Psalms 119:41 — Word Study
WLCוִֽיבֹאֻ֣נִי חֲסָדֶ֣ךָ יְהוָ֑ה תְּ֝שֽׁוּעָתְךָ֗ כְּאִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃
BSAMay Your loving devotionchêçêd [mercies, kindness, lovingkindnesses] come to mebôwʼ▸ O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] Your salvationtᵉshûwʻâh [deliverance, rescue] according to Your promiseʼimrâh [word, saying, as You have said]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וִֽיבֹאֻ֣נִי | and may they come to me | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine plural, suffix |
| חֲסָדֶ֣ךָ | covenant loyalti your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| יְהוָ֑ה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| תְּ֝שֽׁוּעָתְךָ֗ | salvation your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| כְּאִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃ | according to word your | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise. |
| KJV | Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. |
| ASV | Let thy lovingkindnesses also come unto me, O Jehovah, Even thy salvation, according to thy word. |
| YLT | [Waw.] And meet me doth Thy kindness, O Jehovah, Thy salvation according to Thy saying. |
| WEB | Let your loving kindness also come to me, Yahweh, your salvation, according to your word. |
| BBE | Let your mercies come to me, O Lord, even your salvation, as you have said. |
Translations agree on the meanings of the words in this verse, emphasizing the psalmist's longing for God's lovingkindness and salvation.
The sentence is structured around a main request with supporting phrases that clarify the psalmist's appeal to God.
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 119:41
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 Longing for God's Mercygenerated
Psalm 119:41 is a plea for God's loving devotion to be present in the psalmist's life. It follows a verse expressing a desire for revival through God's righteousness and precedes a declaration of trust in God's word. This section emphasizes the importance of divine mercy and the psalmist's reliance on God's promises, connecting to a broader theme of seeking God's guidance and help throughout the psalm.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:58–76 | I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise. |
| 2 | Psalm 69:16 | Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion. |
| 3 | Psalm 106:4–5 | Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor to Your people; visit me with Your salvation, |
| 4 | Luke 2:28–32 | Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֲסָדֶךָ, cha.sa.De.khagenerated
The word חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) refers to kindness, mercy, or lovingkindness, emphasizing God's faithful love towards humanity. It is often associated with covenant loyalty, highlighting the relational aspect of God's character and His commitment to His people.
In this verse, the construct form חֲסָדֶךָ indicates possession, meaning 'Your lovingkindness'. This shows that the psalmist is specifically appealing to God's nature and promises, seeking a personal experience of His mercy.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses loving devotion for חֲסָדֶךָ and salvation for תְּשׁוּעָתְךָ, aligning with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in the verse is וִֽיבֹאֻ֣נִי, may they come to me, which governs the entire request for God's loving devotion and salvation. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's longing for God's presence and help.
The sentence is constructed with a series of noun phrases and clauses that articulate the psalmist's desires, creating a flow that connects the themes of mercy and salvation with God's promises.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word for חֶ֫סֶד is rendered as σου (sou), indicating a direct connection to God's character as the source of mercy. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of God's lovingkindness as an essential attribute.
The translation maintains the request for God's salvation, aligning with the Hebrew text's emphasis on divine deliverance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:41 expresses a heartfelt plea for God's loving devotion and salvation to come to the psalmist. It reflects a deep desire for God's mercy and guidance, emphasizing the importance of His promises.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist refers to God's kindness and mercy, which are essential aspects of His character.
The request for salvation signifies a need for deliverance and help from God in times of trouble.
The psalmist's plea is based on the assurance of God's faithfulness to His word and the covenant relationship He has with His people.
Trust in God's character and promises is central to the psalmist's request, reflecting a deep reliance on divine mercy.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's lovingkindness in my life?
- How can I seek God's salvation in my daily challenges?
- What promises of God can I hold onto when I feel in need of His mercy?
- How can I reflect God's loving devotion to others in my actions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss God's mercy and lovingkindness, highlighting its significance in understanding divine attributes.
"And let Your loving mercy come also unto us, O Lord" [Psalms 119:41].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:41 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Biblew, VAU.--The Sixth Part. Ver. 41. VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord,.... Meaning not his providential mercies, but his special mercies and favours; his mercies of old, which were upon
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, (even) thy salvation, according to thy word.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVAU Let promised mercies be performed to me.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, [even] thy salvation, according to thy word.Ver. 41. Let thy mercies come also unto me] Let them come to me, or else I shall never come to them. 1 Peter 1:13, "Hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you." Psalms 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me," as the setting sun doth the wayfaring man that goes from it. The Arabic rendereth it, Let thy mercies come upon me, or cover me, as a garment. So the Spirit of the Lord clothed Amasa, 1 Chronicles 12:18, and, ye shall be clothed "with power from on high," Luke 24:49. Even thy salvation] Safety here and salvation hereafter. Austin expoundeth if of Christ.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleLETTER ו VAU. - Sixth Division Verse 41. Let thy mercies come] Let me speedily see the accomplishment of all my prayers! Let me have thy salvation-such a deliverance as it becomes thy greatness and goodness to impart. Let it be according to thy word-thy exceeding great and precious promises.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges41–48. Vâv. Prayers for grace and courage to witness a good confession.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord - This commences a new portion of the psalm, in which each verse begins with the letter Vau (ו v, or “v”).
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleå, Vau.41-48. I trust in thy word—In this section the prevailing element is a prayer for courage, equal to a frank, open confession. It is what Daniel might have uttered in Babylon, and many a martyr since.
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
May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise.
Let your loving kindness also come to me, Yahweh, your salvation, according to your word.
May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise.
May I experience your loyal love, O Lord, and your deliverance, as you promised.
Tyndale line
Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Let thy lovingkindnesses also come unto me, O Jehovah, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Let thy mercies also come unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
VAU. Let thy mercies come also to me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
VAV. And let thy louing kindnesse come vnto me, O Lord, and thy saluation according to thy promise.
Strictly literal
VAU. And let thy loving-kindness come unto me, O Jehovah, — thy salvation according to thy *word.
[Waw.] And meet me doth Thy kindness, O Jehovah, Thy salvation according to Thy saying.
[WAW] And Your kindness meets me, O YHWH, || Your salvation according to Your saying.
VAV. And let thy kindness come unto me, O Lord, thy salvation, according to thy promise.
Yahweh, give me your unfailing love— your salvation, according to your promise;
Simplified
Lord, please love me with your trustworthy love; please give me the salvation you promised.
Let your mercies come to me, O Lord, even your salvation, as you have said.
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 five words matched in meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with one scroll supplying a word entirely, but they still convey the same essential request for God's lovingkindness and salvation.
וִֽיבֹאֻ֣נִי חֲסָדֶ֣ךָ יְהוָ֑ה תְּ֝שֽׁוּעָתְךָ֗ כְּאִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃
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.
ויביא׳ני חסד׳ך יהוה תשועת׳ך [כאמרת׳ך]
4 words on the leather — 1 supplied entire by an editor.
ויבואו׳ני חסד יהוה תשועת׳כה כאמרת׳כה
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 119:41
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.
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural · suffixHC/Vqu3mp/Sp1bs
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) primarily means kindness or goodness, often referring to the kindness of people towards one another, especially towards the needy. It can also denote God's lovingkindness and mercy. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning of shame or reproach. The entries reflect a range of uses, from human interactions to divine attributes.
חֶ֫סֶד 247 n.m. goodness, kindness
of man:
kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
(rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
lovely appearance
of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
base
חֶ֫סֶד n.m. shame, reproach
base
H2617a חֶ֫סֶד goodness, kindness . of man: . kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
. kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
. (rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
. lovely appearance
. of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
H2617b חֶ֫סֶד shame, reproach
2617 checed kheh'-sed
from 2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety:
rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:--favour,
good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful
(kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
see HEBREW for 02616
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — kindness.
goodness, kindness, faithfulness
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — shame.
a reproach, shame
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/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
תְּשׁוּעָה (tshuw`ah) refers to concepts of rescue, deliverance, and salvation, both in a personal and national context. It emphasizes help and safety, often associated with divine intervention. The term is linked to victory as well, indicating a broader range of meanings related to overcoming challenges or enemies.
תְּשׁוּעָה († תְּשֻׁעָה 2 S 19:3) n.f. deliverance, salvation
base
H8668 תְּשׁוּעָה, תְּשֻׁעָה
8668 tshuw`ah tesh-oo-aw'
or tshuah {tesh-oo-aw'}; from 7768 in the sense of 3467;
rescue (literal or figurative, pers., national or spir.):--
deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory.
see HEBREW for 07768
see HEBREW for 03467
תְּשׁוּעָה (te.shu.ah) — deliverance: salvation.
: salvation
1) salvation, deliverance
1a) deliverance (usually by God through human agency)
1b) salvation (spiritual in sense)
Also means: te.shu.ah (תְּשׁוּעָה ": victory" H8668H)
תְּשׁוּעָה (te.shu.ah) — deliverance: victory.
: victory
1) salvation, deliverance
1a) deliverance (usually by God through human agency)
1b) salvation (spiritual in sense)
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2ms
אִמְרָה (imrah) refers to an utterance, speech, or word, and can denote a word of God, including commands and promises. It also has a connotation of a threat, particularly in the context of divine judgment. The term is feminine and is derived from a related root, אֶמְרָה (emrah), which shares similar meanings.
ref
H565a אִמְרָה utternace, speech, word H565b אֶמְרָה id. [565a]
565 'imrah im-raw'
or memrah {em-raw'}; feminine of 561, and meaning the
same:--commandment, speech, word.
see HEBREW for 0561
אִמְרָה (im.rah) — word.
1) utterance, speech, word
1a) word of God (command and promise)
אֶמְרָה (im.rah) — threat.
threat (of judgement from God)
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms