Psalms 119 · Verse 161

Psalms 119:161

ש SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
Psalms 119:161, King James Version

Psalms 119:161 in other translations

BSBRulers persecute me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word.
WEBPrinces have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
ASVPrinces have persecuted me without a cause; But my heart standeth in awe of thy words.
YLTShin. Princes have pursued me without cause, And because of Thy words was my heart afraid.
DARBYSHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
BBERulers have been cruel to me without cause; but I have the fear of your word in my heart.
WebsterSCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

What does Psalms 119:161 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 119:161-165
161-165. (Compare Psa 119:46, 86). awe--reverential, not slavish fear, which could not coexist with love (Psa 119:163; 1Jo 4:8). Instead of fearing his persecutors, he fears God's Word alone (Lu 12:4, 5). The Jews inscribe in the first page of the great Bible (Ge 28:17), "How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 161 Princes have persecuted me - This may refer to what was done by prime ministers, and the rulers of provinces, to sour the king against the unfortunate Jews, in order still to detain them in bondage. In reference to David, the plotting against him in Saul's court, and the dangers he ran in consequence of the jealousies of the Philistine lords while he sojourned among them, are well known. My heart standeth in awe - They had probably offers made them of enlargement or melioration of condition, providing they submitted to some idolatrous conditions; but they knew they had to do with a jealous God; their hearts stood in awe, and they were thereby kept from sin.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 119:161-168
Those whose hearts stand in awe of God's word, will rather endure the wrath of man, than break the law of God. By the word of God we are unspeakable gainers. Every man hates to have a lie told him, but we should more hate telling a lie; by the latter we give an affront to God. The more we see the beauty of truth, the more we shall see the hateful deformity of a lie. We are to praise God even for afflictions; through grace we get good from them. Those that love the world have great vexation, for it does not answer what they expect; those that love God's word have great peace, for it outdoes what they expect. Those in whom this holy love reigns, will not perplex themselves with needless scruples, or take offence at their brethren. A good hope of salvation will engage the heart in doing the commandments. And our love to the word of God must subdue our lusts, and root out carnal affections: we must make heart work of it, or we make nothing of it. We must keep the commandments of God by obedience to them, and his promises by reliance on them. God's eye is on us at all times; this should make us very careful to keep his commandments.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 119:161 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

שָׂ֭רִיםSa.rimicialsH8269
רְדָפ֣וּנִיre.da.Fu.nithey have harassed meH7291
חִנָּ֑םchi.Namwithout causeH2600
וּ֝מִדְּבָרְךָ֗u.mi.de.va.rei.khaand from word yourH1697
פָּחַ֥דpa.Chadit is in dreadH6342
לִבִּֽי\׃li.Biheart myH3820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 119:161

  • Psalms 119:157

    Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

  • Isaiah 66:2

    For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

  • 1 Samuel 26:18

    And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

  • 1 Samuel 24:9-15

    And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. …

  • John 15:25

    But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

  • Psalms 4:4

    Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

  • Psalms 119:23

    Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

  • Job 31:23

    For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

  • Genesis 39:9

    There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

  • Jeremiah 36:23-25

    And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.

  • Genesis 42:18

    And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:

  • Nehemiah 5:15

    But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
SCHIN
Princes.
23,157; 1Sa 21:15; 24:9-15; 26:18; Joh 15:25
my heart.
4:4; Ge 39:9; 42:18; 2Ki 22:19; Ne 5:15; Job 31:23; Isa 66:2
Jer 36:23-25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 119:160

    Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

  • Psalms 119:161

    ש SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

  • Psalms 119:162

    I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Read all of Psalms 119

Psalms 119:161 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		SIN. Príncipes me han perseguido sin causa; mas mi corazón tuvo temor de tus palabras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Des princes m’ont persécuté sans cause; mais mon cœur a eu peur de ta parole.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Fürsten haben mich verfolgt ohne Ursache; aber vor deinem Worte hat mein Herz sich gefürchtet.