Psalm 119 169

Psalm 119:169 kjv

Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

Psalm 119:169 nkjv

Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word.

Psalm 119:169 niv

May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word.

Psalm 119:169 esv

Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!

Psalm 119:169 nlt

O LORD, listen to my cry;
give me the discerning mind you promised.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 169 Meaning

Psalm 119:169 is a heartfelt prayer from the psalmist to the LORD, asking for his petition to be heard and for understanding to be granted according to God's revealed word. It expresses a deep yearning for divine insight and wisdom, recognizing that true comprehension comes from God's instruction and faithfulness to His promises. The verse encapsulates a devout heart’s dependency on God for intellectual and spiritual discernment, specifically through the medium of His holy Word. It signifies a humble admission of human limitation and a confident reliance on God's omniscient provision.

Psalm 119 169 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a poetic masterpiece and an acrostic psalm with 22 stanzas, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses within a stanza begins with that stanza's letter. The entire psalm is a magnificent ode to God's Word, praising its various attributes and functions, often using synonyms like law, statutes, precepts, commandments, testimonies, judgments, and word. The psalmist consistently expresses profound love, delight, and obedience towards God's law, contrasting it with the ways of the wicked. This particular verse (169) is in the "Tav" (ת) section, the very last section before the psalm's conclusion (verses 170-176). After countless pleas, confessions, declarations of love, and affirmations of God's truth throughout the psalm, verse 169 serves as a climactic prayer for the psalmist's deep desire—true understanding—to be granted, not merely based on human intellect but solely on God's divine revelation and faithfulness to His own Word. It emphasizes that ultimate spiritual insight comes from God and through His specific revelation. Historically, the psalm was likely composed during a period of seeking revival or re-dedication to the Mosaic Law, emphasizing adherence to the covenant within the context of Israel's national and individual walk with God. It implicitly critiques any philosophy or way of life that dismisses or diminishes the absolute authority and sufficiency of God's Word.

Psalm 119 169 Word analysis

• Let my cry:
  • Cry (רִנָּה - rinnah): This Hebrew word often signifies a "shout of joy" or a "ringing cry," but also "a wail" or a "pleading prayer." Here, in the context of supplication, it refers to an earnest, impassioned petition, a deeply felt outpouring of the heart, more than just a quiet request. It implies urgency, fervency, and genuine need from the psalmist.
• come before You:
  • come before (יִקְרַב - yiqrav): This is from the root qarab (to draw near, approach, come close). It's a prayer for direct access and immediate attention from God, that the plea would not merely be heard but actually arrive in God's presence, signifying acceptance and intimacy. It suggests a personal, relational interaction with the Divine King.
  • You (אֵלֶיךָ - eleikha): Literally "to you." The direct address emphasizes a personal God who is capable of hearing and responding. The capitalization of "You" and "LORD" (Yahweh) reflects the reverence for God's personal, covenantal name and His sovereign authority.
• O LORD:
  • LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH, Yahweh): This is the personal, covenantal name of God, indicating His self-existent, eternal nature and His unchanging faithfulness to His promises. The psalmist appeals to God based on His character and covenant relationship with His people.
• Give me understanding:
  • Give me (תְּבִינֵנִי - t'vinayni): This verb is in the Hiphil imperative, indicating a request for God to cause or impart understanding. It's an active imparting from God, not a discovery by the psalmist's own effort.
  • understanding (בִּינָה - binah): This refers to intellectual and spiritual discernment, insight, and the ability to distinguish and comprehend truths, particularly divine truths. It's the capacity to grasp the meaning and implications of something, beyond mere factual knowledge.
• according to Your word:
  • according to (כְּ - ke): This preposition means "like," "as," or "according to." It defines the standard and source of the desired understanding.
  • Your word (דְבָרֶךָ - d'varekha): This is a key term in Psalm 119. "Word" (dabar) in Hebrew is comprehensive, referring not just to spoken words but to promises, commandments, decrees, and the entire revelation of God. It signifies that the understanding sought is not based on human logic, worldly wisdom, or fleeting emotion, but aligns perfectly with, is derived from, and is empowered by God's unchanging and authoritative revelation. It means understanding that is faithful to divine truth and reflects God's will and wisdom.

Words-group analysis

• "Let my cry come before You, O Lord": This phrase embodies the essence of humble, fervent prayer directly addressing the Almighty. It highlights the psalmist's active petition, believing in a personal God who listens and responds. The language expresses an intimate plea for divine attention, recognizing God as the ultimate arbiter and hearer of all things.
• "Give me understanding according to Your word": This pairing explicitly connects the pursuit of wisdom to God's revelation. It underscores that true understanding isn't inherent to humanity nor found solely through earthly pursuits, but is a gift from God. Moreover, it is specifically shaped and defined by the framework of God's revealed truth, the Scriptures, indicating that the sought understanding will be consistent with divine revelation, guarding against speculative or false wisdom.

Psalm 119 169 Bonus section

The placement of Psalm 119:169 within the Tav section (ת), the penultimate part of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic psalm, signifies a final, fervent cry before the conclusion. The psalmist, having walked through all the attributes of God's Word from Aleph to Shin, makes this last, deeply personal appeal for the full comprehension and application of these truths. This is not a novice's request but the deep yearning of someone who has diligently meditated on God's law. The emphasis on the "cry" (רִנָּה) suggests that this desire for understanding is an intense, heart-wrenching longing, indicative of how vital spiritual insight is to the psalmist's faith and daily walk. It reveals that the heart truly consecrated to God's Word hungers not just to know its letters, but to grasp its divine mind.

Psalm 119 169 Commentary

Psalm 119:169 serves as a climactic petition in the latter part of this psalm wholly devoted to God's Word. It is a dual prayer: first, for one's earnest plea to genuinely reach the LORD's presence and be acknowledged, implying acceptance and favorable consideration; and second, for God to impart a specific kind of understanding. This "understanding" (Hebrew: binah) is not mere academic knowledge or intellectual grasp, but a spiritual discernment—a deep, intuitive, and practical insight into the truths of God. Crucially, this understanding is explicitly requested "according to Your word." This phrase is paramount, underscoring that the psalmist's desire is not for personal enlightenment outside of divine revelation, but for a comprehension that is wholly consistent with, illuminated by, and derived from the sacred Scriptures. It's a recognition that God's Word is the ultimate standard and source of truth and wisdom. This verse teaches us that humble, earnest prayer for divine insight, specifically concerning spiritual truths, is always welcome before God, and that such understanding is granted only as it aligns with His revealed will. It demonstrates a complete reliance on God's faithfulness to His Word as the foundation for gaining spiritual wisdom for life and godliness. For practical usage, one could, when reading Scripture, pause and pray: "Lord, open my eyes to understand Your word" or "Help me discern what this means for my life, according to Your truth."