Psalms 119:120 — Word Study
WLCסָמַ֣ר מִפַּחְדְּךָ֣ בְשָׂרִ֑י וּֽמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶ֥יךָ יָרֵֽאתִי׃
BSAMy fleshbâsâr [body, mortal nature] tremblesçâmar■ [bristles up, stands on end] in awe of Youpachad [dread, reverence] I stand in fearyârêʼ■ [live, exist, terror, reverence] of Your judgmentsmishpâṭ [divine, righteous, justice, verdicts]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| סָמַ֣ר | it trembles | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| מִפַּחְדְּךָ֣ | from dread of you | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בְשָׂרִ֑י | flesh my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וּֽמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶ֥יךָ | and from judgments your | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| יָרֵֽאתִי׃ | I am afraid | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments. |
| KJV | My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. |
| ASV | My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. ע AYIN. |
| YLT | Trembled from Thy fear hath my flesh, And from Thy judgments I have been afraid! |
| WEB | My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments. AYIN |
| BBE | My flesh is moved for fear of you; I give honour to your decisions. AIN |
Where they part company is יָרֵֽאתִי — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase that elaborates on the source of fear, culminating in a second main clause that reinforces the psalmist's emotional state.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbסָמַר
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 119:120
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 — Meditation on God's Judgmentsgenerated
Psalm 119:120 is part of a larger reflection on God's laws and the psalmist's deep reverence for them. The psalmist acknowledges the fear and trembling that arise from understanding God's judgments, which he sees as just and righteous. This verse stands as a poignant reminder of the weight of divine authority, as the psalmist expresses both physical and emotional responses to God's presence and decisions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:53 | Rage has taken hold of me because of the wicked who reject Your law. |
| 2 | Leviticus 10:1–3 | Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 6:20 | The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?” |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 6:8–9 | Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day. |
| 5 | 1 Chronicles 24:16–17 | the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — סָמַר, sa.Margenerated
The verb סָמַר (sa.mar) means to bristle up or tremble, often in response to fear. It captures a visceral reaction, akin to hair standing on end, indicating a strong emotional state. In this verse, it conveys the psalmist's physical response to the awe he feels before God.
This Qal perfect form indicates a completed action, emphasizing that the trembling is a present and ongoing response to the dread of God's judgments. The use of this word highlights the intensity of the psalmist's feelings and the seriousness with which he regards divine authority.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb סָמַר governs the verse, expressing the psalmist's physical reaction. It is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the source of this reaction, and a second clause that describes the psalmist's fear of God's judgments.
The structure emphasizes the connection between the psalmist's physical trembling and the fear of divine judgment, highlighting how the awareness of God's authority can evoke profound emotional and physical responses.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates סָמַר with the Greek word καθήλωσον, which means to cause to stand still or to be paralyzed. This choice suggests an interpretation that emphasizes the overwhelming nature of God's presence and the fear it instills.
This translation reflects a widening of the Hebrew meaning, focusing not only on trembling but also on a sense of being immobilized by fear.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:120 expresses the psalmist's physical reaction of trembling in awe of God. He feels a deep fear of God's judgments, recognizing their seriousness and the authority they carry.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist describes a physical reaction to fear, indicating a deep emotional response to God's presence and judgments.
The fear of God's judgments reflects a recognition of His authority and righteousness, emphasizing the importance of living in accordance with His laws.
Fear and awe of God can lead to a deeper reverence for His commandments and a desire to live righteously, acknowledging His power and justice.
The psalmist refers to God's decisions and decrees, which are seen as just and righteous, guiding the moral framework of life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding God's judgments affect my daily life and decisions?
- In what ways can I cultivate a deeper sense of awe and reverence for God?
- What physical reactions do I experience when I contemplate God's greatness?
- How can I encourage others to recognize the importance of God's judgments in their lives?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers often referenced this verse to discuss the nature of God's grace and the human response to divine authority, as seen in the writings of Augustine.
The grace of God, then, being known, which alone frees from transgression, which is committed through knowledge of the law, he says, in prayer,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:120 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMy flesh trembleth for fear of thee,.... Not for fear of the wrath of God coming down upon himself, nor for fear of eternal damnation; but for fear of what was coming upon the wicked, for their sins and transgressions.
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMy flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee - (1 Chronicles 13:12; Ezekiel 27:35 : especially Habakkuk 3:2; Habakkuk 3:16).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 120. The observation of thy terrible judgments against ungodly men, and the conscience of my own infirmity and manifold sins, makes me fear lest thou shouldst punish me also, as thou mightest justly do, if thou shouldst be strict to mark what is amiss in me; or lest I should partake with them in their sins, and consequently in their plagues.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.Ver. 120. My flesh trembleth] Horripilatur, Job 4:15. In the saints is a mixture of contrary passions, fear and great joy, as was in those holy women, Matthew 28:8, and the one makes way for the other.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(120) Trembleth.—The original is far stronger. Better, as in Job 4:15, the hair of my flesh stands up. So Symmachus.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee] I know thou art a just and holy God: I know thou requirest truth in the inner parts. I know that thou art a Spirit, and that they who worship thee must worship thee in spirit and in truth; and I am often alarmed lest I fall short. It is only an assurance of my interest in thy mercy that can save me from distressing fears and harassing doubts. It is our privilege to know we are in God's favour; and it is not less so to maintain a continual filial fear of offending him. A true conception of God's justice and mercy begets reverence. ANALYSIS OF LETTER SAMECH. - Fifteenth Division In this section the psalmist - I. Declares his hatred to…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges120. trembleth for fear of thee] Shudders for awe of thee, lit. of the hair standing on end with fright: horrescit. thy judgments] Either acts of judgement, punishments inflicted upon the wicked, or the laws and ordinances in accordance with which they are punished. Reverent fear is the right complement of holy love. “The flesh is to be awed by Divine judgements, though the higher and surer part of the soul is strongly and freely tied with the cords of love” (Leighton).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleMy flesh trembleth for fear of thee - I stand in awe of thee. I shudder at the consciousness of thy presence. See Habakkuk 3:16; Hebrews 12:21; Joe 2:10; Nahum 1:5. There is nothing unaccountable in this.
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
My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.
My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments. AYIN
My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.
My body trembles because I fear you; I am afraid of your judgments.
Tyndale line
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. ע AYIN.
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
My flesh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am afraide of thy iudgements.
Strictly literal
My flesh shuddereth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
Trembled from Thy fear hath my flesh, And from Thy judgments I have been afraid!
My flesh has trembled from Your fear, || And I have been afraid from Your judgments!
My flesh trembleth shudderingly from dread of thee, and of thy decrees am I afraid.
My body trembles in fear of you, and I am afraid of your righteous decrees.
Simplified
I have goose bumps thinking of you—I'm in awe! I'm scared of your judgments! Ayin
My flesh is moved for fear of you; I give honour to your decisions. AIN
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 is matched by the Septuagint in terms of the words used, indicating consistency in the translation of the core concepts. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the essential phrases align with the Masoretic Text, affirming the integrity of the verse.
סָמַ֣ר מִפַּחְדְּךָ֣ בְשָׂרִ֑י וּֽמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶ֥יךָ יָרֵֽאתִי׃
5 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.
[סמר] [מפחד׳ך] [בשר׳י] [וממשפטי׳ך] יראתי
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
סמר מפחד׳כה בשר׳י וממשפטי׳כה יראתי
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored.
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 119:120
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.
סָמַר (sa.mar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bristle up or stand up, often in response to fear. It appears in various forms, including the Qal and Piel stems, indicating actions like shivering or standing erect. Notably, it is referenced in Psalm 119:120, where it describes the physical reaction of fear.
סָמַר vb. bristle up
Qal ψ 119:120 from fear of thee did my flesh bristle up, ‘creep.’
Pi. Jb 4:15.
ref
H5568 סָמַר
5568 camar saw-mar'
a primitive root; to be erect, i.e. bristle as hair:--stand
up, tremble.
סָמַר (sa.mar) — to bristle up.
1) to bristle up, shiver, stand up
1a) (Qal) to bristle up, shiver
1b) (Piel) to bristle up, stand up
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
פַּ֫חַד (pachad) refers to the concept of dread or terror, often indicating both the feeling of fear and the object that inspires it. The word is derived from a root meaning to be alarmed, and it encompasses a range of meanings related to fear and terror.
פַּ֫חַד 49 n.m. dread
dread
= object of dread
as design. dei
base
H6343 פַּ֫חַד dread . dread
. = object of dread
. as design. dei
6343 pachad pakh'-ad
from 6342; a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by
implication, the feeling):--dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great
(fear, -ly feared), terror.
see HEBREW for 06342
פַּ֫חַד (pa.chad) — dread.
1) terror, dread
1a) dread
1b) object of dread
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
בָּשָׂר (basar) means 'flesh' and encompasses various meanings, including the physical body, kinship, and a euphemism for male genitalia. It can refer to humans, animals, and all living things, highlighting the frailty of man in relation to God. The entries consistently emphasize its bodily and relational aspects.
בָּשָׂר 266 n.m. flesh
of the body
flesh for the body itself
male organ of generation (euphemism)
flesh for kindred, blood-relations
man over against God as frail or erring
base
H1320 בָּשָׂר flesh . of the body
. flesh for the body itself
. male organ of generation (euphemism)
. flesh for kindred, blood-relations
. man over against God as frail or erring
1320 basar baw-sawr'
from 1319; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body,
person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man:--body, (fat,
lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.
see HEBREW for 01319
בָּשָׂר (ba.sar) — flesh.
1) flesh
1a) of the body
1a1) of humans
1a2) of animals
1b) the body itself
1c) male organ of generation (euphemism)
1d) kindred, blood-relations
1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God)
1f) all living things
1g) animals
1h) mankind
Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) primarily means judgment or justice and encompasses various aspects such as legal rights, ordinances, and decisions. It is derived from a root meaning to pronounce a verdict, covering both human and divine law. The entries highlight its application in legal contexts, including the act of deciding cases and the attributes of justice and rectitude.
מִשְׁפָּט 422 n.m. judgment
judgment
justice, right, rectitude
ordinance
decision
one's (legal) right, privilege, due
proper, fitting, measure
custom, manner
what manner of
plan
base
H4941 מִשְׁפָּט judgment . judgment
. justice, right, rectitude
. ordinance
. decision
. one's (legal) right, privilege, due
. . proper, fitting, measure
. custom, manner
. what manner of
. plan
4941 mishpat mish-pawt'
from 8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable)
pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree
(human or (participant's) divine law, individual or
collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the
crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a
participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or
even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime,
custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due,
fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly),
(manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order,
ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.
see HEBREW for 08199
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
1c) ordinance
1d) decision (in law)
1e) right, privilege, due (legal)
1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
Conj | Prep | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/R/Ncmpc/Sp2ms
יָרֵא (yare') is a Hebrew verb meaning to fear or be afraid, encompassing a range of meanings from reverence and honor to causing terror. It appears in various forms, including Qal (to fear), Niphal (to be fearful), and Piel (to terrify). The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions, emphasizing awe and respect, particularly in relation to the divine.
יָרֵא vb. fear
Qal
fear, be afraid
stand in awe of
fear, reverence, honour
Niph.
be fearful, dreadful
cause astonishment and awe
inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe
Piel. make afraid, terrify
base
H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid
. stand in awe of
. fear, reverence, honour
. . be fearful, dreadful
. cause astonishment and awe
. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe
. make afraid, terrify
3372 yare' yaw-ray'
a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to
frighten:--affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in)
fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see,
terrible (act, -ness, thing).
יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.
: frightening(DANGER)
1) to fear, revere, be afraid
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fear, be afraid
1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed
1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared
1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe
1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe
1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify
2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour
יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.
: awesome(god)
1) to fear, revere, be afraid
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fear, be afraid
1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed
1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared
1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe
1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe
1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify
2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour
Also means: ya.re (יָרֵא ": frightening" H3372)
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs