Psalms 119:5 — Word Study
WLCאַ֭חֲלַי יִכֹּ֥נוּ דְרָכָ֗י לִשְׁמֹ֥ר חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃
BSAOh, thatʼachălay [O that, I wish] my waysderek [path, journey, manner of life] were committedkûwn▸ [established, directed] to keepingshâmar [obeying, guarding] Your statuteschôq [decrees, laws, divine commands]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַ֭חֲלַי | would that! | Particle |
| יִכֹּ֥נוּ | they will be steadfast | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| דְרָכָ֗י | ways my | Noun common both plural construct, suffix |
| לִשְׁמֹ֥ר | to keep | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃ | decrees your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes! |
| KJV | O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! |
| ASV | Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes! |
| YLT | O that my ways were prepared to keep Thy statutes, |
| WEB | Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes! |
| BBE | If only my ways were ordered so that I might keep your rules! |
Translations consistently reflect the psalmist's longing for commitment to God's statutes.
The verse consists of a main clause expressing a wish, followed by a prepositional phrase detailing the desired commitment.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbכּוּן
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 119:5
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 — A Plea for Commitment to God's Statutesgenerated
Psalm 119:5 expresses a heartfelt wish from the psalmist that his life would be fully dedicated to following God's laws. This plea comes in the context of a larger reflection on the importance of obedience to divine commandments, as seen in the surrounding verses. The psalmist recognizes the need for divine assistance in achieving this commitment, highlighting the struggle between human desire and divine expectation.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:32–36 | I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart. |
| 2 | Psalm 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 31:33 | “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. |
| 4 | Romans 7:22–24 | For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. |
| 5 | 2 Thessalonians 3:5 | May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אַחֲלַי, 'A.cha.laigenerated
The word אַחֲלַי (achalay) is an expression of longing, meaning 'O that!' or 'would that!'. It conveys a deep desire for a particular state of being, specifically in the context of aligning one's life with God's will.
This particle emphasizes the psalmist's wish for his paths to be established in obedience to God's statutes, reflecting a yearning for spiritual integrity and alignment with divine commands.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses committed for the Hebrew word that conveys the idea of being established or directed.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יִכֹּ֥נוּ, they will be steadfast, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a noun phrase as the subject and a prepositional phrase indicating the object of the commitment.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the psalmist's ways, suggesting that his journey and manner of life are central to the plea for divine guidance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אַחֲלַי with ὄφελον, which conveys a similar sense of longing or desire. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the psalmist's emotional state.
The Greek rendering maintains the essence of the Hebrew, emphasizing the wish for steadfastness in following God's commands.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:5 expresses a strong wish from the psalmist that his life would be fully committed to keeping God's laws. This verse reflects a desire for guidance and alignment with divine expectations, highlighting the importance of obeying God's statutes.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The 'ways' refer to the psalmist's path, journey, or manner of life, indicating a desire for his entire life to align with God's commands.
The psalmist recognizes the struggle to live according to God's statutes and expresses a longing for divine help in achieving this commitment.
God's statutes are the laws and decrees given to guide the behavior and moral conduct of His people, as seen throughout the Scriptures.
You can reflect on your own paths and seek to align your actions and decisions with God's principles, asking for His guidance in your daily life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I wish to be more aligned with God's statutes?
- How can I actively seek to commit my ways to following God's commands?
- What practical steps can I take to ensure I am guarding God's laws in my daily actions?
- How does understanding God's statutes help me in my spiritual journey?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, like Augustine, reflect on this verse to illustrate the desire for alignment with God's commands.
"O that," he says, "my ways were made so direct, that I might keep Your statutes" [Psalms 119:5]. Thou indeed hast charged: O that I could realize what you have charged.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleO that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!] The psalmist, sensible of his own inability, as every good man is, to keep the commands of God, prays for grace, direction, and assistance in it;
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryO that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! O that my ways were directed - `confirmed,' (Hengstenberg: cf.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleMy desires answer thy commands. Directed, or established, to wit, by thy grace and Holy Spirit; for the direction of God’ s word he had already.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!Ver. 5. O that my ways were directed, &c.] David can wish well to that perfection which he cannot attain unto. The whole life of a good Christian is a holy desire, saith Austin; and this is always seconded with endeavour; without the which, affection is like Rachel, beautiful but barren.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Directed . . .—So LXX. and Vulg. The He brew is perhaps slightly different, established, or settled. (See Proverbs 4:26.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 5. O that my ways were directed] "I wish that my way may be confirmed to keep thy statutes." Without thee I can do nothing; my soul is unstable and fickle; and it will continue weak and uncertain till thou strengthen and establish it.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes! (R.V.) The thought of God’s Will expressed in Psalms 119:4 naturally evokes a prayer that in his whole life and conduct he may fulfil God’s Will, not fitfully and uncertainly, but constantly and consistently. For established cp. Proverbs 4:26.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleO that my ways were directed ... - Indicating the desire of the pious heart. That desire - a prevailing, constant, uniform desire - is to keep the law of God.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →The verse in English, compared — 17 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
Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!
Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
If only I were predisposed to keep your statutes!
Tyndale line
O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes!
Oh that my ways were established to observe thy statutes!
O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Oh that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes!
Strictly literal
Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
O that my ways were prepared to keep Thy statutes,
O that my ways were prepared to keep Your statutes,
Oh that my ways were firmly directed to observe thy statutes!
Oh, that I would be firmly established in the observance of your statutes!
From the Latin
Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of cedar:
Simplified
May I be reliable in the way I keep your rules!
If only my ways were ordered so that I might keep 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: אַ֭חֲלַי יִכֹּ֥נוּ דְרָכָ֗י לִשְׁמֹ֥ר חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃. The Septuagint matches all five words, indicating a consistent transmission of this verse. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the core message remains intact.
אַ֭חֲלַי יִכֹּ֥נוּ דְרָכָ֗י לִשְׁמֹ֥ר חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃
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.
אחלי [יכונו] [דרכ׳י] [לשמור] אמת׳כה
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
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 119:5
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.
אַחְלַי (achalay) is an expression meaning 'O that!' or 'would that!' It appears in contexts of longing or desire, specifically in Psalm 119:5 and 2 Kings 5:3. The word is likely derived from other Hebrew roots, but the entries do not provide a detailed breakdown.
אַחְלַי ψ 119:5 and אַחֲלֵי 2 K 5:3 ah that! (𝔊 ὄφελον).
ref
H305 אַחְלַי
305 'achalay akh-al-ah'ee
or achaley {akh-al-ay'}; prob from 253 and a variation of
3863; would that!:--O that, would God.
see HEBREW for 0253
see HEBREW for 03863
אַחֲלַי (a.cha.lay) — O that!.
Oh that...!; oh would that!; ah that!
Part — ParticleHTj
כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.
[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.
Niph.
be set up, established, fixed
in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
prepare, be ready
pass. be prepared, of judgments
Hiph.
establish, set up
fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
provide for, provide, furnish
direct one's face toward
arrange, order
Hoph.
be established, of throne
be prepared for
Po‛lēl.
set up, establish
constitute, make, a man (in womb)
fix, so as to be ready
direct
Po‛lal. be established
Hithpo‛l. be established
base
נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5
ref
H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed
. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
. prepare, be ready
. pass. be prepared, of judgments
. . establish, set up
. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
. provide for, provide, furnish
. direct one's face toward
. arrange, order
. . be established, of throne
. be prepared for
. . set up, establish
. constitute, make, a man (in womb)
. fix, so as to be ready
. direct
. be established
. be established
H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow
3559 kuwn koon
a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand
perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great
variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper
or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,
fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,
ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),
provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,
fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very
deed.
כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.
: prepare/direct
1) to be firm, be stable, be established
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed
1a1a) to be firmly established
1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring
1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined
1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)
1a3) to prepare, be ready
1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm
1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish
1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)
1b4) to arrange, order
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be established, be fastened
1c2) to be prepared, be ready
1d) (Polel)
1d1) to set up, establish
1d2) to constitute, make
1d3) to fix
1d4) to direct
1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared
1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored
נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVNi3mp
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.
דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner
way, road, path
journey
of direction, almost or quite = toward
way, manner
fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
of moral action and character
of duty
specif.: in good sense
oftener in bad sense
way of י׳
base
H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path
. journey
. of direction, almost or quite = toward
. way, manner
. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
. . of moral action and character
. of duty
. specif.: in good sense
. oftener in bad sense
. way of י׳
1870 derek deh'-rek
from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of
life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because
of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,
passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),
whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 01869
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.
: conduct/lifestyle
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.
This name means way, road
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.
This name means way, road
Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.
: direction
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.
: road/route
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.
: journey
N-cp | Suff — Noun common both plural construct · suffixHNcbpc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
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
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2ms