Psalm 119 10

Psalm 119:10 kjv

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psalm 119:10 nkjv

With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

Psalm 119:10 niv

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

Psalm 119:10 esv

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

Psalm 119:10 nlt

I have tried hard to find you ?
don't let me wander from your commands.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 10 Meaning

Psalm 119:10 expresses the Psalmist's unwavering commitment to seek the Lord with their entire being, signifying an undivided devotion of heart, mind, and will. Immediately following this declaration of profound dedication, there is a humble and urgent plea to God: to prevent them from straying or departing from His divine commandments. This highlights a deep awareness of both personal responsibility in seeking God and an essential dependence on His preserving grace to remain steadfast in obedience.

Psalm 119 10 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic psalm with 22 stanzas, each beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Every verse in the psalm, with very few exceptions, explicitly references or alludes to God's Law, testimonies, statutes, precepts, commandments, judgments, or Word. The entire psalm is a deep meditation on the beauty, truth, and transforming power of God's revelation. Verse 10 is part of the "Beth" stanza, which expresses the Psalmist's longing for God's presence and an earnest desire to walk blamelessly according to His precepts. Historically and culturally, God's commandments were central to Israel's covenant identity, providing distinct boundaries against the polytheism, syncretism, and moral depravity of surrounding nations. The psalmist's plea "O let me not wander" is a spiritual yearning to uphold this divine standard, acknowledging the constant pull towards ungodliness prevalent in the world, serving as a subtle polemic against the easy compromises and moral fluidity of the pagan cultures of the ancient Near East.

Psalm 119 10 Word analysis

• With my whole heart (בְּכָל־לִבִּ֥י - b'chol-libbi):
  • כָּל (kol): "Whole," "all," "every." Signifies totality and complete dedication, with no reservation.
  • לֵב (lev): "Heart." In Hebrew thought, the heart is not merely the seat of emotion but the center of the entire person—intellect, will, affection, and conscience. To seek with the "whole heart" implies sincerity, deep internal desire, and an undivided commitment of one's entire being. It contrasts with superficial or hypocritical religiosity.
• have I sought thee (דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ - d'rashtikha):
  • דָּרַשׁ (darash): "To seek," "to inquire," "to investigate earnestly," "to pursue diligently." This is an active verb, indicating a fervent, intentional effort to find, know, and pursue God. It's a proactive reaching out, often involving study of His Word, prayer, and listening for His guidance. It suggests an ongoing and diligent quest rather than a passive waiting.
• O let me not wander (אַל־תַּשְׁגֵּ֑נִי - 'al-tash'geni):
  • אַל ('al): A negative particle meaning "do not," or "let not." It makes the following verb a strong negative injunction or plea.
  • שָׁגָה (shagah): "To err," "to stray," "to wander," "to go astray inadvertently." This term often refers to unintentional error, being misled, or drifting off course, sometimes implying a subtle or imperceptible deviation. It's a Hiphil imperative ("cause not to wander" or "lead me not astray"), signifying a request for divine prevention. This shows a deep humility, acknowledging human frailty and the subtle power of temptation. The Psalmist does not ask to be removed from all temptation, but for God to keep him from falling when confronted by it.
• from thy commandments (מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ - mimitz'votekha):
  • מִצְוָה (mitz'vah): "Commandment," "precept," "injunction." Refers to specific divine laws, rules, or instructions. The plural signifies the entire body of God's revealed will and moral instructions. God's commandments are the established path of righteousness and the objective standard for human conduct, serving as a clear demarcation from which one might stray.

• Words-group Analysis:
  • "With my whole heart have I sought thee": This phrase captures the internal commitment and intense devotion of the Psalmist. It speaks of a pursuit that engages every facet of one's being – intellectual understanding, emotional desire, and volitional choice – directed intensely towards God Himself. It sets the tone of sincerity and profound personal engagement with the Divine.
  • "O let me not wander from thy commandments": This second part, an earnest prayer, reveals the Psalmist's humility and dependence. Despite the strength of his declared commitment, he acknowledges the human propensity to err, be misled, or subtly drift from God's perfect will. It demonstrates a keen awareness that staying true to the divine path requires God's active preservation and guidance. This linking of deep personal resolve with a desperate cry for divine help highlights the dynamic interplay between human responsibility and divine grace in spiritual perseverance.

Psalm 119 10 Bonus section

• This verse embodies the Biblical principle that while believers are commanded to obey, their capacity to do so consistently stems from God's grace and indwelling Spirit. It underscores that human effort and divine empowerment are not mutually exclusive but intertwined.
• The desire not to "wander" signifies more than avoiding outright rebellion; it includes protection from subtle drifting, being misled by false teachings, or losing focus on divine priorities amidst life's distractions. It speaks to maintaining spiritual vigilance.
• "Seeking God" is presented here as intricately linked to His commandments. One finds and knows God intimately through the diligent study, meditation, and obedience to His Word, which is the very expression of His character and will.
• The Psalmist's prayer also highlights the ongoing nature of the Christian walk; spiritual formation is a continuous process of both pursuit and dependence. There is no point where one is entirely immune from the need for divine guidance and preservation.

Psalm 119 10 Commentary

Psalm 119:10 succinctly articulates the core tension and dynamic of the Christian life: an individual's fervent pursuit of God coupled with an urgent plea for divine enablement to maintain steadfastness. The declaration "With my whole heart have I sought thee" signifies an all-encompassing, no-holds-barred commitment to the Lord. This seeking is not casual; it is diligent, passionate, and involves the entirety of one's inner being, refusing partiality or hypocrisy. Yet, immediately following this bold assertion of personal resolve, comes the humbling petition: "O let me not wander from thy commandments." This plea reveals a profound self-awareness of human frailty and the inherent tendency to deviate, subtly or overtly, from God's prescribed path. It is a recognition that spiritual perseverance is not solely a product of willpower, but fundamentally depends on God's sustaining grace. This verse thus encapsulates the synergy where human effort, rooted in sincere devotion, works in tandem with divine preservation, allowing a believer to remain aligned with God's revealed will.