I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
- KJV Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
- NKJV Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
- NASB I have treasured Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.
- NLT I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
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
Storing up God's word in the heart is a defense against sin. It matters because internalized Scripture shapes desires and decisions before temptation strikes.
Overview
The psalmist treasures God's word inwardly so that it actively guards him from sinning against the LORD. This is more than memorization; it is the word taking root and governing the heart. Such hidden treasure points to the gospel work of the Spirit, who writes God's law within and conforms believers to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 37:31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
- Col 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
- Ps 40:8I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
- Jer 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
- Ps 1:2But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
- Job 22:22Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
- Prov 2:10–11For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
- Ps 119:97Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
- Isa 51:7Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.
- Prov 2:1My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
- Luke 2:19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
- Ps 19:13Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
- Luke 2:51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 119:11 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.