Psalm 119:26 kjv
I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Psalm 119:26 nkjv
I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119:26 niv
I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
Psalm 119:26 esv
When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
Psalm 119:26 nlt
I told you my plans, and you answered.
Now teach me your decrees.
Psalm 119 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. | Confession brings mercy. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us... | Confession brings forgiveness and cleansing. |
| Ps 32:5 | I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. | Confessing ways leads to God's forgiveness. |
| Jam 5:16 | Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed... | Transparency aids healing and powerful prayer. |
| Jer 33:3 | Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and mighty things... | God promises to answer when called. |
| Ps 91:15 | When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble... | God answers in times of trouble. |
| Isa 58:9 | Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ | God is present and ready to respond. |
| Dan 9:20-21 | While I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin... the man Gabriel... gave me insight. | Daniel's confession led to divine revelation. |
| Ps 25:4 | Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. | Direct prayer for God's ways and teaching. |
| Ps 143:10 | Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me... | Plea for teaching God's will by His Spirit. |
| Neh 9:20 | You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them... | God's Spirit as the instructor. |
| Jn 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit... He will teach you all things... | Holy Spirit's role in teaching. |
| 1 Cor 2:13 | ...not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit... | Spiritual truths taught by the Spirit. |
| Heb 8:10-11 | I will put My laws into their minds and write them on their hearts; and they will all know Me... | New Covenant promise of internal teaching. |
| Jer 31:33-34 | ...I will put My law within them and write it on their heart... they will all know Me. | Internalization of God's law. |
| Isa 2:3 | ...for from Zion will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. | Divine instruction originates from God. |
| Ps 43:3-4 | Send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill... | Light and truth (God's word) lead to Him. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord... In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. | Trusting God guides one's paths. |
| Jer 10:23 | O Lord, I know that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. | Humility, recognizing need for God's direction. |
| Mt 7:13-14 | The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life... | Contrast human ways (broad) with God's (narrow). |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said... “I am the way, and the truth, and the life...” | Jesus as the ultimate embodiment of God's ways. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching... | Scripture is God-breathed for teaching. |
| Ps 19:7-8 | The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. | God's law is perfect and gives wisdom. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 26 Meaning
This verse conveys the Psalmist's practice of openly communicating his entire life—his actions, struggles, failures, and thoughts—to God. In response to this candid declaration, God has faithfully answered him. This divine interaction then cultivates a fervent plea from the Psalmist for God to specifically teach him His enduring statutes, recognizing that true direction for his "ways" can only come from divine instruction. It encapsulates a profound model of intimate, responsive relationship with the Creator, leading to a deep reliance on His revealed truth.
Psalm 119 26 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and an intricate acrostic poem, where each of its 22 eight-verse stanzas begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Its central, overarching theme is the profound and abiding excellence of God's Law (Torah), used broadly to encompass all His revealed Word: statutes, precepts, commands, judgments, testimonies, and word. The Psalmist expresses unwavering love for God's instruction, portraying it as a source of life, comfort, guidance, and wisdom.
Verse 26 falls within the 'Dalet' (ד) section (verses 25-32), a section that begins with the Psalmist describing his soul clinging to the dust, likely implying deep physical or spiritual affliction (v. 25). It's from this low point that he seeks revival according to God's Word, and then he declares his transparency with God in verse 26. This confession and plea for teaching represent a humble pivot from personal distress towards divine dependence and instruction, illustrating how moments of vulnerability drive a renewed hunger for God's specific guidance to navigate life's challenges.
Psalm 119 26 Word analysis
"I have declared": Hebrew Sipparti (from sapar סָפַר), meaning "to recount, make known, declare, tell in detail." This is more than a casual mention; it implies a full and open disclosure, a detailed enumeration of his life's path, choices, and experiences before God. It signifies a profound act of transparency and introspection.
"my ways": Hebrew derakai (דְרָכַ֨י), refers to one's entire course of life, conduct, choices, habits, and actions. It encompasses the entirety of the Psalmist's personal journey, including both his obedience and his failings, his struggles, and his aspirations.
"and You answered me": Hebrew vaTa'aneini (וַתַּעֲנֵ֗נִי from anah עָנָה), meaning "to answer, respond." This denotes God's faithful and responsive engagement with the Psalmist's candid communication. It's a testament to the relational nature of God, who does not remain silent when His people lay their hearts bare. The answer could be a sense of peace, a specific direction, conviction, or profound understanding, confirming God's attentiveness and involvement.
"Teach me": Hebrew limdeni (לַמְּדֵ֥נִי from lamad לָמַד), an imperative meaning "teach me." This is a fervent and humble petition for divine instruction. It highlights the Psalmist's recognition of his own inadequacy to navigate life righteously without direct divine guidance, emphasizing an active and intentional desire to be tutored by God.
"Your statutes": Hebrew huqeyka (חֻקֶּֽיךָ from choq חֹק), refers to divine ordinances, decrees, or prescribed regulations. These are God's fixed, established laws and principles, often emphasizing boundaries or enacted rules. The request is not for general wisdom but for a specific understanding and application of God's unchanging, foundational decrees for living.
Words-group analysis:
- "I have declared my ways, and You answered me": This phrase highlights a divine-human dialogue initiated by human transparency and met by divine responsiveness. It establishes a pattern of humble self-disclosure before God leading to a tangible divine response, often foundational for further spiritual growth.
- "and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes": This pairing reveals a significant spiritual progression: God's affirmative response to the Psalmist's transparency fuels a deeper desire for more precise and authoritative divine guidance for future conduct. The "answer" received is not the final step but a catalyst for renewed hunger for God's revealed instruction.
Psalm 119 26 Bonus section
- The progression in this verse outlines a fundamental aspect of a vibrant prayer life: open communication (confession and declaration), assured divine response (God hears and interacts), and then the subsequent petition for greater understanding and guidance (seeking to learn from God’s truth).
- The phrase "my ways" highlights personal responsibility and human volition, which is then immediately tempered by the humble plea for God's divine guidance, demonstrating an acknowledgement of human fallibility and divine wisdom.
- The request for "statutes" (חֻקֶּֽיךָ) implies a desire not just for knowledge, but for living by established divine decrees, reflecting a deep commitment to orderly, righteous conduct as defined by God.
Psalm 119 26 Commentary
Psalm 119:26 presents a timeless spiritual paradigm. The Psalmist first exemplifies authentic communication with God, a raw, honest exposure of his "ways" – the full extent of his life's path, including perhaps confessions of sin or accounts of his walk. This act of declaration, akin to open prayer or intimate spiritual reflection, is met with a divine response, "You answered me." This response signifies God's engagement, whether through peace, clear understanding, or specific guidance. Crucially, this answered prayer doesn't conclude the spiritual journey; instead, it deepens the Psalmist's dependency and yearning, prompting the subsequent petition: "Teach me Your statutes." This indicates that God's answer often involves directing us more fully to His perfect, unchanging Word. The verse thus models a cycle of spiritual maturity: transparency, divine responsiveness, and a resultant thirst for greater obedience rooted in specific, divine instruction from the statutes of God. It underlines humanity's inherent need for God's active involvement in guiding life's journey, recognizing that true knowledge and righteous living spring from God’s continued teaching.