Psalms 119:166 — Word Study
WLCשִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה וּֽמִצְוֹתֶ֥יךָ עָשִֽׂיתִי׃
BSAI waitsâbar■ [with patient expectation, hoping] for Your salvationyᵉshûwʻâh [rescue, deliverance, victory] O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and I carry outʻâsâh■ [obey, fulfill, perform] Your commandmentsmitsvâh [laws, teachings, divine instructions]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי | I wait | Verb, Piel, perfect first person common singular |
| לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֣ | for salvation your | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יְהוָ֑ה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| וּֽמִצְוֹתֶ֥יךָ | and commandments your | Conjunction, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| עָשִֽׂיתִי׃ | I do | 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 | I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I carry out Your commandments. |
| KJV | LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. |
| ASV | I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, And have done thy commandments. |
| YLT | I have waited for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy commands I have done. |
| WEB | I have hoped for your salvation, Yahweh. I have done your commandments. |
| BBE | Lord, my hope has been in your salvation; and I have kept your teachings. |
Translations agree closely in their rendering of the key terms in this verse.
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by a conjunction, emphasizing both waiting and action.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׂבַר
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 119:166
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 — Reflections on Obedience and Hopegenerated
Psalm 119:166 captures the psalmist's dual focus on waiting for God's salvation and actively obeying His commandments. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God's laws and the peace they bring, as seen in the surrounding verses. The psalmist emphasizes a relationship between hope and action, illustrating a life devoted to God's instructions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:81–174 | My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. |
| 2 | Psalm 130:5–7 | I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope. |
| 3 | Genesis 49:18 | I await Your salvation, O LORD. |
| 4 | Psalm 4:5 | Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the LORD. |
| 5 | Psalm 24:3–5 | Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי, si.Bar.tigenerated
The verb שָׂבַר (sabar) means to wait or hope for something, often with patience and expectation. It is built from a primitive root and appears in contexts related to waiting and hoping, such as in Nehemiah 2:13, 15. The Piel form indicates an active waiting, suggesting a sense of anticipation and vigilance.
In this verse, the psalmist expresses a heartfelt expectation for God's salvation, indicating a deep trust in God's deliverance. The act of waiting is not passive; it is filled with hope and a commitment to remain attentive to God's promises.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse revolves around two finite verbs: שִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי (I wait) and עָשִֽׂיתִי (I do). The first clause expresses the act of waiting for salvation, while the second clause indicates the psalmist's commitment to obeying God's commandments.
The Hebrew syntax emphasizes the connection between waiting and action, with the verbs leading the clauses and highlighting the psalmist's dual focus on hope and obedience.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, שִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי is rendered as προσεδόκων (prosedokōn), which means 'waiting' or 'expecting'. This choice reflects a similar focus on anticipation, aligning with the psalmist's expression of hope.
The translation captures the essence of waiting for God's salvation, maintaining the original's sense of expectation and longing.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:166 expresses the psalmist's hope for God's salvation and his commitment to obeying God's commandments. This verse highlights the relationship between waiting for God's help and actively following His laws.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist is expressing a deep hope and expectation for God's deliverance and help in times of trouble.
The psalmist shows that actively obeying God's commandments is part of the faith and trust in His eventual salvation.
Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with His people and His faithfulness to His promises.
The psalmist demonstrates that loving and obeying God's laws is essential to a faithful life, intertwined with hope for His salvation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to wait patiently for God's salvation?
- How can I actively obey God's commandments while I wait for His help?
- What does it mean to me to call God 'Yahweh' in my prayers?
- How can I cultivate a deeper love for God's laws and teachings in my daily life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to discuss themes of waiting for God's salvation and the importance of obedience to His commandments.
"I have waited," he says, "for Your saving health, O Lord, and have loved Your commandments" [Psalms 119:166].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:166 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLord, I have hoped for thy salvation,.... Either temporal salvation and deliverance from enemies, and from afflictions, which God had promised, and therefore he had reason to hope for; or spiritual
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments - (Psalms 119:174.) So Jacob on his death-bed (Genesis 49:18).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 166. Thus performing the condition which thou hast required, I justly and confidently hope for thy mercy promised.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.Ver. 166. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation] This saying he borrowed from good old Jacob, Genesis 49:18 And done thy commandments] Done them as I could; done them to Divine acceptation through Christ; and hence I have hoped: 1 John 3:3 "Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, as God is pure."
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 166. Lord, I have hoped] Thou hast promised deliverance, and I have expected it on the ground of that promise.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges161–168. Shîn (and Sîn). God’s law fills the Psalmist’s heart with awe, joy, love, and gratitude; he has been diligent in its observance. It is not the boasting of the Pharisee, but the honest profession of a good conscience. This stanza and that of Mçm (Psalms 119:97 ff.) contain no petition.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLord, I have hoped for thy salvation - As a prevailing habit or principle in my life. I have looked to thee for deliverance in the time of danger; I have looked to thee for salvation in the world to come.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleùׁ, Shin.161-168. Princes have persecuted me—Persecutions still return, yet “the joy of the Lord” is his strength.
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
I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I carry out Your commandments.
I have hoped for your salvation, Yahweh. I have done your commandments.
I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I carry out Your commandments.
I hope for your deliverance, O Lord, and I obey your commands.
Tyndale line
LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, And have done thy commandments.
I have hoped for thy salvation, O LORD, and have done thy commandments.
LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and performed thy commandments.
Lord, I haue trusted in thy saluation, and haue done thy commandements.
Strictly literal
I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, and have done thy commandments.
I have waited for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy commands I have done.
I have waited for Your salvation, O YHWH, || And I have done Your commands.
I have hoped for thy salvation, O Lord, and thy commandments have I fulfilled.
I hope for your salvation, Yahweh, and I obey your commandments.
Simplified
Lord, I look forward to your salvation. I keep your commandments.
Lord, my hope has been in your salvation; and I have kept your teachings.
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 in their wording for Psalm 119:166. Both texts convey the psalmist's commitment to waiting for God's salvation and obeying His commandments, with no significant variations noted.
שִׂבַּ֣רְתִּי לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה וּֽמִצְוֹתֶ֥יךָ עָשִֽׂיתִי׃
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.
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 119:166
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.
שָׂבַר (sabar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to inspect or examine, as well as to wait or hope. It is built from a primitive root and covers both the act of scrutinizing and the implications of expectation and patience. The word appears in contexts related to waiting and hoping, with Nehemiah 2:13, 15 noted for its usage.
[שָׂבַר] vb. inspect, examine
base
[שָׂבַר] vb. Pi. wait, hope
base
H7663a שָׂבַר inspect, examine H7663b שָׂבַר Pi. wait, hope
7663 sabar saw-bar'
erroneously shabar (Nehemiah 2:13, 15) {shaw-bar'}; a
primitive root; to scrutinize; by implication (of watching) to
expect (with hope and patience):--hope, tarry, view, wait.
see HEBREW for 015
שָׂבַר (sa.var) — to inspect.
(Qal) to inspect, examine
שָׂבַר (sa.var) — to await.
1) (Piel)
1a) to wait (for), wait upon
1b) to hope (for)
Aramaic equivalent: se.var (סְבַר "to intend" H5452)
V-Piel-Perf-1cs — Verb · Piel · perfect first person common singularHVpp1cs
wat:
1. The Substantive:
The word is used in the Old Testament both as a substantive add as a verb. In the New Testament it appears as a verb only. 'erebh, ma'arabh, mean a concealed hiding-place for purposes of sudden attack, an ambuscade.
(1) "Lie in wait": "Abimelech rose up .... from lying in wait" (Jud 9:35 the King James Version); "When they .... abide in the covert to lie in wait" (Job 38:40).
יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah) refers to concepts of salvation, deliverance, and welfare, often with a spiritual dimension. It is derived from a root meaning to save and encompasses ideas of victory and prosperity. The term is used in contexts related to divine aid and protection, emphasizing both physical and spiritual deliverance.
יְשׁוּעָה n.f. salvation
welfare, prosperity
deliverance
salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
victory
base
H3444 יְשׁוּעָה salvation . welfare, prosperity
. deliverance
. salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
. victory
3444 yshuw`ah yesh-oo'-aw
feminine passive participle of 3467; something saved, i.e.
(abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory,
prosperity:--deliverance, health, help(-ing), salvation, save,
saving (health), welfare.
see HEBREW for 03467
יְשׁוּעָה (ye.shu.ah) — salvation.
1) salvation, deliverance
1a) welfare, prosperity
1b) deliverance
1c) salvation (by God)
1d) victory
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
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)
Conj | N-fp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs