And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Parallel translations
- WEB I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them.
- BSB I delight in Your commandments because I love them.
- NKJV And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love.
- NASB I will delight in Your commandments, Which I love.
- NLT How I delight in your commands! How I love them!
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 delights in God's commandments because he loves them. It matters because genuine obedience springs from love for God's word, not mere duty.
Overview
The psalmist takes delight in God's commandments, and that delight is rooted in love. Obedience that flows from affection is the heart of true godliness. Jesus likewise links love and obedience in the gospel, promising that those who love Him will keep His word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 119:48My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
- Ps 119:97O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
- Ps 19:7–10The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
- John 4:34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
- Ps 119:16I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
- Ps 119:174I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
- Ps 119:140Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
- Rom 7:22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
- Ps 119:167My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
- Job 23:11–12My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
- Ps 112:1Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
- 1 Pet 2:21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
- Ps 119:24Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
- Rom 7:12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
- Phil 2:5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
- Rom 7:16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 119:47 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.