Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
- BSB Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
- NKJV Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
- NASB Give me understanding, so that I may comply with Your Law And keep it with all my heart.
- NLT Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.
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 asks for understanding so that he may keep and wholeheartedly observe God's law. It matters because true obedience flows from God-given understanding and a devoted heart.
Overview
Understanding of God's law is sought as the foundation for keeping it with the whole heart. The psalmist sees that real obedience is impossible without insight from God. This points to the new heart and Spirit promised in the gospel, enabling wholehearted obedience through union with Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 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:
- Jas 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
- Prov 2:5–6Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
- Ps 119:73Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
- Jas 1:25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- John 7:17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
- Jas 2:8–12If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
- Ps 119:10With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
- 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.
- Ps 119:69The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
- Jas 3:13–18Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- Matt 5:19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
- Ps 119:58I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
- Jas 4:11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
- Deut 4:6Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
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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 119:34 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.