Psalm 119 19

Psalm 119:19 kjv

I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

Psalm 119:19 nkjv

I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.

Psalm 119:19 niv

I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.

Psalm 119:19 esv

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

Psalm 119:19 nlt

I am only a foreigner in the land.
Don't hide your commands from me!

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 19 Meaning

Psalm 119:19 is a deeply personal plea from the psalmist to God. The speaker identifies himself as a "sojourner" or "alien" on earth, recognizing his temporary and dependent status in this world. Based on this understanding of his transient nature, he makes an earnest request that God would not withhold or conceal His commandments from him. This verse encapsulates the humble acknowledgment of human impermanence and the urgent, heartfelt desire for divine guidance as revealed in God's law.

Psalm 119 19 Context

Psalm 119 is a monumental acrostic poem, each of its 22 stanzas beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each of its eight verses within a stanza beginning with that same letter. Verse 19 falls within the Gimel stanza (verses 17-24). This entire psalm is a passionate and sustained meditation on the character, beauty, and indispensable nature of God's law (referred to by various synonyms like statutes, precepts, commands, decrees, and word).

The immediate context (Ps 119:17-18) presents a prior plea for God to deal bountifully with the psalmist so he may live and keep God's word, and then for God to "open his eyes" to behold wonderful things from the Law. Verse 19 builds on this, presenting the reason for such a plea: the psalmist's understanding of his own humble and dependent state on earth. The historical context for the psalm, generally considered post-exilic or late monarchy, highlights a period where the Law served as a central identity for Israel amidst surrounding cultures. The concept of "sojourner" would deeply resonate with a people who experienced displacement, exile, and ongoing vulnerability among nations, reinforcing their unique relationship with the covenant God whose Law defined them.

Psalm 119 19 Word analysis

• אֲנִי (ʾanī) – "I"

  • Word: The first-person singular pronoun.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the intensely personal nature of the prayer. It is a direct and individual appeal to God, highlighting the speaker's singular state and specific need. This is not a generalized statement but a cry from the heart of one individual.

• גֵר (gēr) – "sojourner," "alien," "foreigner"

  • Word: Refers to someone who resides in a place that is not their homeland, often without full citizenship rights.
  • Significance:
    • Temporary Status: Conveys impermanence. The psalmist acknowledges that his dwelling on earth is not eternal or ultimately his true home.
    • Vulnerability & Dependence: A "gēr" often relied on the hospitality and protection of others, lacking the inherent rights of a native-born citizen. This humility implies a deep dependence on God for guidance and safety.
    • Biblical Resonance: Echoes the experience of Abraham (Gen 12:1-4) and the Israelites in Egypt (Ex 6:4), in the wilderness, and later during exile. It connects humanity's universal transient nature, particularly the believer's spiritual status, awaiting an eternal home.
    • Polemics: This understanding of "sojourner" contrasts with any worldly self-sufficiency or notion that ultimate security and belonging can be found in earthly possessions or status. It aligns with a distinct counter-cultural mindset of the people of God.

• בָּאָרֶץ (bāʾāretz) – "on the earth," "in the land"

  • Word: Composed of the preposition בְּ (be) "in/on" and אֶרֶץ (ʾeretz) "earth/land."
  • Significance: Specifies the realm of the sojourning. It points to the physical world, emphasizing that the temporary existence is here, on this planet. It heightens the contrast with the ultimate spiritual homeland the believer anticipates with God.

• אַל-תַּסְתֵּר (ʾal-tastēr) – "hide not" (literally "do not hide")

  • Word: This is a negative imperative of the Hiphil conjugation of the verb סָתַר (sātar), meaning "to hide," "conceal." The Hiphil here implies causative: "do not cause to be hidden" or "do not keep hidden."
  • Significance:
    • Urgent Plea: The use of the negative imperative creates a fervent and immediate plea. It's a desperate cry for God not to withdraw or obscure His vital instruction.
    • Divine Action Implied: Suggests that it is within God's power to hide or reveal His word. The psalmist knows he cannot access divine truth on his own; it must be disclosed by God.
    • Fear of Loss: Implies a recognition that being cut off from God's revelation would be catastrophic for the sojourner, akin to being lost without a map in a foreign land.

• מִמֶּנִּי (mimmennī) – "from me"

  • Word: Compound preposition מִן (min) "from" + personal suffix "me."
  • Significance: Reinforces the personal and direct nature of the plea. The psalmist is not asking for revelation in general, but specifically for himself.

• מִצְוֹתֶיךָ (mitzvoteikha) – "Your commandments"

  • Word: Plural noun מִצְוָה (mitzva) "commandment," "precept," "injunction" + possessive suffix "Your" (masculine singular).
  • Significance:
    • Divine Authority: The possessive "Your" firmly roots these commands in God Himself, underscoring their divine authority and perfect wisdom. They are not human laws but the very expression of God's will and character.
    • Comprehensive Term: While specifically "commandments," in Psalm 119 this term, along with others (statutes, precepts, decrees, laws, word), refers to the entirety of God's revealed will, His full instructions for life and godliness.
    • Life-giving Guide: For the sojourner, these commandments are not merely rules, but the indispensable map and sustenance for navigating a temporary existence fraught with peril and uncertainty. They are the source of wisdom and safety.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "אֲנִי גֵר בָּאָרֶץ" - "I am a sojourner on earth"

  • Significance: This phrase establishes the foundational self-awareness of the psalmist. His identity as a transient on earth is the very premise of his request. It indicates humility, dependence, and an awareness of life's brevity. This self-description also suggests that earthly concerns and attachments are secondary to eternal matters. This understanding positions the individual in a posture of desperate need for heavenly direction. It acts as the justification for the plea that follows.

• "אַל-תַּסְתֵּר מִמֶּנִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ" - "hide not from me Your commandments"

  • Significance: This is the core petition arising directly from the "sojourner" identity. Knowing one's temporary status necessitates a permanent guide. The urgent negative imperative "hide not" underscores the critical reliance on divine revelation. The absence of God's commandments (His guiding truth) would mean profound spiritual disorientation, making the sojourner utterly lost and vulnerable in the earthly wilderness. This plea recognizes God's active role in disclosing His will and the human inability to fully grasp it without divine grace. It is a cry for spiritual illumination, recognizing that only God's truth can truly enlighten and direct the paths of those passing through this world.

Psalm 119 19 Bonus section

The idea of being a "sojourner" (gēr) carries significant weight in biblical thought. It can apply to:

• Physical reality: As with the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings or in exile.
• Spiritual truth: Believers are "strangers and exiles" (Heb 11:13, 1 Pet 2:11) on earth, their true citizenship being in heaven (Phil 3:20). This theological perspective helps align the believer's priorities away from worldly attachments and towards eternal matters.
• Prophetic understanding: In some traditions, the sojourner status is understood in light of humanity's original fall from Eden, signifying a separation from the true home God intended.
• Contrast to 'settling down': The psalmist's plea implicitly counters the human tendency to establish permanence and find ultimate security or identity within the earthly realm. Instead, it directs focus upward, emphasizing that ultimate guidance and meaning come from God's enduring and eternal word.
• Holistic guidance: The term "commandments" (mitzvoteikha) in Psalm 119 is rarely confined to just the Mosaic Law, but rather encapsulates the entirety of God's will, His moral code, wisdom, statutes, precepts, and covenant stipulations. The plea is for complete, comprehensive guidance for all of life.

Psalm 119 19 Commentary

Psalm 119:19 presents a powerful and deeply personal prayer rooted in an acute awareness of human existence. The psalmist humbly identifies himself as a "sojourner on earth." This is more than a statement of geographical displacement; it's a profound theological acknowledgment of his temporary and non-native status in the temporal world. Like a traveler in a foreign land, he is vulnerable, lacking intrinsic rights, and dependent on divine provision and guidance. This perspective frames his urgent request: "hide not Your commandments from me!"

For the one who is but a sojourner, God's revealed word, His commandments, are not arbitrary rules but the indispensable map, the source of wisdom, and the light for their path. To have these commandments hidden or obscured by God would mean utter spiritual disorientation and the risk of stumbling. The plea reflects a desperate need for continuous divine illumination, understanding that apart from God's active disclosure of His truth, the human heart cannot discern the way forward in a world often hostile or indifferent to God's will. It highlights the believer's complete reliance on God to not only give His word but also to enable its understanding and application.

Practically, this verse reminds believers that life on earth is a temporary pilgrimage. As such, our true treasures and ultimate guidance must come from beyond this transient realm. It encourages a posture of dependence on God's revealed will and a constant prayer for His Word to remain clear and understandable in our lives, guiding our every step.