Psalm 119 142

Psalm 119:142 kjv

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Psalm 119:142 nkjv

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.

Psalm 119:142 niv

Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.

Psalm 119:142 esv

Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.

Psalm 119:142 nlt

Your justice is eternal,
and your instructions are perfectly true.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 142 Meaning

Psalm 119:142 proclaims the inherent and enduring perfection of God's character and His revealed Word. It asserts that God's righteousness is eternal, transcending all temporal limitations, and that His law is absolute truth, reliable and immutable. This verse signifies that God's moral perfection and the veracity of His commands are fundamental realities, providing an unshakeable foundation for faith and conduct.

Psalm 119 142 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, structured as an acrostic poem, with each of its 22 stanzas (of eight verses each) beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The entire psalm is a deep and sustained meditation on the divine revelation of God's will, character, and ways, referred to by multiple synonyms like "law" (Torah), "statutes," "commandments," "precepts," "testimonies," and "judgments." The psalmist expresses profound love, delight, dependence, and unwavering commitment to God's Word, especially in times of affliction and opposition. Verse 142 is part of the "Mem" stanza (verses 113-120), where the psalmist praises the steadfastness and truth of God's precepts. Historically, this psalm resonates deeply within ancient Israel, where the Torah was the very center of their national and personal identity, distinguishing them from the polytheistic and morally corrupt nations around them. The verse makes a powerful assertion of God's unique standard of righteousness and truth, contrasting it with the transient and often oppressive decrees of human rulers or the capricious demands of pagan deities.

Psalm 119 142 Word analysis

• Your righteousness (צִדְקָתְךָ, tzidkatkha):

  • Tzidkat (צדקה) refers to righteousness, justice, and equity. It signifies God's absolute moral purity, His perfect conformity to His own divine nature.
  • It speaks not only of an attribute but also His action, how He justly governs the universe.
  • The possessive "Your" emphatically ties this intrinsic quality to God alone, distinguishing it from any human or relative standard of right.

• is an everlasting (עוֹלָם, olam) righteousness:

  • Olam (עולם) denotes eternity, perpetuity, an unending duration. It stresses that God's righteousness is immutable, timeless, and not subject to change or decay like earthly systems or human moral codes.
  • This establishes the enduring, reliable nature of God's moral governance, providing immense security and trust.

• And Your law (וְתוֹרָתְךָ, v'torat'kha):

  • Torah (תורה) translates as "law," but more expansively means "instruction" or "teaching." It encompasses God's entire divine revelation, His wisdom, guidance, and commands given to humanity for life and blessing.
  • Originating from the root "yara," meaning "to teach" or "to direct," it signifies a comprehensive guide to righteous living.
  • Again, "Your" emphasizes the divine source and authority of this instruction.

• is truth (אֱמֶת, emet):

  • Emet (אמת) signifies truth, faithfulness, reliability, and firmness. It describes something that is absolutely real, trustworthy, unbending, and corresponding perfectly to reality.
  • It's not merely propositional correctness, but a fundamental reliability upon which one can stake their life.
  • It grounds the Torah in the very character of God, who is Himself the God of truth (Deut 32:4).

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness": This phrase highlights God's intrinsic and unchangeable moral character. It asserts that His justice and rectitude are eternal, serving as the ultimate standard for all creation. This attribute guarantees that His actions and judgments are consistently right and beyond reproach.
  • "And Your law is truth": This second declaration links God's character directly to His revelation. Because God Himself is eternally righteous and truthful, His instructions (Torah) are necessarily also absolute truth. The law is not an arbitrary set of rules but a direct, faithful, and reliable expression of God's very nature and the true reality of His moral universe. It is therefore fully dependable for guidance in life.

Psalm 119 142 Bonus section

• Divine Origin of Standards: This verse strongly emphasizes that true righteousness and truth emanate from God alone, contrasting sharply with any human-derived or culturally-relative standards that change over time.
• Integrated Attributes: The psalmist presents righteousness and truth as inseparable attributes of God, perfectly manifest in His Word. God's Law is true because it is righteous, and it is righteous because it flows from His eternal nature.
• Christ's Fulfillment: In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the perfect embodiment of God's eternal righteousness and truth (Jn 14:6; 1 Cor 1:30). He not only perfectly fulfilled the Law but also revealed its ultimate truth and purpose. Through faith in Him, believers are clothed in God's everlasting righteousness.
• Source of Enduring Hope: The enduring nature of God's righteousness and truth provides ultimate hope for those seeking justice and ultimate reality. In an often chaotic world, this truth stands as an unwavering anchor.

Psalm 119 142 Commentary

Psalm 119:142 profoundly declares two foundational theological truths: God's righteousness is everlasting, and His law is truth. This verse offers stability and assurance in a world of flux and relativism. The psalmist grounds his faith and conduct in God's immutable character; since God's righteousness endures forever, His moral standards are absolute and unchanging. Consequently, His law, His divine instruction, is equally reliable—it is the very embodiment of truth. This means God's commands are not subjective opinions but objective reality, stemming directly from His faithful and just being. This understanding fuels obedience and trust, enabling the believer to walk confidently knowing they are following an eternal and unerring path.