Psalm 119 16

Psalm 119:16 kjv

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psalm 119:16 nkjv

I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:16 niv

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Psalm 119:16 esv

I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:16 nlt

I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 16 Meaning

Psalm 119:16 expresses a profound, internal commitment of the Psalmist to God's revealed will. It signifies finding deep joy and exquisite pleasure in the divine decrees and purposes, coupled with an intentional, active resolve to continuously remember and retain God's entire word in heart and mind, leading to obedience. This verse reveals a personal, affectionate relationship with God through His truth.

Psalm 119 16 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the Bible, a comprehensive praise of God's Word. It is an acrostic poem, where each eight-verse section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 16 falls within the "Beth" section (verses 9-16), which begins by posing the question of how a young man can keep his way pure, answered by living according to God's Word (Ps 119:9). This section emphasizes seeking God, meditating on His precepts, and expressing personal commitment and delight in His commands, culminating in the deep desire expressed in verse 16. The Psalm's pervasive theme is the perfect nature of God's Torah (Law, instruction, teaching) and the blessedness of those who live by it. This verse reinforces the active, internal, and joyful embrace of God's entire revelation, countering any notion that God's law is a burden.

Psalm 119 16 Word analysis

• I will delight myself (אֶשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע – eshta'asha')

  • Root: שׁעשע (sha'asha') – to take exquisite pleasure, to play, to amuse oneself, to have delight.
  • This term signifies an internal, profound enjoyment, not merely intellectual assent or grudging compliance. It implies a sense of playfulness and joy in relating to God's commands, finding them fulfilling and entertaining rather than onerous.
  • It points to an emotional and spiritual embrace of God's Word as a source of joy and satisfaction.

• in Your statutes (בְּחֻקֹּתֶיךָ – bəḥuqōṯeyḵā)

  • Refers to God's divine decrees, fixed laws, or ordinances, often inscribed. These are the prescribed ways or boundaries set by God.
  • "Your" emphasizes that these are from God, personal and authoritative. They are not human constructs but divine instructions for living righteously.
  • They provide definite guidance and order for human behavior and spiritual life.

• I will not forget (לֹא אֶשְׁכָּח – lo eshkaḥ)

  • Root: שׁכח (shakach) – to forget, neglect, be unmindful of.
  • This is more than a passive memory lapse; it denotes an active choice or determined resolution to not disregard or neglect God's word.
  • Biblically, forgetting God often leads to spiritual straying and disobedience, meaning that not forgetting is vital for covenant faithfulness and consistent obedience.
  • It implies a commitment to perpetual remembrance, holding the Word securely in one's mind and heart so as to practice it.

• Your word (דְבָרֶךָ – dəvareḵā)

  • Refers to God's revealed communication, divine utterance, spoken decrees, promises, and commands.
  • This is a broad, encompassing term for God's entire revelation, often used interchangeably with other synonyms for the Law throughout Psalm 119 (e.g., statutes, precepts, commandments, testimonies).
  • "Your" again underscores the divine origin and personal relationship.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "I will delight myself in Your statutes": This phrase highlights an inward affection and heartfelt engagement with God's specific laws. It's a statement of choosing joy in the framework God has provided for life, indicating a deep pleasure found in conformity to His righteous will. This delight comes from recognizing the statutes as benevolent and good.

  • "I will not forget Your word": This second phrase is a declaration of commitment to active recall and retention of God's entire revelation. It implies diligence in study and meditation, preventing spiritual amnesia that can lead to disobedience. It connects directly with the "delight" – what one genuinely delights in, one rarely forgets. This non-forgetfulness leads to continued obedience and alignment with God's will.

  • The combination: The two clauses together form a complete picture of devotedness to God's truth. They signify that true obedience stems from an internal, joyful embrace (delighting) and is maintained by diligent remembrance (not forgetting). They are inseparable: internal delight makes remembrance natural, and diligent remembrance fuels continued delight and practical application of the word.

Psalm 119 16 Bonus section

• The Sha'asha' (delight) in Psalm 119 is often linked with meditation (hagah in Ps 1:2), suggesting that true delight in God's Word comes through prayerful pondering and internalizing His truth. It's an active process.
• The Psalmist consistently uses different synonyms for God's revelation (e.g., statutes, precepts, judgments, commandments, word, law, testimonies), each highlighting a specific aspect or function of divine truth. Here, "statutes" emphasize their binding and decreed nature, while "word" is the overarching, general revelation.
• Biblically, "forgetting" God's Word is often equivalent to abandoning Him or straying from the covenant. Therefore, "not forgetting" is crucial for spiritual perseverance and faithfulness, rooted in an active memory that impacts behavior.
• This verse provides an example of how one can fulfill the "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength" command (Deut 6:5; Mk 12:30), by applying the mind (not forgetting) and heart (delighting) to His revealed will.
• In the New Covenant, the ability to truly delight in and remember God's Word (now fully revealed in Christ and through the Spirit) is made possible by God writing His law on hearts (Jer 31:33; Heb 8:10) and empowering believers through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ez 36:27).

Psalm 119 16 Commentary

Psalm 119:16 powerfully articulates the psalmist's dedicated posture toward God's revelation. It encapsulates a two-fold, yet intrinsically linked, commitment: first, an inward cherishing and finding deep joy in God's specific laws ("Your statutes"); second, an outward resolve to perpetually remember and abide by all of God's spoken truth ("Your word"). This is not merely an intellectual agreement or forced compliance, but an overflow of genuine pleasure and a steadfast intent to keep God's instruction at the forefront of one's consciousness. To delight in God's statutes suggests viewing them as gifts that bring fulfillment and life, not burdens. To not forget His word implies a disciplined adherence, ensuring that divine truth actively shapes thought and behavior. This combination results in a life consistently honoring God, marked by a heart that actively seeks, loves, and embodies divine wisdom. For instance, a Christian, by the Spirit, delights in the righteousness of Christ (His "statutes") and remembers His commands (His "word") so they may live a life pleasing to God.