Comments on Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Psalm 116:15: The Death of a Saint

James,The translation you propose is also possible...

2008-09-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

James,

The translation you propose is also possible but in what way it becomes too costly for a saint to leave the world? I believe the translation I proposed is a better understanding of the text.

Claude Mariottini

Dfrese,You are right; the word "tsalmavet" means "...

2008-09-11T16:31:00.000-05:00

Dfrese,

You are right; the word "tsalmavet" means "deep darkness" but in most places the word is associated with the idea of death. People who have deep faith in God and believe in the resurrection are not afraid to die.

Claude Mariottini

Hi Dr. MariottiniYou said: "The words of the psalm...

2008-08-25T19:16:00.000-05:00

Hi Dr. Mariottini

You said: "The words of the psalmist reflect the view of someone who was not afraid to die. As another psalmist wrote: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for [God is] with me” (Psalm 23:4)."

Really?? You must know that the term "tsalmavet" has nothing to do with death - it simply means "darkness," as its Semitic cognates easily prove.

Hi Dr. Mariottini,I wonder how your interpretation...

2008-08-15T12:22:00.000-05:00

Hi Dr. Mariottini,

I wonder how your interpretation fits in the Psalm's context. The context seems to be God saving the Psalmist's life. The interpretation that fits best with that seems to be "it's too expensive or costly for a saint to leave the world." Maybe that would be because saints are the salt of the earth, or God doesn't want the world to be inhabited solely by the wicked.

That's just my impression, but I'm open to other views.