Psalm 119:105 kjv
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105 nkjv
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105 niv
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105 esv
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105 nlt
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
Psalm 119 105 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light... | God's law provides lamp and light for life. |
| 2 Pet 1:19 | ...we have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place... | God's prophetic word is a guiding light. |
| Ps 19:7-8 | The law of the Lord is perfect... The statutes of the Lord are right... | God's perfect law is life-giving and guiding. |
| Jn 1:4-5 | In Him was life; and the life was the light of men... | Christ, the Word, is the source of life and light. |
| Jn 8:12 | I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness... | Jesus, the Living Word, provides ultimate light. |
| Jn 17:17 | Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. | God's Word is the source of sanctifying truth. |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning... | Scriptures provide instruction and guidance. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable... | Scripture equips for righteousness. |
| Eph 5:8-9 | ...for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light... | Believers, guided by Christ/Word, walk in light. |
| Ps 43:3 | O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me... | Plea for God's light and truth to guide. |
| Lk 11:34-36 | The light of the body is the eye... if thine eye be single, thy whole body also is full of light... | Internal reception of light affects spiritual direction. |
| Deut 4:5-6 | ...statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe... for this is your wisdom and your understanding... | God's law imparts wisdom for a right path. |
| Ps 1:2-3 | But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night... | Delighting in the Word leads to prosperity in all. |
| Ps 130:5 | I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. | Hope in God's Word sustains and guides. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword... | God's Word discerns thoughts and intents. |
| Jer 2:13 | For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters... | Contrast with seeking guidance apart from God. |
| Isa 30:21 | ...thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it... | God's voice, His word, gives specific direction. |
| Matt 4:4 | Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. | God's Word is essential sustenance and direction. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another... | Walking in God's light enables true fellowship. |
| Pss 36:9 | For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light. | God's light enables true spiritual perception. |
| Prov 4:18 | But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. | Righteousness progresses through divine illumination. |
| Neh 9:19 | Yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness... nor tookest away the pillar of the cloud by day to lead them in the way... | God's tangible presence, His guiding light. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 105 Meaning
Psalm 119:105 proclaims God's divine revelation, His "word," as the indispensable guide for life. It is depicted as a "lamp" that illuminates immediate, practical steps ("my feet") and a more pervasive "light" that shows the overall direction and purpose ("my path"). This signifies that God's truth provides both daily, precise guidance and comprehensive, long-term illumination, protecting from error and leading one in righteousness.
Psalm 119 105 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an elaborate acrostic poem (divided into 22 sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, with eight verses per section starting with that letter). Its central theme is the praise of God's law, word, precepts, statutes, testimonies, commandments, judgments, and ways, celebrating their perfection and their indispensable role in human life. This entire Psalm is a meditation on and fervent prayer concerning God's written revelation. Verse 105 falls within the "Nun" section, continuing the emphasis on how God's Word provides understanding, makes one wiser than elders (v. 100), keeps one from evil (v. 101), and guides one's walk (v. 104). The historical and cultural context for the original audience, ancient Israel, revolved around the Torah (Law) as the divine constitution and covenant framework for their national and personal lives. The Law was not merely rules but God's revealed character, guiding them away from the chaos and moral decay of surrounding pagan nations, who sought guidance through divination, idols, or human wisdom. This verse stands in direct polemic against reliance on human intuition or false gods for direction, asserting God's Word as the singular, authoritative, and reliable source of true light and guidance.
Psalm 119 105 Word analysis
- Thy word (דְבַרְךָ - dᵊvarkha): This refers to God's divine communication and revelation. In Hebrew, "Davar" often carries a sense of active, dynamic speaking and doing, implying not just a written text but God's living, active pronouncements. The possessive "thy" emphasizes its divine origin, authority, and relationship to the speaker (the psalmist's personal God). It underscores that this guidance comes directly from the Almighty.
- is a lamp (נֵר - nēr): A "lamp" in ancient times provided localized, immediate light. It would illuminate the ground directly in front of someone's feet, preventing them from stumbling over immediate obstacles or taking a misstep. It signifies precise, short-range guidance for specific situations or decisions.
- unto my feet (לְרַגְלִי - ləraḡlî): This specifies the scope of the lamp's illumination. It points to the practical, daily walk of life – the immediate choices, steps, and pathways one takes. It speaks to practical guidance for one's current actions.
- and a light (וְאוֹר - wəʾôr): "Light" here (ʾôr) is a broader and more pervasive illumination than a lamp. It often refers to daylight or a more expansive, encompassing radiance. It suggests comprehensive insight, moral clarity, and spiritual understanding of life's grand scheme.
- unto my path (לִנְתִיבָתִי - linəṯîḇāṯî): This refers to the general course or direction of one's entire life journey, one's chosen way or destiny. The light reveals the overall moral landscape, long-term goals, and foundational principles, preventing one from straying onto a destructive path entirely.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet": This phrase emphasizes the practical, specific, and immediate guidance provided by God's Word. It ensures that each step taken is informed by divine truth, preventing individual mistakes or stumbling in the dark concerning specific actions or immediate dilemmas.
- "and a light unto my path": This phrase highlights the comprehensive, broader, and long-range guidance. It illuminates the overall direction of one's life, helping to understand one's purpose, discern major life choices, and remain on a path that aligns with God's will for the future, not just the next step.
Psalm 119 105 Bonus section
The imagery of a "lamp" and "light" also contrasts the world's natural darkness—a symbol of spiritual ignorance, moral confusion, and danger—with the divine illumination God provides. Without this Word, humanity walks in spiritual blindness, prone to error and stumbling. Furthermore, while the Old Testament refers to the written Torah as this lamp and light, the New Testament profoundly identifies Jesus Christ as the embodiment of God's Word (Jn 1:1, 14) and the true Light of the world (Jn 8:12). Therefore, walking by God's Word ultimately means walking in Christ, who perfectly illuminates every aspect of life's journey.
Psalm 119 105 Commentary
Psalm 119:105 vividly illustrates the essential role of God's Word in the life of a believer. It provides dual but complementary forms of guidance: immediate, precise direction for daily practicalities ("a lamp unto my feet") and overarching clarity for the entire course of one's life ("a light unto my path"). The Word of God, whether through direct commands, moral principles, or divine wisdom, reveals hidden dangers and directs one away from pitfalls (represented by darkness) while simultaneously showing the correct way forward. This illumination is not theoretical but intensely personal and practical, enabling righteous living and ensuring spiritual safety. It underscores a fundamental dependency on divine revelation for true understanding and navigating life successfully.