Psalm - 119:47



47 I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Psalm 119:47.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved.
And I delight myself in Thy commands, That I have loved,
And so that I may take delight in your teachings, to which I have given my love.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And I will delight myself The sentiment contained in this verse is similar to that which he had previously mentioned. The amount is, he held the commandments of God in such high esteem, that he experienced nothing more pleasant to him than the making of them his constant theme of meditation. By the term delight, he expresses the intensity of his love. The phrase I will lift up my hands, refers, to the same thing. It is a sure indication that we eagerly desire a thing when we stretch out the hands to grasp and enjoy it. This simile, therefor denotes the ardor of his desire. [1] If a man, by his mien and gait pretend any such affection for the law of God, and yet pay no regard to it in the affairs of life, he would be justly chargeable with the basest hypocrisy. Again, he affirms, that that affection, so earnest and so ardent, springs from the sweetness of the law of God having knit our hearts to it. Finally, he says, he would meditate on God's testimonies. Along with the majority of commentators, I have no doubt that the word svch shuach, denotes that silent and secret musing in which the children of God exercise themselves.

Footnotes

1 - "The lifting up of the hands is used in Scripture to denote, first, praying, (Psalm 28:2; Lamentations 2:19; 1-Timothy 2:8;) secondly, blessing, (Leviticus 19:22; Psalm 22:4;) thirdly, swearing, (Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 32:40; Psalm 106:26; Ezekiel 36:7; Revelation 10:5;) fourthly, setting about any undertaking, (Genesis 41:44; Psalm 10:13; Hebrews 12:12) Aben Ezra, however, explains, (and perhaps rightly,) that the metaphor, in this place, is taken from the action of those who receive any one whom they were glad or proud to see with uplifted hands." -- Cresswell. Merrick explains the phrase thus: "I will reach out my hands with eagerness, in order to receive thy commandments."

And I will delight myself - See the notes at Psalm 119:16.

Thy commandments, which I have loved - O shame to Christians who feel so little affection to the Gospel of Christ, when we see such cordial, conscientious, and inviolate attachment in a Jew to the laws and ordinances of Moses, that did not afford a thousandth part of the privileges!

And I will delight myself in thy commandments,.... In perusing and practising them;
which I have loved; a good man loves the law of God, and the commandments of Christ, and delights in them after the inward man.

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