Psalm 119 meaning of similar words

How many of us have read this Psalm and wondered about the various words that all seem to mean the same thing? I have looked the words up in Strongs many times only to find it defined the various words all similarly until I was more confused and had even less understanding.

This morning I was reading Psalm 119 in my Complete Jewish Bible, in English of course, and it uses words like Torah, mitzvot for some of the words which I had already looked up in its glossary. But this time I went further to the Internet to see if I could get some clarity.  I won't say that I understand and comprehend the differences but did find a website that explained the Hebrew word more clearly and gave some most interesting understanding into Psalm 119.  I am sure many of you bible and Hebrew students knew all this. Even with this information, I can't say I fully comprehend the differences in context. But it is like the word "law" or "Tora" which refers to teaching or direction from God which means law or revelation...I will need fuller revelation of God on the meaning of his own Torah or law, word (dabar)  judgements *mispatim)  testimonies (edut) commandments (miswah)  Statutes  (hiqqim), precepts ( piqqudim) and word (imrah).

Hope you find the information below informative and the link is included that you can read the whole article.

Law (torah, used 25 times in Psalm 119): “Its parent verb means ‘teach’ or ‘direct’; therefore coming from God it means both ‘law’ and ‘revelation.’ It can be used of a single command or of a whole body of law.” (Kidner)

Word (dabar, used 24 times): The idea is of the spoken word, God’s revealed word to man. “Proceeding from his mouth and revealed by him to us.” (Poole)

Judgments (mispatim, used 23 times): “From shaphat, to judge, determine, regulate, order, and discern, because they judge concerning our words and works; show the rules by which they should be regulated; and cause us to discern what is right and wrong, and decide accordingly.” (Clarke)
Testimonies (edut/edot, used 23 times): This word is related to the word for witness. To obey His testimonies “signifies loyalty to the terms of the covenant made between the Lord and Israel.” (VanGemeren)

Commandments
(miswah/miswot, used 22 times): “This word emphasizes the straight authority of what is said . . . the right to give orders.” (Kidner)

Statutes (huqqim, used 21 times): The noun is derived from the root verb “engrave” or “inscribe”; the idea is of the written word of God and the authority of His written word. “Declaring his authority and power of giving us laws.” (Poole)

Precepts (piqqudim, used 21 times): “This is a word drawn from the sphere of an officer or overseer, and man who is responsible to look closely into a situation and take action. . . . So the word points to the particular instructions of the Lord, as of one who cares about detail.” (Kidner)

Word (imrah, used 19 times): Similar in meaning to dabar, yet a different term. “The ‘word’ may denote anything God has spoken, commanded, or promised.” (VanGemeren)


http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/19119.htm


Meri Ford