Psalm 119 140

Psalm 119:140 kjv

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psalm 119:140 nkjv

Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.

Psalm 119:140 niv

Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

Psalm 119:140 esv

Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

Psalm 119:140 nlt

Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
that is why I love them so much.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 140 Meaning

Psalm 119:140 expresses the psalmist's profound love for God's Word, which is rooted in its proven purity and perfect reliability. The verse asserts that God's spoken word, including His promises and decrees, has been thoroughly tested and found flawless, establishing its trustworthiness. Because of this undeniable truth and unwavering dependability, the psalmist, as God's humble servant, is deeply devoted to it. This love is not a mere sentiment but a rational response to the divinely affirmed excellence and integrity of God's revelation.

Psalm 119 140 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a poetic masterpiece structured as an acrostic, with each of its 22 stanzas beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Every verse in the psalm, save one (v. 122 in some translations), directly references God's Word through various synonyms like law, statutes, precepts, testimonies, commandments, judgments, and promises. The overriding theme of the psalm is a fervent declaration of love, devotion, and obedience to God's law, even amidst suffering and opposition. The psalmist expresses deep satisfaction and guidance found exclusively in divine revelation. Verse 140 falls within the "Tsade" (צ) section (vv. 137-144), where the psalmist praises God's righteousness, the truth of His testimonies, and the enduring nature of His commands despite being despised by others. Historically, God's Word was the central pillar of Israelite life and identity, guiding their morality, worship, and national destiny. This verse stands as a testament to the tested reliability of God's Word throughout generations, distinguishing it from fleeting human wisdom or deceptive idol worship of the surrounding cultures, which often proved false or powerless.

Psalm 119 140 Word analysis

• Thy word: Hebrew אִמְרָתְךָ (imrāt-ḵā). This refers to God's specific utterance, pronouncement, or promise. While Ps 119 uses many synonyms for God's revelation (Torah, statutes, precepts, etc.), imrāt (related to amer, 'to say') particularly emphasizes the spoken nature of divine communication, signifying its directness and personal delivery from God.
• is very pure: Hebrew נִבְחֲנָה מְאֹד (niḇḥănâ mə'ōḏ). This is a crucial phrase with significant depth.
  • נִבְחֲנָה (niḇḥănâ): From the root בָּחַן (bachan), meaning "to examine, to prove, to try, to test, to refine." It is often used for the assaying or refining of metals, like gold or silver, by fire (e.g., Ps 66:10, Zech 13:9). This implies that God's Word has undergone rigorous scrutiny or has been repeatedly put to the test through historical events and human experience, proving itself absolutely flawless, without alloy or defect. It is not just inherently pure, but its purity has been demonstrated and verified through its actions and outcomes over time. This verb's passive form signifies that the Word has been tested.
  • מְאֹד (mə'ōḏ): "Very, exceedingly, utterly." This intensifies the preceding verb, emphasizing that the Word is thoroughly tested and extremely pure or perfectly tried.
  • Significance: This refutes any challenge to the veracity or efficacy of God's Word. Unlike human promises or philosophical concepts that might fail upon scrutiny, God's Word has faced all trials—whether of time, opposition, or human experience—and emerged as perfectly dependable. It signifies not just an abstract purity but a practical, verifiable trustworthiness.
• therefore: Hebrew עַל־כֵּן (‘al-kên). This conjunctive phrase establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The psalmist's love is a direct, logical, and appropriate response to the proven perfection of God's Word.
• thy servant: Hebrew עַבְדֶּךָ (‘aḇdəḵā). This self-identification speaks volumes about the psalmist's posture before God. To be a "servant" implies humility, submission, loyalty, and a commitment to obey the Master. It is the appropriate stance of one who recognizes the authority and goodness of God's Word.
• loveth it: Hebrew אֲהֵבָהּ (’ahēḇāh). From the root אָהַב ('ahav), meaning "to love, desire, be fond of." This is not mere intellectual agreement but a deep, emotional, and spiritual affection. The love is directed towards "it" (referring back to "Thy word"), indicating that the Word itself is the object of adoration and delight. This love translates into a desire to know, obey, and dwell upon God's truth.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Thy word is very pure/tested": This phrase defines the intrinsic character and demonstrated quality of God's revelation. It underscores its divine origin and perfect reliability, which distinguishes it from anything human or fallible. This perfection means it never deceives, always delivers, and provides absolute truth.
• "therefore thy servant loveth it": This second part highlights the spiritual and practical consequence of the first. The proven excellence of God's Word compels a genuine, heartfelt love and allegiance from the one who truly grasps its nature. It illustrates a natural and righteous response to divine truth, demonstrating that spiritual devotion is grounded in understanding and acknowledging God's verifiable truth.

Psalm 119 140 Bonus section

The imagery of "testing" and "purity" for God's Word often echoes the process of refining precious metals, like silver or gold, through fire. This suggests that the Word's integrity is not just theoretical but has been forged and proven in the crucible of experience, suffering, and the unfolding of history. This concept directly challenges ancient polytheistic beliefs where the words of their gods were often capricious, contradictory, or outright false, failing to deliver on their promises or offer true moral guidance. In contrast, the God of Israel's Word, uniquely among all other "deities," has consistently stood firm, delivering truth and life, and fulfilling prophecies over millennia, proving its divine authorship and unwavering veracity. The love mentioned is not merely affection but includes an active adherence and joyful submission, as shown repeatedly throughout Ps 119 (e.g., delight in obeying His precepts, v. 47). This active love stems from realizing that what is "tested" and "pure" ultimately benefits the one who embraces it.

Psalm 119 140 Commentary

Psalm 119:140 presents a foundational principle of the believer's relationship with God's revelation: love for the Word is predicated on its proven integrity. The assertion that God's "word is very pure" or "thoroughly tested" speaks to its infallible nature. It implies that every promise, command, and truth within Scripture has stood the test of time, scrutiny, and historical fulfillment, emerging flawless and entirely trustworthy. It's a gold standard, purified by the trials it has endured, never found wanting or deceptive. Because of this divinely confirmed reliability and utter perfection, the psalmist's response, identifying himself as God's "servant," is profound and unreserved love. This love is not a blind affection but an informed, rational, and deeply spiritual devotion stemming from the objective excellence of the Word. It compels the believer to delight in, obey, and internalize what has been demonstrated to be absolute truth. This principle urges believers to not just believe God's Word, but to embrace it with deep affection because of its proven faithfulness and unchanging truth in all circumstances.

Examples for practical usage:

• When faced with a difficult life decision, trusting in God's promises from His "tested" Word.
• Finding comfort and peace in Scripture during trials, recognizing that its truths have held true for generations of believers.
• Delighting in God's moral commands, understanding their inherent purity leads to life and freedom, unlike the chaos of worldly ways.