Psalms 119 · Verse 169

Psalms 119:169

ת TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.
Psalms 119:169, King James Version

Psalms 119:169 in other translations

BSBMay my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word.
WEBLet my cry come before you, LORD. Give me understanding according to your word.
ASVLet my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word.
YLTTaw. My loud cry cometh near before Thee, O Jehovah; According to Thy word cause me to understand.
DARBYTAU. Let my cry come near before thee, Jehovah: give me understanding according to thy word.
BBELet my cry come before you, O Lord; give me wisdom in keeping with your word.
WebsterTAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

What does Psalms 119:169 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 119:169-170
169-170. The prayer for understanding of the truth precedes that for deliverance. The fulfilment of the first is the basis of the fulfilment of the second (Psa 90:11-17). On the terms "cry" and "supplication" (compare Psa 6:9; 17:1).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 169 Let my cry come near before thee - This is really a fine image; it is of frequent occurrence, and is little heeded. Here the psalmists cry for deliverance is personified; made an intelligent being, and sent up to the throne of grace to negotiate in his behalf. He pursues this prosopopoeia in the next verse and sends his supplication in the same way. I have already had occasion to refer to a similar figure in Homer, where prayers are represented as the daughters of Jupiter. See on Psa 88:2 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 119:169-176
The psalmist desired grace and strength to lift up his prayers, and that the Lord would receive and notice them. He desired to know more of God in Christ; to know more of the doctrines of the word, and the duties of religion. He had a deep sense of unworthiness, and holy fear that his prayer should not come before God; Lord, what I pray for is, what thou hast promised. We have learned nothing to purpose, if we have not learned to praise God. We should always make the word of God the rule of our discourse, so as never to transgress it by sinful speaking, or sinful silence. His own hands are not sufficient, nor can any creature lend him help; therefore he looks up to God, that the hand that had made him may help him. He had made religion his deliberate choice. There is an eternal salvation all the saints long for, and therefore they pray that God would help their way to it. Let thy judgments help me; let all ordinances and all providences, (both are God's judgments,) further me in glorifying God; let them help me for that work. He often looks back with shame and gratitude to his lost estate. He still prays for the tender care of Him who purchased his flock with his own blood, that he may receive from him the gift of eternal life. Seek me, that is, Find me; for God never seeks in vain. Turn me, and I shall be turned. Let this psalm be a touchstone by which to try our hearts, and our lives. Do our hearts, cleansed in Christ's blood, make these prayers, resolutions and confessions our own? Is God's word the standard of our faith, and the law of our practice? Do we use it as pleas with Christ for what we need? Happy those who live in such delightful exercises.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 119:169 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.

תִּקְרַ֤בtik.Ravmay it draw nearH7126
רִנָּתִ֣יri.na.Ticry of entreaty myH7440
לְפָנֶ֣יךָle.fa.Nei.kha<to> before youH6440
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehO YahwehH3068
כִּדְבָרְךָ֥kid.va.re.Khaaccording to word yourH1697
הֲבִינֵֽנִי\׃ha.vi.Ne.nigive understanding meH995

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

Cross references for Psalms 119:169

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • Psalms 119:144-145

    The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. ק KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.

  • Psalms 18:6

    In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

  • Proverbs 2:3-5

    Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:10

    Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

  • 2 Chronicles 30:27

    Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

  • Daniel 2:21

    And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

  • 1 Chronicles 22:12

    Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
TAU
Let my cry.
145; 18:6; 2Ch 30:27
give me.
144; 1Ch 22:12; 2Ch 1:10; Pr 2:3-5; Da 2:21; Jas 1:5

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

Context

  • Psalms 119:168

    I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

  • Psalms 119:169

    ת TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.

  • Psalms 119:170

    Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

Read all of Psalms 119

Psalms 119:169 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		TAU. Acérquese mi clamor delante de ti, oh Jehová: dame entendimiento conforme á tu palabra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que mon cri parvienne devant toi, ô Éternel! Rends-moi intelligent, selon ta parole!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Laß mein Schreien nahe vor dich kommen, Jehova; gib mir Einsicht nach deinem Worte!