Psalms 119:169

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 119:169 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word.
Psalms 119:169 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 119

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
169Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word.

What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord - This commences a new division of the psalm, indicated by the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the letter Tau (ט ṭ), corresponding to our “t,” or “th.” The petition here is, that his prayer might be heard; that it might come into the very presence of God; that there might be no obstructions to its reaching where God was. Let nothing from my unworthiness, from my past sins, from my ignorance, prevent its coming before thee. Something often apparently hinders our prayers so that they do not reach the ear of God. The psalmist prays here that there may be no such hindrance in the prayer which he now offers. Give me understanding according to thy word…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“119:169-176 Taw (ת): God’s servant petitions the Lord one final time; he still feels like a lost sheep.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Let my cry: Psa 119:145, Psa 18:6; Ch2 30:27 give me: Psa 119:144; Ch1 22:12; Ch2 1:10; Pro 2:3-5; Dan 2:21; Jam 1:5 Psalms 119:170”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The eightfold Tav. May God answer this his supplication as He has heard his praise, and interest Himself on behalf of His servant, the sheep that is exposed to great danger. The petitions "give me understanding" and "deliver me" go hand-in-hand, because the poet is one who is persecuted for the sake of his faith, and is just as much in need of the fortifying of his faith as of deliverance from the outward restraint that is put upon him. רנּה is a shrill audible prayer; תּחנּה, a fervent and urgent prayer. ענה, prop. to answer, signifies in Psa 119:172 to begin, strike up, attune (as does ἀποκρίνεσθαι also sometimes). According to the rule in Psa 50:23 the poet bases his petition for help…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification