Psalms 119:112
in Psalms 119I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, even to the very end.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes For ever, even unto the end. ס SAMEKH.
KJV
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
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This verse in Psalms 119
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I have inclined mine heart - The Hebrew word means properly “to stretch out”; “to extend” - as the hand. Exo 8:6, Exo 8:17. Then it means to incline, to bow, to depress. Here the idea is, that he had “given” that “direction” to the inclinations of his heart; he had resolved or purposed. He refers to an act of choice on his part, meaning that he had preferred this course, or that he had made this a solemn intention. Though every right inclination of the human heart is to be traced to the divine agency, yet it is also true that man is active in religion - or that his own mind resolves, chooses, and prefers - and that true religion is the actual choice or preference of all who serve God aright. See the notes at Psa 119:59. To perform thy statutes alway - Margin, as in Hebrew, “to do.” He meant to do the will of God. He intended to do this constantly; even forever. No man can be a truly pious man who has any disposition, or any purpose, “ever” to turn away from the service of God. Even unto the end - See Psa 119:33. To the end of life; to the end of all things.
This site's exposition
Your word is a lamp to my feet
on Psalms 119:105-112
A lamp shows the next step and a light shows the road, and both are said of the word in one verse. He has sworn to keep the judgments and calls the testimonies his heritage. Verse 109 has him carrying his life in his hands.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
He then addeth: "I have applied my heart to fulfil Thy righteousness for ever, for my reward" (ver. 112). He who saith, "I have applied my heart," had before said, "Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies:" so that we may understand that it is at once a divine gift, and an act of free will. But are we to fulfil the righteousnesses of God for ever? Those works which we perform in regard to the need of our neighbours, cannot be everlasting, any more than their need; but if we do not do them from love, there is no righteousness; if we do them from love, that love is everlasting, and an everlasting reward is in store for it.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
"I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end." He was not half inclined to virtue, but heartily inclined to it. His whole heart was bent on practical, persevering godliness. He was resolved to keep the statutes of the Lord with all his heart, throughout all his time, without erring or ending. He made it his end to keep the law unto the end, and that without end. He had by prayer, and meditation, and resolution made his whole being lean towards God's commands; or as we should say in other words—the grace of God had inclined him to incline his heart in a sanctified direction. Many are inclined to preach, but the Psalmist was inclined to practise; many are inclined to perform ceremonies, but he was inclined to perform statutes; many are inclined to obey occasionally, but David would obey alway; and, alas, many are inclined for temporary religion, but this godly man was bound for eternity, he would perform the statutes of his Lord and King even unto the end. Lord, send us such a heavenly inclination of heart as this: then shall we show that thou hast quickened and taught us. To this end create in us a clean heart, and daily renew a right spirit within us, for only so shall we incline in the right direction.
"I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end." He was not half inclined to virtue, but heartily inclined to it. His whole heart was bent on practical, persevering godliness. He was resolved to keep the statutes of the Lord with all his heart, throughout all his time, without erring or ending. He made it his end to keep the law unto the end, and that without end.
I have inclined mine heart - I used the power God gave me, and turned to his testimonies with all mine heart. When we work with God, we can do all things.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נָטִ֣יתִי | natiti | I have turned | H5186 → | 214 times |
| לִ֭בִּי | libi | heart my | H3820 → | 595 times |
| לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת | laasot | to do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| חֻקֶּ֗יךָ | chukeicha | decrees your | H2706 → | 127 times |
| לְעוֹלָ֥ם | leolam | for ever | H5769 → | 438 times |
| עֵֽקֶב׃ | ʾekev | end | H6118 → | 15 times |
נָטִ֣יתִיI have turned
natitiH5186 →214 times
לִ֭בִּיheart my
libiH3820 →595 times
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתto do
laasotH6213 →2628 times
חֻקֶּ֗יךָdecrees your
chukeichaH2706 →127 times
לְעוֹלָ֥םfor ever
leolamH5769 →438 times
עֵֽקֶב׃end
ʾekevH6118 →15 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 141:4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:36
Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
- 1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
- Psalms 119:36
Through
Psalms 119:33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:26–27
I recounted my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.
- 1 John 2:27
And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all…
- Psalms 119:26–27
Through
Psalms 119:36Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.
it leads to
- Luke 12:15
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
- Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Luke 12:15
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 119; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 6; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).