Psalms 119:10 — Word Study
WLCבְּכָל־ לִבִּ֥י דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אַל־ תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
BSAWith allkôl [my entire being, everything] my heartlêb [inner self, feelings, will, and intellect] I have sought Youdârash■ [searched for, worshiped, asked] do notʼal [let it not be] let me strayshâgâh▸ [wander, err, go astray] from Your commandmentsmitsvâh [laws, teachings, guidelines]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּכָל־ | with all | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| לִבִּ֥י | heart my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ | I seek you | Verb qal perfect first person common singular, suffix |
| אַל־ | may not | Particle |
| תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי | you allow to stray me | Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
| מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | from commandments your | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. |
| KJV | With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. |
| ASV | With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. |
| YLT | With all my heart I have sought Thee, Let me not err from Thy commands. |
| WEB | With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments. |
| BBE | I have made search for you with all my heart: O let me not go wandering far from your teaching. |
Where they part company is in the choice of words for תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause expressing the act of seeking God, followed by a plea not to stray from His commandments.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 119:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Pursuit of God’s Commandmentsgenerated
Psalm 119:10 is part of a meditation on the importance of adhering to God's word. The psalmist emphasizes a deep, personal quest for God, underlining the necessity of His commandments in guiding one's life. This verse captures a moment of vulnerability and earnestness, as the psalmist seeks divine help to remain steadfast in faith amidst the challenges of life.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:2–34 | Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart. |
| 2 | Psalm 78:37 | Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 7:3 | Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 15:15 | And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 3:10 | Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 19 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ, de.rash.Ti.khagenerated
The verb דָּרַשׁ (darash) means to seek or inquire, and in this context, it conveys a sense of earnest searching for God. The form used here is the perfect tense, indicating a completed action in the past with ongoing relevance. This reflects the psalmist's continuous effort to connect with God.
The addition of the suffix indicates that the seeking is directed towards God, emphasizing a personal relationship. This word encompasses not just a casual search, but a deep, worshipful pursuit, highlighting the psalmist's commitment to understanding and following God's ways.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations of this verse agree that the psalmist has sought God with all their heart and expresses a desire not to stray from His commandments.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ, I have sought You, which is the focal point of the psalmist’s declaration. It is supported by a prepositional phrase indicating the depth of the seeking, בְּכָל־לִבִּי, with all my heart, and followed by a negative imperative אַל־תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי, do not let me stray, which expresses a plea.
The structure highlights the psalmist's heartfelt commitment and the urgency of the request. The arrangement emphasizes the seeking first, followed by the desire for guidance, which reflects the priorities of the psalmist's spiritual journey.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew דְרַשׁ is rendered as ζητήσω, meaning 'I will seek.' This choice emphasizes an active pursuit of God, aligning with the overall theme of seeking divine guidance.
The Greek translation maintains the integrity of the original Hebrew meaning while adapting it to the Greek linguistic context, which may suggest a broader sense of seeking not just knowledge but a relationship with God.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:10 expresses a deep desire to seek God wholeheartedly and a plea not to stray from His commandments. The psalmist emphasizes the importance of God's laws in their life and seeks divine assistance to remain faithful.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To seek God with all your heart means to pursue Him earnestly and wholeheartedly, prioritizing your relationship with Him above all else, as highlighted in Deuteronomy 4:29.
Straying from God's commandments can lead to moral and spiritual confusion. The commandments provide guidance and direction for living a life that is pleasing to God, as seen in Psalm 119:11.
Seeking God can be enhanced through prayer, studying His word, and being part of a community that encourages spiritual growth, as demonstrated throughout the Psalms.
Having a 'whole heart' signifies total commitment and sincerity in the pursuit of God, indicating that one is not divided in their affections or priorities.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God more earnestly?
- How can I ensure that I am not straying from God's commandments?
- What practices can help me keep my heart focused on God?
- How does understanding the commandments as guidance change my perspective on obedience?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to highlight the importance of seeking God wholeheartedly and adhering to His commandments.
"With my whole heart," he says, "have I sought you; O repel me not from Your commandments" [Psalms 119:10].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWith my whole heart have I sought thee,.... Not himself, his own honour and applause, as formal worshippers and self-righteous persons do; but the Lord and his glory, his face, his presence, and
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWith my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. With my whole heart have I sought thee.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDeny me not thy grace and assistance, which I have so sincerely and earnestly desired, and laboured to obtain. Let me not wander, Heb. do not make me to wander, to wit, by leading me into temptation, by withdrawing thy grace, which is necessary to keep me from wandering.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.Ver. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee] And that of a child little, being nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, 1 Timothy 4:6. I did all the wills of God, and so became a man after his own heart, Acts 13:22. O let me not wander] As I shall surely, if thou but withdraw thy grace; for I subsist merely by thy manutension.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) With my whole heart . . .—The self-mistrust of the second clause is a proof of the reality of the first. “Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief,” is another form of this.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee] 4. He must seek God; make earnest prayer and supplication to him for Divine light, for a tender conscience, and for strength to walk uprightly. 5. His whole heart; all his affections must be engaged here, or he cannot succeed. If he keep any affection for the idol or abomination; if his heart do not give it before the Lord, he may make many prayers, but God will answer none of them. 6. He must take care to keep in the path of duty, of abstinence and self-denial; not permitting either his eye, his hand, or his heart to wander from the commandments of his Maker.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10. Cp. Psalms 119:2 b. O let me not wander &c.] Let me not err through ignorance or inadvertence (Psalms 119:67; Psalms 19:12). My intention is good, but my knowledge is imperfect and my strength is small. “The self-mistrust of the second clause is a proof of the reality of the first” (Aglen).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWith my whole heart have I sought thee - See the notes at Psalms 119:2.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.
With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.
With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands!
Tyndale line
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
With my whole heart haue I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandements.
Strictly literal
With my whole heart have I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandments.
With all my heart I have sought Thee, Let me not err from Thy commands.
I have sought You with all my heart, || Do not let me err from Your commands.
With all my heart have I sought thee: oh let me not wander astray from thy commandments.
With my whole heart I seek you; Do not let me stray from your commandments.
Simplified
I worship you sincerely; please don't let me stray from your commands.
I have made search for you with all my heart: O let me not go wandering far from your teaching.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with six of the six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show one word on the leather and several others restored by an editor, indicating a degree of preservation despite some textual restoration.
בְּכָל־ לִבִּ֥י דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אַל־ תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[בכל] לב׳י דרשתי׳ך [אל] [תשג׳ני] [ממצותי׳ך]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 119:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
דָּרַשׁ (darash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or inquire. It encompasses a range of actions from frequenting a place to consulting deities in prayer and worship. The word can imply a diligent search or demand, and it appears in both Qal and Niphal forms, indicating various nuances of seeking and being sought. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
דָּרַשׁ 162 vb. resort to, seek
Qal
(tread a place,) resort to, frequent
seek, consult, inquire of
seek deity in prayer and worship
seek, with idea of demanding, require
inquire, investigate (a matter)
ask for, require, demand
seek with application, study, follow, practise
seek with care, care for
Niph.
let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of God
be sought out
be required, of blood
base
H1875 דָּרַשׁ resort to, seek
1875 darash daw-rash'
a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to
follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or
ask; specifically to worship:--ask, X at all, care for, X
diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-)mancer,
question, require, search, seek (for, out), X surely.
דָּרַשׁ (da.rash) — to seek.
1) to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to resort to, frequent (a place), (tread a place)
1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek
1a2a) of God
1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers
1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship
1a3a) God
1a3b) heathen deities
1a4) to seek (with a demand), demand, require
1a5) to investigate, enquire
1a6) to ask for, require, demand
1a7) to practice, study, follow, seek with application
1a8) to seek with care, care for
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to allow oneself to be enquired of, consulted (only of God)
1b2) to be sought, be sought out
1b3) to be required (of blood)
V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff — Verb qal perfect first person common singular · suffixHVqp1cs/Sp2ms
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Part — ParticleHTn
שָׁגָה (shagah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stray or err, often in a moral or mental sense. It can refer to wandering off course, committing sins of ignorance, or leading others astray. The entries highlight its use in both a literal and figurative context, including the idea of intoxication or being enraptured.
[שָׁגָה] vb. go astray, err
Qal
err, stray, of flock
swerve, meander, reel or roll
go astray
specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence
Hiph. lead astray
lit.
mentally = mislead
morally
base
H7686 [שָׁגָה] go astray, err .. err, stray, of flock
. swerve, meander, reel or roll
. go astray
. specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence
. lead astray . lit.
. mentally = mislead
. morally
7686 shagah shaw-gaw'
a primitive root; to stray (causatively, mislead), usually
(figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress;
by extension (through the idea of intoxication) to reel,
(figuratively) be enraptured:--(cause to) go astray, deceive,
err, be ravished, sin through ignorance, (let, make to)
wander.
שָׁגָה (sha.gah) — to wander.
1) to go astray, stray, err
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to err, stray
1a2) to swerve, meander, reel, roll, be intoxicated, err (in drunkenness)
1a3) to go astray (morally)
1a4) to commit sin of ignorance or inadvertence, err (ignorantly)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead astray
1b2) to lead astray, mislead (mentally)
1b3) to lead astray (morally)
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVhi2ms/Sp1bs
מִצְוָה (mitsvah) means 'commandment' and can refer to commands from both humans and God. It encompasses laws, ordinances, and precepts, indicating a range of directives within religious and moral contexts. The term is derived from a root meaning to command, linking it to the broader framework of divine law.
מִצְוָה 181 n.f. commandment
base
H4687 מִצְוָה commandment
4687 mitsvah mits-vaw'
from 6680; a command, whether human or divine (collectively,
the Law):--(which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance,
precept.
see HEBREW for 06680
מִצְוָה (mits.vah) — commandment.
1) commandment
1a) commandment (of man)
1b) the commandment (of God)
1c) commandment (of code of wisdom)
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp2ms
