Psalm 119:133 kjv
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Psalm 119:133 nkjv
Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Psalm 119:133 niv
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Psalm 119:133 esv
Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
Psalm 119:133 nlt
Guide my steps by your word,
so I will not be overcome by evil.
Psalm 119 133 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Word guides steps |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way... | Lord establishes steps |
| Ps 37:31 | The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. | Law keeps steps firm |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | Lord directs one's path |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart... and he will make straight your paths. | God makes paths straight |
| Isa 48:17 | I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. | God leads and teaches the way |
| Rom 6:12 | Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. | Sin must not have dominion |
| Rom 6:14 | For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. | Freedom from sin's dominion |
| Ps 19:13 | Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. | Prayer against sin's control |
| Jn 8:36 | So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. | Freedom from sin |
| 1 Jn 3:9 | No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him... | New birth leads to freedom from sin's practice |
| Jude 1:24 | Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory... | God preserves from stumbling |
| Deut 5:33 | You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live... | Walking in God's commanded way |
| Lk 11:28 | Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! | Hearing and keeping God's word |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Practical obedience to word |
| Phil 2:12-13 | ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you... | God works within for obedience |
| Heb 13:20-21 | May the God of peace... equip you with everything good that you may do his will... | Equipping for God's will |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works... | Created for good works |
| Rom 8:14 | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. | Led by divine Spirit |
| Gal 5:16 | But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. | Spirit-led living |
| Titus 2:11-12 | For the grace of God... trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions... | Grace teaches righteous living |
| 1 Pet 1:15 | But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. | Call to holiness in conduct |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 133 Meaning
Psalm 119:133 is a heartfelt prayer seeking divine guidance for one's life and protection from the oppressive power of sin. It expresses a desire for God's word to be the ultimate authority in shaping one's steps and ensuring that no form of wickedness or injustice gains control over their life. The verse reflects a profound dependence on God to navigate life's path righteously and remain free from the dominion of evil.
Psalm 119 133 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a profound meditation on the character, beauty, and practical benefits of God's Word. It is an acrostic psalm, with eight verses beginning with each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 133 falls within the "Pe" (פ) section (verses 129-136). The "Pe" section, generally linked to the mouth or utterance, focuses on how God's revelation (His 'word' or 'utterance') gives understanding, light, and guidance, and evokes a passionate longing for this light amidst trials and opponents. Verse 133 specifically appeals to God for His 'word' to order one's life, echoing the theme of divine enlightenment and active direction, which is essential for resisting wickedness that seeks to oppress the righteous. Historically, devout Israelites sought to live by the Torah, their foundational guide, in a world often hostile to their faith. The prayer reflects an individual's deep desire to conform to God's standard in thought and deed, navigating temptations and the prevailing sinful currents of society.
Psalm 119 133 Word analysis
Order (Hebrew: כּוּן, kûn, Hiphil stem):
- Means to establish, set up, make firm, direct, prepare, fix.
- In the Hiphil, it signifies to cause to be established or prepared, to direct firmly.
- Significance: It implies active, divine intervention and guidance, not just a passive wish. It's a prayer for God to provide stability and direct the Psalmist's entire life course with steadfast purpose, akin to setting a foundation.
- Connection: This term often describes God's work in creation or His firm establishment of justice. Here, it is applied to one's personal walk.
My steps (Hebrew: פְּסָעַי, pᵉsāʿay, plural construct form of פֶּסַע pesaʿ 'step', with 1st person singular suffix):
- Literally 'my paces' or 'my movements'.
- Significance: Metaphorically, this refers to one's entire life's walk, conduct, decisions, and overall direction. It's a comprehensive term for all of life's choices and actions. The request covers the entirety of one's journey.
By thy word (Hebrew: בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ, bᵉʾimrātāḵ, 'by' or 'through' with אִמְרָה imrah 'utterance, saying, word', with 2nd person singular suffix):
- Imrah specifically refers to a spoken word, utterance, or divine decree. It differs slightly from torah (law, instruction) or dabar (word in general, often a promise or command).
- Significance: This emphasizes that it is God's specific revelation, His direct pronouncements, and expressed will that should govern every aspect of one's conduct. It points to the direct instruction and living voice of God. The Psalmist yearns for every decision to be calibrated by God's truth.
And let not any iniquity (Hebrew: וְאַל־תַּשְׁלֵט בִּי אָוֶן, wᵉʾal-tashleṭ bî ʾawen, 'and' + 'not' + tashleṭ (from שָׁלַט shalat 'to rule, dominate, have power') + 'in me' + ʾawen 'wickedness, mischief, trouble, injustice'):
- Let not... have dominion: The verb shalat signifies to rule over, have power over, to prevail against. The negation ('let not') is a prayer for prevention.
- Iniquity (Hebrew: אָוֶן, ʾawen): This term carries a strong sense of trouble, sorrow, wickedness, vanity, or false dealing. It denotes active wrong, often causing distress or injury, including deceit or injustice.
- Significance: This is a plea for liberation from the controlling power and influence of any form of wickedness. It highlights a conscious battle against sin's tyranny, a recognition that without divine help, evil can dominate one's life. It is not merely a request for forgiveness after sin, but for divine strength to prevent being ruled by sin. The phrase could also encompass oppression from wicked people, further emphasizing a desire for freedom from all forms of evil.
Psalm 119 133 Bonus section
The prayer in Ps 119:133 implies a dynamic interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. While the Psalmist prays for God to "order" his steps, this is not an excuse for passivity. Rather, it suggests a heart already committed to obedience, seeking divine empowerment to execute that commitment. The prayer "let not any iniquity have dominion over me" also speaks to the internal struggle. It is not enough to avoid committing 'a sin'; the desire is to avoid sin's mastery. This mastery can lead to addiction, habitual patterns, or even mental oppression. The depth of the prayer recognizes sin as a reigning power, not just isolated acts, and implores God's stronger power to subdue it. This pursuit of freedom from sin's dominion is a recurring theme in Scripture, pointing to the transformative power of God's grace that allows believers to walk in newness of life. The Pe section, related to 'mouth' or 'speech,' may subtly hint that internalizing God's utterance and speaking it forth is part of how one's steps are ordered and how sin's power is broken.
Psalm 119 133 Commentary
Psalm 119:133 encapsulates a fervent desire for practical righteousness, stemming from a profound reliance on God's revealed Word. It is both a prayer and a statement of spiritual longing. The request for God to "order my steps by thy word" is not a passive wish but an active yearning for divine, authoritative direction in every decision and action. It acknowledges that human judgment is fallible and true wisdom for living comes directly from God's precepts. This active ordering ensures a stable and upright walk.
The second part of the verse, "and let not any iniquity have dominion over me," builds on the first. When one's steps are genuinely ordered by God's word, the power of sin is nullified. It is a prayer for deliverance from the slavery of sin, whether in its form as inward temptation or outward oppression. The Psalmist recognizes sin as an oppressive force, an 'iniquity' that seeks to rule and cause distress. This plea acknowledges the spiritual battle against sin and highlights the need for divine intervention to break its mastery. The verse thus marries the twin themes of active obedience and spiritual freedom, presenting a life truly ordered by God's word as one free from sin's tyrannical grip.