Psalm 119 64

Psalm 119:64 kjv

The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Psalm 119:64 nkjv

The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:64 niv

The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:64 esv

The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

Psalm 119:64 nlt

O LORD, your unfailing love fills the earth;
teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 64 Meaning

Psalm 119:64 expresses a profound connection between God's universal manifestation of His steadfast love in creation and the psalmist's personal yearning for divine instruction. The psalmist observes the abundant and pervasive evidence of God's covenant loyalty and goodness throughout the world, which then compels him to pray for guidance in God's specific, revealed laws and decrees. It signifies that recognizing God's general benevolence leads to a desire for His particular truth.

Psalm 119 64 Context

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, each section (strophe) of eight verses beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 64 falls within the eighth strophe, introduced by the letter Tet (ט). Throughout Psalm 119, the psalmist repeatedly expresses deep affection, obedience, and dependence on God's Torah, using various synonyms for "law," "word," "statutes," and "precepts." The broader context reveals a speaker facing affliction and scorn, yet he consistently turns to God's word as his source of comfort, instruction, and hope. Verse 64 illustrates a specific pathway to learning: acknowledging God's widespread grace visible in creation fosters a sincere desire to learn His specific, detailed will for human conduct, thus bridging general revelation (God revealed in creation) with special revelation (God revealed in His word). The psalmist’s observation of the earth full of God's love serves as a foundation for his personal appeal for divine instruction, highlighting a progression from understanding God's nature to desiring to live by His decrees.

Psalm 119 64 Word analysis

• The earth (הָאָרֶץ - ha'arets): Literally "the land" or "the whole earth." Here, it signifies the entire created world, emphasizing a universal scope. God's steadfast love is not confined but is evident across all creation, impacting all existence.
• O Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the personal and holy name of God, indicating a relationship built on promise and faithfulness. The address suggests a deep, personal plea to the divine.
• is full of (מָלְאָה - māl’āh): The verb means "to be full, to fill, to be complete." It conveys an abundant, overflowing presence. The earth is not just touched by God’s love but is permeated and saturated with it, demonstrating its overwhelming quality.
• Your steadfast love (חַסְדֶּךָ - ḥasdekā): This crucial Hebrew term, ḥeseḏ, denotes loyal love, enduring affection, covenant faithfulness, and merciful kindness. It's more than just general goodness; it implies commitment and active benevolence within a relationship, especially God's faithful adherence to His covenant promises despite human failing. Its presence "full" in the earth implies an unmerited, widespread display of His character.
• teach me (לַמְּדֵנִי - lammědēnî): An imperative verb meaning "to teach, to instruct, to train." It's a strong, earnest prayer, signifying a humble and urgent request for personal divine pedagogy. The psalmist desires to be a disciple, to be personally shown the path.
• Your statutes (חֻקֶּיךָ - ḥuqqeykā): Refers to God's prescribed rules, decrees, or ordinances, often implying fixed, established laws or engravings. These are divinely ordained precepts that guide behavior and righteous living, essential for ordered and godly existence. It denotes a specific body of law given by God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The earth, O Lord, is full of Your steadfast love": This phrase functions as a profound declaration and an act of worship. It speaks of "general revelation" – God's self-disclosure through His created order. The world around us, with its order, provision, and beauty, speaks volumes about God's benevolent character and His active care (His ḥeseḏ). It is an acknowledgment of His universal goodness and faithfulness to all humanity and creation. This foundational truth serves as the premise for the subsequent petition.
• "teach me Your statutes!": This is the heart of the psalmist’s plea, moving from observing God's nature in the macrocosm (earth) to desiring specific divine instruction for his microcosm (life). This expresses a yearning for "special revelation" – God’s particular moral and spiritual laws that direct human behavior. The visible manifestation of God’s goodness in creation awakens a deeper hunger for explicit understanding of His will. It signifies humility, dependence on God for guidance, and a desire for practical righteousness. The connection suggests that true appreciation of God's general love should lead to a submission to His specific wisdom.

Psalm 119 64 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a crucial theological dynamic: the interplay between General Revelation (God revealing Himself through creation, Ps 19:1-6, Rom 1:20) and Special Revelation (God revealing Himself through His Word, Ps 19:7-14, 2 Tim 3:16). The psalmist does not stop at admiring God's creative work or general kindness; he allows this natural understanding of God to fuel his desire for deeper, more personal, and actionable truth found in God’s specific commands. This highlights a fundamental principle of true spirituality: the more one sees God's goodness in the world, the more one should desire to know and obey His revealed will. The plea to "teach me Your statutes" also implies a recognition of human inability to know God's ways fully without divine assistance, even after acknowledging God's widespread presence. It's a testament to the fact that while creation hints at the Creator's character, it does not provide comprehensive ethical or salvific instruction, which only comes through His spoken and written Word.

Psalm 119 64 Commentary

Psalm 119:64 provides a beautiful synthesis of God's glory revealed in creation and humanity's inherent need for specific divine instruction. The psalmist's journey begins with observation: he beholds the "earth" saturated with the Lord's "steadfast love" (ḥeseḏ). This observation isn't passive; it's a recognition of God's faithful, covenantal, and compassionate character universally manifested in the created order and providential care. This reality deeply affects the psalmist, prompting a humble and earnest prayer: "teach me Your statutes!"

This verse illustrates that recognizing God’s vast, unmerited kindness displayed in the natural world (general revelation) should naturally lead to a passionate desire to learn His explicit will for ethical and spiritual living (special revelation, the Bible). It's a plea for practical wisdom and guidance, acknowledging that while God’s love is broad, true wisdom and right living require His specific instruction. It speaks to a responsive heart, one that is not merely awe-struck by God's general goodness but is driven to align its life with His precise commands. The verse also underscores the ongoing need for teaching, implying that even those who appreciate God's overarching goodness must continually seek deeper understanding of His written Word to walk in His ways.

Example for practical usage: A believer enjoying the beauty of a sunset (recognizing God's widespread love) might then feel moved to study a specific Bible passage to understand how to live out that appreciation through obedience.