Psalm 119:11 kjv
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11 nkjv
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 niv
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11 esv
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11 nlt
I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hiding/Storing the Word in the Heart | ||
| Dt 6:6 | And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. | Importance of heart-retention of commands. |
| Ps 37:31 | The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. | Law in heart ensures stable walk. |
| Prov 2:1 | My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you… | Implies valuing and internalizing instruction. |
| Isa 51:7 | Hear me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law… | God's people have His law intrinsically. |
| Jer 31:33 | But this is the covenant… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | New Covenant promise of inner transformation. |
| Heb 8:10 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel… I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts. | Fulfillment of Jer 31, New Covenant reality. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… | Abiding of Christ's word is essential. |
| Purpose: To Not Sin / Guarding Against Sin | ||
| Ps 19:11 | By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. | God's rules provide warning against error. |
| Ps 1:2 | But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Delight and meditation as anti-sin posture. |
| Prov 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, | Guidance prevents deviation. |
| Prov 7:2-3 | Keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Physical representation of heart inscription to avoid error. |
| Jas 1:21 | …receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. | The indwelling word's power against destructive sin. |
| Rom 6:1-2 | What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! | The incompatibility of grace with continued sin. |
| Eph 4:22-24 | …put off your old self… and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God… | The process of shedding sinful ways, requiring renewal of mind. |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. | Active mortification of sin as an act of will. |
| 1 Pet 1:22 | Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love… | Obedience to truth leads to purity. |
| 1 Jn 2:1 | My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. | The gospel message aims at preventing sin. |
| 1 Jn 3:9 | No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. | The new nature's intrinsic resistance to habitual sin. |
| The Power & Nature of God's Word | ||
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit… | The living Word's penetrative power to expose sin. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness… | Scripture's all-encompassing power to equip for righteousness. |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it… | Continual meditation on the Word leads to obedience. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 11 Meaning
Psalm 119:11 declares a profound spiritual discipline and its ultimate purpose: to internalize God's divine revelation so deeply within one's inner being as a safeguard against sin. It articulates a deliberate and active choice by the believer to treasure the Word of God, not merely as intellectual knowledge, but as a guiding principle embedded in the heart, serving as a powerful deterrent against transgression and promoting a life of holiness. This hiding is an act of spiritual preservation, equipping the individual to navigate temptations and remain obedient to God's ways.
Psalm 119 11 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic poem of 176 verses, entirely devoted to praising and meditating upon the law, statutes, precepts, testimonies, and commands of the Lord—all referring to God's Word. It is an extensive exposition of the beauty, power, and sufficiency of divine revelation for guiding human life and preserving faithfulness.Verse 11 falls within the 'Bet' (or 'B') section (verses 9-16), which specifically addresses how a person, particularly a young person (v. 9), can maintain purity of life. It emphasizes practical obedience born from inward transformation and active engagement with God's commands. The verse immediately prior to it, Psalm 119:10, expresses a fervent desire to seek God wholeheartedly and not stray from His commandments, setting the stage for the specific method described in verse 11—hiding the Word in the heart. The context thus reinforces that intentional internalization of God's Word is the primary means of living a holy life and avoiding sin, responding to the aspiration for purity voiced in earlier verses.
Psalm 119 11 Word analysis
- Thy word: (Hebrew: imrātekā, אִמְרָתֶךָ) This term for "word" often refers to a divine utterance, a specific promise, or a declaration of God. It's not just generic teaching, but a personal, authoritative communication from the Almighty. It emphasizes the divine origin and trustworthiness of the message. The suffix 'Thy' personalizes it, recognizing God as the direct speaker and giver of this sacred wisdom, implying covenant relationship.
- have I hid: (Hebrew: tsap̄antī, צָפַנְתִּי) This is a strong verb meaning "to hide," "to store up," or "to treasure." It denotes a deliberate, intentional act, akin to burying a precious treasure. It implies protecting something valuable from loss or theft, and making it a deep-seated possession rather than a superficial acquisition. It signifies a profound internalization and safeguarding of the Word, suggesting effort and commitment. It's not passive reading but active absorption and cherishing.
- in mine heart: (Hebrew: bə-libbī, בְּלִבִּי) The "heart" (Hebrew: lev) in biblical thought is not merely the seat of emotions but the totality of the inner person—intellect, will, affections, conscience, and core being. To hide the Word "in the heart" means to internalize it profoundly, making it the governing principle of one's thoughts, desires, decisions, and entire moral compass, influencing one's very character and deepest motivations, not just surface-level actions.
- that I might not sin: (Hebrew: ləmaʿan loʾ eḥěṭā, לְמַעַן לֹא אֶחֱטָא) This phrase clearly states the purpose or goal of hiding the Word. "Sin" (Hebrew: ḥaṭaʾ) literally means "to miss the mark," to deviate from the intended path, to fall short of God's standard. The psalmist reveals that the proactive internalization of the Word is a strategic defense and a primary preventative measure against error, transgression, and rebellion against God. It transforms the heart into a fortified sanctuary against evil.
- against thee: (Hebrew: lāk, לָךְ) This specifies the object of the sin: God Himself. It emphasizes that all sin, ultimately, is a direct offense against the holy and righteous character of God and His commands. This realization elevates the motivation for holiness beyond mere avoidance of punishment or social shame, grounding it in a personal, covenantal relationship and accountability to the Divine. It underscores that disobedience to God's Word is always a personal affront to Him.
Words-group analysis:
- "Thy word have I hid in mine heart": This phrase encapsulates the means and location of spiritual preservation. It emphasizes the active, personal discipline of valuing and integrating God's direct revelation deeply within one's inner being. It signifies a personal embrace of truth as opposed to mere external observance, pointing to a profound inward spiritual exercise.
- "that I might not sin against thee": This phrase highlights the purpose and result. It clearly defines the motivation for spiritual discipline: to live a life free from disobedience and transgression, especially understanding sin as an offense directly against God. It implies a conscious commitment to moral purity and spiritual alignment with God's will, viewing the Word as the ultimate guide to holy living.
Psalm 119 11 Bonus section
The Hebrew structure of Psalm 119 is acrostic, with each stanza of eight verses beginning with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 11 belongs to the second stanza, 'Bet,' which begins by posing the question, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" (v. 9). This immediate context elevates verse 11 from a general spiritual aspiration to a concrete, practical solution for purity, applicable not just to youth but to anyone seeking a holy life. The psalmist presents hiding God's Word in the heart not as one option among many, but as the quintessential method for navigating life's moral complexities.Furthermore, this verse embodies a dynamic process. It's not just a one-time event of 'hiding' the Word, but an ongoing cultivation, allowing the Word to constantly influence the mind and emotions, equipping the believer for every situation. This deep internal deposit provides spiritual discernment, strengthening conscience, and guiding moral choices, especially in times of spiritual vulnerability. This concept prefigures the New Testament understanding of the Holy Spirit writing God's law on the hearts of believers (Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10), empowering them from within to live righteously. While the psalmist speaks of an intentional human act of hiding, the New Covenant promises God's gracious enablement to make this inward transformation a reality.
Psalm 119 11 Commentary
Psalm 119:11 articulates a foundational principle for holy living: the deliberate and deep internalization of God's Word as the primary defense against sin. It is not sufficient to merely read or hear the Word; it must be "hid," meaning actively treasured, studied, memorized, meditated upon, and allowed to permeate one's entire being. This deep dwelling of God's truth within the "heart" (the seat of one's entire moral and spiritual life) creates an internal guard. The Word acts as a light that exposes sin's deceptiveness, a compass that directs toward righteousness, and a bulwark that fortifies against temptation. This process yields the desired fruit: a life oriented towards obedience and away from "missing the mark" of God's perfect standard. The understanding that sin is fundamentally "against Thee"—against God Himself—underscores the gravity and personal offense of every transgression, thereby elevating the motivation to cherish and obey His Word. It calls believers to cultivate an active, engaged, and internal relationship with divine truth, making it a powerful force in their daily walk.Examples: Memorizing scripture that addresses a common temptation (e.g., integrity, patience). Daily meditation on passages concerning love or forgiveness, leading to changed reactions in difficult situations. Regularly recalling biblical warnings against specific sins when faced with opportunities to indulge.