Psalms 119:157
in Psalms 119Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies.
KJV
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
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This verse in Psalms 119
Commentary
6 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
"Many there are that trouble me, and persecute me; yet do I not swerve from Your testimonies" [Psalm 119:157]. This has been realized: we know it, we recollect it, we acknowledge it. The whole earth has been crimsoned by the blood of Martyrs; heaven is flowery with the crowns of Martyrs, the Churches are adorned with the memorials of Martyrs, seasons distinguished by the birthdays of Martyrs, cures more frequent by the merits of Martyrs. Whence this, save because that has been fulfilled which was prophesied of that Man who has been spread abroad around the whole world. We recognize this, and render thanks to the Lord our God. For thou, man, you have yourself said in another Psalm, "If the Lord Himself had not been on our side, they would have swallowed us up quick." Behold the reason why you have not swerved from His testimonies, and hast won the palm of your heavenly calling amid the hands of the many who persecuted and troubled you.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
"Many are my persecutors and mine enemies." Those who actually assail me, or who secretly abhor me, are many. He sets this over against the many tender mercies of God. It seems a strange thing that a truly godly man, as David was, should have many enemies; but it is inevitable. The disciple cannot be loved where his Master is hated. The seed of the serpent must oppose the seed of the woman: it is their nature. "Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies." He did not deviate from the truth of God, but proceeded in the straight way, however many adversaries might endeavour to block up his path. Some men have been led astray by one enemy, but here is a saint who held on his way in the teeth of many persecutors. There is enough in the testimonies of God to recompense us for pushing forward against all the hosts that may combine against us. So long as they cannot drive or draw us into a spiritual decline our foes have done us no great harm, and they have accomplished nothing by their malice. If we do not decline they are defeated. If they cannot make us sin they have missed their mark. Faithfulness to the truth is victory over our enemies.
"Many are my persecutors and mine enemies." Those who actually assail me, or who secretly abhor me, are many. He sets this over against the many tender mercies of God. It seems a strange thing that a truly godly man, as David was, should have many enemies; but it is inevitable. The disciple cannot be loved where his Master is hated. The seed of the serpent must oppose the seed of the woman: it is their nature. "Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies."
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies - The thought here turns on the number of his enemies, and on the effect which numbers might have in turning one from the way of truth. We might meet one such enemy, and overcome him; we might resist the influence of one in endeavoring to turn us away from the truth, but the danger of falling is much increased when numbers are combined in persecuting us, or in seeking to turn us away from our religion - when it becomes unpopular to be a professed friend of God. Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies - I still adhere to thee; I still maintain my integrity, notwithstanding all this. See the notes at Psa 119:51.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רַ֭בִּים | rabim | [are] many | H7227 → | 454 times |
| רֹדְפַ֣י | rodefai | [those who] harass me | H7291 → | 143 times |
| וְצָרָ֑י | vetzarai | and foes my | H6862 → | 109 times |
| מֵ֝עֵדְוֹתֶ֗יךָ | meedevoteikha | from testimonies your | H5715 → | 59 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָטִֽיתִי׃ | natiti | I have turned aside | H5186 → | 214 times |
רַ֭בִּים[are] many
rabimH7227 →454 times
רֹדְפַ֣י[those who] harass me
rodefaiH7291 →143 times
וְצָרָ֑יand foes my
vetzaraiH6862 →109 times
מֵ֝עֵדְוֹתֶ֗יךָfrom testimonies your
meedevoteikhaH5715 →59 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
נָטִֽיתִי׃I have turned aside
natitiH5186 →214 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
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8
He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
- Galatians 6:9
Through
Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
it leads to
- Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
- Isaiah 1:15–16
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Proverbs 4:18
Through
Psalms 119:51The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn from Your law.
it leads to
- Job 23:11
My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.
- Job 23:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on 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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.