Psalms 119:15
in Psalms 119I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I will meditate on thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways.
KJV
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
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This verse in Psalms 119
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
How can a young man keep his way pure
on Psalms 119:9-16
The question is how a young man keeps his way pure, and the answer given is guarding it by the word. Verse 11 puts the word inside the man, hidden in the heart. Around it stand the practices: proclaiming, rejoicing, meditating, delighting, and never forgetting.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"I will talk of Your commandments, and have respect unto Your ways" [Psalm 119:15]. And thus the Church does exercise herself in the commandments of God, by speaking in the copious disputations of the learned against all the enemies of the Christian and Catholic faith; which are fruitful to those who compose them, if nothing but the ways of the Lord is regarded in them; but "All the ways of the Lord are," as it is written, "mercy and truth;" the fullness of which both is found in Christ.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
I will meditate in thy precepts,.... In his own mind; revolve them in his thoughts; consider well the nature, excellency, usefulness, and importance of them, and the obligations he lay under to observe them.
When he knew God had heard his declaration of his ways he did not say, "Now, Lord, tell me my lot, and let me know what the event will be;" but, "Now, Lord, tell me my duty; let me know what thou wouldst have me to do as the case stands." Note, Those who in all their ways acknowledge God may pray in faith that he will direct their steps in the right way.
He will take a constant pleasure in communion with God and obedience to him. It is not for a season that he rejoices in this light, but " I will still, I will for ever, delight myself in thy statutes, not only think of them, but do them with delight,"
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
We must carefully treasure up the word of God, declare it to others, meditate on it, and heartily delight in it; and then by His grace we shall act according to it.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
"I will meditate in thy precepts." He who has an inward delight in anything will not long withdraw his mind from it. As the miser often returns to look upon his treasure, so does the devout believer by frequent meditation turn over the priceless wealth which he has discovered in the book of the Lord. To some men meditation is a task; to the man of cleansed way it is a joy. He who has meditated will meditate; he who saith, "I have rejoiced," is the same who adds, "I will meditate."
"I will meditate in thy precepts." He who has an inward delight in anything will not long withdraw his mind from it. As the miser often returns to look upon his treasure, so does the devout believer by frequent meditation turn over the priceless wealth which he has discovered in the book of the Lord. To some men meditation is a task; to the man of cleansed way it is a joy. He who has meditated will meditate; he who saith, "I have rejoiced," is the same who adds, "I will meditate." No spiritual exercise is more profitable to the soul than that of devout meditation; why are many of us so exceeding slack in it? It is worthy of observation that the preceptory part of God's word was David's special subject of meditation, and this was the more natural because the question was still upon his mind as to how a young man should cleanse his way. Practical godliness is vital godliness. "And have respect unto thy ways," that is to say, I will think much about them so as to know what thy ways are; and next; I will think much of them so as to have thy ways in great reverence and high esteem. I will see what thy ways are towards me that I may be filled with reverence, gratitude, and love; and then I will observe what are those ways which thou hast prescribed for me, thy ways in which thou wouldest have me follow thee; these I would watch carefully that I may become obedient, and prove myself to be a true servant of such a Master. Note how the verses grow more inward as they proceed: from the speech of Psa 119:13 we advanced to the manifested joy of Psa 119:14), and now we come to the secret meditation of the happy spirit. The richest graces are those which dwell deepest.
I will meditate - 12. He should encourage self-examination and reflection; and meditate frequently on God’s words, works, and ways - and especially on his gracious dealings towards him. 13. He should keep his eye upon God’s steps; setting the example of his Savior before his eyes, going where he would go, and nowhere else; doing what he would do, and nothing else; keeping the company that he would keep, and none else; and doing every thing in reference to the final judgment.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I will meditate in thy precepts - I will think of them; I will find my happiness in them. See the notes at Psa 1:2. And have respect unto thy ways - And look to thy ways - thy commands. I continually regard them, or refer to them in my mind as the guide of my life. See the notes at Psa 119:6.
The words behind it
4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּפִקֻּדֶ֥יךָ | befikudeicha | on precepts your | H6490 → | 24 times |
| אָשִׂ֑יחָה | ʾasichah | I will meditate | H7878 → | 20 times |
| וְ֝אַבִּ֗יטָה | veabitah | and I will pay attention to | H5027 → | 69 times |
| אֹרְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | ʾorechoteikha | paths your | H734 → | 58 times |
בְּפִקֻּדֶ֥יךָon precepts your
befikudeichaH6490 →24 times
אָשִׂ֑יחָהI will meditate
ʾasichahH7878 →20 times
וְ֝אַבִּ֗יטָהand I will pay attention to
veabitahH5027 →69 times
אֹרְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃paths your
ʾorechoteikhaH734 →58 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 1:2But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
it leads to
- Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 119:92
If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Romans 7:22
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.
- Psalms 119:97–99
Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
- Joshua 1:8
Through
James 1:25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
it leads to
- Luke 11:28
But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
- John 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- Luke 11:28
Through
Psalms 119:97Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
it leads to
- Psalms 1:2
But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 1:2
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms

This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; 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; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 6; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
