Psalm 119 155

Psalm 119:155 kjv

Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Psalm 119:155 nkjv

Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.

Psalm 119:155 niv

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.

Psalm 119:155 esv

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.

Psalm 119:155 nlt

The wicked are far from rescue,
for they do not bother with your decrees.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 155 Meaning

Psalm 119:155 declares a profound spiritual truth: ultimate deliverance and divine welfare are inaccessible to those who deliberately turn away from God's revealed will. This separation is a direct consequence of their active disinterest and refusal to diligently pursue or obey His divine precepts.

Psalm 119 155 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a magnificent acrostic psalm that deeply celebrates and meditates upon the Torah, God's Law. Each eight-verse stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Throughout the psalm, the psalmist repeatedly uses various synonyms for God's Law—such as "testimonies," "precepts," "statutes," "commandments," "judgments," "word," and "way"—to express an overwhelming love and devotion to it. The entire chapter serves as a comprehensive exposition on the nature, benefits, and profound importance of God's Word in guiding, preserving, and comforting the righteous.

Verse 155 falls within the 'Resh' (ר) section (verses 153-160), where the psalmist often pleads for divine deliverance from affliction, persecution, and the opposition of the wicked, all while reiterating his own unwavering commitment to God's statutes. This verse thus stands in stark contrast to the psalmist's personal walk: while he eagerly embraces God's Law and expects salvation from it, he observes that the wicked reject it and consequently remain estranged from divine salvation.

Psalm 119 155 Word analysis

• Salvation: (Hebrew: yeshu'ah יְשׁוּעָה) This term signifies much more than mere rescue from danger. It encompasses deliverance, safety, welfare, prosperity, health, and often, spiritual liberation and ultimate triumph provided by God. In this context, it speaks to comprehensive well-being and eternal life sourced in God.
• Is far from: (Hebrew: rachaq רָחַק, implying distance or separation) This indicates not just physical remoteness, but a profound spiritual and relational estrangement. The absence of yeshu'ah is a direct consequence, implying a lack of divine favor, protection, and ultimate redemptive grace. This "farness" is self-imposed by the choices of the wicked.
• The wicked: (Hebrew: rasha' רָשָׁע) Refers to those who are morally evil, guilty, and lawless. They are characterized by actively disregarding, defying, or simply being indifferent to God's established will and authority. Their wickedness is not merely a lack of good, but a deliberate bent towards that which opposes God.
• For: (Hebrew: ki כִּי) This conjunctive particle often introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement. Here, it explicitly states the cause-and-effect relationship between the wicked's actions and their distance from salvation.
• They do not seek: (Hebrew: lo' darash לֹא־דָרָשׁ) "Seek" (darash) implies an earnest, diligent, and active pursuit, inquiry, or investigation. The negative "do not seek" reveals their fundamental disinterest, apathy, or even outright refusal to earnestly engage with or understand God's divine guidance. It's a choice to ignore.
• Your statutes: (Hebrew: choq חֹק, plural chuqqim חֻקִּים) These are God's appointed decrees, ordinances, or fixed laws, often reflecting a pattern or engraving. They are immutable divine establishments that provide boundaries, guidance, and wisdom. For the wicked to "not seek" them means they disregard God's very blueprint for righteous living and blessed existence.

Words-group analysis

• "Salvation is far from the wicked": This phrase highlights a divine principle of justice and consequence. God's saving grace and holistic well-being are not arbitrarily withheld but are naturally inaccessible to those whose character and conduct are antagonistic to Him. It's a statement of inherent separation rather than an active withdrawal of a readily available offer.
• "for they do not seek Your statutes": This second clause precisely identifies the core reason for the "farness." It's not God's unwillingness to save, but the wicked's deliberate lack of desire, effort, and intentional pursuit of God's revealed will. To "seek Your statutes" is to yearn for, diligently study, meditate upon, and actively apply God's commands. Their failure to do so demonstrates a profound lack of relationship and reverence for God's authority and wisdom, leading directly to their alienated state from His salvation.

Psalm 119 155 Bonus section

The concept of "seeking" (דרש - darash) in the Hebrew Scriptures carries a deep meaning of devoted, diligent inquiry, often linked to seeking God Himself (Jer 29:13). It implies a personal initiative born of a sincere desire. When this seeking is absent, as with the wicked regarding God's statutes, it signifies a complete spiritual apathy and rebellion against divine authority, illustrating why salvation cannot reside with them. This verse subtly highlights a universal truth: God offers His salvation through His revealed Word, but it requires a heart willing to seek and obey. Without that foundational desire and active pursuit, the pathway to true deliverance remains closed by human choice, not by divine exclusion.

Psalm 119 155 Commentary

Psalm 119:155 offers a poignant and uncompromising insight into the spiritual state of the ungodly and the principle of divine justice. It clarifies that the distance between "salvation" and "the wicked" is not arbitrary; it is the natural consequence of their wilful disregard for God's revealed Word. "Salvation" here denotes not merely an escape from peril, but a holistic state of well-being, deliverance, and eternal life that only emanates from God. This profound state remains "far" from the wicked because their fundamental posture is one of active non-engagement with the very source of life.

The reason explicitly stated—"for they do not seek Your statutes"—reveals their profound apathy towards God's will. "Seeking" God's statutes implies an earnest, persistent, and heartfelt pursuit of divine wisdom and guidance, a commitment to live by God's established order. The wicked, by contrast, are defined by their refusal or disinterest in this pursuit. They choose their own paths, ignore God's wisdom, and despise His boundaries. Therefore, the "farness" of salvation is not a punitive act from a vengeful God, but rather the unavoidable spiritual outcome for those who wilfully alienate themselves from the divine principles and the very relationship with God upon which salvation is predicated. This verse serves as a powerful call to examine one's own heart and a warning against indifference to the holy commands of God.

Example: A person consistently ignores instructions for building a sturdy shelter; when a storm comes, their structure collapses. The collapse isn't the instructions' fault but the person's failure to follow them. Similarly, when individuals disregard God's design for life (His statutes), they forgo the "shelter" of salvation He offers, leading to spiritual ruin.