Psalm 119 49

Psalm 119:49 kjv

Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psalm 119:49 nkjv

Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope.

Psalm 119:49 niv

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

Psalm 119:49 esv

Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.

Psalm 119:49 nlt

Remember your promise to me;
it is my only hope.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 49 Meaning

Psalm 119:49 is a heartfelt prayer, where the psalmist appeals to God's faithfulness to His own declared promises. It is a petition for God to remember the specific word or promise He has given to His servant, a promise upon which the psalmist has grounded his entire hope and expectation. The verse highlights that true, enduring hope is not a self-generated optimism, but a direct consequence of God's sovereign initiative in revealing His will and making a solemn pledge. The psalmist rests his petition entirely on God's character and His unfailing word.

Psalm 119 49 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic poem of 22 sections, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse within a section begins with that Hebrew letter, and all verses throughout the psalm speak of the Law, statutes, commandments, testimonies, precepts, ways, ordinances, or word of the LORD. This psalm is an extended meditation on the excellencies and sufficiency of God's divine revelation as the guide for life, source of comfort, and foundation for hope.

Verse 49 falls within the "Zayin" section (verses 49-56). The overarching context of the psalmist's prayer is often one of personal struggle, external pressures, or a desire for deeper understanding and adherence to God's will. Here, the psalmist is not merely recalling God's word academically, but petitioning God to act based on His own past promises. He is a "servant" of God, indicating a relationship of obedience and dependence. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a master remembering a promise to a servant implied fulfilling a covenant duty or a special favor. The psalmist anchors his plea not in his own merit but solely on God's benevolent act of providing the basis for hope. It's a subtle polemic against any hope founded on human wisdom, idols, or worldly power, asserting God's reliable word as the sole trustworthy source.

Psalm 119 49 Word analysis

• Remember (זָכַר - zakhar):

  • Meaning: More than a mental recollection; in Hebrew thought, zakhar implies active remembrance, bringing to mind with the intent to act.
  • Significance: When used concerning God, it's an appeal for God to demonstrate His covenant faithfulness by acting in accordance with His promises. It is a petition for divine intervention, not a suggestion that God might forget. It reflects the psalmist's trust in God's character.
  • Insight: This word is used throughout the Old Testament to signify God's remembrance of His covenant (Gen 9:16), implying His faithfulness and eventual intervention. The psalmist reminds God, knowing God is faithful.

• Your word (דְבָרֶךָ - d'varekha):

  • Meaning: Davar refers to a specific divine utterance, promise, commandment, or instruction. In the context of Psalm 119, it encompasses the totality of God's revealed truth.
  • Significance: It is the foundational truth, the revealed will and promise of God, on which all hope can reliably be built. It points to the objective, unchangeable nature of God's communication.
  • Insight: God's davar is powerful (Gen 1:3), performs what it declares (Isa 55:11), and is the very breath of God (Ps 33:6).

• to Your servant (לְעַבְדֶּךָ - l'avdekha):

  • Meaning: Signifies the psalmist's humility and submissive relationship with God. He sees himself as one who serves God, implying devotion and a rightful claim based on this consecrated relationship.
  • Significance: It implies a unique, intimate covenant bond, a reciprocal relationship where God is Master and the psalmist is His loyal, devoted follower. This strengthens his petition, appealing to the Lord's care for those who belong to Him.
  • Insight: Being God's "servant" often denotes honor, privilege, and protection (e.g., Abraham, Moses, David, the Suffering Servant in Isaiah).

• upon which (אֲשֶׁר - asher):

  • Meaning: A relative pronoun connecting the hope directly to the word.
  • Significance: This tiny word emphasizes that the hope is contingent upon God's word, not external circumstances or human desires. It’s the basis, the foundation.

• You have caused me to hope (יִחַלְתָּנִי - yichaltani):

  • Meaning: The root yachal implies a deep, eager, patient, and persistent waiting or expectation. The causative "You have caused" (hiphil conjugation) explicitly attributes the origin of this hope to God's direct action.
  • Significance: This is a crucial theological point: the psalmist's hope is not self-generated optimism or wishful thinking, but a divinely implanted, sustained, and authorized hope that finds its ultimate security in the One who first gave the promise. God initiated it.
  • Insight: True biblical hope is active waiting rooted in God's character and word, leading to endurance (Rom 5:4) and confident expectation, as opposed to passive uncertainty.

Words-group analysis:

• "Remember Your word to Your servant": This phrase frames the plea as a petition grounded in covenant fidelity. The psalmist appeals to God's faithfulness to Himself and to His unique relationship with His dedicated follower. It’s an indirect reminder of God's character as a covenant-keeping God.
• "upon which You have caused me to hope": This critical clause establishes the source and validity of the psalmist's hope. It highlights that his hope is not arbitrary but divinely ordained and rooted in an explicit promise made by God Himself. This ensures the hope's security and legitimacy.

Psalm 119 49 Bonus section

The active "causing" of hope by God ("You have caused me to hope") positions biblical hope not as a human psychological construct but as a divinely-instilled conviction. This means believers are not merely trying to be hopeful but are called to rest in the hope God Himself gives through His revealed truth. This differentiates true faith from mere positive thinking or self-determination, emphasizing that salvation and its associated blessings, including hope, are entirely a work of God's grace from initiation to completion. The strength of our hope is not measured by the fervor of our feelings, but by the immutable truthfulness and power of the God who has given the word.

Psalm 119 49 Commentary

Psalm 119:49 captures a pivotal aspect of biblical faith: the direct correlation between God's revealed word and the believer's confident hope. The psalmist, identifying himself as God's "servant," makes a direct and tender plea for God to "remember" His word. This isn't a reminder to a forgetful deity, but rather an earnest appeal for God to act in accordance with His established character as a faithful, covenant-keeping God. The Hebrew "remember" signifies a call to action based on what God has previously declared.

Crucially, the psalmist's hope ("You have caused me to hope") is explicitly attributed to divine origination. His hope is not born from wishful thinking or a strong will, but is a gift directly implanted by God through His specific "word" or promise. This means the hope is entirely reliable because its source is reliable; it rests on God's omnipotence and unwavering truthfulness, not human capability or transient circumstances. In times of distress or uncertainty, this verse becomes a vital anchor for the soul, reminding us that God is actively involved in sustaining our hope by virtue of His unchangeable word. It underscores that we are not hoping in vain but are relying on the very declarations of the Almighty, who cannot lie. This fosters a patient yet eager waiting for God's promises to unfold according to His perfect timing.

• Practical Example: When facing a seemingly impossible situation, a believer can bring a specific promise of God (e.g., Phil 4:19 "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus") before God in prayer, reminding Him of His word "upon which You have caused me to hope."