Psalm 62, “Verily, verily” in Hebrew

I recently came across an OT word that is well worth the study.  The word is “ak … a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only (Strongs).”  I suppose when Jesus said “Verily, verily” or “truly, truly” He was, in Hebrew, using this term.  It is used 161x in 157 verses which is a long list for our posts.  But given the fact that, like me, you were not aware of the word, we are planning to camp on this. 

The first use is in Gen. 7:23: Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.  As in the “Verily” NT passages, the word is always at the beginning of a sentence or phrase, even if in the English translation it is found at the end.  In other words, it is telling us that what follows must be understood.  In this case, Noah and his family were the only survivors of the flood; the only ones! Period!

God, the Father (in the OT) nor the Son (in the NT) nor the Holy Spirit (in all of Scripture) did not use this term because other things He said were doubtful.  Rather, the term is there for the reader, to make sure he hears and understands what is being said!  All truth is true.  Some truth is more fundamental and must be emphasized.

I want to begin the list with Psalm 62 where the word appears 6x.  This will show us how it is used.

·       62:1: Truly, my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.

·       62:2: Only He is my rock, salvation, and defense.  I shall not be greatly moved.

·       62:4: Speaking of the Psalmists enemies, only they consult to cast him down from his high position.

·       62:5: My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

·       62:6: He only is my rock … salvation … defense; I shall not be moved.

·       62:9: Surely men of low degree are a vapor … a lie … altogether lighter than vapor.

Now, here are more critical truths from Genesis:

·       9:4: But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

·       9:5: Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning.  “Life for life” is a fundamental truth.

·       18:32: Abraham, pleading for Lot, Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: suppoet ten should be found there.

·       20:12: Of his wife Abraham said, indeed she is my sister.  Is this a fundamental truth?  In the context, it was a critical fact for the Philistine king Abimelech.

·       23:13: But if you will give the field … I will give you the money. The term demonstrates Abraham’s deep desire to purchase the burial place for Sarah.

·       26:9: Now Abimelech used the term with Isaac: quite obviously she is your wife.

·       27:13: But Rebekah said to Jacob, Let your curse by on me, my son.

·       27:30: scarcely had Jacob gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.