Psalm - 44:18



18 Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Psalm 44:18.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
And our heart hath not turned back : neither hast thou turned aside our steps from thy way.
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy path;
We turn not backward our heart, Nor turn aside doth our step from Thy path.
Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way;
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten Thee, neither have we been false to Thy covenant.

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


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Our heart is not turned back - That is, We have not turned away from thy service; we have not apostatized from thee; we have not fallen into idolatry. This must mean that such was not at that time the characteristic of the nation; it was not a prominent thing among the people; there was no such general and pervading iniquity as to explain the fact that these calamities had come upon them, or to be properly the cause of these troubles.
Neither have our steps declined from thy way - Margin, goings. The idea as expressed by our translators is, that the people had not departed from the path prescribed by God; that is, from what he required in his law. The Septuagint and the Vulgate render it, "Thou hast turned our steps from thy way;" that is, though our heart is not turned back, and we have not revolted from thee, yet thou hast turned our steps from thy way, or hast turned us from the way of thy favor and from prosperity. The rendering in the common version, however, is more in conformity with the idea in the original.

Our heart is not turned back,.... To its original hardness, blindness, and bondage, to its former sin and folly, to cherish, gratify, and fulfil its lusts and desires; not from God, from love to him, faith in him, and desires after him; nor from his worship and service; their trials had no such influence upon them as to cause them to apostatize from God, neither in heart, nor in action;
neither have our steps declined from thy way; from the way of his commandments, from the paths of holiness, truth, and faith, being directed and guided therein by the counsel of the Lord, and kept and preserved by his power.

declined--turned aside from God's law.

Turned - From thy worship to idols.

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