Psalms 119:138
in Psalms 119The testimonies You have laid down are righteous and altogether faithful.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness And very faithfulness.
KJV
Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
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This verse in Psalms 119
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Righteous are You, O LORD
on Psalms 119:137-144
God's righteousness is stated first, then the testimonies are called righteous and altogether faithful. Zeal consumes him because his foes forget the words, a grief carried for someone else's sin. He is lowly and despised, and he still remembers the precepts.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Thus, then, as if giving a reason why he had cause to weep much, and to mourn deeply for his sin, he says, "Righteous are You, O Lord, and true is Your judgment" [Psalm 119:137]. "You have commanded Your testimonies, righteousness, and Your truth exceedingly" [Psalm 119:138]. This righteousness of God and righteous judgment and truth, is to be feared by every sinner: for thereby all who are condemned are condemned of God; nor is there one who can righteously complain against the righteous God of his own damnation. Therefore the tears of the penitent are needful; since if his impenitent heart were condemned, he would be most justly condemned. He indeed calls the testimonies of God righteousness: for He proves himself righteous by giving righteous commandments. And this is truth also, that God may become known by such testimonies.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous,.... The Scriptures are holy, just, and good; and what is contained in them are according to godliness; are for instruction in righteousness, and teach men to live soberly, righteously, and godly; and very faithful; or "true" (u): all the sayings in them are true and faithful sayings; for they are the sayings of God that cannot lie; the promises in them are faithfully performed by him that made them; they are all yea and amen in Christ.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
"Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful." All that which God hath testified in his word is right and truthful. It is righteous, and may be relied upon for the present; it is faithful, and may be trusted in for the future. About every portion of the inspired testimonies there is a divine authority, they are issued and published by God's command, and they bear the impress of the royal style which carries omnipotence about it. Not only the precepts but the promises also are commanded of the Lord, and so are all the teachings of Scripture. It is not left to our choice whether we will accept them or no; they are issued by royal command, and are not to be questioned. Their characteristic is that they are like the Lord who has proclaimed them, they are the essence of justice and the soul of truth. God's word is righteous and cannot be impeached; it is faithful and cannot be questioned; it is true from the beginning, and it will be true unto the end. Dwell upon that sweet word—"very faithful." What a mercy that we have a God to deal with who is scrupulously faithful, true to all the items and details of his promises, punctual to time, steadfast during all time. Well may we risk all upon a word which is "ever faithful, ever sure."
"Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful." All that which God hath testified in his word is right and truthful. It is righteous, and may be relied upon for the present; it is faithful, and may be trusted in for the future. About every portion of the inspired testimonies there is a divine authority, they are issued and published by God's command, and they bear the impress of the royal style which carries omnipotence about it.
Thy testimonies - Every thing that proceeds from thee partakes of the perfections of thy nature.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded - Thy law, considered as a testimony as to what is right and best. Are righteous and very faithful - Margin, as in Hebrew, “righteousness and faithfulness.” They are “so” righteous, and so deserving of confidence - so certain to be accomplished, and so worthy to be trusted in - that they may be spoken of as “righteousness” and “fidelity” of the most perfect kind; the very essence of that which is right.
The words behind it
5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צִ֭וִּיתָ | tzivita | you commanded | H6680 → | 494 times |
| צֶ֣דֶק | tzedek | righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
| עֵדֹתֶ֑יךָ | ʾedoteikha | testimonies your | H5713 → | 26 times |
| וֶֽאֱמוּנָ֥ה | veemunah | and faithfulness | H530 → | 49 times |
| מְאֹֽד׃ | meod | much | H3966 → | 300 times |
צִ֭וִּיתָyou commanded
tzivitaH6680 →494 times
צֶ֣דֶקrighteousness
tzedekH6664 →119 times
עֵדֹתֶ֑יךָtestimonies your
ʾedoteikhaH5713 →26 times
וֶֽאֱמוּנָ֥הand faithfulness
veemunahH530 →49 times
מְאֹֽד׃much
meodH3966 →300 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
Deuteronomy 4:8And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?
it leads to
- Psalms 147:19–20
He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
- Psalms 147:19–20
Through
Psalms 119:86All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me!
it leads to
- Psalms 70:5
But I am poor and needy; hurry to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
- Psalms 35:19
Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
- Psalms 35:7
For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
- Psalms 119:78
May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie; I will meditate on Your precepts.
- Psalms 109:26
Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion.
- Psalms 70:5
Through
Psalms 119:144Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
it leads to
- Daniel 12:10
Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
- Psalms 119:169
May my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word.
- Daniel 12:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 119; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 6; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.