Psalm 119 123

Psalm 119:123 kjv

Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

Psalm 119:123 nkjv

My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word.

Psalm 119:123 niv

My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.

Psalm 119:123 esv

My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

Psalm 119:123 nlt

My eyes strain to see your rescue,
to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 123 Meaning

Psalm 119:123 expresses the psalmist's profound and desperate longing for God's intervention. His "eyes fail" due to the intense and prolonged waiting and active searching for God's promised salvation and the fulfillment of His righteous word. It signifies a state of physical and emotional exhaustion born out of a steadfast hope and reliance on God alone in times of severe affliction and oppression. The verse portrays an unwavering focus on God as the only source of rescue and guidance.

Psalm 119 123 Context

Psalm 119:123 is found within the Ayin (ע) section (verses 121-128) of the longest psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119. This extensive acrostic poem is a magnificent tribute to God's law, word, statutes, commandments, testimonies, precepts, and judgments, viewing them as a source of delight, guidance, and life. Each stanza of eight verses begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Within the immediate context of verses 121-128, the psalmist is acutely aware of suffering injustice and oppression from proud and arrogant adversaries (v. 122). He has acted righteously, showing "justice and righteousness" (v. 121), and seeks God's intervention and protection against those who relentlessly persecute him. His fervent longing for God's salvation is therefore not an abstract theological concept but a desperate plea born from a very real and immediate personal affliction. He relies entirely on God’s just and promised intervention, anticipating that God will arise to enforce His righteous law because others are breaking it (v. 126).

Psalm 119 123 Word analysis

• My eyes (עֵינַי - ʿênay): This is a direct reference to the psalmist's faculty of sight, used metaphorically to express his deep personal involvement and the intense focus of his desire. "Eyes" are often symbols of attention, perception, and longing. The failing of the eyes suggests a protracted period of waiting and observation, indicating utter exhaustion from the constant vigil and intense expectation.

• fail (כָּלְוּ - kāleû): Derived from the verb כלה (kalah), meaning "to be completed," "to be consumed," "to be exhausted," "to pine away." This word powerfully conveys the sense of physical and emotional wearing out. It's not a sudden event, but a gradual depletion of strength due to continuous, earnest yearning and searching. It underscores the depth of the psalmist's suffering and the intensity of his hope, where his very being is consumed by this single desire.

• from searching for (לִישׁוּעָתֶךָ - liyshūʿātekhā): The preposition "from" or "for" here denotes the cause of the eyes failing – the activity of intensely looking or waiting for God's deliverance. This is not passive resignation but active, expectant observation. The failing is a result of the strenuousness of this persistent searching.

• Your salvation (יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ - yeshūʿātekhā): From the root ישׁע (yashaʿ), meaning "to save," "to deliver," "to rescue." This refers specifically to God's saving act, His divine intervention. It encompasses deliverance from distress, enemies, or oppression, as well as the broader concept of spiritual deliverance and well-being. The suffix "Your" emphasizes that this salvation comes from God and is distinct from any human attempt at rescue.

• And for Your righteous (צִדְקֶךָ - tsidqeḵā) word (וּלְאִמְרַת - ûlĕʾimraṯ):

  • And for: This connects the second object of the psalmist's yearning, showing that "Your righteous word" is equally, or even intimately, bound with "Your salvation."
  • word (אִמְרָה - ʾimrāh): Refers to a divine utterance, a promise, a decree, or a specific revelation of God's will. In Psalm 119, this term is used interchangeably with "law," "statutes," "precepts," highlighting the multifaceted nature of God's revealed will.
  • righteous (צִדְקֶךָ - tsidqeḵā): From the root צדק (tsadaq), meaning "to be just," "righteous," "right." When applied to God's word, it means His utterances are always true, equitable, morally perfect, and in accordance with His divine justice. The psalmist yearns for God's just word, perhaps specifically for the word of judgment against his oppressors or a word of vindication for himself.

• Words-Group analysis:

  • "My eyes fail... for Your salvation": This phrase dramatically portrays the physical toll of a profound spiritual longing. It speaks to the utter dedication and the consuming nature of the psalmist's hope, emphasizing that his very physical being is strained by the earnestness of his desire for God's rescuing action. It’s an idiom for extreme and desperate waiting.
  • "And for Your righteous word": This juxtaposition highlights that God's salvation is inseparable from His word. Salvation isn't arbitrary; it flows from God's righteous character and is often accomplished through the outworking or fulfillment of His promises and decrees. The "word" here could be a specific promise of deliverance the psalmist is clinging to, or the overall integrity and justice inherent in God's revealed truth. It implies a belief that God’s word is reliable, true, and powerful enough to effect salvation.

Psalm 119 123 Bonus section

The concept of "eyes failing" or "pining away" is often associated with suffering, unfulfilled longing, or waiting for what seems delayed (e.g., Job 17:7, Lam 2:11, 4:17). This biblical imagery powerfully conveys a state of being utterly consumed by a desire or a hope, highlighting the physical and emotional cost of such spiritual intensity. It signifies a profound spiritual yearning where the inner state is so fervent that it manifests outwardly as exhaustion or depletion. The psalmist's expectation is singular and all-encompassing, pointing away from any reliance on human help or alternative solutions, and entirely towards God's divine and just intervention through His word. This verse thus stands as a testament to absolute dependence on God in the midst of extreme adversity, reminding us that true hope endures even when all other capacities diminish.

Psalm 119 123 Commentary

Psalm 119:123 is a deeply personal and poignant prayer expressing the culmination of suffering and steadfast faith. The psalmist, enduring severe affliction and oppression as described in the preceding verses, waits with such desperate intensity for God's promised salvation and the manifestation of His just word that his very physical sight becomes dim, exhausted from the prolonged vigil. This isn't just passive waiting, but an active, searching posture of unwavering hope. The "failing eyes" are a powerful idiom conveying deep spiritual and physical weariness that comes from intensely fixing one's gaze on God alone, expecting Him to intervene.

The dual focus on "Your salvation" and "Your righteous word" reveals a sophisticated understanding of God's deliverance. Salvation is not an abstract concept; it is intimately linked to God's righteous character, which is revealed and carried out through His divine utterances and decrees. The psalmist understands that God's word is not only the promise of salvation but also the instrument through which that salvation is actualized. It speaks to a faith that looks beyond current suffering to the certainty of God's promised intervention, trusting in His righteous character and His unchanging truth. The verse challenges believers to persist in hope even when rescue seems delayed, encouraging them to keep their eyes fixed on the faithful and powerful God who always fulfills His righteous word.

• Practical Usage:
  • When facing a prolonged difficult situation, persecution, or injustice, maintain your gaze on God's promises and character, even if you feel weary.
  • Understand that God's intervention is always tied to His righteous nature and His revealed word.
  • Cultivate patient and active expectation in prayer, refusing to despair, as God is faithful.