Psalm 119 12

Psalm 119:12 kjv

Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Psalm 119:12 nkjv

Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:12 niv

Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:12 esv

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!

Psalm 119:12 nlt

I praise you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 12 Meaning

Psalm 119:12 is a heartfelt declaration of God's intrinsic worth and majesty, beginning with an act of pure adoration. It then seamlessly transitions into a humble yet fervent prayer for divine instruction. The psalmist acknowledges God as the blessed and ultimate authority, then earnestly petitions Him to personally impart understanding of His immutable decrees and principles, thereby enabling a life lived in accordance with His holy will. This verse encapsulates both worship and a profound desire for spiritual enlightenment.

Psalm 119 12 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Psalter and the entire Bible, renowned for its exhaustive celebration of God's Word. Each of its 22 stanzas, arranged acrostically according to the Hebrew alphabet, uses different synonyms for God's divine instruction (such as law, statutes, precepts, commandments, testimonies, judgments, and words) to articulate the psalmist's deep devotion, delight, and reliance upon it. Verse 12 is part of the Beth stanza (verses 9-16). This section often emphasizes purity, seeking God wholeheartedly, and a humble desire not to stray from His paths. Thus, the plea "teach me thy statutes" directly follows the psalmist's commitment to seeking God with his "whole heart" (Ps 119:10) and his fervent wish not to stray from His commands. It represents a vital prerequisite for living out the aspirations expressed in the preceding verses, acknowledging that adherence to God's ways is not merely a matter of human effort but requires divine assistance and instruction.

Psalm 119 12 Word analysis

• Blessed (Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ, barukh): This passive participle means "praised," "lauded," or "worthy of blessing." When applied to God, it signifies that He is the inherent source of all blessing and perfection, inherently worthy of all praise and adoration. It is not an act of bestowing blessing upon God, but an acknowledgment and declaration of His supreme and glorious nature. It establishes a posture of reverence and humility.

• art Thou: This phrase highlights the direct, personal address to God. The emphasis is on the divine recipient of the praise and the One from whom teaching is sought.

• O Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the ineffable, covenantal name of God revealed to Moses, often transliterated as Yahweh. It conveys God's self-existence, eternal nature, and His unwavering faithfulness to His promises. The use of this personal name signifies an intimate yet reverent relationship between the psalmist and the Almighty.

• teach (Hebrew: לַמְּדֵנִי, lammədênî): An imperative verb, "teach me!" This is a plea for instruction, implying a deep desire for spiritual formation. It refers to imparting knowledge, skill, and discipline, suggesting an understanding that leads to transformation and obedience, rather than just intellectual accumulation. It reveals the psalmist's dependence on divine revelation for true understanding.

• me: The singular pronoun highlights the personal nature of the supplication. The psalmist expresses individual humility and recognition of his personal need for God's direct guidance and illumination.

• thy statutes (Hebrew: חֻקֶּיךָ, ḥuqqekhā): Derived from a root meaning "to engrave" or "to decree." These refer to God's fixed, established ordinances, decrees, or prescriptions that govern moral, ceremonial, and civil life. They are God's unchangeable boundaries and appointments, often viewed as divinely ordained patterns for human conduct. The request is not for general wisdom but for a deep understanding of these specific, enduring decrees of God.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Blessed art Thou, O Lord": This is a profound declaration of praise and adoration. It sets a foundational posture of worship, recognizing God's intrinsic holiness, supremacy, and His ultimate blessedness. This initial act of praise humbles the petitioner, preparing their heart to receive instruction from the One acknowledged as the sovereign Lord. It underscores that all understanding and wisdom flow from Him.
  • "teach me thy statutes": Following the declaration of praise, this is a humble, earnest petition for divine enlightenment. It implies that true comprehension of God's divinely fixed and unchanging laws does not come merely from human effort or intellectual pursuit, but requires the direct, supernatural intervention and guidance of God Himself. The request for "statutes" highlights a desire to know God's established will and to conform one's life to His perfect blueprint.

Psalm 119 12 Bonus section

• The transition from doxology ("Blessed art Thou, O Lord") to petition ("teach me thy statutes") showcases the ideal flow of prayer: acknowledging God's worth first, then presenting one's needs with humility and dependence.
• This verse underpins the concept of divine pedagogy – the idea that God Himself is the ultimate Teacher of His Word, not merely human instructors or commentaries. True understanding requires His direct Spirit-empowered illumination.
• The specific term "statutes" (ḥuqqim) emphasizes the enduring and prescriptive nature of God's laws, highlighting that they are not arbitrary or transient, but fundamental ordinances etched into the fabric of His will.
• The desire for God to "teach me" highlights a personal, experiential learning that leads to practical obedience, distinguishing it from purely academic or intellectual knowledge of the Law.

Psalm 119 12 Commentary

Psalm 119:12 serves as a timeless template for approaching God, demonstrating that true spiritual learning begins with adoration and humility. The opening, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord," is not merely a polite greeting but a profound act of declaring God's inherent perfection and ultimate authority. This recognition of His blessedness establishes the proper relational foundation: we come before Him as worshippers before their glorious God, acknowledging His worthiness of all praise. From this position of awe and reverence naturally flows the subsequent petition: "teach me thy statutes." This is not a superficial request for information, but a desperate yearning for transformative insight. The psalmist understands that human intellect alone cannot grasp the depths of God's "statutes"—His unchanging, divinely appointed decrees that govern righteous living. True understanding, leading to obedient application, requires the personal, illuminating work of God Himself, mediated through His Holy Spirit. Thus, the verse calls every believer to a pattern of prayer: first, to elevate God in praise for who He is, and then, from that posture of humility, to seek His personal guidance and enabling power to live by His unchangeable truths.

• Examples:
  • Before commencing a Bible study, a believer begins by blessing God's name and then prayerfully asks the Holy Spirit for divine revelation and understanding of the text.
  • When faced with a complex ethical dilemma, an individual might first glorify God for His wisdom and then specifically pray for Him to "teach" them the relevant biblical "statutes" to guide their decision.
  • A disciple experiencing confusion or doubt might pause to affirm God's sovereign goodness ("Blessed art Thou, O Lord") and then cry out for Him to make His truths clear ("teach me thy statutes").