Psalm 119 58

Psalm 119:58 kjv

I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Psalm 119:58 nkjv

I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word.

Psalm 119:58 niv

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

Psalm 119:58 esv

I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

Psalm 119:58 nlt

With all my heart I want your blessings.
Be merciful as you promised.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 58 Meaning

Psalm 119:58 conveys the earnest plea of a devout individual who wholeheartedly seeks God's favor and gracious mercy, basing this fervent prayer solely on the steadfast promises and faithfulness of God's own Word. It expresses a deep reliance on God's character as revealed in His commands and testimonies, approaching Him with complete sincerity for His divine blessing and compassionate response.

Psalm 119 58 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible, an acrostic poem structured around the Hebrew alphabet, with eight verses beginning with each of the 22 letters. Its overarching theme is the supremacy, wisdom, and comforting nature of God's Word, variously referred to as law, statutes, decrees, commandments, precepts, testimonies, and judgments. The psalmist expresses deep devotion, delight, and reliance on God's Word in all circumstances.

Verse 58 falls within the "Mem" section (verses 57-64), which specifically highlights God's role as the psalmist's portion, emphasizing a personal and possessive relationship with God and His Word. This section details the psalmist's commitment to keep God's commands despite difficult circumstances and opposition from the wicked (as seen in later verses within this section, e.g., v. 61). Verse 58 acts as a profound prayer in the midst of this commitment, expressing reliance on God's grace as the foundation for the psalmist's ability to maintain their faithfulness. It establishes that their sincere seeking is in accordance with what God Himself has promised. The plea for favor based on God's word is an act of trust and dependence.

Psalm 119 58 Word analysis

• I entreated (Hebrew: חִלִּיתִי, ḥillîṯî): This verb, from the root חָלָה (ḥālāh), means "to make sick, to be weak," but in the pi'el stem, it denotes "to make soft, to soften the face of, to appease, to supplicate, to make supplication." It carries a strong connotation of fervent, humble, and earnest prayer, seeking to mollify or gain the goodwill of another. It's a persistent, often distressed, appeal for compassion. This isn't a casual request but an intense, heartfelt entreaty.
• Your favor (Hebrew: פָּנֶיךָ, pānêḵā): Literally translates to "Your face" or "Your presence." In biblical culture, "seeking the face" of a king or deity meant seeking an audience, approval, benevolent disposition, or presence. It signifies God's personal attention, acceptance, and blessing. It is more than seeking things from God; it is seeking God Himself and His good regard. It stands in contrast to God hiding His face, which implies disfavor or judgment. The desire for God's pānîm indicates a yearning for intimate communion and divine approval.
• with all my heart (Hebrew: בְּכָל־לֵב, bəḵol-lēḇ): The "heart" (לֵב, lēḇ) in biblical Hebrew refers to the whole inner being—intellect, emotion, will, and conscience. "With all my heart" signifies sincerity, complete devotion, absolute earnestness, and unwavering commitment, without reservation or duplicity. It implies a total orientation of one's inner person toward God, contrasting with superficial or half-hearted religious practice. This phrase is critical in the Torah for true covenant loyalty (Deut 6:5, 10:12, 30:2, 10).
• be gracious to me (Hebrew: חָנֵּנִי, ḥānnēnî): From the verb חָנַן (ḥānan), meaning "to show favor, to be gracious, to pity, to have mercy." This is a common plea for divine mercy and unmerited favor. It acknowledges the psalmist's dependence on God's compassion and generosity, not on any presumed merit of their own. It is a prayer for a gift, an undeserved kindness, flowing purely from God's character.
• according to Your word (Hebrew: כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ, kə’imrāṯeḵā): "Word" here refers specifically to God's promises, utterances, and revealed truths, emphasizing their divine origin and reliability. The prefix כְּ (kə-) means "according to" or "just as." This phrase anchors the entire prayer in God's faithfulness and consistency. The psalmist is not asking presumptuously but is reminding God of what He has declared and promised. This reflects a profound trust that God is true to His word and that His promises are the very foundation upon which petitions can be made with confidence. It transforms the prayer from a mere wish into a petition grounded in divine truth.

Psalm 119 58 Bonus section

The positioning of verse 58 within the "Mem" section (vv. 57-64) of Psalm 119 adds further depth. Verse 57 begins by declaring, "You are my portion, O LORD; I promise to keep Your words." This sets the context of the psalmist having God Himself as their greatest treasure, alongside an unwavering commitment to His Word. Following this declaration, verse 58 immediately expresses the urgent plea for God's favor. This sequence reveals that true devotion and commitment to God's Word naturally lead to an intense seeking of His presence and grace, recognizing that one's own efforts require divine enablement and compassion. It illustrates that dedication to God's law is not legalism, but a grateful response that understands its dependence on God's ongoing, active mercy. The expectation of God's grace (be gracious to me) is a direct consequence of both valuing His person ("You are my portion") and resolving to live by His commands ("I promise to keep Your words"). The polemical undertone lies in contrast to any contemporary beliefs that relied on human merit, ritualistic performance, or appeasement of gods through material sacrifices for divine favor, instead foregrounding the sincere heart and reliance on the inherent truth of God's self-revelation.

Psalm 119 58 Commentary

Psalm 119:58 serves as a model of profound, effective prayer. The psalmist's plea is characterized by deep personal intensity ("I entreated...with all my heart"), directing their entire being towards the God who listens. The object of this passionate entreaty is God's "favor" or "face," indicating a desire not merely for temporal blessings but for God's approval, benevolent presence, and personal communion. This is a quest for relational intimacy, echoing ancient customs of approaching a sovereign for goodwill and access. The underlying foundation for such a bold yet humble request is not human merit but God's unchanging nature and His divine "word." This phrase transforms the petition into an act of faith, reminding God—and more importantly, affirming to the one praying—that the basis for receiving grace is God's own reliability and gracious character, previously expressed in His promises. It acknowledges that God is faithful to do what He says. Thus, the verse illustrates how sincere devotion, when coupled with a firm reliance on God's revealed truth, emboldens believers to approach the divine throne with confidence, seeking the grace they inherently need. It embodies a true covenant relationship where God's promises guide human supplication and establish expectation.

Examples for practical usage:

• When faced with doubt, pray: "Lord, I earnestly seek Your truth with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your unchanging word."
• In times of discouragement, a believer might say: "Father, I turn to You wholeheartedly, please show Your favor to me and strengthen me, just as You promised in Your Scriptures."
• During seasons of seeking direction: "God, I humbly seek Your guidance and presence with my entire being; be merciful and illuminate my path according to Your wisdom."