"The Sum Of Thy Word Is Truth"

An individual once asked me, "I've been reading from the American Standard Version of 1901. Would you please comment on Psalm 119:160 ASV, focusing on the word, "sum?"

In Psalm 119:160 ASV, the text states: "The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever." The New King James Version renders the beginning of the above verse as: "The entirety of Your word is truth ....." The transliterated Hebrew word "rosh" is frequently used in the Old Testament as it pertains to the "sum" or "total" elements of a people (it can be used in other ways, depending upon the context).

For example, referring to Israel, it denotes the "sum" or the totality of the congregation of Israel (cf. Exodus 30:12; Numbers 1:2; Numbers 26:2 ASV). Since the congregation was made up of individuals, each individual being a part of the whole or the "sum" or the "total" number of the congregation. Thus, what Psalmist is affirming in Psalm 119:160 ASV, is that God's word is true in all of its individual parts.

This confirms what our Lord said of the inspired Word in Matthew 4:4: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Emphasis mine!).
And what the inspired writer, Paul told Timothy in the beginning of 2 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God ....." (Emphasis mine).

Thus, when we study any portion of the God-inspired text, we must include the "sum" or the totality of the Scriptures in order to come to a logical, harmonious, and trustworthy conclusion as to the correct meaning of any text we are studying (note rule #6 and rule #9). Any study falling short of this goal and criteria, will result in a faulty conclusion.

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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