Psalm 119 57

Psalm 119:57 kjv

Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

Psalm 119:57 nkjv

You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words.

Psalm 119:57 niv

You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words.

Psalm 119:57 esv

The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

Psalm 119:57 nlt

LORD, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 57 Meaning

Psalm 119:57 is a concise yet profound declaration of faith, articulating both the Psalmist's deepest relationship with God and his resolute commitment to His revealed will. It states that God Himself is the believer's chosen inheritance, sufficiency, and ultimate good, and in direct response to this profound truth, the believer has solemnly pledged to diligently obey God's commands. It connects internal identity and external obedience, establishing the former as the foundation for the latter.

Psalm 119 57 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an alphabetic acrostic psalm with 22 stanzas, each comprising 8 verses that begin with the same Hebrew letter. Verse 57 begins the "Heth" (ח) section (verses 57-64). This section generally focuses on seeking God's face, declaring Him as one's possession, remembering His judgments, and standing firm in His ways despite affliction or opposition from the wicked. Coming after the "Zayin" section (vv. 49-56) where the Psalmist expressed hope in God's word during affliction, Heth establishes the foundational truth of God's sufficiency before re-affirming the commitment to obey His commands amidst life's challenges. The immediate cultural context involves understanding "portion" as inheritance in ancient Israel, where land was distributed by tribal lot, and the unique position of the Levites whose inheritance was the Lord Himself, symbolizing divine sufficiency over material possession. The act of "promising" carries the weight of a solemn oath or covenant.

Psalm 119 57 Word analysis

• You (Hebrew: אֲתָה, 'Atta)

  • Significance: This is a direct, second-person singular pronoun. It highlights the deeply personal and intimate relationship between the Psalmist and God. It's not a generic statement about divinity but a direct address to Yahweh, implying existing communion.

• are my portion (Hebrew: חֶלְקִ֤י, chelqi)

  • Meaning: From חֵלֶק (cheleq), meaning "portion, share, inheritance, allotment." In ancient Israel, "portion" often referred to tribal land allotments. However, for the Levitical priesthood, their portion was explicitly Yahweh Himself (Num 18:20, Deut 10:9), meaning their security, sustenance, and very life depended solely on God.
  • Significance: Here, it is a spiritual declaration by an individual, asserting that God is his sole and ultimate treasure, his complete satisfaction, and the source of his entire being and provision. It expresses absolute dependence and finds all sufficiency in God, rejecting reliance on worldly possessions or status.

• O Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָ֣ה, YHWH, commonly vocalized as Adonai)

  • Meaning: The sacred covenant name of God, indicating His self-existent, faithful, and redemptive nature.
  • Significance: Using YHWH underscores that this relationship of "portion" is with the sovereign, covenant-making God of Israel. It emphasizes faithfulness, power, and personal presence, deepening the relational aspect of the declaration.

• I have promised (Hebrew: אָמַרְתִּי֮, 'amarti)

  • Meaning: First person perfect tense of אָמַר (amar), meaning "to say, declare, speak, resolve, intend." The perfect tense implies a completed action with ongoing effect; a firm, settled, and decisive resolve. It is a deliberate, conscious commitment.
  • Significance: This is not a fleeting thought or casual intention but a settled, irrevocable decision, much like a vow or a solemn oath made to oneself and to God. It highlights the intentionality of the Psalmist's obedience.

• to keep (Hebrew: לִשְׁמֹ֪ר, lishmor)

  • Meaning: Infinitive construct of שָׁמַר (shamar), "to watch, guard, keep, preserve, observe, protect."
  • Significance: It implies active, careful, and diligent obedience, not merely passive adherence. It is a commitment to "guard" God's words from neglect or violation, to meticulously "observe" them in daily life, and to "preserve" them in the heart. This active diligence speaks to wholehearted devotion.

• Your words (Hebrew: דְבָרֶ֫יךָ, devaraykā)

  • Meaning: From דָּבָר (dabar), "word, speech, command, instruction, matter, thing." In Psalm 119, it encompasses the totality of God's revealed will—His statutes, precepts, judgments, law, commandments, and testimonies.
  • Significance: It refers to God's entire body of divine revelation. The Psalmist is committed to the full breadth and depth of God's truth, not picking and choosing, but embracing all that God has communicated.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "You are my portion, O Lord": This phrase articulates the ultimate allegiance and profound dependence of the believer on God alone. It's a statement of personal spiritual identity, declaring that God Himself is the supreme source of life, satisfaction, security, and true wealth. This stands in contrast to worldly pursuits or trust in anything created. It speaks of an intimate, covenantal relationship where the believer finds all that he needs in God.
  • "I have promised to keep Your words": This phrase serves as the direct, volitional response to the preceding declaration. Because the Lord is recognized as the ultimate portion, a deep and enduring commitment to obey His commands naturally flows from that realization. It underscores that true worship involves not just acknowledgment of God's supremacy but active submission to His will. This isn't merely legalism but an expression of love and devotion that springs from the heart's attachment to its divine portion. The promise is solemn, implying a covenantal loyalty to living according to God's revealed truth.

Psalm 119 57 Bonus section

The structure of Psalm 119 as an acrostic emphasizes the deliberate and comprehensive nature of the Psalmist's meditation on God's Word. Verse 57, being the first verse of the Heth section, serves as a powerful foundational statement for the verses that follow, which often describe continued dedication to God's commandments even amidst hardship and wicked influences. This verse acts as a "why" – because God is my portion, therefore I am committed to His words. This intrinsic motivation sets it apart from mere legalistic observance. The polemic against contemporary beliefs is subtle but profound; by declaring YHWH as one's sole "portion," the Psalmist implicitly rejects the security and sufficiency offered by idols, earthly wealth, or human power prevalent in surrounding cultures and even among wavering Israelites. True freedom and blessedness are found in complete reliance on the One, true God and faithful adherence to His commandments.

Psalm 119 57 Commentary

Psalm 119:57 encapsulates the core dynamic of the Christian life: a vibrant relationship with God foundational to genuine obedience. The verse opens with a bold theological statement, "You are my portion, O Lord," echoing the Levitical concept where God Himself superseded earthly inheritance. For the Psalmist, this means God is his ultimate treasure, his complete satisfaction, and his exclusive source of well-being. This isn't merely a philosophical acknowledgment but a deeply personal, lived reality where all desire and hope are centered on God. Flowing directly from this declaration of radical dependency and joy in God, the Psalmist states his firm, unwavering resolve: "I have promised to keep Your words." This "promise" (Hebrew: 'amarti, indicating a settled purpose or solemn declaration) is not a grudging duty but a willing commitment that stems from loving God as one's portion. It signifies that recognizing God's supreme value motivates heartfelt and diligent adherence to His revealed will, understanding His "words" (or devarim) as the very expression of His nature and the pathway to true life. Thus, the verse elegantly links theology (who God is to me) with orthopraxy (how I live in response), emphasizing that genuine obedience is rooted in a deep, intimate relationship with the Giver of the commands.