Psalm 119 96

Psalm 119:96 kjv

I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Psalm 119:96 nkjv

I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Psalm 119:96 niv

To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.

Psalm 119:96 esv

I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Psalm 119:96 nlt

Even perfection has its limits,
but your commands have no limit.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 96 Meaning

Psalm 119:96 presents a profound contrast between human limitations and divine boundlessness. It declares that while all human concepts of perfection, achievement, and wisdom eventually reach their end or discover their inherent limitations, God's commandments (representing His entire revealed truth, His Law, and His wisdom) are immeasurably vast and expansive. They possess an unending depth, an infinite scope, and an eternal relevance that far surpasses any earthly construct or human pursuit of flawlessness. This verse highlights the absolute superiority, comprehensiveness, and enduring nature of God's Word compared to anything originating from finite human understanding or endeavor.

Psalm 119 96 Context

Psalm 119 is an epic acrostic poem, each eight-verse section beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The entire psalm is a magnificent ode to the Law of God, using at least eight different synonyms for His Word. This specific verse, 119:96, concludes the "Lamedh" (ל) section (verses 89-96), serving as a powerful summation before the next section begins. The preceding verses in this section emphasize the eternal nature of God's Word, its establishment in the heavens (v. 89-91), its ability to sustain through affliction (v. 92), and its power to preserve and revive the psalmist (v. 93-95). Verse 96 stands as a declarative contrast, emphasizing the absolute truth and boundless utility of God's commandments in the face of all earthly imperfections and limitations, effectively concluding the section's theme of the Word's supremacy. Historically, it would have served as a testament to the superiority of God's divinely revealed Law over any human-devised codes, philosophies, or legal systems prevalent in surrounding cultures, implicitly challenging any thought of human wisdom's ultimate sufficiency.

Psalm 119 96 Word analysis

• I have seen (רָאִיתִי - ra'iti): From the Hebrew root ra'ah (ראה), meaning to see, perceive, understand, experience. This is not just a casual glance, but an insightful observation gained through life experience, contemplation, or divine revelation. It suggests personal conviction and deep understanding.
• a limit (קֵץ - qets): A boundary, end, extremity, termination. It signifies something that reaches its completion, beyond which it cannot go or does not exist. This can apply to space, time, or concept. Here, it refers to the finite nature and inherent constraints of all human perfection.
• to all perfection (לְכָל תִּכְלָה - l’khol takhlah):
  • l'khol (לְכָל): To all, throughout all, universally. This indicates comprehensiveness – every possible form of human "perfection."
  • takhlah (תִּכְלָה): From the root kalah (כָּלָה), meaning to finish, complete, achieve, perfect. This noun means completion, consummation, limit, or perfection. It refers to human achievement, wisdom, knowledge, moral systems, physical beauty, or any form of finite completeness or excellence. It is something finite and ultimately reaches an end.
• but (וְ - vê - a conjunction): This simple "and" or "but" strongly introduces an antithesis, a powerful contrast between the two clauses. It pivots the thought dramatically from limitation to limitlessness.
• Your commandments (מִצְוָתְךָ - mitzvatekha): From mitzvah (מִצְוָה), meaning a command, precept, injunction, or ordinance. This is often used interchangeably with torah (law), mishpatim (judgments), edoth (testimonies), etc., in Psalm 119, referring to the whole body of God's revealed will and truth. It implies divine origin and authority. The suffix -tekha indicates "Your" (referring to God), stressing the divine source.
• are exceedingly broad (רְחָבָה מְאֹד - rekhāvah me'od):
  • rekhāvah (רְחָבָה): Wide, spacious, extensive, broad, comprehensive. It evokes imagery of an open, limitless expanse. It contrasts directly with "limit." It means God's Law has unbounded scope, endless application, and infinite depth, applicable to all times, places, and situations.
  • me'od (מְאֹד): Very, exceedingly, exceedingly so, intensely. An intensifier that amplifies the adjective "broad," emphasizing its vastness beyond measure.

Words-group analysis

• "I have seen a limit to all perfection": This phrase conveys a deeply reasoned observation by the psalmist. It recognizes the inherent finitude of every human-conceived or human-achieved ideal, wisdom, or system. Nothing man-made is ultimately complete, perfect, or endlessly applicable. Any human attempt at perfection ultimately reveals its boundary, its endpoint, or its inadequacy when faced with comprehensive truth.
• "but Your commandments are exceedingly broad": This phrase delivers the core message of the verse, an emphatic declaration of the limitless nature of God's Word. The "broadness" signifies its expansive wisdom, its comprehensive scope covering all aspects of life, its unending truth, and its eternal relevance that transcends all limitations of time, culture, or human understanding. It provides guidance and truth for every situation, stretching beyond what any human philosophy could encompass.

Psalm 119 96 Bonus section

The positioning of this verse, at the conclusion of an eight-verse stanza (Lamedh) and before the subsequent Mem stanza, gives it particular weight. It acts as a theological summary statement for the section and indeed a powerful statement for the entire psalm. The concept of God's Word being "broad" contrasts directly with human limits; this broadness implies not just extensiveness in scope but also sufficiency and adequacy for all of life's complex scenarios. It suggests that unlike human knowledge which is always bounded and specialized, divine truth is seamlessly integrated and universally applicable, providing a holistic and enduring framework for wisdom, justice, and righteousness that far surpasses any earthly construct or pursuit of flawlessness. The imagery is like comparing a small, meticulously designed garden (human perfection) to a boundless, wild, and living universe (God's commandments).

Psalm 119 96 Commentary

Psalm 119:96 presents a foundational theological truth: human striving, even for the highest ideals of perfection, invariably encounters a boundary, a point beyond which it cannot extend or sustain its flawless nature. Whether it is philosophical systems, moral codes, scientific knowledge, or individual human virtue, all are circumscribed by the inherent finitude of humanity and creation. They are ultimately temporal, contextual, and incomplete. In stark and beautiful contrast, the psalmist declares the infinite and boundless nature of God's commandments—His divinely revealed Word.

The "broadness" of God's commandments implies several things. First, it speaks to their comprehensiveness: they are relevant to every aspect of human existence, every dilemma, every relationship, and every area of thought and action. Second, it refers to their depth: one can plumb the depths of God's truth endlessly without exhausting its meaning or application. Third, it signifies their eternity: unlike fleeting human perfections, God's Word remains true and applicable across all generations, civilizations, and throughout eternity. It is the unchangeable, ever-sufficient standard for life. This verse serves as an enduring testament to the wisdom and power of God's eternal Word as the ultimate, limitless guide for humanity.