Psalm 119 37

Psalm 119:37 kjv

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Psalm 119:37 nkjv

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.

Psalm 119:37 niv

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

Psalm 119:37 esv

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Psalm 119:37 nlt

Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 37 Meaning

Psalm 119:37 is a heartfelt prayer to God, reflecting a deep desire for spiritual purity and vitality. The psalmist implores the Lord to guard his gaze from being captivated by "worthless things"—referring to all that is vain, false, empty, or unholy, which distracts from or contradicts God's truth. Simultaneously, he pleads for God to "revive" him, granting renewed spiritual life, strength, and vigour, specifically "in Your way," meaning in alignment with God's divine commands, precepts, and righteous path. It is a petition for divine enablement to both turn away from sin and to live actively for God.

Psalm 119 37 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and indeed the longest chapter in the Bible, serving as an elaborate acrostic poem. Each of its 22 sections, corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, contains eight verses, all beginning with that particular letter. Throughout the psalm, the author passionately expresses his devotion to God's law, word, precepts, statutes, decrees, judgments, and commandments—using ten distinct Hebrew synonyms for God's divine revelation.

Verse 37 falls within the "He" (ה) section (verses 33-40). This section immediately follows the "Daleth" (ד) section (verses 25-32), where the psalmist expresses profound distress and his soul clinging to the dust, yearning to be "revived" by God's word (v. 25). The "He" section deepens this plea, particularly focusing on God teaching him His statutes, enabling understanding, and inclining his heart towards divine testimonies. Verse 37, therefore, is a logical progression: the psalmist not only seeks intellectual understanding of God's ways (v. 33-34) and a willing heart to obey (v. 36), but also prays for divine intervention to protect his senses, specifically his eyes, from anything that would divert him from that righteous path. The "worthless things" stand in stark contrast to God's valuable and life-giving law, which the psalmist consistently desires throughout the surrounding verses (v. 34, 35, 36, 40). It reflects a recognition of human weakness and the ever-present allure of vanity and falsehood in the world, requiring God's direct preservation and revitalizing power.

Psalm 119 37 Word analysis

• Turn away / הסב (Hasev): This is a causative imperative or jussive form of the verb "sabab," meaning "to turn around," "to change direction." Here, it's a direct and earnest request to God for Him to actively intervene and redirect the psalmist's vision. It indicates a dependency on divine power for spiritual discipline.
• my eyes / עֵינַי (Einai): Refers to the physical organs of sight, but extends metonymically to the whole person's focus, perception, desires, and intentions. In ancient thought and throughout Scripture, the eyes are often considered the "windows of the soul" and a primary entry point for temptation and sin. What one gazes upon often shapes one's desires and actions.
• from looking / מֵרְאוֹת (Me'r'ot): A participial form of the verb "ra'ah," meaning "to see," "to behold," or "to perceive." The prefixed "me" indicates "from." The phrase emphasizes not just casual glance but fixed, attentive observation—the kind of seeing that can lead to craving and sinful engagement.
• at worthless things / שָׁוְא (Shav): This is a crucial term. "Shav" (pronounced shav) carries a rich array of meanings: vanity, emptiness, futility, falsehood, deception, idolatry, nothingness. It is used in the Third Commandment ("You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [shav]") meaning a hollow, insincere use of God's name. Here, it refers to anything that is spiritually empty, transient, deceitful, without substance or lasting value, often implicitly referring to idols or the world's false allurements and distractions which stand opposed to God's enduring truth and purposes. It denotes the unreality or illusory nature of things that promise fulfillment apart from God.
• And revive me / וְחַיֵּנִי (Vekhayyeni): From the verb "hayah," meaning "to live," "to restore life," or "to keep alive." The "v" prefix connects it to the preceding thought. It's an intense plea for spiritual resuscitation and revitalization. This "revive" is a recurring theme in Psalm 119 (e.g., v. 25, 40, 88, 107, 149, 156, 159), highlighting the psalmist's ongoing need for God's life-giving power to sustain his spiritual walk amidst human frailty and worldly challenges. It implies more than mere existence, but robust, active, thriving spiritual life.
• in Your way / בִּדְרָכֶךָ (Bhid'rakecha): "Bid'rakecha" means "in Your path," "in Your course," or "according to Your manner." This contrasts directly with "worthless things." It refers to God's prescribed moral and spiritual paths, His commandments, His perfect will for living righteously. It's the only true and meaningful way to experience true life and blessings.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things": This phrase emphasizes active and deliberate spiritual guarding. It acknowledges that human vision can lead to spiritual defilement and implies the need for divine grace to avert it. It's a prayer against spiritual blindness or distraction caused by temporal, empty pursuits, including lust, greed, and idolatry.
• "And revive me in Your way": This prayer connects spiritual vitality directly to obedience to God's commands. It highlights that true life, spiritual strength, and inner flourishing are not found in avoiding evil alone, but proactively pursuing and living in God's divinely revealed will. It is a plea for renewed vigour to walk in righteousness, for spiritual lethargy to be dispelled by God's sustaining grace.

Psalm 119 37 Bonus section

The deep awareness of "worthless things" (shav) implies the spiritual danger of idolatry and trusting in human constructs or fleeting pleasures rather than the Creator. This reflects a recurring theme in prophetic literature, where Israel is often rebuked for "following after worthlessness" (e.g., Jer 2:5) in abandoning the Lord for false gods or futile alliances. The constant prayer for revival throughout Psalm 119 also reveals the ongoing spiritual struggle. It highlights that maintaining a vibrant walk with God is not a one-time event but requires continuous divine refreshment and renewal, often specifically linked to engaging with and obeying His word. The battle against distractions, vanity, and superficiality is a timeless spiritual warfare for believers, and the psalmist's prayer provides a template for daily spiritual discipline and reliance on God.

Psalm 119 37 Commentary

Psalm 119:37 captures a profound human reality and a constant prayer for every believer. The psalmist, acutely aware of the soul's vulnerability to worldly temptations and distractions, recognizes that the "eyes" serve as powerful conduits for sin to enter the heart. His request to "turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things" is a cry for divine intervention to shield his perception from anything that is spiritually empty, deceptive, or an idol of the age. This is not merely an external act of avoiding certain sights, but an internal desire to reshape the very focus and affections of his soul, understanding that what one fixes their gaze upon shapes their character and destiny.

The second part, "And revive me in Your way," demonstrates the proactive aspect of sanctification. Avoiding evil is only one part; the other is actively living in God's life-giving truth. The repeated plea for "revival" in Psalm 119 indicates that living God's way is not simply adherence to rules, but a vibrant, ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, invigorating and strengthening the believer against spiritual weariness or apathy. It’s an acknowledgment that without God’s vivifying power, the path of righteousness can become burdensome, leading to spiritual death or stagnation. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual growth involves both turning from sin and turning to God’s truth, a process entirely dependent on His grace for strength and life. It applies to every sphere of life, urging us to choose substance over superficiality, and God's enduring truth over transient fads or destructive falsehoods.