To Call on Jehovah –13 uses
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Phrases
The absence of the partical preposition beth (no Strong’s number), as well as the addtion of the name, separates the Old Testament phrase (16A) to call on the LORD from to call upon the name of the LORD (16). Although both phrases are translated into English in similar ways, the meaning of each is not identical. Placing these two similar phrases together as phrase 16 and 16a can build a better understanding of the truths involved through comparison.
There is also a slight variation within 16a; to call the LORD occurs both with and without the preposition el (Strongs’ # 413, not the abbreviation for God “the mighty one”). “I will call/name the LORD,” is how the phrase should read without the preposition. With the preposition, the phrase should be translaed, “I will call to the LORD.”
In Psalm 99:6:
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
calling upon (beth) His name and calling to (el) Jehovah are closely related. When one calls upon the name of the LORD and calls to the LORD, he will not be ashamed. The LORD will answer him.
I. qara (Strongs # 7121—to call)
Jehovah (no prep. for upon— elliptically?) –3 uses
2 Samuel 22:4 I will call
on the LORD (I will name the LORD), who is worthy to be praised: so
shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Psalm 18:3 I will call upon
the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine
enemies.
YLT Psalm 18:3: The 'Praised One' I call Jehovah, And from my enemies I am saved.
Psalm 130:1 {A Song of degrees.} Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. (YLT: From depths I have called Thee, Jehovah.)
II. qara (Strongs # 7121—to call) Ya (Strongs #3050—
abbreviated Jehovah)
Psalm 118:5 I called upon
the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
YLT Psalm 118:5: From the straitness I called Jah, Jah answered me in a broad place.
Judges 15:18 And he was
sore athirst, and called on (to) the LORD, and said, Thou
hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I
die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
1 Samuel 12:17 Is it not
wheat harvest to day? I will call unto (to) the LORD, and
he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your
wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in
asking you a king.
2 Samuel 22:7 In my
distress I called upon (to from the Hebrew of in my
distress) the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of
his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
1 Kings 17:20 And he cried unto
(to) the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon
the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
1 Kings 17:21 And he
stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto (to)
the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into
him again.
1 Chronicles 21:26 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and
offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon (to)
the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt
offering.
Psalm 18:6 In my distress I
called upon (to from the Hebrew of in my distress)
the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my
cry came before him, even into his ears.
Psalm 99:6 Moses and Aaron
among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon (beth)
his name; they called upon (to-el) the LORD, and he
answered them.
Jonah 1:14 Wherefore they
cried unto (to) the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O
LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon
us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.