Psalms 119:141
in Psalms 119I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I am small and despised; Yet do I not forget thy precepts.
KJV
I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
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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 am small and despised - The word here rendered “small” may mean “small” in respect to number - that is, “few,” Mic 5:2; Isa 60:22; or in respect to age - “young,” Gen 19:31; or in respect to dignity - “low;” least in rank or esteem. The language here may be applied to the church as comparatively few; to one who is young; or to one in humble life. Either of these may be a reason why one is regarded as of little consequence, or may be subject to reproach and ridicule. It is not possible to determine in which of these senses the word is used here, or in which sense it was applicable to the psalmist. The word “despised” means treated as unworthy of notice; passed by; looked upon with contempt. This might be on account of age, or poverty, or ignorance, or humble rank: or it might be simply on account of his religion, for the friends of God have been, and often are, despised simply because they are religious. The Saviour was despised by people; the apostles were; the most excellent of the earth in all ages have been. Compare Heb 11:36-38; 1Co 4:13. Yet do not I forget thy precepts - I am not ashamed of them. I am not deterred from keeping them, and from avowing my purpose to obey them, because I am despised for it. This is often one of the severest tests of religion, and to be faithful in such circumstances is one of the clearest proofs of true attachment to God. There are few things which we are less able to bear than contempt, and one of the best evidences of attachment to principle is when we adhere to what we regard as right and true, though we are despised for it by the frivolous, the worldly, the rich - by those who claim to be “wise.” He who can bear contempt on account of his opinions, can usually bear anything.
This 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
"I am young, and of no reputation; yet do I not forget Thy righteousnesses:" not as my enemies, who "have forgotten Thy words" (ver. 141). The younger seems to grieve for those older than himself who had forgotten the righteousnesses of God, while he himself had not forgotten. For what meaneth, "I am young, yet do I not forget"? save this, Those older than me have forgotten. For the Greek word is νεώτερος, the same as that used in the words above, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" This is a comparative, and is therefore well understood in its relation to some one older. Let us therefore here recognize the two nations, who were striving even in Rebecca's womb; when it was said to her, not from works, but of Him that calleth, "The elder shall serve the younger." But the younger saith here that he is of no reputation: for this reason he hath become greater: since "behold, they that were first are last, and they that were last first."
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
I am small and despised,.... Or, "I have been" (x).
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
"I am small and despised: yet do I not forget thy precepts." That fault of forgetfulness which he condemned in others (Psa 119:139) could not be charged upon himself. His enemies made no account of him, regarded him as a man without power or ability, and therefore looked down upon him. He appears to accept the situation and humbly take the lowest room, but he carries God's word with him. How many a man has been driven to do some ill action in order to reply to the contempt of his enemies: to make himself conspicuous he has either spoken or acted in a manner which he could not justify. The beauty of the Psalmist's piety was that it was calm and well balanced, and as he was not carried away by flattery, so was he not overcome by shame. If small, he the more jealously attended to the smaller duties; and if despised, he was the more in earnest to keep the despised commandments of God.
"I am small and despised: yet do I not forget thy precepts." That fault of forgetfulness which he condemned in others (Psa 119:139) could not be charged upon himself. His enemies made no account of him, regarded him as a man without power or ability, and therefore looked down upon him. He appears to accept the situation and humbly take the lowest room, but he carries God's word with him.
I am small and despised - And on these accounts have every thing to fear. Being small, I cannot resist; being despised, I am in danger; but even all this does not induce me to start aside, or through the fear of man to be unfaithful to thee.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צָעִ֣יר | tzair | [am] insignificant | H6810 → | |
| אָנֹכִ֣י | ʾanokhi | I | H595 → | 359 times |
| וְנִבְזֶ֑ה | venivzeh | and [am] despised | H959 → | 44 times |
| פִּ֝קֻּדֶ֗יךָ | pikudeicha | precepts your | H6490 → | 24 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃ | shakhacheti | I have forgotten | H7911 → | 102 times |
צָעִ֣יר[am] insignificant
tzairH6810 →
אָנֹכִ֣יI
ʾanokhiH595 →359 times
וְנִבְזֶ֑הand [am] despised
venivzehH959 →44 times
פִּ֝קֻּדֶ֗יךָprecepts your
pikudeichaH6490 →24 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃I have forgotten
shakhachetiH7911 →102 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
2 Corinthians 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
it leads to
- Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Philippians 2:6–8
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
- Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
- Romans 8:32
Through
James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
it leads to
- Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 6:20
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 5:3
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.