Psalm 119:38 kjv
Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Psalm 119:38 nkjv
Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You.
Psalm 119:38 niv
Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
Psalm 119:38 esv
Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
Psalm 119:38 nlt
Reassure me of your promise,
made to those who fear you.
Psalm 119 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man... has He spoken and will He not do it?..." | God's faithfulness to His Word |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God..." | God's faithfulness and covenant |
| Deut 6:2 | "...that you may fear the Lord your God..." | Command to fear God |
| 1 Sam 1:23 | "Only let the Lord establish His word." | Fulfillment of God's word |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void..." | The efficacy of God's Word |
| Jer 1:12 | "...for I am watching over My word to perform it." | God actively fulfills His Word |
| Psa 19:11 | "By them [His laws] your servant is warned..." | The law's guidance for a servant |
| Psa 25:5 | "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation..." | Prayer for guidance and truth |
| Psa 34:9 | "Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints; for those who fear Him lack nothing." | Blessings for fearing the Lord |
| Psa 86:11 | "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name." | Prayer for fear of God's name |
| Psa 89:34 | "My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." | God's unchangeable covenant promises |
| Psa 103:11 | "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him." | God's love for those who fear Him |
| Psa 116:16 | "O Lord, I am Your servant... You have loosed my bonds." | Identification as God's servant |
| Psa 128:1 | "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!" | Blessing on those who fear God |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." | Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord |
| Prov 9:10 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." | Foundation of wisdom |
| Lk 1:37 | "For nothing will be impossible with God." | God's power to fulfill His promises |
| Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | The Incarnate Word (Christ) |
| Heb 6:13-18 | "...when God made a promise... He confirmed it with an oath..." | God's oath ensures His promises |
| Tit 1:2 | "...God, who never lies, promised before the ages began." | God's truthfulness and promise |
| Rev 14:7 | "Fear God and give Him glory..." | Command to fear God in final times |
| Matt 5:18 | "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." | The eternal reliability of God's Word/Law |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only..." | Responding to God's Word |
| Phil 2:7 | "...Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God... made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant..." | Christ as the ultimate servant |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 38 Meaning
Psalm 119:38 is a fervent prayer where the psalmist appeals to God to confirm or fulfill His promised word in the psalmist's life, specifically identifying himself as God's servant who is devoted to reverencing Him. It is a plea for divine faithfulness based on human devotion, expressing a deep desire for God's assurances and commands to be established and made firm in reality.
Psalm 119 38 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible, a comprehensive acrostic poem (each section of eight verses begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet), devoted entirely to extolling the excellence and transformative power of God's Word, Torah, statutes, precepts, commands, judgments, and testimonies. It expresses a deep personal devotion to God's law and a fervent desire to live in accordance with it. This specific verse (Psalm 119:38) is part of the "Heh" (ה) section, which generally conveys pleas for divine instruction, protection, and preservation in walking in God's ways. The psalmist often presents his own faithfulness and commitment to God's Word as the basis for God's divine action. This prayer for the establishment of God's Word is a desire for God to validate His covenant faithfulness to those who seek Him and to actualize His promises and commands in their daily experience. Historically, such pleas are rooted in the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God’s word (His laws, promises, and decrees) defined their identity and guided their lives. There isn't a direct polemic in this specific verse, but the emphasis on God's established Word implicitly contrasts with any human philosophies or transient idol worship that lacked a sure foundation.
Psalm 119 38 Word analysis
- Establish: Hebrew: qum (קוּם). The primary meaning is to "rise up," "stand," "set up," "confirm," "fulfill," or "make firm." In this context, it implies a plea for God to confirm, validate, and fulfill His word, ensuring its stability and effectiveness in the psalmist's life. It signifies moving a promise or statement from utterance into concrete reality.
- Your word: Hebrew: dabar (דָּבָר). More than mere sound, dabar encompasses an utterance, a command, a promise, an event, or an action. It carries the weight of God's authoritative will and the power to accomplish what it declares. Here, it refers to specific promises God has made or principles He has revealed, particularly those related to the blessings or steadfastness promised to His faithful.
- Your servant: Hebrew: `ebed (עֶבֶד). This term signifies one who serves, a slave, or a bond-servant. In the biblical context, "servant of God" is a title of honor and intimate relationship, denoting dedication, loyalty, and obedience. The psalmist is presenting himself as one who belongs wholly to God and seeks to obey Him fully, providing a foundation for his plea.
- Who is devoted to: This phrase, `asher l'-yir'atekha (אֲשֶׁר לְיִרְאָתֶךָ), indicates ownership, belonging, or dedication to or for a specific purpose.
- Your fear: Hebrew: yir'ah (יִרְאָה), from the root yare' (יָרֵא). This "fear" is not terror or dread but profound reverence, awe, and worshipful submission. It encompasses deep respect for God's holiness, authority, and power, leading to obedience and moral uprightness. It is often synonymous with true piety and is presented as the beginning of wisdom.
Words-group analysis
- Establish Your word for Your servant: This phrase encapsulates the core prayer: that God, who is faithful to His declarations, would make good on His promises to the one who humbly serves Him. It implies that God's word is not an abstract concept but a living reality meant to be experienced by His people. The connection here is vital: the psalmist seeks divine action in response to his identity and devotion.
- who is devoted to Your fear: This defines the "servant" and provides the moral basis for the plea. It indicates a consistent attitude and way of life characterized by deep reverence, obedience, and faithfulness to God. The psalmist is not asking for special favor based on merit, but appealing to the covenant faithfulness of God towards those who truly acknowledge and obey Him out of reverence. This connection between human disposition and divine response is a recurrent theme throughout Psalm 119 and indeed much of Scripture.
Psalm 119 38 Bonus section
The Psalmist's plea reflects a common biblical pattern: God's covenant promises are often conditional upon the faithfulness of His people. While God's character is unchanging, His active engagement in individual lives is often responsive to human posture. The "fear of the Lord" (יִרְאָה) is presented as the cornerstone of such a posture, being central to wisdom, life, and the reception of divine blessing. This specific request in Psalm 119:38 speaks to the desire for personal assurance that God's foundational truths are real and operative, particularly for those who have dedicated themselves to walking in His ways amidst challenges.
Psalm 119 38 Commentary
Psalm 119:38 is a personal and profound prayer stemming from a heart fully committed to God. The psalmist implores God to fulfill and validate His word in his life. This isn't a doubt in God's power, but a desire for a manifest experience of divine truth and promise. The plea is grounded in the psalmist's identity as God's servant, one who lives in devoted awe and obedience—a profound "fear" of the Lord, which is characterized by respect, reverence, and careful adherence to His commands. The verse highlights the intimate relationship between God's unchanging nature and His interactive response to His faithful people. It reassures us that our genuine devotion and fear of the Lord are known to God, forming a basis for His promises to be established in our lives.