Psalm 119:160 kjv
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Psalm 119:160 nkjv
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
Psalm 119:160 niv
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Psalm 119:160 esv
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Psalm 119:160 nlt
The very essence of your words is truth;
all your just regulations will stand forever.
Psalm 119 160 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 12:6 | The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried... | Purity and reliability of God's words. |
| Ps 18:30 | As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried... | God's word is tested and proven true. |
| Ps 33:4 | For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. | God's word and works are characterized by truth. |
| Ps 89:34 | My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. | God's word/covenant is unchangeable. |
| Ps 100:5 | For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. | God's truth is eternal through generations. |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. | The eternal permanence of God's Word. |
| 2 Sam 7:28 | And now, O Lord GOD, thou art God, and thy words be true... | Recognition of God's words as true. |
| Matt 5:18 | For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass... | Immutability of God's Law, even smallest details. |
| Lk 21:33 | Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. | Christ affirms the eternal nature of His words. |
| Jn 17:17 | Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. | Jesus declares God's Word as the embodiment of truth. |
| Tit 1:2 | In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised... | God's inability to lie undergirds His truthfulness. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword... | The active and discerning nature of God's Word. |
| Heb 6:18 | That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie... | God's unchanging character ensures His truth. |
| 1 Pet 1:25 | But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. | Echoes Isa 40:8, affirming Word's eternity. |
| Deut 32:4 | He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth... | God's works and ways are perfect, true, and just. |
| Ps 19:9 | The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. | Explicitly links judgments with truth and righteousness. |
| Ps 145:17 | The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. | God's actions and character are wholly righteous. |
| Rev 15:3 | Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways... | Affirmation of God's ways being just and true. |
| Mal 3:6 | For I am the LORD, I change not... | God's unchanging nature guarantees His word. |
| Jas 1:17 | ...with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. | God's immutable character, the source of His truth. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 160 Meaning
Psalm 119:160 profoundly declares the unwavering nature of God's revelation. It asserts that God's Word is intrinsically truthful from its very origin and through all ages. Furthermore, every single one of God's righteous judgments, which embody His justice and decrees, is also eternally valid and will stand forever. This verse speaks to the enduring reliability, permanence, and righteous integrity of God's character as expressed in His divine instruction.
Psalm 119 160 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, entirely dedicated to the exposition and exaltation of God's law, word, statutes, judgments, precepts, commandments, testimonies, and ordinances. Each of its 22 eight-verse stanzas is an acrostic, with every verse in a stanza beginning with the same Hebrew letter. Verse 160 falls within the "Resh" section (verses 153-160), which typically finds the psalmist in a state of distress and affliction. In this context, surrounded by personal troubles and often persecution from the proud who disregard God's law, the psalmist continually reaffirms his unwavering love for God's Word. Verse 160 serves as a powerful confession of faith in the ultimate authority, truth, and endurance of God's entire revelation, contrasting its stability with the shifting uncertainties of his circumstances. Historically, the emphasis on God's law provided a moral and spiritual framework for ancient Israel, distinguishing their covenant God from the unreliable and arbitrary deities of surrounding cultures.
Psalm 119 160 Word analysis
- Thy word (דְבַרְךָ - d'var'kha): "Davar" encompasses not just spoken words but also matters, affairs, or declarations. Here, it signifies God's complete revelation, encompassing His Law, promises, and entire communicative expression to humanity. Its possession by God ("Thy") marks its divine origin and authority.
- is true (אֱמֶת - emet): More than mere factual correctness, "emet" denotes faithfulness, reliability, stability, and reality. It speaks of something consistent with reality and eternally trustworthy. God's Word doesn't merely contain truth; it is truth.
- from the beginning (מֵרֹאשׁ - me'rosh): Literally "from the head" or "from ancient times." This phrase emphasizes the primeval origin and long-standing consistency of God's truth. It is not a new or temporary concept but has been foundational and reliable from the earliest revelation of God. It underlines God's unchanging nature.
- and every one (וְכָל - ve'kol): The conjunction "and" links two aspects of God's revelation. "Every one" highlights the comprehensive nature—not just general principles, but each individual part of God's righteous decrees is eternal and reliable.
- of thy righteous judgments (מִשְׁפָּט צֶדֶק - mishpat tzedek): "Mishpat" refers to judgments, ordinances, legal rulings, or even a system of justice. "Tzedek" means righteousness or justice. So, this phrase refers to God's just decrees, moral standards, and the judicial aspects of His will. These are inherently fair and upright because they emanate from God's righteous character.
- endureth for ever (לְעוֹלָם - le'olam): Signifies eternity, perpetual existence, never-ending. This affirms the absolute and unchanging nature of God's decrees and their perpetual relevance and binding power. They are not temporary, subject to change, or capable of being annulled.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Thy word is true from the beginning": This phrase establishes the foundational integrity of God's entire revelation. It is inherently true, reflecting God's nature, and this truth is not contingent on time; it has always been so. It is an enduring standard established by God.
- "and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever": This second clause complements the first by focusing on the specific decrees and ethical standards that flow from God's character. It emphasizes the perpetual validity of God's moral law and judicial decrees, highlighting their immutability and their binding nature across all generations.
Psalm 119 160 Bonus section
This verse, alongside others like Isa 40:8 and Matt 5:18, serves as a crucial theological cornerstone for the doctrines of the permanence, infallibility, and inerrancy of Scripture. It implies that what God has revealed is eternally true and reliable because He is eternally true and reliable. The holistic understanding of "thy word" encompasses God's prophetic utterances, moral laws, historical narratives (as God's dealings), and His promises, all being equally trustworthy. This deep trust in the Word forms the bedrock of the psalmist's resilient faith, enabling him to persevere amidst adversity because his foundation is unshakeable.
Psalm 119 160 Commentary
Psalm 119:160 stands as a foundational statement about the eternal truth and integrity of God's Word. It beautifully articulates two core tenets: first, God's revelation is fundamentally true, having been so from its inception; and second, all His just decrees are eternally binding. The "beginning" here points not just to a point in time, but to the very source and character of God from which His Word originates. His truth is inherent, not acquired. This verse combats any notion that God's Word might change, evolve, or become obsolete. It implies a stability that offers absolute assurance to the one who lives by it. Faced with human fallibility and the fleeting nature of earthly decrees, the psalmist anchors his hope in a divine reality that is utterly reliable and permanently fixed, guaranteeing ultimate justice and lasting truth for all who trust in the Almighty's word. It assures the believer that no aspect of God's justice or divine command will ever be abrogated or become irrelevant.