Psalm 119:97 kjv
O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:97 nkjv
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:97 niv
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Psalm 119:97 esv
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:97 nlt
Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Psalm 119 97 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night..." | Meditate on the law day and night. |
| Ps 1:2 | "...But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night." | Delight and meditation in God's law. |
| Ps 19:7-11 | "The law of the LORD is perfect... more to be desired are they than gold... sweeter also than honey..." | Value and perfection of God's law. |
| Ps 63:6 | "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches." | Meditation on God (related to His word). |
| Ps 77:12 | "I will meditate on all Your work, And muse on all Your deeds." | Pondering God's actions/word. |
| Ps 119:16 | "I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." | Delight in God's statutes. |
| Ps 119:24 | "Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors." | God's word as delight and counsel. |
| Ps 119:47 | "And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love." | Delighting in and loving commandments. |
| Ps 119:48 | "My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love..." | Active love and submission to commands. |
| Ps 119:113 | "I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law." | Contrasting love for law with hatred of duplicity. |
| Ps 119:167 | "My soul has kept Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly." | Soul's keeping and exceeding love for word. |
| Ps 119:174 | "I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight." | Salvation longing and law as delight. |
| Prov 6:23 | "For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light..." | God's word as guidance and light. |
| Jer 15:16 | "Your words were found, and I ate them; And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart..." | Finding joy and rejoicing in God's words. |
| Rom 7:22 | "For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man." | Inward delight in God's law. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof..." | All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..." | Word is living, active, discerning. |
| Jas 1:25 | "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it..." | Continuing in the perfect law of liberty. |
| Jn 1:1-3 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..." | Jesus as the living Word of God. |
| Col 3:16 | "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom..." | Word of Christ indwelling richly. |
| Phil 4:8 | "...whatever is true, whatever is noble... if there is any excellence... meditate on these things." | Meditating on virtuous things. |
| 1 Pet 2:2 | "...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby..." | Desire for God's word for spiritual growth. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 97 Meaning
Psalm 119:97 declares the psalmist's profound love for God's law and its continuous, daily meditation in his life. This verse highlights a heart deeply devoted to divine instruction, finding joy and constant engagement in God's revealed will. It portrays a deep personal affection for God's word, transforming it from mere rules into a constant companion and guide for daily living.
Psalm 119 97 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic poem structured around the Hebrew alphabet, with each of its 22 stanzas (of eight verses each) beginning with a successive letter of the alphabet. Each verse, with few exceptions, explicitly mentions or refers to God's law using various synonyms such as statutes, precepts, commands, judgments, testimonies, ways, and word. This consistent focus reveals a profound, enduring reverence and love for divine instruction. Verse 97 falls within the Yodh stanza (verses 97-104), emphasizing the personal experience of understanding and meditating on God's word. Historically, for ancient Israel, Torah was not merely a collection of rules but God's divine teaching and covenant revelation, providing a framework for life, worship, and relationship with Him in contrast to pagan beliefs or human wisdom. This verse exemplifies the psalmist's passionate commitment to God's self-revelation.
Psalm 119 97 Word analysis
- Oh, how: Expresses intense emotion, an exclamation of fervent passion and admiration, not merely a statement but a heartfelt cry.
- I love: Hebrew: ʾāhab (אָהַב). Denotes deep, personal affection, commitment, and strong devotion. It goes beyond intellectual assent to a profound emotional and volitional attachment. This is a personal declaration, reflecting a chosen affinity for God's truth.
- Your law: Hebrew: Tôrāh (תּוֹרָה). While often translated "law," its root meaning is "instruction" or "teaching." It encompasses all of God's revealed will—His commands, statutes, precepts, testimonies, and judgments, forming the covenant life God designed for His people. It refers to divine guidance for righteous living.
- It is my meditation: Hebrew: sîḥāh (שִׂיחָה). This term implies deep, focused contemplation, reflective study, internal pondering, or even communing with oneself (or with God) about the subject. It is an active and engaged mental and spiritual exercise, not passive thought.
- all the day: Signifies continuity, regularity, and a pervasive presence in one's life. It is not an occasional thought but a habitual practice, impacting every moment and every decision from morning to night.
Words-group analysis
- "Oh, how I love Your law!": This phrase communicates passionate devotion. The psalmist expresses delight in God's instruction, indicating that divine truth is not burdensome but a source of joy and life. This affection contrasts with those who find God's commands onerous.
- "It is my meditation all the day.": This demonstrates practical application and a holistic embrace of God's word. "Meditation" implies not just reading, but deep internalizing, processing, and applying. "All the day" speaks to the pervasive influence and constant accessibility of God's truth in every aspect of life, demonstrating the word as a constant source of wisdom and counsel. This continual engagement indicates its primary importance in the psalmist's existence.
Psalm 119 97 Bonus section
The extensive use of synonyms for "law" throughout Psalm 119 highlights the multi-faceted nature of God's revelation. "Your law" (Torah) represents God's authoritative teaching that imparts life, contrasting sharply with human wisdom or the chaotic values of the world. The act of "meditation" (sîḥāh) is distinct from simply reading or memorizing; it involves a deep, often repetitive, engagement with the text, allowing it to penetrate the heart and mind, leading to transformation. This daily meditation fosters a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's guidance, as the Spirit uses the Word to conform believers to the image of Christ. The psalmist's personal relationship with God's word foreshadows the New Testament concept of the "word of Christ dwelling richly" within believers (Col 3:16). This kind of sustained devotion also signifies an unwavering trust in the sufficiency and perfect counsel of God's instruction for all of life's circumstances.
Psalm 119 97 Commentary
Psalm 119:97 encapsulates the very heart of the entire psalm: an ardent love for God's revealed will. The psalmist's fervent exclamation "Oh, how I love Your law!" reveals a profound emotional connection, showing that God's Torah (His teaching, instruction) is not viewed as a mere set of burdensome rules but as a cherished gift. This love flows from understanding the law's divine origin and its beneficent purpose. The follow-up, "It is my meditation all the day," demonstrates that this love is active and pervasive. To "meditate" is not merely to think about superficially, but to ponder deeply, to rehearse, digest, and internalize. This consistent, daily engagement ensures that God's word shapes thoughts, guides actions, and permeates every moment, leading to wisdom and godly living. The verse underscores that genuine love for God naturally leads to a sustained, reflective immersion in His truth. For a believer, it suggests that our walk with God deepens as His Word becomes not just something we read, but something we live in continually.