Psalm 119:138 kjv
Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
Psalm 119:138 nkjv
Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful.
Psalm 119:138 niv
The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
Psalm 119:138 esv
You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
Psalm 119:138 nlt
Your laws are perfect
and completely trustworthy.
Psalm 119 138 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 19:7-9 | The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure... precepts of the LORD are right... | God's law is flawless and dependable. |
| Psa 111:7-8 | The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are trustworthy... stand firm forever and ever... | Divine precepts are truthful and eternal. |
| Psa 119:86 | All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! | Reiteration of the faithfulness of commands. |
| Psa 119:128 | Therefore I consider all Your precepts concerning all things to be right... | Acknowledgment of God's precepts as universally correct. |
| Deut 32:4 | He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice; A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. | God's character (righteousness, truth) reflected in His works. |
| Isa 45:19 | I, the LORD, speak righteousness; I declare things that are right. | God's word is inherently just and correct. |
| Rom 7:12 | So the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. | The divine law's inherent holiness and justice. |
| Rev 15:3 | Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways... | God's ways are just and true. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness... | Scripture's divine origin and purpose for righteousness. |
| John 17:17 | Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. | God's word as the ultimate truth. |
| John 10:35 | The Scripture cannot be broken... | The inviolable nature of Scripture. |
| Psa 12:6 | The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. | God's words are utterly pure and refined. |
| Psa 33:4 | For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth. | God's word and work are righteous and truthful. |
| Titus 1:2 | ...God, who cannot lie... | God's inability to be unfaithful or untruthful. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that He should lie... | Affirmation of God's unchanging faithfulness. |
| Heb 6:18 | ...it is impossible for God to lie... | Further assurance of God's perfect truthfulness. |
| Jer 23:29 | Is not My word like fire? ...and like a hammer that shatters a rock? | God's word is powerful and unyielding. |
| Matt 5:18 | Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law... | The enduring authority of God's law. |
| 1 Sam 15:29 | The Glory of Israel will not lie... | God's covenant faithfulness. |
| Lam 3:23 | Great is Your faithfulness; Your mercies never come to an end... | Attribute of God's character is faithfulness. |
| Psa 96:13 | He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His truth. | God judges with perfect righteousness and truth. |
| Deut 4:8 | Or what great nation has statutes and judgments as righteous as all this law...? | Uniqueness and superiority of God's righteous law. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 138 Meaning
Psalm 119:138 affirms the profound integrity of God's divine commands. It states that His testimonies—His revealed will and laws—are inherently righteous, aligning perfectly with His just character. Furthermore, it declares them to be "very faithful," signifying their absolute trustworthiness, reliability, and unchanging truthfulness, offering an unwavering standard and guidance.
Psalm 119 138 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic poem of 176 verses divided into 22 sections, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse within a section typically begins with the same letter. This elaborate structure highlights the psalmist's profound devotion to, and meditation upon, God's Word. The psalm uses various synonyms for God's revealed will (e.g., law, statutes, precepts, commands, decrees, word, judgments, testimonies), continually praising their perfection, power, and guidance.
Verse 138 falls within the "Lamedh" (ל) section (verses 137-144). This section often expresses a deep lament over the wicked and an appeal for divine vindication, all rooted in the steadfast truth of God's commands. Within this immediate context, after acknowledging God's inherent righteousness (v. 137), verse 138 reaffirms that God's testimonies (His specific declarations) perfectly reflect His just and faithful character. This foundational belief grounds the psalmist's plea for rescue from adversaries who disregard these very commands (v. 139). Historically, this unwavering trust in God's immutable laws served as a potent counterpoint to the capricious laws and deities of surrounding pagan cultures, asserting the unique and perfect nature of Israel's divine revelation.
Psalm 119 138 Word analysis
- Your testimonies (עֵדֹתֶיךָ - 'edōteyka): The plural of 'edah, meaning 'witness,' 'testimony,' 'decree,' or 'ordinance.' In this context, it refers to God's precepts and divine ordinances, which bear witness to His nature, His will, and His covenant with His people. They are not merely rules but divine self-revelation, revealing God's character.
- which You have commanded (צִוִּיתָּ - tzivviyṫāh): From the verb tsavah, meaning 'to command,' 'ordain,' or 'appoint.' This emphasizes the direct, authoritative, and divine origin of these testimonies. They are not human traditions or deductions but direct instructions from the sovereign God, highlighting His authority and the binding nature of His word.
- are righteous (צֶדֶק - tzédeq): Derived from the root tsdq, denoting 'righteousness,' 'justice,' 'moral uprightness,' or 'conformity to a divine standard.' This means God's testimonies are inherently just, morally perfect, and reflect the absolute justice of God's own character. They are always fair, correct, and align with ultimate truth.
- and very faithful (וֶאֱמוּנָה מְאֹד - vé'emūnāh me'ōd):
- faithful ('emunah): From the root 'aman, meaning 'firm,' 'steadfast,' 'reliable,' 'true,' 'trustworthy,' or 'constant.' This implies the absolute dependability and unwavering reliability of God's testimonies. They do not fail, change, or prove false. They stand firm and true in all circumstances.
- very (me'ōd): An intensifier, meaning 'much,' 'very,' or 'exceedingly.' It highlights the superlative degree of faithfulness. God's testimonies are not just faithful, but supremely and completely faithful, emphasizing their perfect trustworthiness and stability.
Psalm 119 138 Bonus section
This verse powerfully reflects a core attribute of God: His unchanging righteousness and faithfulness. Just as God is inherently just and truthful, so too is His Word. It acts as a polemic against the arbitrary laws and unpredictable deities of pagan cultures, affirming that the God of Israel provides a stable and perfect standard for life. The psalmist's conviction in the unblemished character of God's commands emboldens his prayers for deliverance and his commitment to obedience, knowing that what God has decreed is ultimately good, true, and enduring. This bedrock truth serves as a source of strength, enabling the believer to confidently navigate life, trusting that God's path, revealed in His testimonies, is always the right and trustworthy one.
Psalm 119 138 Commentary
Psalm 119:138 is a declaration of unwavering faith in the absolute perfection and reliability of God's revealed will. The psalmist asserts that God's "testimonies"—His laws and precepts—are not merely good advice, but are inherently "righteous," meaning they perfectly reflect the impeccable justice and moral uprightness of God Himself. They are the standard for what is just and true in all things. Furthermore, they are "very faithful," signifying their unshakeable truthfulness, constancy, and dependability. This means God's word never fails, never proves false, and can always be relied upon to be true, unchanging, and firm. This profound belief provides stability and assurance to the believer, particularly in times of confusion or persecution, grounding all hope and action in the unfailing character of God revealed through His Word.