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Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Free me and deliver me

Psalm 31:5(4) "Free me from the net they hid for me, for You are my refuge." (TLV)

There are words here that need some "unpacking." The first word (for instance) is a word with which we are all familiar. The root of it is part of our communion service, HaMotzi (the bringing forth). It is translated variously as "deliver me" or here in the TLV (Tree of Life Version) "Free me." It is actually in the name of this Shabbat's Torah reading Ki-Teitzei (When you will go out), Deuteronomy 21:10. This word is used over 1,000 times in the Tanach (Hebrew Scriptures).

MaReshet, the second word of our verse is a compound word. Ma means "from", and a Reshet is a "network" (translated net).

Taminu, meaning "they hid". What is this about? The reader is asking God for deliverance from a network (which is a trap) that has been hidden (so the reader would fall into the trap without warning. If the trap were not hidden, it would have been easy to avoid.

Then the last phrase (after the etnachta) "from my Uzzi." Uzzi means "my strength". The reader is identifying God as his/her strength and it is on that basis that we call upon God for deliverance from the trap of the enemy.

Rabbi's amplified version: Bring me forth and deliver me from the hidden trap (my enemies have) laid for me, because You (alone) are my strength (Uzzi).

Shalom, R. Michael.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 10:00am Comment Comments: 0