Psalm 119 48

Psalm 119:48 kjv

My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Psalm 119:48 nkjv

My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Psalm 119:48 niv

I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.

Psalm 119:48 esv

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119:48 nlt

I honor and love your commands.
I meditate on your decrees.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 48 Meaning

Psalm 119:48 articulates the psalmist's profound commitment and devotion to God's revealed will. It describes an active, volitional embrace of divine precepts, stemming from deep affection. The psalmist expresses a proactive engagement with God's commandments, desiring to uphold them with sincerity, accompanied by sustained and thoughtful meditation on God's unchanging statutes, leading to a life aligned with His truth.

Psalm 119 48 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a magnificent acrostic psalm that extols the wisdom, truth, and transforming power of God's Word. Each of its 22 stanzas, corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, consists of eight verses beginning with the same letter. Verse 48 falls within the 'Waw' (Vav) section (verses 41-48). This section emphasizes the psalmist's longing for God's salvation according to His Word (v. 41), his desire to speak of God's testimonies boldly before kings (v. 46), and his deep delight in the commandments (v. 47). The psalm consistently presents God's Law not as a burden but as a source of delight, guidance, and life. Historically, the Law (Torah) was central to Israel's covenant relationship with God, distinguishing them from surrounding nations who followed capricious idols or human dictates. This psalm represents a polemic against superficial observance or rejection of God's instruction, advocating for a holistic, heartfelt devotion.

Psalm 119 48 Word analysis

• My hands also (Hebrew: יָדַי גַּם - yāday gam):

  • yāday (יָדַי): Refers to "my hands." In Hebrew thought, "hands" symbolize action, capability, labor, and intent. Lifting hands is a posture of prayer, worship, swearing an oath, or surrender. Here, applying it to "commandments" signifies active, volitional embrace, a ready and eager posture to grasp and perform God's will. It conveys total physical commitment.
  • gam (גַּם): "Also," "even," "indeed." This adverb adds emphasis or inclusion, implying that the lifting of hands is another manifestation, or perhaps an especially prominent one, of the psalmist's commitment to the commandments, perhaps alongside delight and speech mentioned in previous verses.

• I will lift up (Hebrew: אֶשָּׂא - ’eśśā’):

  • From the root nāśā’ (נָשָׂא), meaning to lift, bear, carry, or support.
  • This is a strong verb indicating intentional action. It's not a passive reception but an active, decisive movement towards the commandments. It can convey elevating them, holding them high as something precious, or receiving them with an outstretched and accepting gesture. The metaphor suggests enthusiastic dedication and full alignment with divine directives.

• to your commandments (Hebrew: אֶל מִצְוֹתֶיךָ - ’el miṣwōṯeḵā):

  • ’el (אֶל): The preposition "to" or "towards." It indicates direction, purpose, or intimate relationship. The hands are being lifted in allegiance to them, drawing close to them.
  • miṣwōṯeḵā (מִצְוֹתֶיךָ): Plural of miṣwāh (מִצְוָה), meaning "commandment" or "precept." These are direct, authoritative injunctions from God, given for direction and obedience. They represent the divine will as concrete directives for living.

• which I love (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתִּי - ’ăšer ’āhab̄tî):

  • ’ăšer (אֲשֶׁר): Relative pronoun, "which," connecting the love to the commandments.
  • ’āhab̄tî (אָהַבְתִּי): First person singular past tense of ’āhaḇ (אָהַב), "to love." The perfect tense expresses a state or completed action with ongoing results; this love is not fleeting but a deep-seated affection and a chosen devotion. This phrase is vital as it clarifies that the psalmist's obedience is not out of mere obligation or fear, but from a genuine, heartfelt attraction to God's ways. This inner affection distinguishes a servant from a mere performer of duties.

• and I will meditate (Hebrew: וְאֶהְגֶּה - wə’ehgeh):

  • wə (וְ): Conjunction "and," indicating a complementary action.
  • ’ehgeh (אֶהְגֶּה): From the root hāḡâ (הָגָה), which means to moan, growl, muse, meditate, ponder. It implies a continuous, deep, internal process of reflection. It's not superficial reading but an inward chewing or pondering that allows the truth to sink into one's innermost being, forming the mind and spirit. It's often associated with mumbling the words softly to oneself to aid memory and contemplation.

• on your statutes (Hebrew: בְחֻקֶּיךָ - bəḥuqqeḵā):

  • bə (בְּ): Preposition "on" or "in," indicating the object of meditation.
  • ḥuqqeḵā (חֻקֶּיךָ): Plural of ḥuqqāh (חֻקָּה), referring to "statutes," "decrees," or "ordinances." These are God's fixed, unchanging laws, often conceived of as inscribed or prescribed. While similar to "commandments," "statutes" often connote established rules and fixed regulations that govern moral, ritual, and civil life. Meditating on them implies internalizing these unchanging truths for wise and godly living.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "My hands also I will lift up to your commandments": This phrase denotes an active, volitional commitment. It’s a physical manifestation of allegiance and a wholehearted posture of embracing God's directives. It conveys ready obedience and dedication. This contrasts with a hesitant or grudging following; instead, it is an eager and proactive taking hold of divine instructions.
• "which I love": This clause injects the critical element of heartfelt affection. It reveals that the motivation for obedience is not external compulsion but internal delight and sincere affection for the source and content of the commandments. Love transforms duty into joyful participation, elevating adherence from legalism to relationship.
• "and I will meditate on your statutes": This part emphasizes the intellectual and spiritual engagement. "Meditation" signifies deep, sustained reflection, internal rumination, and allowing God's fixed truths to permeate one's inner being. It means dwelling on them, pondering their depth and implications, and allowing them to shape one's thoughts, attitudes, and actions. This thoughtful absorption ensures that outward action (lifting hands) is rooted in inner conviction and understanding.

Psalm 119 48 Bonus section

The multifaceted terminology for God's Word used throughout Psalm 119, such as "commandments" (miṣwōt) and "statutes" (ḥuqqîm), underscores the rich and varied aspects of divine revelation. "Commandments" stress authoritative injunctions, while "statutes" imply fixed, decreed ordinances. The psalmist's devotion embraces all forms of God's Word. This verse demonstrates the interplay between active, external commitment and internal, heartfelt connection. The psalmist doesn't merely know about the commands but actively embraces them, and his embrace is fueled by an internal love that leads to ongoing deep reflection. This reflects a life fully immersed in and submitted to divine truth, seeing it as a source of joy and guidance.

Psalm 119 48 Commentary

Psalm 119:48 presents a picture of holistic devotion to God's Word. The psalmist expresses active engagement ("lifting hands"), which is not a perfunctory act but flows from profound inner affection ("which I love"). This love for God's directives is cultivated and deepened through continuous, deep reflection ("I will meditate"). It's a comprehensive spiritual posture where the entire being—body, emotion, and mind—is devoted to upholding, delighting in, and internalizing God's unchanging will. The verse teaches that true obedience is a joyful act stemming from love and informed by thoughtful contemplation, rather than a burdensome duty.

For practical usage, this means:

• Actively seeking to understand and obey God's commands (not just passively hearing them).
• Cultivating a genuine love for God's ways, asking God to change our hearts to align with His.
• Regularly setting aside time for deep meditation on Scripture, allowing it to penetrate our thoughts and shape our lives.