Psalm 119:76 kjv
Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
Psalm 119:76 nkjv
Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant.
Psalm 119:76 niv
May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
Psalm 119:76 esv
Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
Psalm 119:76 nlt
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me, your servant.
Psalm 119 76 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation..." | God is the source of all comfort. |
| Isa 40:1 | "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." | God's compassionate nature. |
| 2 Thes 2:16-17 | "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts..." | God grants everlasting comfort and good hope. |
| Ps 23:4 | "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." | God's presence brings comfort in distress. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." | God's unfailing love (hesed) is endless. |
| Ps 36:5 | "Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds." | The vastness of God's loyal love. |
| Ps 86:5 | "For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love for all who call upon You." | God's abounding hesed for His petitioners. |
| Ps 103:8 | "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." | God's character defined by steadfast love. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" | God's promises are absolutely reliable. |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's word is effective and faithful. |
| Heb 10:23 | "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." | God's faithfulness guarantees His promises. |
| Rom 4:21 | "Fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised." | Abraham's conviction in God's promise. |
| Titus 1:2 | "In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began." | God's inherent truthfulness underpins His promises. |
| Ps 116:16 | "O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds." | The psalmist identifies as God's servant. |
| Isa 41:8-10 | "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen... Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you..." | God cares for and promises to strengthen His servants. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | "Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." | God's care motivates His comfort. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts..." | Prayer to God brings supernatural peace/comfort. |
| Ps 4:8 | "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." | God is the source of true security and peace. |
| Rom 15:13 | "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." | God fills believers with joy and peace. |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him..." | God is known by His faithfulness and love. |
| 1 Thes 5:24 | "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it." | God's calling implies His faithful fulfillment. |
| 1 Cor 1:9 | "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." | God's faithfulness ensures His calling and fellowship. |
| Ps 94:19 | "When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul." | God's comforts relieve internal distress. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 76 Meaning
Psalm 119:76 is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist to God, requesting divine comfort rooted in God's steadfast and covenantal love, assured by His trustworthy promises. It expresses the psalmist's longing for solace in affliction, founded not on personal merit, but entirely upon the faithful character and declared word of God, acknowledging his humble position as a servant.
Psalm 119 76 Context
Psalm 119 is an extended acrostic poem, each of its 22 stanzas beginning with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, with each of the eight verses within a stanza also starting with that same letter. It is entirely devoted to exalting God's word, expressed through various synonyms like law, statutes, precepts, commandments, judgments, testimonies, and promises.
Verse 76 falls within the Yod (י) section (verses 73-80). This specific section of the psalm follows an appeal to God based on His creative power (v. 73: "Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments"). The psalmist expresses delight in God's righteousness, despite suffering, and desires that God's unwavering love provide comfort in times of affliction. The surrounding verses mention being "humbled" or "crushed" (v. 75, 78) and facing enemies, indicating a context of distress. The request for comfort in verse 76 is therefore not for superficial well-being but for deep solace in trials, directly linked to the unwavering character and declared promises of God. The entire Psalm reinforces the belief that God's word is the ultimate source of life, wisdom, and comfort.
Psalm 119 76 Word analysis
- May: This reflects an optative mood, signifying a humble, earnest request or desire rather than a demand. It expresses longing and dependency on God's initiative and will.
- your unfailing love (חַסְדְּךָ - ḥasdeḵā): This is a possessive form of ḥesed, a profoundly significant Hebrew term. Hesed denotes steadfast love, loyal love, covenant faithfulness, kindness, mercy, and enduring affection. It is a defining characteristic of God, emphasizing His faithful commitment to His covenant people, regardless of their circumstances. It's a love that is active, loyal, and enduring, transcending human frailty and betrayal.
- be my comfort (לְנַחֲמֵנִי - l'naḥameini): The root verb is naḥam (נחם), meaning "to comfort," "to console," "to be sorry," "to repent." In this context, it speaks to deep solace, alleviation of sorrow, and restoration of hope amidst distress or affliction. The psalmist desires ḥesed to be the very essence and source of his inner peace and relief. This comfort goes beyond superficial well-being; it's a profound reassurance from the Almighty.
- according to (כְּאִמְרָתְךָ - k'imraṯeḵā): The preposition "according to" signifies that the request is firmly grounded in, or dependent upon, the nature of what follows. It asserts a legal or moral basis for the plea.
- your promise (imraṯeḵā): This refers to God's spoken word, utterance, or declaration, especially one carrying the weight of a divine guarantee or assurance. It speaks to the authoritative and trustworthy nature of God's revealed will and prior commitments. It highlights the psalmist's confidence in God's word as a reliable foundation. God's promises are not mere suggestions but infallible declarations.
- to your servant (לְעַבְדֶּךָ - l'aḇdeḵā): The term "servant" (eved) denotes a relationship of submission, dependence, and dedicated service. The psalmist identifies himself as God's eved, recognizing his place as one obligated to obey but also privileged to receive the benefits of a covenant relationship. This is a humble acknowledgment of status before God, implying both responsibility and rightful expectation of divine care based on that relationship.
Words-group Analysis
- "May your unfailing love be my comfort": This phrase beautifully intertwines God's character (unfailing love/ḥesed) with the human need for emotional and spiritual solace. It establishes that genuine comfort can only truly come from a personal experience of God's steadfast, covenant love. It implies that comfort is not external or circumstantial, but flows from the very essence of God's faithful nature.
- "according to your promise to your servant": This part clarifies the legitimate ground for the plea. The psalmist is not demanding but is appealing to God's integrity and prior declarations. God's word to His servant is the basis of hope and expectation for comfort. This emphasizes the reciprocity of the covenant relationship: God promises, and the servant relies on those promises for their well-being. It is a petition rooted in faith in God's faithfulness and truthfulness, not in personal worthiness.
Psalm 119 76 Bonus section
This verse embodies a crucial aspect of biblical theology: God's attributes are not abstract concepts but are active forces that directly impact human experience. Hesed (unfailing love) is more than an emotion; it is a loyal commitment that produces real-world comfort and assurance for those in a covenant relationship with God. The specific mention of "Your servant" (l'aḇdeḵā) implies a reciprocal relationship: obedience and faithfulness on the human side allow for a fuller experience of divine provision and comfort. The psalmist's humble status is not a barrier to accessing God's ḥesed but rather the proper posture for receiving it. The repeated emphasis on "Your word" (in its various forms throughout Psalm 119) and "Your promise" in this verse underscores the indispensable role of scripture in both revealing God's character and providing the specific grounds for our faith-filled petitions and the comfort we receive. The prayer is specific yet entirely grounded in God's pre-existing commitments.
Psalm 119 76 Commentary
Psalm 119:76 reveals a deep theological truth: the bedrock of true comfort in life's afflictions is God's unchanging character and His trustworthy Word. The psalmist, identifying himself humbly as God's servant, petitions for solace not based on his own merit or suffering, but purely on God's "unfailing love" (hesed) and established "promise." This demonstrates that prayer for comfort is fundamentally an act of faith in who God is and what He has declared. It reminds believers that God's covenant love is perpetually available, and His promises are the unshakeable foundation upon which we can lay our pleas for inner peace and relief, particularly when faced with hardship. This verse offers a divine pattern for prayer, anchoring our requests in God's faithful attributes rather than fluctuating circumstances.
- Example for practical usage: A believer facing severe personal loss finds comfort not by denying grief, but by recalling Bible verses that speak of God's presence, promises of hope, and His unchanging love, knowing that He promised to be with them.
- Example for practical usage: Someone experiencing intense anxiety and fear can appeal to God for peace, remembering God's promise "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation... present your requests to God" (Phil 4:6), and relying on His character as "the God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1:3).