Psalms 119:93 — Word Study
WLCלְ֭עוֹלָם לֹא־ אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח פִּקּוּדֶ֑יךָ כִּ֥י בָ֝֗ם חִיִּיתָֽנִי׃
BSAI will neverʻôwlâm [to the age, forever] forgetshâkach▸ Your preceptspiqqûwd [instructions, commandments] forkîy You have revived mechâyâh■ [quickened me, given me life, enabled me to live]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְ֭עוֹלָם | for ever | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח | I will forget | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| פִּקּוּדֶ֑יךָ | precepts your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| כִּ֥י | for | Particle |
| בָ֝֗ם | by them | Preposition, suffix |
| חִיִּיתָֽנִי׃ | you have preserved alive me | Verb piel perfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. |
| KJV | I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. |
| ASV | I will never forget thy precepts; For with them thou hast quickened me. |
| YLT | To the age I forget not Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast quickened me. |
| WEB | I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me. |
| BBE | I will ever keep your orders in mind; for in them I have life. |
Translations agree on the meaning of the verse, emphasizing the importance of remembering God's precepts.
The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause indicating the reason for the main action.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׁכַח
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 119:93
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 God's Lawgenerated
Psalm 119:93 reflects the psalmist's deep commitment to God's commandments, emphasizing their role in sustaining life. The preceding verse highlights the peril of forgetting God's law, while the following verse reiterates the psalmist's dependence on God's guidance. This section of Psalm 119 consistently underscores the importance of God's word in the believer's life, as seen throughout the chapter.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:16–50 | I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. |
| 2 | John 6:63 | The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. |
| 3 | 1 Peter 1:23 | For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פִּקּוּדֶ֑יךָ, pi.ku.Dei.chagenerated
The word פִּקּוּד (piqqud) refers to divine instructions or commandments, emphasizing their significance in guiding moral and spiritual conduct. It is derived from a root meaning to appoint, indicating that these precepts are not arbitrary but divinely ordained.
In this verse, the psalmist asserts a lifelong commitment to remember these precepts, recognizing that they are vital for his spiritual vitality. The plural form indicates a collection of commandments, highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's law.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb חִיִּיתָֽנִי (you have preserved alive me) governs the main clause, with two phrases modifying it: a negation phrase לֹא־אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח (not I will forget) and a prepositional phrase בָ֝֗ם (by them). This structure emphasizes the psalmist's resolve not to forget God's commandments and the life they bring.
The Hebrew word order places the negation at the beginning, underscoring the psalmist's strong commitment to memory and obedience. The use of the preposition בָ֝֗ם connects the precepts directly to the act of being revived, highlighting their essential role.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates פִּקּוּדֶ֑יךָ as σου (your), indicating a direct address to God regarding His commandments. This choice emphasizes the personal relationship between the psalmist and God's instructions.
The Greek word χίζω corresponds to חִיִּיתָֽנִי, which also conveys the idea of giving life, reinforcing the theme of revival present in both texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:93 expresses the psalmist's promise to always remember God's commandments because they are the source of his life. This verse highlights the importance of God's instructions in sustaining and reviving the believer.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Forgetting God's precepts means neglecting or ignoring His commandments, which can lead to spiritual decline.
God's precepts provide guidance and life, helping believers to live according to His will.
Regular reading, meditation, and application of Scripture can help in remembering God's commandments.
Being revived by God's precepts means experiencing spiritual renewal and life through obedience to His commands.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced revival through God's commandments in my life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper commitment to remembering God's precepts?
- What practical steps can I take to ensure I do not forget God's instructions?
- How do God's precepts influence my daily decisions and actions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Christian writers, such as Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to illustrate the life-giving power of God's commandments.
"I will never forget," he says, "Your righteousnesses, for with them You have quickened me" [Psalms 119:93]. Behold how it was that he did not perish in his humiliation.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:93 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI will never forget thy precepts,.... Not the precepts of the moral law, though he carefully observed and attended to them, laid them up in his mind, and did not forget to keep them; but the
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleRevived and cheered me, when my heart was ready to sink and die within me.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.Ver. 93. I will never forget thy precepts] That is, thy promises, which are as sure and firm as the commands of the most absolute monarch upon earth. And here the prophet proposeth his own example for a pattern to others; for, as Pacatus writeth in his panegyric to Theodosius the emperor, blandissime iubetur exemplo examples are sweet precepts. For with them thou hast quickened me] Thou hast fetched me again, when ready to faint, as Psalms 119:92.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 93. I will never forget thy precepts] How can I? It is by them I live.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges89–96. Lamed. The eternity, immutability, and comprehensiveness of God’s law, which has been the Psalmist’s support in affliction.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI will never forget thy precepts - Thy laws; thy truth. I will bear them in mind forever. To all eternity they shall be the object of my meditation.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleì, Lamed.89-96. Thy word is settled in heaven—This lofty declaration of the character of the word, gives the reason why it may be trusted.
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 will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.
I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me.
I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have revived me.
Tyndale line
I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
I will never forget thy precepts; For with them thou hast quickened me.
I will never forget thy precepts; for with them thou hast quickened me.
I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast revived me.
I wil neuer forget thy precepts: for by them thou hast quickened me.
Strictly literal
I will never forget thy precepts; for by them thou hast quickened me.
To the age I forget not Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast quickened me.
I do not forget Your precepts for all time, || For You have quickened me by them.
Never will I forget thy precepts; for with them thou hast kept me alive.
I will never forget your instructions, for through them you have kept me alive.
Simplified
I will never forget your instructions, for through them you give me life.
I will ever keep your orders in mind; for in them I have life.
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 align closely, with all seven words matching. The Dead Sea Scrolls also confirm the wording, showing consistency across these ancient witnesses.
לְ֭עוֹלָם לֹא־ אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח פִּקּוּדֶ֑יךָ כִּ֥י בָ֝֗ם חִיִּיתָֽנִי׃
7 of the 7 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.
לעולם לוא אשכח פקודי׳כה כי ב׳מה חיית׳ני
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 119:93
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.
עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.
עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity
base
H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity
5769 `owlam o-lawm'
or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the
vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),
i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),
ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,
(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)
old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world
(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.
see HEBREW for 05956
see HEBREW for 05331
see HEBREW for 05703
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.
: enduring/eternal
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.
This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.
: any_time
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.
: old/ancient
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
HTn — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.
שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget
Qal 86 forget
Niph. be forgotten
Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget
Hiph. to make my people forget my name
Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.
base
H7911 שָׁכַח forget
7911 shakach shaw-kakh'
or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,
i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X
at all, (cause to) forget.
שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.
1) to forget, ignore, wither
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to forget
1a2) to cease to care
1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten
1c) (Piel) to cause to forget
1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget
1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten
Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
פִּקּוּד (piqqud) refers to a precept or mandate, specifically one that is appointed by God. It is derived from a root meaning to appoint and is used in a plural form to collectively denote commandments or statutes within the Law.
[פִּקּוּד] 24 n.m. precept
base
H6490 [פִּקּוּד] precept
6490 piqquwd pik-kood'
or piqqud {pik-kood'}; from 6485; properly, appointed, i.e. a
mandate (of God; plural only, collectively, for the
Law):--commandment, precept, statute.
see HEBREW for 06485
פִּקּוּד (piq.qud) — precept.
precept, statute
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2ms
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,
where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,
even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +
nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,
therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,
whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
כִּי (ki) — for.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
1f) but rather, but
1g) except that
1h) only, nevertheless
1i) surely
1j) that is
1k) but if
1l) for though
1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
Conj — ParticleHTc
for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.
In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
חָיָה (chayah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to live or have life, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It includes various nuances such as reviving, preserving life, and restoring health. The entries detail its use in different stems, with Qal focusing on living and being quickened, while Piel and Hiphil emphasize giving life and reviving. No specific verse references are provided.
חָיָה 283 vb. live
Qal 203
live
be quickened, revive
Pi.
preserve alive, let live
give life
quicken, revive, refresh
Hiph.
preserve alive, let live
quicken, revive
base
H2421 חָיָה live .. live
. be quickened, revive
. . preserve alive, let live
. give life
. quicken, revive, refresh
. . preserve alive, let live
. quicken, revive
2421 chayah khaw-yaw'
a primitive root (compare 2331, 2421); to live, whether
literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive:--keep
(leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let,
suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, (X God) save
(alive, life, lives), X surely, be whole.
see HEBREW for 02331
see HEBREW for 02421
חָיָה (cha.yah) — to live.
1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to live
1a1a) to have life
1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive
1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon
1a1d) to live (prosperously)
1a2) to revive, be quickened
1a2a) from sickness
1a2b) from discouragement
1a2c) from faintness
1a2d) from death
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to preserve alive, let live
1b2) to give life
1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh
1b3a) to restore to life
1b3b) to cause to grow
1b3c) to restore
1b3d) to revive
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to preserve alive, let live
1c2) to quicken, revive
1c2a) to restore (to health)
1c2b) to revive
1c2c) to restore to life
V-Piel-Perf-2ms | Suff — Verb piel perfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVpp2ms/Sp1bs
