King James Version
Psalms 119:109
109My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
Psalms 119:109 in other versions
- New International Version (NIV)Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
- New King James Version (NKJV)My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.
- New Living Translation (NLT)My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
Context of Psalms 119:109
107I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. 108Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. 110The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Read all of Psalms 119Psalms 119:109 word by word
נַפְשִׁ֣י בְכַפִּ֣י תָמִ֑יד וְ֝תֽוֹרָתְךָ֗ לֹ֣א שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 119:109
- Judges 12:3And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?
- 1 Samuel 19:5For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
- 1 Samuel 20:3And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
- Job 13:14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
- Romans 8:36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
- 1 Corinthians 15:31I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
- Psalms 119:83For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Commentaries on Psalms 119:109
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 109My soul is continually in my hand - נפשי naphshi, my life; that is, it is in constant danger, every hour I am on the confines of death. The expression signifies to be in continual danger. So Xenarchus in Athenaeus, lib. xiii., c. 4: ͅ , "having the life in the hand;" which signifies continual danger and jeopardy. There is some thing like this in the speech of Achilles to Ulysses, Hom. Il. ix., ver. 322: - · "Always presenting my life to the dangers of the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 109My soul is continually in my hand - The Septuagint renders this, “My soul is always in thy hands,” but the Hebrew will not admit of this construction. The idea in the original is that his soul - his life - was always in jeopardy. The expression seems to be proverbial. Anything taken in the hand is liable to be rudely snatched away. Thus a casket of jewels, or a purse of gold in the hand, may at any moment be seized by robbers. See the notes at Job 13:14…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 105-112Verses 105-112 The word of God directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit, as a light to direct us in the choice of our way, and the steps we take in that way. The keeping of God's commands here meant, was that of a sinner under a dispensation of mercy, of a believer having part in the covenant of grace. The psalmist is often afflicted; but with…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 108-112freewill offerings of my mouth: This Hebrew expression is unique in the Old Testament (compare Psalm 50:23). The psalmist is vulnerable to his opponents because of his commitment to a wise life.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 109-110109-110. In the midst of deadly perils (the phrase is drawn from the fact that what we carry in our hands may easily slip from them, Jud 12:3; 1Sa 28:21; Job 13:14; compare 1Sa 19:5), and exposed to crafty enemies, his safety and guidance is in the truth and promises of God.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 119:109
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 119
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
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