Psalm 119 36

Psalm 119:36 kjv

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Psalm 119:36 nkjv

Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness.

Psalm 119:36 niv

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

Psalm 119:36 esv

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Psalm 119:36 nlt

Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 36 Meaning

The psalmist offers a fervent prayer, petitioning God to actively turn and direct his innermost being—his affections, will, and intellect—towards God’s revealed laws and covenant truths. This plea is contrasted sharply with a request to divert his heart from the sinful desire for dishonest gain and selfish accumulation of wealth. It signifies a profound desire for inner alignment with divine wisdom, rejecting the corrupting influence of covetousness.

Psalm 119 36 Context

Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm, the longest chapter in the Bible, meditating exhaustively on God’s law, statutes, testimonies, precepts, commandments, judgments, and word. Each of its 22 sections, corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, is a fervent expression of love for and commitment to God's revealed will. Verse 36 belongs to the section beginning with the Hebrew letter "He" (ה). Within this psalm, the continuous plea for divine guidance and strength to obey the law is central. The psalmist frequently acknowledges human weakness and susceptibility to temptation, necessitating God's active intervention to keep him on the right path. Historically and culturally, covetousness was a persistent temptation, often linked with oppression of the poor and a disregard for God's justice, directly opposing the values embedded in the Torah. This verse is a personal prayer reflecting the inner spiritual struggle between desiring God's ways and yielding to worldly, sinful inclinations.

Psalm 119 36 Word analysis

• Incline (Hebrew: נָטָה, natah): Meaning "to stretch out," "bend," "turn," or "direct." It implies a deliberate, forceful bending or shifting of direction. Here, it is a prayer for God's divine action to cause the heart to lean towards something. This suggests human inability to fully direct one's own heart without God's enablement.
• my heart (Hebrew: לִבִּי, libbi): Refers to the innermost being—the seat of intellect, will, emotions, conscience, and moral decisions. It's the core of a person's character and motivation, not merely feelings. This prayer is for internal transformation, not just external compliance.
• unto thy testimonies (Hebrew: עֵדְוֺתֶיךָ, eduthekha): Means God's "testimonies," "decrees," or "ordinances." These are God's covenant stipulations, specifically revealed as witnesses to His character and will. They are not merely general laws but foundational truths that testify about God Himself and His requirements for His people. They are central to walking in covenant with God.
• and not to covetousness (Hebrew: בֶּצַע, betza'): Means "dishonest gain," "unjust profit," "greed," or "selfish accumulation." It signifies a strong, illicit desire for acquiring more, often through exploitation or without rightful means. It represents the antithesis of walking in God's ways, focusing on selfish gain rather than righteous living or generosity. This stands as a direct contrast to aligning the heart with God's testimonies, highlighting the mutually exclusive nature of the two pursuits.

Words-group analysis:

• "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies": This phrase emphasizes the psalmist's recognition that his own will is insufficient to consistently pursue God's ways. It is a petition for divine grace and power to redirect his deepest inclinations towards spiritual truth. It reveals a dependence on God for inward spiritual discipline.
• "and not to covetousness": This segment highlights the specific opposing force. By contrasting "testimonies" with "covetousness," the verse presents a fundamental spiritual battle: to live by God's truth versus to live by selfish gain. Covetousness represents a perversion of desire, making self-enrichment an idol that competes with God's revealed will for the heart's allegiance.

Psalm 119 36 Bonus section

The phrase "incline my heart" reveals that true submission to God's law is not merely intellectual ascent but a deep affection and commitment of the will. This echoes Old Testament concepts where "heart" refers to the totality of a person's inner being, implying that if the heart is not aligned with God, superficial obedience will eventually fail. The prayer itself demonstrates faith—a belief that God can and will respond to such a petition by transforming inner desires. This concept of God turning or enabling the heart is fundamental to biblical theology, appearing later in New Covenant promises of a new heart and Spirit empowering obedience (e.g., Jer 31:33; Ezek 36:26-27). The battle against covetousness is a fight against idolatry, as Col 3:5 explicitly states that covetousness is idolatry, placing creation or gain above the Creator.

Psalm 119 36 Commentary

Psalm 119:36 is a profound prayer reflecting a core spiritual tension: the human heart’s innate propensity towards sin versus its need to be drawn by God towards His perfect will. The psalmist understands that external obedience flows from internal inclination. He asks God to perform an internal reorientation, shifting his core desires from the pursuit of earthly gain—often achieved unrighteously—to the love and adherence to divine truth. This prayer acknowledges human weakness and depravity, recognizing that only God can truly "incline" or turn the heart. It's not just about abstaining from outward actions of greed, but about God reshaping the very root of desire. This inward petition forms the basis for genuine, joyful obedience. For practical application, believers can pray daily for God to direct their desires, practice contentment, and cultivate a love for God’s Word above worldly treasures, discerning which pursuits capture their heart's allegiance.