Psalm 119 109

Psalm 119:109 kjv

My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

Psalm 119:109 nkjv

My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

Psalm 119:109 niv

Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

Psalm 119:109 esv

I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.

Psalm 119:109 nlt

My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 109 Meaning

Psalm 119:109 expresses a profound contrast between the psalmist's perilous existence and his unwavering devotion to God's law. He states that his life is continually exposed to danger, as if precariously held in his own hand, yet this constant threat does not diminish his commitment to remember and obey divine instruction. Despite extreme vulnerability and ongoing hardship, his loyalty to God's Word remains steadfast, providing him stability and direction amidst the uncertainty of life.

Psalm 119 109 Context

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, meticulously structured with each eight-verse stanza beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is a profound meditation on the beauty, power, and sufficiency of God's law (Torah). Throughout the psalm, the author expresses a deep and personal love for God's Word, relying on it for guidance, comfort, and salvation amidst opposition, affliction, and the general trials of life. Verse 109 falls within the Mem (מ) section (verses 105-112). In this immediate context, the psalmist speaks of God's Word as a lamp to his feet (v. 105) and praises God even amidst affliction (v. 107). Verse 109 specifically highlights a core aspect of his spiritual discipline: maintaining commitment to God's law despite living under constant duress and danger. The psalmist acknowledges the ever-present threat to his life, a situation common for the righteous in a hostile world, yet asserts that this precarious existence does not cause him to neglect or forget the divine instruction which grounds his hope and path. This sets the stage for further declarations of his hatred for falsehood (v. 104) and his enduring adherence to God's decrees as his heritage and joy (v. 111).

Psalm 119 109 Word analysis

• I hold my life in my hand: This is an ancient idiomatic expression (Hebrew: nap̄šî bəkhapî – "my soul in my palm"). It signifies being in extreme danger or a precarious situation, where one's very existence is constantly at risk, vulnerable to immediate harm. It implies that survival is hanging by a thread and depends on immediate circumstances, much like holding a fragile object that could easily slip and break.

• continually: (Hebrew: tāmîḏ) This emphasizes the ceaseless nature of the peril. It is not an occasional or transient danger, but an ongoing, pervasive state of being, signifying chronic vulnerability and living perpetually on the edge of crisis or death.

• but I do not forget: (Hebrew: vəlo’ šāḵaḥtî) The conjunction "but" marks a sharp contrast. "Forget" here does not merely mean intellectual amnesia. In a biblical context, "forgetting" God's law often implies failing to heed, neglecting, or deliberately disregarding it through disobedience. Thus, "not forgetting" implies active remembrance, diligent study, conscious application, and faithful obedience, regardless of external circumstances.

• your law: (Hebrew: tōrāṯəḵā) Refers to God's revealed instruction, guidance, and entire body of divine precepts and commands. In Psalm 119, Torah encompasses the fullness of God's revealed will, including His statutes, commandments, testimonies, precepts, and judgments. It is the absolute standard for truth and righteousness.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.": This juxtaposition reveals the psalmist's profound spiritual integrity. It highlights the principle that even life-threatening danger or constant distress should not diminish one's commitment to God's Word. The outer instability (life in danger) stands in stark contrast to the inner stability derived from adherence to God's unchanging truth. It portrays a deep, tested faith where the divine word provides an anchor against the storm of life's adversities. The idiom vividly depicts a situation of vulnerability, yet it culminates in an act of powerful will—a resolute refusal to yield to distraction or despair, prioritizing faithfulness to God.

Psalm 119 109 Bonus section

The phrase "my life in my hand" appears in various other Old Testament passages (e.g., Jdg 12:3; 1 Sa 19:5; 28:21; Job 13:14), always signifying extreme danger or the willingness to risk one's life. In Psalm 119:109, the emphasis is on the continual nature of this danger, suggesting a prolonged period of adversity rather than a singular event. The Psalmist's choice of "law" (Torah) is significant as it embodies the entirety of God's instructions and covenant. Not "forgetting" this law means living it out daily, despite circumstances that would otherwise justify spiritual neglect. This profound resolve echoes the ultimate commitment demonstrated by Christ, who also walked a perilous path, yet remained perfectly obedient to His Father's will even unto death, not forgetting or abandoning the divine plan for redemption.

Psalm 119 109 Commentary

Psalm 119:109 portrays the spiritual resilience of a believer enduring extreme and continuous peril. The imagery of "holding my life in my hand continually" conveys a life perpetually threatened, living with an acute awareness of mortality and vulnerability. This state is not temporary but constant, highlighting an ongoing battle for survival. Yet, despite such overwhelming external pressure and existential uncertainty, the psalmist emphatically declares his steadfast adherence to God's law. This is not a passive memory but an active commitment to God's revealed will, His Torah. The verse asserts that even when faced with imminent danger, the believer finds an unshakable foundation in the divine commands, refusing to compromise or abandon the source of truth and life. This speaks to a faith forged in the crucible of hardship, where suffering clarifies spiritual priorities and strengthens the resolve to remain faithful.

• Practical usage:
  • In situations of chronic stress, illness, or job insecurity, maintain diligent prayer and Scripture reading.
  • When facing personal threats or opposition for faith, let not fear compromise your commitment to Christian principles.
  • In the uncertainty of changing global events, cling tighter to biblical truth as an anchor for the soul.