The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Parallel translations
- WEB The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
- BSB The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
- NKJV The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
- NASB The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
- NLT The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.
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
The unfolding of God's words gives light and understanding even to the simple. Scripture enlightens the humble and untrained.
Overview
The psalmist celebrates how the entrance or unfolding of God's words brings illumination, granting understanding to the simple. The word does not require human cleverness; it instructs the lowly and teachable. This light-giving power points to the gospel, which God reveals to the childlike and which makes wise the simple unto salvation in Christ (Ps. 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ps 119:105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
- Prov 6:23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
- 2 Cor 4:6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
- Acts 26:18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
- Ps 19:7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
- Luke 1:77–79To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
- 2 Pet 1:19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
- Prov 1:22–23How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
- Eph 5:13–14But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
- 2 Cor 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
- 2 Tim 3:15–17And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- Isa 8:20To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
- Prov 1:4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
- Prov 9:4–6Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
- Rom 16:18–19For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 119:130 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.