Psalm 119 154

Psalm 119:154 kjv

Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

Psalm 119:154 nkjv

Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.

Psalm 119:154 niv

Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.

Psalm 119:154 esv

Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!

Psalm 119:154 nlt

Argue my case; take my side!
Protect my life as you promised.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 154 Meaning

Psalm 119:154 is a fervent prayer from a psalmist facing intense affliction and oppression. He appeals to God as his divine Judge and Advocate, pleading for vindication against his adversaries and for rescue from his distressed state. The core of his plea for life and restoration is anchored entirely in God's revealed Word, acknowledging it as the unfailing source and standard for divine intervention and sustenance.

Psalm 119 154 Context

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, the longest chapter in the Bible, entirely devoted to praising and meditating upon the Law of God—His Word. It's structured with eight verses for each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Within this structure, the psalmist repeatedly expresses his devotion, his delight, and his reliance on God's commandments, statutes, precepts, testimonies, and promises. Verse 154 falls within the section corresponding to the Hebrew letter "Tsade" (vv. 153-160), which prominently features the psalmist's deep affliction, his remembrance of God's precepts, and his earnest prayers for divine rescue and life based on God's unwavering character and promises. The psalmist is clearly suffering persecution and wrongful accusations, turning to God as his only refuge and source of vindication.

Psalm 119 154 Word analysis

• Plead my cause (Hebrew: Rīḇāh rīḇī): This phrase draws from the legal realm, meaning "contend for my contention" or "judge my dispute." It paints a picture of the psalmist as someone wrongly accused or oppressed, presenting his case before the ultimate Divine Judge. He isn't asking for God to agree with him arbitrarily, but to render a righteous judgment in his defense, taking up his case as a strong advocate. It speaks to God's role as a defender of the helpless and the righteous.
• and redeem me (Hebrew: uḡ'alēni): The verb ga'al carries the rich concept of the go'el or "kinsman-redeemer." In ancient Israel, the go'el was a relative responsible for protecting a kinsman's life, property, or reputation, often through an act of recovery or liberation (e.g., buying back enslaved relatives, avenging a slain kinsman). Here, it signifies more than just deliverance; it's a plea for God to act with the specific authority and power of a faithful kinsman, delivering the psalmist from bondage, oppression, or impending doom. It implies restoration to a rightful state.
• give me life (Hebrew: ḥayyēni): This is the imperative form of ḥayah, "to live" or "to be made alive." It's not just a request for continued physical existence but often implies revival, restoration of spiritual vitality, renewed strength, or deliverance from a life-threatening situation (which could be physical persecution or spiritual discouragement that feels like death). It's a prayer for true flourishing and well-being.
• according to Your word (Hebrew: lᵉ'imrāṯeḵā): The preposition lᵉ here means "according to," "in conformity with," or "on the basis of." Imrah refers to an "utterance," "saying," or "promise" of God, emphasizing the spoken word and divine declaration, often carrying covenantal weight. This phrase is crucial as it grounds the entire petition. The psalmist isn't demanding anything; he's appealing to God's own character, His covenant promises, and His revealed will as the standard and basis for His action. It reflects the psalmist's deep trust in the reliability and life-giving power of God's every word.

Psalm 119 154 Bonus section

This verse beautifully encapsulates three distinct but interconnected dimensions of God's character and His interaction with humanity: His justice (as the ultimate Pleader of cause), His sovereign power to liberate and save (as the Redeemer), and His life-giving faithfulness to His own declarations (providing life according to His word). It reflects a complete dependence on God for vindication and vitality, demonstrating that true security and renewal are found solely in Him, operating through the vehicle of His unerring Word. The consistent recurrence of "give me life according to Your word" throughout Psalm 119 highlights that the spiritual, and often physical, life of the believer is continually sustained and renewed through the constant engagement with, and application of, God's divine utterance.

Psalm 119 154 Commentary

Psalm 119:154 is a profound and urgent petition for divine intervention in the face of deep suffering and injustice. The psalmist understands God not only as a distant deity but as one personally involved in the affairs of His people, particularly as an Advocate and a Redeemer. The prayer to "plead my cause" signifies an admission of the psalmist's own inability to defend himself against oppressive forces and an appeal for God's righteous judgment to prevail. The cry to "redeem me" underscores a desperate need for liberation, echoing Israel's great redemption from Egypt and looking forward to the ultimate spiritual redemption offered through Christ.

Crucially, the psalmist anchors his bold requests, including the plea for "life," firmly "according to Your word." This demonstrates profound faith. He is not asking God to act arbitrarily, but to act consistent with His own revealed character, His promises, and the life-giving principles enshrined in His Torah. The Word of God is seen not just as a set of rules, but as a living, dynamic power, capable of imparting life, renewal, and salvation even in the direst circumstances. This verse serves as a model prayer for believers facing adversity, reminding them to trust in God's faithfulness to His Word and to seek life and deliverance not by human strength, but by divine promise and power. For instance, when unjustly criticized, a believer can pray, "Lord, vindicate me according to your justice and truth, just as your word promises to uphold the righteous." Or when facing overwhelming circumstances, "God, redeem me from this situation, for your word assures your power to deliver and give life."