246, footnote). Psa 34:21, *Psa 97:11 note. Pro 12:13. Zec 9:9.

delivereth. T768 (Deliverance from trouble). Psa 34:4; *Psa 34:6; *Psa 34:17. Psa 18:1, title, Psa 18:27; Psa 18:28, Psa 25:17; *Psa 30:5; Psa 32:10; *Psa 35:10; *Psa 37:24; +*Psa 40:17; Psa 41:1; Psa 42:11; Psa 54:7; Psa 68:13; Psa 71:20; Psa 107:19; Psa 119:153; *Psa 126:5; *Psa 126:6; Psa 129:2; Psa 143:11; Psa 146:8, 1Sa 19:10; 1Sa 19:12, 2Sa 22:1, 1Ki 1:29, *Job 8:20; *Job 8:21; *Job 11:16; Job 36:16, Pro 11:8; *Pro 12:13; Pro 24:16, Jer 29:11; +*Jer 30:7; *Jer 31:12; *Jer 31:13, *Dan 3:26; *Dan 3:27, Hos 6:1, Act 16:26; *Act 26:17, 2Co 1:10, Php 2:27, 2Ti 3:11; 2Ti 4:17, 2Pe 2:9.

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Daily Bible Nugget #933, Psalm 34:18

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (KJV)

Psa 34:18 So near is he to patient hearts, so ready to defend the humbled spirit. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:18  The Lord is near to them that are of a contrite heart; and will save the lowly in spirit. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:18 Near is Jehovah to the broken of heart, And the bruised of spirit He saveth. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:18  Jehovah is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (UASV, Updated American Standard Version)

Psa 34:18  The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:18  The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:18  The LORD is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:18 The Lord is near the broken-hearted; he is the saviour of those whose spirits are crushed down. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:18  The LORD is close to those who have suffered disappointment. He saves those who are discouraged. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:18 The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

The Lord is very much aware when we are discouraged or have suffered disappointment. We must not give up hope. Overcome depression by getting to know God better by reading and studying the Bible. Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome that “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those things were written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us” (ERV).

By personal experience I know God works through His written Word to encourage and bring to saving faith those who are desperately hopeless. In one case I learned from a student’s mother at the Parent-Teacher conference that the mother believed I had been of more help to her daughter in my English class than were all the sessions her daughter had with a psychiatrist. The daughter came to faith in Christ when she followed my suggestion to read the Bible for herself. When I met the mother again, the mother asked me to show her in her Catholic family Bible the verses that would help her. I believe from the daughter’s report that the mother came to true faith in Christ. The daughter told me, “Mr. Smith, I don’t know what you did to my mother but now she reads the Bible all the time.” What I did was share with the mother a number of helpful Bible passages. She had me insert bookmarks in her Bible so she could return and read those passages over again.

Another student told me she threw her pop bottle at her psychiatrist when she did not at all agree with the advice he was giving her. I shared with her what the Bible said. She came to experience saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. She, in turn, informed me of another student, a former student of mine, asking if I remembered her. I said I certainly did. I told her I continue to pray for her. She told me that my prayers have been answered because her friend,  my former student, came to saving faith the day after her high school graduation.

Yet another student came to me with some Bible questions. He came twice after school to talk with me about the Bible. I informed him to avoid any church or literature that does not teach the Bible with the same balance of truth found in the New Testament. I later encouraged my student to learn about hermeneutics, apologetics, cult apologetics, Bible prophecy, and more. Many years later he told me I have been a help to his Christian life. I heard him just this week on a local Christian radio station teaching accurately about Bible prophecy.

All of these students I have mentioned have been greatly helped by getting to know the Bible better. It transformed their lives.

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:18 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psalms 34:18
is nigh. Psa 75:1; Psa 85:9; +*Psa 119:151; Psa 138:6; *Psa 145:18, Deut 4:7, Pro 15:29, **Isa 55:6, Act 17:27.

unto them, etc. Heb. to the broken of heart. T1342. *Psa 51:15, 16, 17; Psa 69:19, 20; Psa 109:16; *Psa 147:3, 2Ch 34:27, *Pro 15:13, +*Isa 57:15; *Isa 61:1, Jer 23:29, Joel 2:13, *Luk 4:18.

and saveth. *Psa 37:40; Psa 119:8.

such as, etc. Heb. the contrite of spirit. Heb. ruach, +Gen 41:8; +Gen 2:7. 2Ki 22:19, *2Ch 7:14, Pro 16:19; Pro 19:3, **Isa 57:15; *Isa 66:2, Jer 44:10, *Ezk 36:26; *Ezk 36:31, +*Mat 5:3.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #932, Psalm 34:17

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:17  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. (KJV)

Psa 34:17  Roused by the cry of the innocent, the Lord sets them free from all their afflictions. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:17 They cried, and Jehovah heard, And from all their distresses delivered them. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:17  The godly cry out and the LORD hears; he saves them from all their troubles. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (ESV, English Standard Version)

Psa 34:17  The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:17  Righteous people cry out. The LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:17 The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:17  Pray to the LORD, and he will hear you. He will save you from all your troubles. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:17 When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Once again we have the prayer promise that God hears our prayers. He delivers us from all our troubles. That does not mean we will not have troubles. We read in Psalm 34:19 that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” But in that verse we read the repeated promise: “but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” We may experience many troubles, but we don’t know in this life how many unseen to us troubles the Lord has delivered us from of which we now are not aware.

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:17 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psalms 34:17
The righteous. FS63A1, +Gen 14:20. Note: There is no word for “the righteous” in the present Hebrew text; but it is preserved in all the versions; and it was probably lost from its similitude to tzaakoo, “they cry:” tzaakoo tzaddeekim, “the righteous cry.” Isa 57:15.

cry. +Psa 34:6; Psa 34:15; Psa 34:19. Psa 3:4; Psa 91:15; *Psa 145:18, 19, 20, Exo 14:10; +*Exo 22:23; Exo 22:24, +*Deut 24:15, 2Ch 32:20, 21; 2Ch 32:24, *Isa 65:24, Act 12:5, 6, 7,  8, 9, 10, 11.

the LORD heareth. +*Psa 119:26; Psa 145:19, **Pro 15:29, *Dan 10:12, 1Jo 5:14.

delivereth. T1730 (Deliverance from trouble). Psa 34:4. Psa 18:2; Psa 20:1, 2, 3, 4; Psa 22:11; Psa 25:22; *Psa 31:9; *Psa 31:10; *Psa 37:40, Psa 39:10; Psa 40:1, 2; +*Psa 40:17; Psa 41:1; Psa 50:14, 15; Psa 54:6, 7; Psa 71:20; Psa 77:2; Psa 107:4, 5, 6; Psa 107:11, 12, 13; Psa 107:17, 18, 19; Psa 107:25, 26, 27, 28; Psa 116:3, 4; Psa 119:153, 1Sa 26:24, 2Sa 4:9, Pro 23:11, Isa 33:2, Jon 3:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, John 12:27, 28, Act 7:10; Act 16:26.

out of all. The promise is not indeed, that they shall be delivered from all trouble on earth, but the idea is that God is able to rescue them from trouble here; that He often does it in answer to prayer; and that there will be, in the case of every righteous person, a sure and complete deliverance from all trouble hereafter (Barnes).

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Daily Bible Nugget #931, Psalm 34:16

Posted on March 3, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:16  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. (KJV)

Psa 34:16  Perilous is his frown for the wrong-doers; he will soon make their name vanish from the earth. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:15  The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer:
Psa 34:16  but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord hearkened to them,
Psa 34:17  and delivered them out of all their afflictions. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:16  But the LORD opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:16 The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:16  but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:16  The LORD confronts those who do evil in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to take away the memory of them from the earth. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:16  But the LORD is against those who do evil, so they are forgotten soon after they die. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:16 But God despises evil people, and he will wipe them all from the earth, till they are forgotten. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

If you personally have ever been the victim of those who do evil, you will recall what an uncomfortable experience that is. I have frequently been harassed and bullied from the time I was in elementary school right up and through the time I was a public school teacher in Detroit. It is no fun and leaves me with very unpleasant memories. As a teacher I was well-respected and appreciated by my own students and I have fond memories of some of them. I was bothered by students who were “hall wandering” instead of attending their classes. “Hall wandering” students were intent on disturbing my classes. I blame that on some ineffective school administrators who did little to remedy the problem at the time. I am thankful for the excellent administrators who did all they could to assist me.

When I became a teacher I did not tolerate bullying behavior in my classroom. The Bible clearly teaches that God does not tolerate the evil behavior or actions of anyone, especially if such actions are directed against His people, those who believe in Him, or His nation Israel (Genesis 12:3).

If you have ever been cheated, robbed at gunpoint, suffered loss because of thieves, been the victim of assault and battery, been slandered, or been falsely accused, you have been victimized by evil doers. We are not to take vengeance against such individuals (Romans 12:19) but we are encouraged to pray for them (Matthew 5:44).

God promises to punish the evil doer but reward the righteous.

Dig deeper into the subjects mentioned in Psalm 34:16 by reading and studying the cross references shared below from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I will add additional cross references here that are not given there.

Psa 34:16  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalms 34:16
face. FS22A4, +Gen 19:13. Lev 17:10; Lev 26:17, Jer 44:11,
Ezk 7:22; Ezk 14:7, 8; +Ezk 15:7, Amos 9:4, >1Pe 3:12, Rev 6:16.

against them. T303 (Threats of present and future evils to the disobedient). Psa 10:3; %Psa 31:16; Psa 37:35, 36, +**Gen 6:13 (T566). Lev 20:3, Ezr 8:22, Isa 1:20, Jer 21:10; Jer 23:30, Ezk 14:8, Hab 1:13, +*Mal 3:5, Rom 2:7, 8, 9, 10, +**1Co 6:9; +**1Co 6:10.

that do evil. +**Num 32:23, 1Ch 2:3, Jer 20:13, Ezk 39:23, Rev 21:27.

to cut. Psa 9:5, 6; Psa 10:16; Psa 12:3; **Psa 37:9; Psa 37:10; Psa 37:20; Psa 37:36; Psa 37:38; Psa 109:13; Psa 112:6; Psa 143:12, Rth 4:10, Job 5:15; Job 18:17, *Pro 10:7; *Pro 11:7; %*Pro 14:32, Ecc 8:10, Jer 17:13, Ezk 14:8, +*1Co 6:9; +*1Co 6:10, +*Eph 5:5; Eph 5:6.

the remembrance. Psa 109:15, Job 13:12, Ecc 9:5.

 

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