I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Parallel translations
- WEB I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.
- BSB I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.
- NKJV I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.
- NASB I understand more than those who are old, Because I have complied with Your precepts.
- NLT I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
He understands more than the aged, because he keeps God's precepts. Obedience, not years, is the path to true understanding.
Overview
The psalmist notes that his understanding exceeds that of the elders, attributing it to keeping God's precepts. Wisdom is bound up with obedience, for those who do God's will come to know His truth more deeply. Jesus taught this same principle: whoever desires to do God's will shall know the truth of His teaching (John 7:17; Ps. 111:10).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ps 111:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
- Jas 3:13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- Job 12:12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
- Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
- Job 15:9–10What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?
- Jer 8:8–9How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
- 1 Kgs 12:6–15And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
- Matt 7:24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
- Job 32:4Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
- Job 32:7–10I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 119:100 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.