Psalm 119:173 kjv
Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
Psalm 119:173 nkjv
Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts.
Psalm 119:173 niv
May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
Psalm 119:173 esv
Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
Psalm 119:173 nlt
Give me a helping hand,
for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
Psalm 119 173 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 121:1-2 | I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD... | Source of divine help. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Confident approach to God for help. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you... | God promises to help and strengthen. |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God is a reliable source of help. |
| Php 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | Divine enablement for all tasks. |
| Josh 24:15 | ...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. | Deliberate choice to serve God. |
| Deut 30:19 | I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life... | Choosing God's way brings life/blessing. |
| Ps 119:30 | I have chosen the way of faithfulness; Your judgments I have set before me. | Psalms 119 emphasis on choosing God's way. |
| Ps 119:111 | Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. | Choosing God's word as a lasting delight. |
| John 14:21 | Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him... | Obedience tied to divine love and favor. |
| 1 John 3:22 | And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. | Receiving based on obedience. |
| Prov 2:6-8 | For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding... He guards the paths of justice... | Wisdom and guidance from God for the upright. |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. | Prioritizing God's will leads to provision. |
| Ps 34:17 | When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. | God hears and helps the righteous. |
| Ps 145:18-19 | The LORD is near to all who call on Him... He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them. | God is close and responds to His faithful. |
| Ex 13:3 | And Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out...” | God's "hand" signifies His power and might. |
| Deut 3:24 | O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand... | God's mighty hand. |
| Acts 11:21 | And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. | God's "hand" as presence and empowering. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Emphasis on practical obedience. |
| Ps 37:3-6 | Trust in the LORD, and do good... Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. | Trust and delight lead to answered desires. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. | God works for good for those aligned with Him. |
| John 15:7 | If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. | Prayer efficacy connected to abiding in Christ and His word. |
| Jer 2:13 | For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves... | Contrast with rejecting God's chosen path. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 173 Meaning
Psalm 119:173 is a fervent prayer where the psalmist appeals for God's divine assistance and strength. The foundation of this plea lies in the psalmist's deliberate and decisive commitment to God's specific commandments and instructions. It articulates a reciprocal truth: those who choose to align their lives with God's word can confidently call upon His power and aid.
Psalm 119 173 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a vast acrostic poem structured around the Hebrew alphabet. Each of its 22 sections, comprising 8 verses, begins with a different letter of the alphabet. The entire psalm is a profound meditation on, and celebration of, God's divine Law (Torah). It expresses deep devotion, love, and unwavering commitment to God's word using various synonyms like statutes, judgments, commandments, testimonies, precepts, and more.
Verse 173 falls within the "Tav" (ת) section (verses 169-176), the final section of the psalm. This concluding part of Psalm 119 often contains intense cries for salvation, deliverance, and preservation. The psalmist here is summarizing and intensifying themes seen throughout: deep dependence on God, love for His word, and a desire for consistent adherence, along with the recognition that human strength is insufficient to maintain such fidelity without divine aid. The historical context reflects an Israelite worldview where adhering to God's covenant instructions was the path to blessing and intimacy with Him, while deviation led to consequences. This is not a transactional deal ("I obeyed, so you owe me help"), but rather a heartfelt appeal rooted in a lived relationship and faithful intention.
Psalm 119 173 Word analysis
Let Thine hand help me:
- Let: Expresses a plea, a strong request, indicating desire and dependence on God's willingness and action.
- Thine hand: (Hebrew: yad, יָד). The "hand" of God is a powerful anthropomorphism, signifying His active involvement, strength, power, intervention, protection, and provision. It points to God's direct, personal, and capable assistance, not just an indirect influence. This imagery frequently appears in scripture (e.g., Ex 13:3, Acts 11:21) to denote God's effective working.
- help: (Hebrew: ʻāzar, עָזַר). To support, assist, come to the aid of, provide succor. It implies divine aid in overcoming obstacles, guidance in complexity, strength in weakness, and deliverance in distress. The psalmist acknowledges inability to manage without God's enablement.
- me: Highlights the personal, specific nature of the prayer. The need for help is acutely felt by the psalmist as an individual navigating life in alignment with God's commands.
for I have chosen Thy precepts:
- for: This conjunction indicates the basis or reason for the plea. The request for help is grounded in the psalmist's prior action and disposition, providing the foundation for confident asking.
- I have chosen: (Hebrew: bāchar, בָּחַר). This word denotes a deliberate, conscious, and volitional act of selection or preference. It's not passive acceptance or accidental alignment but a decisive commitment. This "choosing" implies prioritizing God's word above other options (e.g., worldly wisdom, sin, personal desires) and an active, ongoing dedication. It reflects a core disposition of the heart, aligning one's will with God's.
- Thy precepts: (Hebrew: piqqudīm, פִּקּוּדִים). One of the ten key words for God's law in Psalm 119. These are specific instructions, mandates, or appointed duties given by God, implying their authoritative nature and the obligation to obey them. They are not human traditions or mere suggestions, but divine ordinances intended to guide behavior and form character.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Let Thine hand help me": This phrase captures the profound reliance of the righteous on divine power for their daily walk. It is a humble acknowledgment that striving to obey God's law is impossible in one's own strength and requires continual, direct enablement from the Lord. It underscores human insufficiency and divine omnipotence.
- "for I have chosen Thy precepts": This part clarifies the moral basis and personal commitment behind the psalmist's petition. The plea for help is not arbitrary but springs from a foundational decision to order one's life according to God's word. It highlights the principle that God responds to those who sincerely desire to follow Him, affirming a faith-filled and intentional lifestyle. It's the appeal of a servant seeking assistance in fulfilling their master's clear directives, knowing the master desires their success.
Psalm 119 173 Bonus section
- The plea in verse 173 reflects a deep theological understanding: true obedience to God's Law is not merely external compliance but stems from an internal, deliberate choice of the will. This aligns with the New Testament concept of God working in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Php 2:13).
- The placement of this verse towards the end of Psalm 119 (the Tav section) emphasizes the cumulative nature of the psalmist's dedication. Having expressed countless facets of his love for God's word, this verse becomes a final, urgent cry for God's sustaining grace to complete the spiritual journey. It implies perseverance is only possible through divine support.
- This verse can be understood as a prayer of consecration and dependence: "Lord, I have chosen to follow You and Your ways, but I know I cannot truly do so without Your empowering help. Therefore, extend Your hand to keep me, guide me, and strengthen me in this path."
Psalm 119 173 Commentary
Psalm 119:173 presents a beautiful synergy between human responsibility and divine enablement. The psalmist, having consistently articulated a profound love and commitment to God's Law throughout the psalm, culminates in a request for practical divine assistance. The plea, "Let Thine hand help me," is not a passive request for God to do everything, but rather a recognition that even with the deepest desire to obey, walking in God's ways demands supernatural strength and guidance. It’s a prayer for active enablement, for God’s powerful presence to intervene and uphold. The accompanying reason, "for I have chosen Thy precepts," reveals the foundational principle: God's help is extended to those whose hearts are genuinely inclined towards His will. This isn't a transactional bargain where good deeds earn favor, but a prayer from one within a covenant relationship, seeking God's power to live out the very choices they've made to honor Him. It implies that aligning one's will with God's word opens the channel for divine intervention, as it demonstrates sincerity of faith and intention. The verse teaches that living a life committed to God's commands is not possible through sheer human willpower but requires His sustaining "hand."