Psalm 119 8

Psalm 119:8 kjv

I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

Psalm 119:8 nkjv

I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

Psalm 119:8 niv

I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

Psalm 119:8 esv

I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Psalm 119:8 nlt

I will obey your decrees.
Please don't give up on me!

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 8 Meaning

Psalm 119:8 expresses a resolute commitment to God's divine commands coupled with a fervent plea for divine sustenance. The psalmist declares their firm intention to meticulously observe God's statutes, demonstrating a deep devotion to the divine will. Immediately following this declaration, a profound prayer arises: a petition for God not to abandon or forsake them, particularly not "utterly" or completely. This juxtaposition highlights the psalmist's understanding that while human resolve is necessary, it is utterly insufficient without God's sustaining grace and presence. It is a humble acknowledgment of human weakness and a reliance on divine faithfulness for perseverance in the path of righteousness.

Psalm 119 8 Context

Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm, with each of its 22 stanzas (corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet) comprised of eight verses beginning with the same Hebrew letter. Verse 8 belongs to the first stanza (Aleph). The entire Psalm is a profound meditation on and praise for God's Law (Torah), using various synonyms like statutes, commandments, rules, precepts, and decrees. The overarching theme is the psalmist's deep love for God's word and their commitment to live by it, intertwined with constant prayers for understanding, guidance, and strength to obey. In this specific verse, following a declaration of a general desire to obey, the psalmist expresses a specific personal vow and then immediately acknowledges the human need for divine help to uphold it. It's a prayer born from both devotion and vulnerability, common in the earnest spiritual journey of a believer in ancient Israel, whose life revolved around covenant loyalty to Yahweh's commands. There isn't a direct polemic, but the consistent emphasis on God's statutes contrasts implicitly with pagan practices or any deviation from divine revelation prevalent in the ancient Near East, which often lacked such clear moral and spiritual injunctions or the concept of a personal, faithful God who enables obedience.

Psalm 119 8 Word analysis

• I will keep (אֶשְׁמֹר, 'ešmôr):

  • This is the first person common singular imperfect verb from the root shamar (שָׁמַר), meaning "to guard," "to observe," "to watch over," "to attend to."
  • The imperfect tense here conveys a volitional and resolute declaration of intention for ongoing, sustained action. It's not a mere statement of fact, but a committed promise to oneself and to God.
  • Significance: It highlights personal responsibility and active diligence. It's an internal posture of protecting and upholding God's instructions.

• your statutes (חֻקֶּיךָ, ḥuqekā):

  • From the noun choq (חֹק), plural chuqqim (חֻקִּים), meaning "statute," "ordinance," "fixed rule," "decree."
  • These are God's divinely ordained rules, implying a set, established, and authoritative body of law.
  • Significance: It underscores the unchanging, fixed nature of God's moral and ceremonial requirements, given directly by divine authority. These are not arbitrary but reflective of God's character and perfect will.

• do not utterly forsake me! (אַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי עַד־מְאֹד, ʾal-taʿazəḇēnî ʿad-mʾod):

  • do not forsake (ʾal-taʿazəḇēnî): ʾal is a prohibitive particle ("do not"), and taʿazəḇēnî is the second person masculine singular imperfect verb from 'azav (עָזַב), meaning "to leave," "to abandon," "to desert." The suffixed '-nî' is the first person singular pronoun, "me."
    • This is an imperative negative, a strong plea. It reflects a profound fear of divine abandonment and a desperate need for God's sustained presence and help.
    • Significance: It reveals the psalmist's deep dependency on God. Despite their best intentions and commitment to obedience, they recognize their own inability to perfectly maintain this path without God's ongoing support.
  • utterly (ʿad-mʾod): A powerful intensifying adverbial phrase meaning "even to a very great extent," "greatly," "completely," "totally," "to excess."
    • It intensifies the plea, emphasizing a desire for no degree of abandonment whatsoever, highlighting the extreme distress such a forsaking would cause.
    • Significance: It's a cry for total divine commitment, illustrating the believer's acute awareness of vulnerability and the vital necessity of God's unreserved presence and power in their life.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!": The powerful juxtaposition within this single verse is central to its meaning. The first clause ("I will keep your statutes") declares human resolve, agency, and commitment. The psalmist pledges active, continuous obedience. The second clause ("do not utterly forsake me!") immediately counters this human declaration with a profound admission of dependence and vulnerability, shifting the focus to divine enablement. This sequence is not a sign of hypocrisy or weakness but profound spiritual insight: true human obedience to God is not merely an act of will, but a collaborative journey enabled and sustained by God's constant presence and grace. It demonstrates that our strongest resolutions require divine backing for fruition.

Psalm 119 8 Bonus section

The placement of this verse early in Psalm 119, specifically within the "Aleph" section, is significant. The "Aleph" (א) represents the beginning, a strong foundation. By placing this fervent dual expression of commitment and dependence right at the outset of such a monumental declaration of love for God's law, the psalmist sets the tone for the entire work. It suggests that from the very first steps of devotion, a believer must internalize this truth: commitment and dependence are inseparable. The verse subtly underscores that the comprehensive wisdom and intricate detail of the Law, so extensively praised in this Psalm, can only be genuinely "kept" by a heart that acknowledges its need for a never-forsaking God. It's a foundational prayer for perseverance in spiritual disciplines and faithfulness, implicitly contrasting with a self-reliant approach to piety.

Psalm 119 8 Commentary

Psalm 119:8 profoundly captures the paradoxical yet essential balance between human spiritual endeavor and divine enablement. It is the cry of a soul deeply devoted to God's ways, affirming a resolute choice to obey "your statutes," a declaration of personal responsibility and will. Yet, the psalmist, keenly aware of human frailty and the myriad challenges to faithfulness, immediately turns to God with a desperate plea: "do not utterly forsake me!" This is not a request for permission to fail, but an urgent petition for God's active and unwavering presence, recognizing that genuine, sustained obedience is impossible without divine sustenance. The verse embodies the spiritual truth that while we must 'work out our own salvation' with fear and trembling, it is simultaneously God 'who works in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure' (Phil 2:12-13). It teaches that commitment to righteousness is expressed through active pursuit and constant reliance on God to prevent us from stumbling or being utterly abandoned from the path. Practically, this means: when you set your heart to pray daily, pray also for God to grant you consistency; when you commit to speaking truth, ask God to guard your tongue. It highlights that the sincere resolve of the believer must always be accompanied by a humble and persistent prayer for God's enabling grace, acknowledging our absolute dependence on Him for every step of faithfulness.