Psalm 119:3 kjv
They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psalm 119:3 nkjv
They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.
Psalm 119:3 niv
they do no wrong but follow his ways.
Psalm 119:3 esv
who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
Psalm 119:3 nlt
They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
Psalm 119 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 5:33 | "You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded..." | Commands for righteous living |
| Deut 10:12 | "to walk in all His ways, to love Him..." | Love for God expressed in obedience |
| 1 Kgs 2:3 | "...keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in His ways..." | Admonition to walk in God's ways |
| Ps 1:1 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly..." | Distinction of the righteous |
| Ps 19:13 | "Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins..." | Plea for freedom from willful sin |
| Ps 37:23-24 | "The steps of a man are established by the LORD... he will not fall." | God directs the righteous path |
| Ps 81:13 | "Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!" | God's desire for obedience |
| Prov 2:20 | "So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous." | Wise choose righteous paths |
| Prov 4:27 | "Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot from evil." | Avoidance of all evil paths |
| Is 2:3 | "He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths..." | Prophecy of learning God's ways |
| Jer 7:23 | "...walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you." | Well-being tied to obedience |
| Ezek 11:20 | "...that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances..." | Covenant obedience for a new heart |
| Mic 6:8 | "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Summarizing righteous living |
| Matt 7:24 | "Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and acts on them..." | Importance of obedience to Christ's words |
| Rom 6:1-2 | "Are we to continue in sin...? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" | Repudiation of continued sin |
| Rom 8:4 | "...in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." | Spirit-led walk fulfills law's righteousness |
| Gal 5:16 | "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." | Spirit-led walk avoids sin |
| Eph 4:1 | "...walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called..." | Living consistent with salvation |
| Eph 5:2 | "And walk in love, as Christ loved us..." | Ethical walk defined by love |
| Col 1:10 | "...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit..." | Producing fruit through worthy walk |
| 1 Pet 2:22 | "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth." | Christ's blamelessness as model |
| 1 Jn 2:6 | "whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked." | Walking as Christ walked |
| 1 Jn 3:9 | "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning..." | New birth changes sin pattern |
| 1 Jn 5:18 | "We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning..." | Divine protection from sin's dominion |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 3 Meaning
This verse describes the blessed characteristics of those who adhere to God's testimonies, as introduced in the preceding verses of Psalm 119. It highlights two key aspects: a freedom from actively engaging in wrongdoing, and a consistent, deliberate walk in alignment with God's revealed will. Such individuals do not permit sin to characterize their lives; instead, their conduct is continually shaped by obedience to divine paths.
Psalm 119 3 Context
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, spanning 22 sections, each dedicated to celebrating various aspects of God's law. Verses 1-8 form the "Aleph" section, initiating the Psalm's central theme: the blessedness of those who live according to God's perfect and revealed will. Verse 1 pronounces a blessing upon those "whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD." Verse 2 further clarifies these individuals as those who "keep His testimonies and seek Him with their whole heart." Psalm 119:3, therefore, follows as a description of the practical manifestation and lifestyle characteristic of these blessed individuals. Their devotion to God's word translates into specific, observable behaviors: abstaining from evil and actively aligning their daily lives with divine principles. This commitment to the divine covenant stood in stark contrast to the surrounding pagan cultures, where moral codes often reflected human desires or polytheistic whims, implying a strong polemic against idolatrous and unjust practices common outside the Israelite faith.
Psalm 119 3 Word analysis
- They also: Hebrew: וְאַף־ (ve'af-). The conjunction "and" (וְ) combined with "also" or "even" (אַף) strongly links this verse to the preceding two, emphasizing that "doing no iniquity" and "walking in His ways" are further defining characteristics of the blessed individuals previously described in Psalm 119:1-2. It suggests this is another inherent quality or outcome of their sincere devotion.
- do no iniquity: Hebrew: לֹא־ פָעֲלוּ עַוְלָה (lo pa'alu 'avlah).
- לֹא (lo): "not," "no." A strong negation, indicating a complete absence of the action.
- פָעֲלוּ (pa'alu): From the root פעל (pa'al), meaning "to do, make, work, accomplish." This term implies active engagement. Thus, "do no iniquity" means they do not actively perform, construct, or engage in wrongdoing as a practice.
- עַוְלָה ('avlah): "iniquity, injustice, wrongdoing, unrighteousness, perversion." It often denotes something twisted, crooked, or perverse from the straight path of justice and righteousness. This term is broad, encompassing various forms of moral and ethical evil, highlighting that their character is devoid of active participation in twisted or corrupt practices. This phrase doesn't imply absolute sinlessness in every moment, but rather that sin is not their lifestyle or habitual practice.
- They walk: Hebrew: יָהֲלֵכוּ (yaha'lechu). From the verb הלך (halakh), "to go, walk." This Hithpael imperfect form signifies a continuous, deliberate, and characteristic mode of life. It implies a chosen, ongoing lifestyle rather than a mere isolated action. "Walking" in biblical terms is a pervasive metaphor for one's way of life, conduct, or spiritual journey.
- in His ways: Hebrew: בִּדְרָכָיו (bid'rakav). Preposition "in" (בּ, bet) combined with דְרָכָיו (d'rakav), "His ways," referring to God's ways. God's "ways" are synonymous with His established paths, principles, commands, statutes, and decrees, as often found in Deuteronomy and Proverbs. This indicates a life lived in conformity with God's revealed will and divine character. It's a journey taken deliberately on God's chosen path.
- "They also do no iniquity": This phrase characterizes the people by their ethical output. It suggests that their internal devotion to God and His word leads to an external life free from active engagement in moral perversion or injustice. This isn't a passive state but an active non-participation in wrongdoing, distinguishing them by their blameless conduct.
- "They walk in His ways": This second clause highlights the active, continuous, and dynamic nature of their obedience. Their commitment is not static but expressed through daily decisions and lifestyle choices that align with God's directives. These two phrases are profoundly interconnected: walking in God's ways inherently leads to doing no iniquity, and refraining from iniquity is a fruit of choosing God's path. They describe the same integrated lifestyle of a faithful individual.
Psalm 119 3 Bonus section
- The pairing of a negative (doing no iniquity) with a positive (walking in His ways) is a common rhetorical device in Hebrew poetry to emphasize completeness and thoroughness in ethical living. It implies not just the absence of bad, but the presence of good.
- This verse stands as a promise, and a description of the ideal: when a heart is truly turned to God and devoted to His word, it naturally detests what is contrary to His nature and seeks to emulate His character. This reflects a Spirit-empowered life for New Covenant believers.
Psalm 119 3 Commentary
Psalm 119:3 precisely articulates the practical, lived expression of genuine faith and love for God's instruction. It states that those who deeply seek God and treasure His testimonies—as introduced in verses 1 and 2—will manifest this inner devotion through two primary actions. Firstly, "they also do no iniquity," signifying that their life is not characterized by intentional wrongdoing or perversion of justice. Their allegiance to God prevents them from actively engaging in sinful practices. Secondly, "they walk in His ways," portraying a dynamic, continuous, and deliberate conformity of their daily lives to God's revealed will. This "walk" encompasses their conduct, choices, and moral direction, demonstrating that their inward reverence for the divine word results in outward obedience and a lifestyle pleasing to God. The verse underscores that true piety is evidenced by an ethical and moral existence, where the believer actively avoids sin and consistently pursues God's righteous path.