Psalms 119:129 — Word Study
WLCפְּלָא֥וֹת עֵדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־ כֵּ֝֗ן נְצָרָ֥תַם נַפְשִֽׁי׃
BSAWonderful arepeleʼ [full of wonder, miraculous] Your testimoniesʻêdûwth [laws, instructions] thereforeʻal [thus, in agreement] Inephesh obey themnâtsar■ [keep, watch over, to guard, with all my soul, the essence of my being]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פְּלָא֥וֹת | [are] wonders | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| עֵדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ | testimonies your | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| עַל־ | there- | Preposition |
| כֵּ֝֗ן | -fore | Adverb |
| נְצָרָ֥תַם | it observes them | Verb qal perfect third person feminine singular, suffix |
| נַפְשִֽׁי׃ | self my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them. |
| KJV | Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. |
| ASV | Thy testimonies are wonderful; Therefore doth my soul keep them. |
| YLT | [Pe.] Wonderful [are] Thy testimonies, Therefore hath my soul kept them. |
| WEB | Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. |
| BBE | Your unchanging word is full of wonder; for this reason my soul keeps it. |
Where they part company is נְצָרָ֥תַם — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause stands out with the subject and predicate, followed by a conjunction that introduces the psalmist's response.
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 119:129
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 Praise of God's Testimoniesgenerated
Psalm 119:129 highlights the psalmist's recognition of the miraculous nature of God's testimonies, which refer to His laws and instructions. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the significance of God's word, emphasizing the relationship between wonder and obedience. The psalmist's commitment to obeying these testimonies reflects a deep reverence for divine guidance, as echoed in other verses like Psalm 119:128 and Psalm 119:130.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:18 | Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law. |
| 2 | Psalm 139:6 | Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. |
| 3 | Isaiah 9:6 | For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. |
| 4 | Isaiah 25:1 | O LORD, You are my God! I will exalt You; I will praise Your name. For You have worked wonders— plans formed long ago— in perfect faithfulness. |
| 5 | Revelation 19:10 | So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פְּלָא֥וֹת, pe.la.'otgenerated
The word פְּלָא֥וֹת (pe.la.'ot) is a feminine plural noun derived from the root פֶּלֶא (pele'), which means 'wonder' or 'miracle.' This term conveys a sense of extraordinary events, often associated with God's actions in the world. The parsing indicates that it is in the absolute form, emphasizing its significance in the context of the verse.
In this verse, the psalmist recognizes the wonders of God's testimonies, which are not merely laws but miraculous instructions that guide and transform lives. The use of the plural form suggests a multitude of divine acts that inspire awe and reverence.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the rendering of פְּלָא֥וֹת as 'wonderful' or 'wonders' and עֵדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ as 'Your testimonies.' All versions emphasize the miraculous nature of God's laws and the psalmist's commitment to obey them.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is נְצָרָ֥תַם, it observes them, which governs the entire sentence. The subject is פְּלָא֥וֹת, wonders, and the object is עֵדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ, Your testimonies. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the wonders of God's testimonies and the psalmist's response of obedience.
The sentence flows from the recognition of God's miraculous acts to the psalmist's commitment to obey, illustrating a cause-and-effect relationship between wonder and action.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, פְּלָא֥וֹת is rendered as θαυμαστὰ (thaumasta), meaning 'wonderful' or 'marvelous.' This choice highlights the miraculous nature of God's testimonies, consistent with the Hebrew meaning.
The use of σου (sou) for עֵדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ emphasizes the personal relationship between God and the psalmist, reinforcing the significance of divine guidance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:129 expresses the psalmist's awe at God's wonderful testimonies, which are His laws and instructions. The psalmist commits to obeying these laws, recognizing their significance and the miraculous nature of God's guidance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God's laws and instructions are extraordinary and miraculous, reflecting His power and guidance.
The psalmist expresses a commitment to obeying and guarding God's testimonies, indicating a deep reverence for His laws.
This relationship highlights how recognizing the miraculous nature of God's word can inspire a faithful response in our lives.
Examples include the Ten Commandments in Exodus and various laws and instructions given throughout the Old Testament.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced the wonders of God's guidance in my life?
- How can I deepen my commitment to obeying God's laws and instructions?
- What role does recognizing the miraculous nature of God's word play in my daily life?
- How can I share the significance of God's testimonies with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, commented on this verse to illustrate the importance of God's testimonies in guiding the soul.
"Your testimonies are wonderful: therefore has my soul searched them" [Psalms 119:129].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:129 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Biblep, PE.--The Seventeenth Part. Ver. 129. PE. Thy testimonies [are] wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BiblePE Ver. 129. Wonderful; in regard of the deep and wonderful mysteries, and most excellent counsels and directions, far exceeding all the rules of the greatest philosophers, and the exceeding great and precious promises of God contained in them. This is the reason of his high estimation of them, expressed in the last verse.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:129 PE. Thy testimonies [are] wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.Ver. 129. Thy testimonies are wonderful] As comprehending high and hidden mysteries, such as are far above the reach of human reason; such as the very angels admire and adore. A man must have more than common faith to subject his reason to them. But all men are Socinians by nature; they will believe God’ s word no farther than they can see reason; which while men make the rule of their faith (as did the wise Greeks, the rational Romans), they stumble at the preaching of the cross of foolishness; and disbelieve the riches of Christ, which are unsearchable. Therefore doth my soul keep them] Though I cannot…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleLETTER פ PE. - Seventeenth Division Verse 129. Thy testimonies are wonderful] There is a height, length, depth, and breadth in thy word and testimonies that are truly astonishing; and on this account my soul loves them, and I deeply study them. The more I study, the more light and salvation I obtain.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges129–136. Pç. The marvellousness of God’s law: the Psalmist’s prayers that it may be the rule of his life in spite of temptation: his grief at the neglect of it.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThy testimonies are wonderful - This commences a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Pe (פ p), corresponding to our “p.” The meaning of the expression here is, that the laws of
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleô, Pe.129-136. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me—A sense of his own peril leads the writer to a still deeper, intenser longing for perfected holiness within himself.
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
Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them.
Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them.
Your rules are marvelous. Therefore I observe them.
Tyndale line
Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
Thy testimonies are wonderful; Therefore doth my soul keep them.
Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
PE. Thy testimonies are wonderfull: therefore doeth my soule keepe them.
Strictly literal
PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul observe them.
[Pe.] Wonderful [are] Thy testimonies, Therefore hath my soul kept them.
[PE] Your testimonies [are] wonderful, || Therefore my soul has kept them.
PE. Wonderful are thy testimonies: therefore doth my soul keep them.
Your rules are wonderful, that is why I obey them.
Simplified
Your laws are truly wonderful—that's why I keep them!
Your unchanging word is full of wonder; for this reason my soul keeps it.
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 agree closely, with all six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align with the Masoretic Text, confirming the preservation of this verse across different traditions.
פְּלָא֥וֹת עֵדְוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־ כֵּ֝֗ן נְצָרָ֥תַם נַפְשִֽׁי׃
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.
פלגי נפת עדוותי׳כה על כן נצרת׳ם נפש׳י
7 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 119:129
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.
פֶּ֫לֶא (pele') means 'wonder' or 'marvel,' referring to extraordinary or hard-to-understand events, often associated with God's acts of judgment and redemption. It is derived from a root meaning 'to be extraordinary.' The entries consistently emphasize its connection to miraculous occurrences.
פֶּ֫לֶא n.m. wonder (NH id.; as unusual, extraordinary)
base
H6382 פֶּ֫לֶא wonder
6382 pele' peh'-leh
from 6381; a miracle:--marvellous thing,
wonder(-ful, -fully).
see HEBREW for 06381
פֶּ֫לֶא (pe.le) — wonder.
1) wonder, marvel
1a) wonder (extraordinary, hard to understand thing)
1b) wonder (of God's acts of judgment and redemption)
N-mp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
עֵדוּת (eduwth) is a feminine noun meaning 'testimony' or 'witness.' It is derived from the root word עֵד (ed), which also relates to the concept of testimony. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing its significance in legal and religious settings.
עֵדוּת 19 and עֵדֻת 27 n.f. testimony
base
H5715 עֵדוּת, עֵדֻת testimony
5715 `eduwth ay-dooth'
feminine of 5707; testimony:--testimony, witness.
see HEBREW for 05707
עֵדוּת (e.dut) — testimony.
testimony
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'
כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest
right
veritable, true
pl. concr. honest (men)
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
כֵּן adv. so
base
H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so
3651 ken kane
from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as
adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)
rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and
relation; often with other particles):--+ after that
(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be
(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like
(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,
straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,
thus, true, well, X you.
see HEBREW for 03559
כֵּן (ken) — right.
adv
adj
1) right, just, honest, true, veritable
1a) right, just, honest
1b) correct
1c) true, veritable
[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.
adv
forasmuch as, since
כֵּן (ken) — so.
adv
1) so, therefore, thus
1a) thus, so
1b) just so
1c) therefore
1d) so...as (paired with adv)
1e) then
1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)
1g) (with prep)
1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)
1g2) hitherto
1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)
1g4) afterwards
1g5) in such case
Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)
HD — AdverbHD
נָצַר (natsar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to watch, guard, or keep. It encompasses a range of actions including protecting, preserving, and observing, as well as concealing or keeping secret. The entries suggest both positive and negative connotations, such as guarding from danger or hiding something. The term can also refer to a watchman.
[נָצַר] vb. watch, guard, keep;—Qal
Watch, guard, keep
Guard from dangers, preserve
Guard with fidelity, keep, observe
Guard, keep secret
Keep close, blockaded
base
H5341 נָצַר watch, guard, keep . Watch, guard, keep
. Guard from dangers, preserve
. Guard with fidelity, keep, observe
. Guard, keep secret
. Keep close, blockaded
5341 natsar naw-tsar'
a primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect,
maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.):--
besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe,
preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).
נָצַר (na.tsar) — to watch.
1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to watch, guard, keep
1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers
1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity
1a4) to guard, keep secret
1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded
1a6) watchman (participle)
V-Qal-Perf-3fs | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person feminine singular · suffixHVqp3fs/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs