Psalm 119:27 kjv
Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Psalm 119:27 nkjv
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Psalm 119:27 niv
Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 119:27 esv
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
Psalm 119:27 nlt
Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 119 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 5:33 | "You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you..." | Walk in God's commanded way. |
| Josh 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night..." | Meditate on God's law. |
| Ps 1:2 | "...but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." | Delight and meditate on God's law. |
| Ps 9:1 | "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds." | Recount God's wondrous works. |
| Ps 25:4 | "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths." | Plea to know God's ways/paths. |
| Ps 26:7 | "...that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and recount all your wondrous deeds." | Proclaim God's wondrous deeds. |
| Ps 37:31 | "The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip." | God's law guiding steps. |
| Ps 40:5 | "You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us..." | God's countless wondrous deeds. |
| Ps 73:24 | "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory." | Divine counsel guides. |
| Ps 77:11-12 | "I will remember the deeds of the Lord...I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." | Ponder and meditate on God's deeds. |
| Ps 78:4 | "We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord..." | Transmitting God's glorious deeds. |
| Ps 105:2, 5 | "Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!...Remember the wondrous works that he has done..." | Singing of and remembering God's works. |
| Ps 119:34 | "Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart." | Desire for understanding to obey. |
| Ps 119:73 | "Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments." | Divine understanding to learn commands. |
| Ps 119:125 | "I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!" | Understanding for divine knowledge. |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." | Wisdom and understanding from God. |
| Prov 4:5-7 | "Get wisdom; get insight..." | Exhortation to seek wisdom and insight. |
| Isa 25:1 | "O Lord, you are my God...for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure." | God's wonderful, faithful plans. |
| Col 1:9 | "...asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." | Spiritual wisdom and understanding of God's will. |
| Eph 1:17-18 | "...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened..." | Enlightenment for knowing God. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach..." | Ask God for wisdom generously given. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching...that the man of God may be competent..." | Scripture equips for living. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 27 Meaning
Psalm 119:27 is a plea from the psalmist to God for divine illumination to grasp the essence and practical application of God’s divine instructions, known as precepts. This understanding is sought not just intellectually but experientially, to know how to walk in the path defined by these commands. The desired outcome of this enlightened understanding is a profound and active meditation upon God’s magnificent, awe-inspiring deeds and interventions in creation and history. It highlights a vital connection: divine understanding of His word leads to contemplative engagement with His character and power revealed in His works.
Psalm 119 27 Context
Psalm 119 is an elaborate acrostic poem, each stanza (of eight verses) beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm is an extended meditation on the nature, value, and power of God’s Word, using various synonymous terms for divine revelation such as law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, rules, and word.
Verse 27 falls within the Daleth stanza (verses 25-32). This stanza generally expresses a cry from a soul feeling downtrodden, "lying in the dust" (v. 25), yet firmly desiring revival and strength through God's Word. The psalmist reveals an open heart to God ("I have told of my ways, and you have answered me" v. 26), acknowledging His intervention. The plea for understanding (v. 27) is part of this cry for renewal and proper guidance, demonstrating that true spiritual life depends on apprehending God's revealed will. It positions active understanding and meditation as essential steps for the downtrodden soul to rise and walk in God’s truth, contrasting reliance on worldly wisdom with divine enlightenment.
Psalm 119 27 Word analysis
- Make me understand:
- Hebrew: Havineini (הֲבִינֵנִי). From the root biyn (בִּין), meaning to discern, perceive, understand, be intelligent, teach, cause to understand. It implies more than mere intellectual knowledge; it's a request for deep, internal spiritual perception and insight. It's a divine enabling, recognizing human inability to grasp divine truth fully on its own.
- the way:
- Hebrew: derekh (דֶּרֶךְ). Meaning a road, path, journey, or course of life. In this context, it signifies the practical conduct, the prescribed manner of living, or the pathway God intends for His people. It's not just understanding abstract principles but the practical application and trajectory of life guided by God.
- of your precepts:
- Hebrew: piqudekha (פִּקּוּדֶיךָ). From paqad (פָּקַד), meaning to visit, inspect, appoint, give a charge. Precepts are divine instructions, often implying specific duties or charges given by God. They are specific injunctions or charges for holy living. Understanding the "way" of these precepts means grasping how God's specific commands are to be lived out.
- and I will meditate:
- Hebrew: ve'asicha (וְאָשִׂיחָה). From siach (שִׂיחַ), meaning to muse, ponder, converse, complain, speak. Here, it denotes deep, focused, internal contemplation and vocal expression (e.g., recounting, declaring). It's an active engagement with the mind and heart, internalizing the truth. It suggests reflection that often leads to declaration or praise.
- on your wondrous works:
- Hebrew: be'nifla'otekha (בְּנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ). From pele' (פֶּלֶא), meaning a wonder, miracle, marvel. These are God's extraordinary, miraculous, and astonishing acts. They include His works in creation, His providential care, His intervention in history (especially in redemption and deliverance for His people). Meditation on these works stirs awe, reverence, and faith.
Words-group analysis:
- "Make me understand the way of your precepts": This phrase connects divine illumination (understand) with the practical dimension (way) of God’s specific instructions (precepts). It underscores that knowing God’s commands is meant to inform and transform one’s entire life and conduct. It is a prayer for spiritual enlightenment and discernment.
- "and I will meditate on your wondrous works": This highlights the consequential action. True understanding of God's Word leads to deep reflection and worship concerning His magnificent acts. It implies a recognition that God's revealed will (precepts) is consistent with His powerful, benevolent character shown in His actions (works). This meditation reinforces faith and praise, bridging theology with doxology.
Psalm 119 27 Bonus section
The request "Make me understand" highlights a dependency on God for spiritual insight. It implies that fallen human understanding is insufficient to fully grasp divine truth without God's enablement. This aligns with New Testament teachings on the need for the Holy Spirit to reveal spiritual truths (1 Cor 2:10-14). The sequence—understanding precepts leads to meditating on works—suggests that an accurate comprehension of God's revealed will is foundational to truly appreciating and responding to His powerful acts. This perspective counters any approach that separates theological study from a living, worshipful response to God's intervention in the world. This verse subtly contrasts seeking knowledge solely for intellectual gain versus seeking it for transformed living and a deepened walk with God.
Psalm 119 27 Commentary
Psalm 119:27 beautifully expresses a yearning for active spiritual comprehension. It is not enough for the psalmist to merely have God's precepts; he prays for God's enabling grace to genuinely understand "the way" or practical implications of these commands. This signifies a desire for true discernment that transforms intellectual knowledge into applied wisdom, integrating God's instructions into the very path of life. This divine understanding then naturally culminates in profound meditation on God's "wondrous works." The contemplation of God's mighty acts—His miracles, His providences, His redemptive history—becomes a wellspring of awe and worship. There is an intimate, reciprocal relationship: as one better grasps God’s Word, one's appreciation and reflection on His character and deeds deepen. This meditation, which is active and not passive, involves deeply internalizing God's greatness, fostering both adoration and trust.