Psalms 119:117 — Word Study
WLCסְעָדֵ֥נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה וְאֶשְׁעָ֖ה בְחֻקֶּ֣יךָ תָמִֽיד׃
BSAUphold meçâʻad [support, hold up] and I will be savedyâshaʻ [delivered, set free] that I may alwaystâmîyd [continually, constantly] regardshâʻâh▸ [gaze at, have respect for] Your statuteschôq [decrees, laws, ordinances]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| סְעָדֵ֥נִי | uphold me | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה | so let me be saved | Conjunction, verb niphal infinitive construct first person common singular |
| וְאֶשְׁעָ֖ה | and I may have regard | Conjunction, verb qal first person common singular |
| בְחֻקֶּ֣יךָ | for decrees your | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| תָמִֽיד׃ | continually | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Uphold me, and I will be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes. |
| KJV | Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. |
| ASV | Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually. |
| YLT | Support Thou me, and I am saved, And I look on Thy statutes continually. |
| WEB | Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually. |
| BBE | Let me not be moved, and I will be safe, and ever take delight in your rules. |
Translations agree on the key phrases in this verse.
The sentence has a main request followed by a result and a purpose clause, showing the psalmist's intent.
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 119:117
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 Plea for Support and Salvationgenerated
Psalm 119:117 is part of a longer meditation on God's law, where the psalmist expresses a deep need for divine support. The verses surrounding this request emphasize the importance of God's statutes and the psalmist's commitment to them. The plea for help is not just for personal salvation but also for the ability to uphold God's commands, reflecting a relationship between divine assistance and obedience.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 17:5 | My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. |
| 2 | Psalm 71:6 | I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You. |
| 3 | Psalm 73:23 | Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand. |
| 4 | Psalm 139:10 | even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast. |
| 5 | Isaiah 41:13 | For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — סְעָדֵ֥נִי, se.'a.De.nigenerated
The verb סְעָד (sa'ad) means to support or sustain. It is an imperative form, indicating a strong request for help. The psalmist is asking God to actively uphold him, suggesting a reliance on divine strength during times of need.
This word appears in various contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, often relating to God's support for His people. The psalmist's use of this term highlights the emotional and spiritual dimensions of seeking God's help.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses uphold for סְעָדֵ֥נִי and saved for וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is סְעָדֵ֥נִי, uphold me, which governs the entire request. The structure includes two additional clauses: one expressing the result of being upheld, וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה (and I will be saved), and another indicating the purpose, וְאֶשְׁעָ֖ה (that I may regard).
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the urgency of the psalmist's plea, placing the request for support at the forefront, followed by the intended outcomes of salvation and regard for God's statutes.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew סְעָד is rendered as μοι (to me), indicating a direct appeal to God for personal support. This choice underscores the intimate relationship between the psalmist and God.
The Greek word σωθήσομαι corresponds to וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה, which translates as I will be saved. This reflects a consistent understanding of the psalmist's desire for deliverance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:117 expresses a heartfelt plea for God to support the psalmist so that he can be saved and continually respect God's laws. This verse highlights the importance of divine assistance in following God's commands.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Asking God to uphold you means seeking His support and strength in times of need, trusting that He will provide the help necessary for salvation and obedience.
The psalmist sees God's statutes as essential for life and guidance, and his request for support is tied to his desire to continually regard and follow these laws.
Regard for God's decrees signifies a commitment to live according to His will and to seek His guidance in all aspects of life, reflecting a relationship of trust and obedience.
You can apply this verse by seeking God's support in your daily life, asking for His strength to follow His teachings and remain faithful to His commands.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to ask God for support and strength?
- How can I better regard and respect God's statutes in my daily actions?
- What does it mean to be continually aware of God's guidance in my life?
- How can I encourage others to seek God's help in their struggles?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, discussing the importance of meditation on God's righteousness and the support He provides.
And, as though it were answered him in silence, Thou dost not wish to be disappointed of your hope? Cease not to meditate upon My righteousnesses: and, feeling that this meditation is usually hindered by the weaknesses of the soul,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:117 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHold thou me up, and I shall be safe,.... As all are, and none but such, who are in the hands of Christ; enclosed in the arms of everlasting love, upheld with the right hand of Jehovah, supported by
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe (cf.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 117. And being freed from those distractions and diversions which my pressing dangers occasion, I will wholly devote myself to the study and practice of thy blessed word.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.Ver. 117. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe] No longer are we safe from sin and punishment than God putteth under his hand; we subsist merely by his manutension; and if he withdraw his grace never so little we are down on all four, as we say. And I will have respect, &c.] Saints shall persevere, because they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 117. Hold thou me up] I shall grow weary and faint in the way, if not strengthened and supported by thee. And I shall be safe] No soul can be safe, unless upheld by thee.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges117. Cp. Psalms 18:35; Psalms 20:2; Psalms 41:3; Psalms 94:18. and I will have respect unto] R.V. and shall have respect unto. The Ancient Versions appear to have read will take delight in, as in Psalms 119:16; Psalms 119:47.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHold thou me up - Keep me from falling in the trials and temptations of life. The Hebrew word means to prop, uphold, support. The Septuagint is, “Aid me.” And I shall be safe - And I shall be saved; or, that I may be saved.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleñ, Samek.113-120. My hiding place and my shield—The psalmist’s experience of perils has increased his confidence and strength. He now declares how little he is influenced by the example of evil doers. His heart is fixed.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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
Uphold me, and I will be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes.
Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually.
Uphold me, and I will be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes.
Support me, so that I will be delivered. Then I will focus on your statutes continually.
Tyndale line
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, and shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Support me, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect to thy statutes continually.
Stay thou mee, and I shall be safe, and I will delite continually in thy statutes.
Strictly literal
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Support Thou me, and I am saved, And I look on Thy statutes continually.
Support me, and I am saved, || And I look on Your statutes continually.
Support me that I may be placed in safety, and I will direct my regard unto thy statutes continually.
Support me, and I will be safe; I will always meditate on your statutes.
Simplified
Support me, so I can be saved and always pay attention to your instructions.
Let me not be moved, and I will be safe, and ever take delight in your rules.
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 reads סְעָדֵ֥נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה וְאֶשְׁעָ֖ה בְחֻקֶּ֣יךָ תָמִֽיד׃. The Septuagint matches four out of five words, with variations in word order. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some agreement with the Masoretic Text, although some words were restored by editors.
סְעָדֵ֥נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה וְאֶשְׁעָ֖ה בְחֻקֶּ֣יךָ תָמִֽיד׃
4 of the 5 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.
[סעד׳ני] [ואושעה] [ואשעה] [בחקי׳ך] תמיד
1 word on the leather — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
סעד׳ני ואושעה ואשא חוקי׳כה תמיד
5 words on the leather.
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 119:117
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.
סָעַד (sa'ad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to support, sustain, or strengthen. It encompasses various forms of support, including emotional and physical, and is used in contexts like comforting or upholding. The Aramaic equivalent is סְעַד (H5583). There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
סָעַד vb. support, sustain, stay
base
H5582 סָעַד support, sustain, stay
5582 ca`ad saw-ad'
a primitive root; to suport (mostly figurative):--comfort,
establish, hold up, refresh self, strengthen, be upholden.
סָעַד (sa.ad) — to support.
1) to support, sustain, stay, establish, strengthen, comfort
1a) (Qal) to support, sustain
1a1) to sustain, stay (of heart)
1a2) to support, uphold (of throne)
Aramaic equivalent: se.ad (סְעַד "to support" H5583)
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sp1bs
יָשַׁע (yasha`) is a Hebrew root meaning to save or deliver. It encompasses various forms of salvation, including liberation from physical and moral troubles, victory in battle, and general safety. The word can appear in different grammatical forms, such as Niph. (to be saved) and Hiph. (to save).
[יָשַׁע] vb. Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass.
Niph.
be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)
be saved in battle, victorious
Hiph.
deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)
save from moral troubles
give victory to
base
H3467 [יָשַׁע] Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass. . . be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)
. be saved in battle, victorious
. . deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)
. save from moral troubles
. give victory to
3467 yasha` yaw-shah'
a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e.
(by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or
succor:--X at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help,
preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation,
save(-iour), get victory.
יָשַׁע (ya.sah) — to save.
1) to save, be saved, be delivered
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered
1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to save, deliver
1b2) to save from moral troubles
1b3) to give victory to
Conj | V-Niphal-1cs — Conjunction · verb niphal infinitive construct first person common singularHC/VNc1cs
שָׁעָה (sha`ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gaze or look at, often with interest or consideration. It can imply various actions such as inspecting, regarding, or even feeling bewildered. The entries indicate different forms, including Qal (to gaze), Hiphil (to cause to look away), and Hithpael (to gaze in dismay).
שָׁעָה vb. gaze (steadily, with interest, etc.)
Qal gaze at, regard (with favour)
Hiph. cause thy gaze to turn away from me
Hithp. gaze not about
base
H8159 שָׁעָה gaze (steadily, with interest, etc.)
8159 sha`ah shaw-aw'
a primitive root; to gaze at or about (properly, for help);
by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be
nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or
bewildered:--depart, be dim, be dismayed, look (away),
regard, have respect, spare, turn.
שָׁעָה (sha.ah) — to gaze.
1) to look at or to, regard, gaze at or about
1a) (Qal) to gaze at, regard, behold, look about
1b) (Hiphil) to look away, cause gaze to turn away
1c) (Hithpael) to look in dismay, gaze about (in anxiety)
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb qal first person common singularHC/Vqu1cs
חֹק (choq) refers to something prescribed, such as a statute, ordinance, or limit. It encompasses a range of meanings, including prescribed tasks, portions, and decrees, whether from God or man. The plural form, חֻקִּים, denotes multiple enactments or statutes. The entries consistently emphasize its legal and prescriptive nature.
חֹק 127 n.m. something prescribed, a statute or due
prescribed task
prescribed-portion or allowance of food
action prescribed for oneself, resolve
prescribed due of the priest from offerings
prescribed limit, boundary
enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man
pl. חֻקִּים enactments, statutes of a law
base
H2706 חֹק something prescribed, a statute or due . prescribed task
. prescribed-portion or allowance of food
. action prescribed for oneself, resolve
. prescribed due of the priest from offerings
. prescribed limit, boundary
. enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man
. pl. חֻקִּים enactments, statutes of a law
2706 choq khoke
from 2710; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time,
space, quantity, labor or usage):--appointed, bound,
commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law,
measure, X necessary, ordinance(- nary), portion, set time,
statute, task.
see HEBREW for 02710
חֹק (choq) — statute: decree.
: decree
1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due
1a) prescribed task
1b) prescribed portion
1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve
1d) prescribed due
1e) prescribed limit, boundary
1f) enactment, decree, ordinance
1f1) specific decree
1f2) law in general
1g) enactments, statutes
1g1) conditions
1g2) enactments
1g3) decrees
1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God
חֹק (choq) — statute: portion.
: portion
1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due
1a) prescribed task
1b) prescribed portion
1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve
1d) prescribed due
1e) prescribed limit, boundary
1f) enactment, decree, ordinance
1f1) specific decree
1f2) law in general
1g) enactments, statutes
1g1) conditions
1g2) enactments
1g3) decrees
1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God
חֹק (choq) — statute: allotment.
: allotment/boundary
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms
תָּמִיד (tamiyd) refers to continuity or perpetuity, often used adverbially to mean continually or constantly. It is derived from a root meaning to stretch, indicating indefinite extension. The term is also associated with the regular daily sacrifice in the Old Testament, emphasizing its constant nature.
תָּמִיד n.m. continuity
earliest and oftenest as adv., continually
as subst.
base
H8548 תָּמִיד continuity . earliest and oftenest as adv., continually
. as subst.
8548 tamiyd taw-meed'
from an unused root meaning to stretch; properly, continuance
(as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as
adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. the
regular (daily) sacrifice:--alway(-s), continual
(employment, -ly), daily, ((n-))ever(-more), perpetual.
תָּמִיד (ta.mid) — continually.
1) continuity, perpetuity, to stretch
1a) continually, continuously (as adverb)
1b) continuity (subst)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa