Psalms 119:155
in Psalms 119Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not seek Your statutes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes.
KJV
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
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This verse in Psalms 119
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Look upon my affliction and rescue me
on Psalms 119:153-160
He asks God to look at the affliction and to defend his cause. Salvation stays far from the wicked, and the reason given is their own refusal to seek the statutes. Verse 160 states it whole: the entirety of the word is truth.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Health," he says, "is far from the ungodly: for they regard not Your righteousnesses" [Psalm 119:155]. This separates you, that what they have not done, you have done, that is, you have regarded the righteousnesses of God. But "what have you that you have not received?" [1 Corinthians 4:7] Are you not he who a little before said, "I will keep Your righteousnesses"? Thou therefore hast received from Him, unto whom you called, the power to keep them. He therefore does Himself separate you from those from whom health is far, because they have not regarded the righteousnesses of God.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Salvation is far from the wicked,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Though the remembering of God's law is not meritorious, yet it evinces a filial temper and provides the pious with promises to plead, while the wicked in neglecting His law, reject God and despise His promises (compare Ps 9:13;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
"Salvation is far from the wicked." By their perseverance in evil they have almost put themselves out of the pale of hope. They talk about being saved, but they cannot have known anything of it or they would not remain wicked. Every step they have taken in the path of evil has removed them further from the kingdom of grace: they go from one degree of hardness to another till their hearts become as stone. When they fall into trouble it will be irremediable.
"Salvation is far from the wicked." By their perseverance in evil they have almost put themselves out of the pale of hope. They talk about being saved, but they cannot have known anything of it or they would not remain wicked. Every step they have taken in the path of evil has removed them further from the kingdom of grace: they go from one degree of hardness to another till their hearts become as stone. When they fall into trouble it will be irremediable. Yet they talk big, as if they either needed no salvation or could save themselves whenever their fancy turned that way. "For they seek not thy statutes." They do not endeavour to be obedient, but quite the reverse; they seek themselves, they seek evil, and therefore they never find the way of peace and righteousness. When men have broken the statutes of the Lord their wisest course is by repentance to seek forgiveness, and by faith to seek salvation: then salvation is near them, so near them that they shall not miss it; but when the wicked continue to seek after mischief, salvation is set further and further from them. Salvation and God's statutes go together: those who are saved by the King of grace love the statutes of the King of glory.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Salvation is far from the wicked - There is no hope of their conversion. For they seek not thy statutes - And they who do not seek, shall not find.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Salvation is far from the wicked - That is, (a) in their present course: they are very far from being safe, or from having a prospect of salvation; (b) they are constantly going farther and farther off - making their salvation less probable - not going toward heaven, but from it. (c) Destruction is very near to them, and they are constantly making it nearer and nearer. (d) In their present course it may be said that salvation is far - is infinitely remote - from them, so that they can never come to it. (e) If they would be saved, they must change their course altogether, and go “toward” salvation and not from it. For they seek not thy statutes - They do not regard thy law; they do not make it a principle to obey thy commandments.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רָח֣וֹק | rachok | [is] far | H7350 → | 84 times |
| מֵרְשָׁעִ֣ים | mereshaim | from wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| יְשׁוּעָ֑ה | yeshuah | salvation | H3444 → | 78 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| חֻ֝קֶּיךָ | chukeicha | decrees your | H2706 → | 127 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| דָרָֽשׁוּ׃ | darashu | they have sought | H1875 → | 164 times |
רָח֣וֹק[is] far
rachokH7350 →84 times
מֵרְשָׁעִ֣יםfrom wicked [people]
mereshaimH7563 →263 times
יְשׁוּעָ֑הsalvation
yeshuahH3444 →78 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
חֻ֝קֶּיךָdecrees your
chukeichaH2706 →127 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
דָרָֽשׁוּ׃they have sought
darashuH1875 →164 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
Romans 3:11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
it leads to
- Psalms 14:2–4
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
- Psalms 53:2
God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
- Titus 3:3
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget…
- Psalms 14:2–4
Through
Isaiah 57:19bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”
it leads to
- Acts 2:39
This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
- Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
- Acts 2:39
Through
Psalms 18:27For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.
it leads to
- Isaiah 66:2
Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles…
- James 2:5
Listen, 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?
- Isaiah 66:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
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, 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.