Psalm 119:13 kjv
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psalm 119:13 nkjv
With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.
Psalm 119:13 niv
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
Psalm 119:13 esv
With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
Psalm 119:13 nlt
I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
Psalm 119 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:7 | You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them... | Teach God's words diligently |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it... | Continual meditation and speaking of law |
| 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 on God's Law |
| Ps 34:1 | I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. | Continuous praise from the lips |
| Ps 40:9-10 | I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed... | Publicly declaring God's saving acts |
| Ps 71:15-18 | My mouth will tell of Your righteous acts, of Your deeds of salvation all the day... | Recounting God's righteousness and salvation |
| Ps 105:2 | Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works. | Declaring God's works and wonders |
| Ps 145:4-7 | One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. | Generations declaring God's greatness |
| Prov 8:6-8 | Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right. | Wisdom's lips speak what is right |
| Mal 2:7 | For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth... | Priestly duty to declare God's law |
| Matt 12:34 | ...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. | Heart's overflow expressed through mouth |
| Luke 6:45 | The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good... | Good heart producing good words |
| Rom 10:9-10 | if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord... | Confession with mouth for salvation |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips... | Lips offering sacrifice of praise |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | ...that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness... | Proclaiming God's excellencies |
| Deut 4:1 | "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you..." | Listening to God's statutes |
| Neh 9:13 | "You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws..." | God giving righteous rules from His mouth |
| Ps 19:7-9 | The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul... | Perfection of God's Law and judgments |
| Isa 42:1-4 | "He will bring forth justice to the nations." | Bringing forth justice to all nations |
| Phil 2:10-11 | ...every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... | Every tongue confessing Jesus |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 13 Meaning
The Psalmist, with fervent commitment, actively declares and articulates every one of God's just decrees, laws, and teachings. This verse signifies a deeply internalized devotion to divine truth that naturally flows into outward, vocal proclamation, indicating not only personal belief but also a desire to publicly bear witness to the perfection and authority of God's revealed will. It is a heartfelt verbal confession of adherence to God's standards of righteousness.
Psalm 119 13 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, characterized by its acrostic structure where each section of eight verses begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is entirely devoted to exalting and celebrating God's Law (Torah), using eight principal synonyms to refer to it: law (Torah), testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments (ordinances), word, and rules. The Psalm expresses a deep love for, delight in, and commitment to obeying God's revelation.
Verse 13 falls within the 'Gimel' section (verses 9-16). This section specifically focuses on the themes of maintaining purity by adherence to God's word (v. 9), seeking God with the whole heart (v. 10), treasuring God's word in the heart to avoid sin (v. 11), praising God for His judgments (v. 12), and meditating on and declaring His precepts (v. 14-15). Verse 13 is a natural outflow of the preceding verses; having internalized God's word and delighted in it, the Psalmist feels compelled to articulate it. Culturally and historically, Israelite society placed great importance on the oral transmission of the Law. It was not enough to merely know it; one was commanded to teach it diligently (Deut 6:7) and speak of it constantly, embedding it into daily life and across generations. This verse embodies that practice – a personal declaration that aligns with communal covenant identity. There is an implicit polemic against the idea of merely knowing the Law intellectually without expressing or applying it, contrasting with the active, vocal proclamation demanded here.
Psalm 119 13 Word analysis
- With my lips (בִּשְׂפָתָ֑י `bim-p̄ā-ṯāy`): From `śāp̄â` (שָׂפָה) meaning 'lip,' 'speech,' 'brink.' This emphasizes the verbal, outward, and audible nature of the declaration. It signifies an intentional and articulate act of communication. It moves beyond internal thought or feeling to active expression, implying the involvement of the physical body in worship and testimony.
- I recount (סִפַּ֥רְתִּי `si-par-tî`): From `sāphar` (סָפַר) meaning 'to count,' 'number,' 'recount,' 'tell,' 'declare,' 'report.' The verb implies a comprehensive and detailed account, not merely a passing mention. It suggests presenting God's judgments carefully and accurately, as one would recite a narrative or give a meticulous report. This is an active and deliberate action, signifying that the speaker fully understands and identifies with what is being declared.
- all (כָּל־ `kol`): Meaning 'all,' 'every,' 'the whole.' This denotes completeness and universality. The Psalmist does not pick and choose which parts of God's word to declare but embraces its entirety. It speaks to the holistic nature of God's revelation, indicating no omissions or selective adherence.
- the ordinances (מִשְׁפְּטֵי֙ `miš-pə-ṭê`): From `mišpāṭ` (מִשְׁפָּט) meaning 'judgment,' 'justice,' 'ordinance,' 'legal decision,' 'right.' This term refers to God's decrees, rulings, or righteous verdicts. They are manifestations of God's just character and provide moral and legal guidance for His people. They are not merely suggestions but authoritative, binding decisions from the divine King.
- of Your mouth (פִ֣יךָ `pî-ḵā`): From `peh` (פֶּה) meaning 'mouth,' 'opening,' 'command,' 'utterance.' This is an anthropomorphism for divine revelation. It highlights the direct, authoritative, and personal source of these ordinances: God Himself. These are not human constructs but divine commands directly spoken by God, emphasizing their ultimate authority and truthfulness.
- "With my lips I recount": This phrase highlights an active and intentional verbal profession. It demonstrates the internal conviction finding expression outwardly, serving as a form of worship and testimony. The emphasis is on the deliberate choice to speak and declare God's truth.
- "all the ordinances": This signifies a comprehensive acceptance and proclamation of every part of God's divine revelation. There is no selective hearing or partial adherence; the Psalmist embraces and declares the totality of God's perfect and righteous standards.
- "of Your mouth": This phrase underlines the divine origin and supreme authority of these ordinances. They are not human laws or traditions but are directly spoken by God, making them utterly reliable, perfect, and binding. It reinforces that their value and truth derive solely from their divine source.
Psalm 119 13 Bonus section
The act of "recounting" God's ordinances with one's "lips" implies not only speaking but also the pedagogical aspect – a desire to declare and transmit divine truth, much like a teacher to a student or a prophet to a nation. This goes beyond mere intellectual assent to the Law; it demonstrates a participatory engagement, where the individual becomes an active channel for the propagation of God's perfect justice. It signifies a holistic approach to the divine word, integrating internal reflection with outward expression, showing that true godliness involves both personal adherence and public affirmation.
Psalm 119 13 Commentary
Psalm 119:13 reveals the Psalmist's deep-seated devotion to God's Law by translating internal reverence into external confession. It portrays an individual so engrossed in God's judgments—which flow directly from the divine mouth—that they must be vocally expressed. This is more than rote recitation; it is an active recounting, signifying both a personal grasp and public acknowledgment of the truth and righteousness embedded in God's decrees. Such verbal declaration solidifies personal conviction, bears witness to others, and serves as an act of worship. It exemplifies how meditating on God's word leads to the overflowing of the heart through the lips, making one's life a living testament to divine truth. This reflects the biblical principle that genuine faith and love for God will manifest in active participation with His revealed will, not only in deed but also in word.