Psalms 119:57 — Word Study
WLCחֶלְקִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אָמַ֗רְתִּי לִשְׁמֹ֥ר דְּבָרֶֽיךָ׃
BSAThe LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, my heavenly Father] is my portionchêleq [inheritance, smoothness] I have promisedʼâmar■ [said, determined] to keepshâmar [obey, guard] Your wordsdâbâr [commands, chronicles, divine expressions]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חֶלְקִ֖י | [is] portion my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יְהוָ֥ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| אָמַ֗רְתִּי | I have said | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| לִשְׁמֹ֥ר | to keep | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| דְּבָרֶֽיךָ׃ | words 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 | The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. |
| KJV | Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. |
| ASV | Jehovah is my portion: I have said that I would observe thy words. |
| YLT | [Cheth.] My portion [is] Jehovah; I have said — to keep Thy words, |
| WEB | Yahweh is my portion. I promised to obey your words. |
| BBE | The Lord is my heritage: I have said that I would be ruled by your words. |
All translations agree on the meaning of the Lord as the psalmist's portion.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases, emphasizing the psalmist's commitment.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיהוה
verbאָמַר
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 119:57
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 Reflection on God's Provisiongenerated
Psalm 119:57 reveals the psalmist's deep reliance on the Lord, who is described as his portion or inheritance. This verse emphasizes the personal relationship between the psalmist and God, illustrating a commitment to obey God's words, which are seen as vital to his life. The surrounding verses highlight the psalmist's practice of obedience and his desire for God's grace, reinforcing the theme of devotion and faithfulness to God's commands.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 16:5 | The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. |
| 2 | Psalm 73:26 | My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. |
| 3 | Psalm 142:5 | I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” |
| 4 | Jeremiah 10:16 | The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance— the LORD of Hosts is His name. |
| 5 | Lamentations 3:24 | “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֶלְקִ֖י, chel.Kigenerated
The Hebrew word חֵ֫לֶק (*cheleq*) primarily means a portion or share, often associated with land or inheritance. In this context, it signifies the psalmist's acknowledgment of the Lord as his personal inheritance, emphasizing a deep spiritual connection.
The word also carries a connotation of smoothness, which can refer to the persuasive nature of speech. However, here it underscores the psalmist's understanding that the Lord provides not just sustenance but also spiritual fulfillment.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree that the Lord is the psalmist's portion.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb אָמַ֗רְתִּי, I have said, governs the structure of the verse, with two phrases hanging off it: a noun phrase identifying the subject and a prepositional phrase indicating the object. This structure emphasizes the psalmist's declaration of commitment.
The word order places emphasis on the Lord as the subject, followed by the psalmist's promise to keep God's words, illustrating the priority of divine relationship in the psalmist's life.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חֶלְקִ֖י as μου (my), indicating a personal possession. This choice highlights the intimate relationship between the psalmist and God, as well as the understanding of God as a personal inheritance.
The use of κύριε for יְהוָ֥ה reinforces the authority and lordship of God in the psalmist's life.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:57 expresses the psalmist's declaration that the Lord is his portion, indicating a deep reliance on God. He promises to keep God's words, showing his commitment to obey and guard them.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the Lord is the psalmist's inheritance and source of strength, emphasizing a personal relationship with God.
Keeping God's words reflects obedience and a commitment to live according to His commands, which are vital for spiritual life.
In this context, portion refers to the Lord as the psalmist's spiritual inheritance, similar to how one would receive land or possessions.
The promise indicates a determination to obey and guard God's commands, highlighting the psalmist's devotion and faithfulness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I recognize the Lord as my portion in my daily life?
- What steps can I take to ensure I keep and obey God's words?
- In what ways does understanding God as my inheritance change my perspective on life?
- How can I encourage others to see the importance of keeping God's commands?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers often referenced this verse to discuss the relationship between God and His followers, emphasizing the importance of God's commands and the believer's response.
In petition one asks for mercy for one’s sins, in thanksgiving you give thanks to your Father who is in heaven, while in praise you praise him for his works.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Let each of these considerations find entrance into your mind and check the swollen growth of wrath. By such preparations and by acquiring such dispositions,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
The possession of God is owed to such as these, as Isaiah says: “This is the inheritance of those who believe in the Lord.” Very aptly does he say, “This is the inheritance,” for that alone is the inheritance; there is no other.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:57 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Biblex, CHETH.--The Eighth Part. Ver. 57. CHETH. [Thou art] my portion, O Lord,.... Which he chose and preferred to all others; to the riches, honours, and profits of this world; the grant of which was
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleCHETH Whereas other men place their portion and happiness in worldly things, I have chosen thee for my portion and chief treasure, as he said, 73:26, and thou hast an all-sufficient and an excellent portion for me. I have said; I have not only purposed it in my own heart, but have professed and owned it before others, and I do not repent of it.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:57 CHETH. [Thou art] my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.Ver. 57. Thou art my portion, O Lord] While other men’ s portion sunt divitiae vel deliciae, nothing short of God can satisfy me. I have said, &c.] i.e. Purposed and promised the obedience of faith.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersCHETH. (57) Thou art my portion, O Lord.—This rendering is in accordance with Psalms 16:5; Psalms 73:26. But, even with these passages in view, a better rendering would be— “This is my portion, O Lord, I said (it), To keep Thy words.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleLETTER ח CHETH. - Eighth Division Verse 57. Thou art my portion, O Lord] From the fifty-seventh to the sixtieth verse may be seen the progress of the work of grace on the human heart, from the first dawn of heavenly light till the soul is filled with the fulness of God. But as I consider this Psalm as notes selected from diaries of past experience, formed at different times; and that the author has been obliged, for the support of his acrostic plan, to interchange circumstances, putting that sometimes behind which in the order of grace comes before; because, to put it in its right place, the letters would not accord with the alphabetical arrangement; I shall therefore follow what I conceive…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges57–64. Chçth. The Psalmist’s devotion to Jehovah and His law.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThou art my portion, O Lord - This begins a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Cheth (ח ch), which may be represented in English by “ch.” On the meaning of the language here, see the notes at Psalms 16:5.
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
The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.
Yahweh is my portion. I promised to obey your words.
The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.
The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions.
Tyndale line
Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Jehovah is my portion: I have said that I would observe thy words.
The LORD is my portion: I have said that I would observe thy words.
CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
CHETH. O Lord, that art my portion, I haue determined to keepe thy wordes.
Strictly literal
CHETH. My portion, O Jehovah, I have said, is to keep thy words.
[Cheth.] My portion [is] Jehovah; I have said — to keep Thy words,
[HETH] YHWH [is] my portion; I have said I would keep Your words,
CHETH. My portion is the Lord, have I said, that I might observe thy words.
Yahweh is my portion; I have determined to observe your words.
Simplified
Lord, you are mine! I have promised to do as you say.
The Lord is my heritage: I have said that I would be ruled by your words.
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 on the wording of Psalm 119:57, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a partly restored version, with some words supplied by an editor, but they align with the Masoretic Text in meaning.
חֶלְקִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אָמַ֗רְתִּי לִשְׁמֹ֥ר דְּבָרֶֽיךָ׃
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.
[חלק׳י] [יהוה] אמרתי [לשמר] [דברי׳ך]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 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 119:57
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.
The Hebrew word חֵ֫לֶק (*cheleq*) has two main meanings: it can refer to a portion or share, often in the context of land or inheritance, and it can denote smoothness or seductiveness, particularly in speech. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including as a divine award. Notably, it appears in Proverbs 7:21 in relation to speech.
חֵ֫לֶק n.m. portion, tract, territory
portion, share
portion, tract, of land
hence portion, i.e. (acquired) possession
chosen portion, habitual mode of life
portion, award, from God
H2506a חֵ֫לֶק portion, tract, territory H2506b חֵ֫לֶק smoothness, seductiveness of speech
2506 cheleq khay'lek
from 2505; properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an
allotment:--flattery, inheritance, part, X partake, portion.
see HEBREW for 02505
חֵ֫לֶק (che.leq) — portion.
1) portion, share, part, territory
1a) portion, share
1b) portion, tract, parcel (of land)
1c) one's portion, one's possession
1d) (chosen) portion
1e) portion, award (from God)
Aramaic equivalent: cha.laq (חֲלָק "portion" H2508)
חֵ֫לֶק (che.leq) — smoothness.
smoothness, seductiveness, flattery
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
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
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
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
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2ms