I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free. HEY
- BSB I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
- NKJV I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. ה He
- NASB I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart. He
- NLT I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding. He
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 psalmist runs eagerly in the way of God's commandments because God has enlarged his heart. It matters because joyful, willing obedience flows from God's inward work of grace.
Overview
Closing the He stanza, the psalmist pictures running freely in obedience because God has set his heart at liberty. Obedience becomes glad and unforced when God works within. This anticipates the new-covenant freedom found in Christ, whose Spirit liberates believers to delight in and run after God's will.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 1 Kgs 4:29And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
- 2 Cor 3:17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
- Heb 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- John 8:36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
- Ps 18:36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
- John 8:32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
- Ps 119:45And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
- Isa 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- 1 Pet 2:16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
- Luke 1:74–75That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
- 2 Cor 6:11O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
- 1 Cor 9:24–26Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
- Job 36:15–16He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
- Isa 60:5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
- Song 1:4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
- Isa 40:31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
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 119:32 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.