Psalms 119:116 — Word Study
WLCסָמְכֵ֣נִי כְאִמְרָתְךָ֣ וְאֶֽחְיֶ֑ה וְאַל־ תְּ֝בִישֵׁ֗נִי מִשִּׂבְרִֽי׃
BSASustain meçâmak [uphold, support] as You promisedʼimrâh [according to Your word] that I may livechâyâh▸ [have life, be revived] let me notʼal [do not allow me to] be ashamedbûwsh▸ [disappointed, put to shame] of my hopesêber [expectation, confidence]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| סָמְכֵ֣נִי | sustain me | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| כְאִמְרָתְךָ֣ | according to word your | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְאֶֽחְיֶ֑ה | so I may live | Conjunction, verb qal first person common singular |
| וְאַל־ | and may not | Conjunction, particle |
| תְּ֝בִישֵׁ֗נִי | you put to shame me | Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
| מִשִּׂבְרִֽי׃ | from hope my | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope. |
| KJV | Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. |
| ASV | Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope. |
| YLT | Sustain me according to Thy saying, And I live, and Thou puttest me not to shame Because of my hope. |
| WEB | Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope. |
| BBE | Be my support as you have said, and give me life; let not my hope be turned to shame. |
Where they part company is תְּ֝בִישֵׁ֗נִי — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence structure features a main request followed by a purpose and a negative clause, highlighting the psalmist's dependence on God.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 119:116
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Psalms 119: A Prayer for Sustenancegenerated
Psalm 119:116 is a heartfelt request from the psalmist for God’s support based on His promises. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God’s word and the psalmist's desire to live according to it. The surrounding verses express a commitment to obey God's commandments and a longing for divine assistance in times of trouble, as seen in Psalm 119:115 and Psalm 119:117.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 37:17–24 | For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. |
| 2 | Psalm 41:12 | In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever. |
| 3 | Psalm 63:8 | My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. |
| 4 | Psalm 94:18 | If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me. |
| 5 | Isaiah 41:10 | Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — סָמְכֵ֣נִי, sa.me.Khe.nigenerated
The verb סָמַךְ (samakh) means to support or uphold. It conveys the idea of leaning on or relying upon someone or something for strength. In this verse, the psalmist implores God to support him, emphasizing a deep dependence on divine assistance.
The imperative form indicates a strong request, showing urgency in the psalmist's plea. This reflects a relationship of trust, where the psalmist seeks to be upheld by God's promises, illustrating the importance of faith in sustaining life.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb סָמְכֵ֣נִי governs the main clause, which is followed by a purpose clause introduced by כְאִמְרָתְךָ֣ and a negative clause אַל־ תְּ֝בִישֵׁ֗נִי. This structure emphasizes the psalmist's plea for support and the conditions surrounding it.
The order of the Hebrew words places the request for sustenance first, highlighting its importance, while the subsequent clauses clarify the purpose and the psalmist's desire to avoid shame.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew סָמְכֵ֣נִי is rendered as μου (mou), meaning 'my.' This choice emphasizes the personal nature of the request, aligning with the psalmist's intimate appeal to God.
The translation of תְּ֝בִישֵׁ֗נִי as με (me) also maintains this personal focus, reinforcing the psalmist's plea against disappointment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:116 is a request from the psalmist for God to sustain him as promised, so that he may live without shame regarding his hope. This verse reflects a deep reliance on God's word and a desire for support in times of need.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means to seek God's support and strength in life, relying on His promises to uphold and help you.
The psalmist fears disappointment in his hope, which is tied to his faith in God's promises.
The verse emphasizes the importance of God's faithfulness; the psalmist asks for sustenance based on what God has promised.
We learn the value of relying on God for support and the importance of bringing our needs and hopes before Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to ask God for support and sustenance?
- How can I strengthen my hope in God's promises during difficult times?
- What does it mean to me personally to not be ashamed of my hope?
- How can I encourage others to rely on God's promises as the psalmist does?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church father Augustine of Hippo references this verse to discuss the importance of God's promises and sustaining faith.
"O establish me according to Your word and I shall live: and let me not be disappointed of my hope" [Psalms 119:116].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:116 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleUphold me according unto thy word,.... In thy ways, that my footsteps slip not; in thine arms, and with the right hand of thy righteousness, from fainting and sinking under difficulties and
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryUphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live - Do not let me either be destroyed or seduced by the "evil-doers" (Psalms 119:115).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 116. Or, because of my hope, or confidence in thy promises, of the certainty whereof I have oft made my boast before others.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.Ver. 116. Uphold me according unto thy word] The promise is the soul’ s support. Turn we the palm and not the backside of the hand to this staff, leaning upon it, praying hard for the accomplishment of it, and then be content, though we can say but as that holy man, Mr Paul Bain, did: I thank God in Christ, sustentation I have, but suavities spiritual I taste not any. And let me not be ashamed of my hope] Let me not be defeated, disappointed, frustrated. This David knew he should not be (for spes in terrenis incerti nomen boni; spes in divinis nomen est certissimi, Hebrews 11:1 Romans…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 116. Uphold me] סמכני sammecheni, prop me up; give me thyself to lean upon.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges116. But in order to keep God’s commandments, he needs sustaining grace. Cp. Psalms 51:12; Psalms 3:5; Psalms 37:17; Psalms 37:24. be ashamed of my hope] Be disappointed and put to shame by the failure of my hope of deliverance. Cp. Psalms 119:166.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleUphold me - Sustain me in the trials and the temptations of life.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleñ, Samek.113-120. My hiding place and my shield—The psalmist’s experience of perils has increased his confidence and strength. He now declares how little he is influenced by the example of evil doers. His heart is fixed.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 119 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Sustain me as you promised, so that I will live. Do not disappoint me!
Tyndale line
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Stablish me according to thy promise, that I may liue, and disappoint me not of mine hope.
Strictly literal
Uphold me according to thy *word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Sustain me according to Thy saying, And I live, and Thou puttest me not to shame Because of my hope.
Sustain me according to Your saying, || And I live, and You do not put me to shame because of my hope.
Uphold me according to thy promise, that I may live, and let me not be made ashamed of my hope.
Sustain me by your word so that I may live and not be ashamed of my hope.
Simplified
Support me, Lord, as you promised, so I can live. Don't let my hope turn into discouragement.
Be my support as you have said, and give me life; let not my hope be turned to shame.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in wording, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence for each Hebrew word. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration in one manuscript, but the core of the text aligns with the Masoretic tradition.
סָמְכֵ֣נִי כְאִמְרָתְךָ֣ וְאֶֽחְיֶ֑ה וְאַל־ תְּ֝בִישֵׁ֗נִי מִשִּׂבְרִֽי׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[סמכ׳ני] [כאמרת׳ך] [ואחיה] [ואל] תביש׳ני משבר׳י
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
סמכ׳ני כאמרת׳כה ואחיה ואל תביש׳ני ממשבר׳י
6 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 119:116
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
סָמַךְ (samakh) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lean, lay, rest, or support. It encompasses various actions such as propping up, sustaining, and bracing oneself. The word appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating different nuances of support and sustenance. Notably, it is used in contexts that can be both favorable and unfavorable.
סָמַךְ 48 vb. lean, lay, rest, support
Qal 41
lean or lay hand upon
intrans. thy wrath hath rested upon me
support, uphold, sustain
Niph. reflex. support, or brace oneself
Pi. sustain (refresh, revive) me with raisin-cakes.
base
H5564 סָמַךְ lean, lay, rest, support
5564 camak saw-mak'
a primitive root; to prop (literally or figuratively);
reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or
unfavorable sense):--bear up, establish, (up-)hold, lay,
lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay
(self), sustain.
סָמַךְ (sa.makh) — to support.
1) to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lean or lay upon, rest upon, lean against
1a2) to support, uphold, sustain
1b) (Niphal) to support or brace oneself
1c) (Piel) to sustain, refresh, revive
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sp1bs
אִמְרָה (imrah) refers to an utterance, speech, or word, and can denote a word of God, including commands and promises. It also has a connotation of a threat, particularly in the context of divine judgment. The term is feminine and is derived from a related root, אֶמְרָה (emrah), which shares similar meanings.
ref
H565a אִמְרָה utternace, speech, word H565b אֶמְרָה id. [565a]
565 'imrah im-raw'
or memrah {em-raw'}; feminine of 561, and meaning the
same:--commandment, speech, word.
see HEBREW for 0561
אִמְרָה (im.rah) — word.
1) utterance, speech, word
1a) word of God (command and promise)
אֶמְרָה (im.rah) — threat.
threat (of judgement from God)
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms
חָיָה (chayah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to live or have life, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It includes various nuances such as reviving, preserving life, and restoring health. The entries detail its use in different stems, with Qal focusing on living and being quickened, while Piel and Hiphil emphasize giving life and reviving. No specific verse references are provided.
חָיָה 283 vb. live
Qal 203
live
be quickened, revive
Pi.
preserve alive, let live
give life
quicken, revive, refresh
Hiph.
preserve alive, let live
quicken, revive
base
H2421 חָיָה live .. live
. be quickened, revive
. . preserve alive, let live
. give life
. quicken, revive, refresh
. . preserve alive, let live
. quicken, revive
2421 chayah khaw-yaw'
a primitive root (compare 2331, 2421); to live, whether
literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive:--keep
(leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let,
suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, (X God) save
(alive, life, lives), X surely, be whole.
see HEBREW for 02331
see HEBREW for 02421
חָיָה (cha.yah) — to live.
1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to live
1a1a) to have life
1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive
1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon
1a1d) to live (prosperously)
1a2) to revive, be quickened
1a2a) from sickness
1a2b) from discouragement
1a2c) from faintness
1a2d) from death
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to preserve alive, let live
1b2) to give life
1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh
1b3a) to restore to life
1b3b) to cause to grow
1b3c) to restore
1b3d) to revive
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to preserve alive, let live
1c2) to quicken, revive
1c2a) to restore (to health)
1c2b) to revive
1c2c) to restore to life
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb qal first person common singularHC/Vqu1cs
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
בּוֹשׁ (buwsh) is a Hebrew root meaning 'to be ashamed.' It encompasses feelings of shame, disappointment, and disconcertion. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to feel shame), Piel (to delay in shame), and Hiphil (to put to shame). The entries indicate a range of uses, from personal feelings of shame to actions that cause shame to others.
בּוֹשׁ 109 vb. be ashamed
Qal
abs. feel shame
sq. מִן, be ashamed of, i.e. disconcerted, disappointed by reason of
with obj. I am ashamed to ask
Polel delay (in shame)
Hiph.
put to shame
put to shame
act shamefully
to be put to shame
be ashamed
Hithp. ashamed before one another
base
H954 בּוֹשׁ be ashamed
954 buwsh boosh
a primitive root; properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to
be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or
delayed:--(be, make, bring to, cause, put to, with,
a-)shamed(-d), be (put to) confounded(-fusion), become dry,
delay, be long.
בּוֹשׁ (bush) — be ashamed.
1) to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to feel shame
1a2) to be ashamed, disconcerted, disappointed (by reason of)
1b) (Piel) to delay (in shame)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to put to shame
1c2) to act shamefully
1c3) to be ashamed
1d) (Hithpolel) to be ashamed before one another
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVhi2ms/Sp1bs
שֵׂ֫בֶר (seber) is a Hebrew noun meaning 'hope.' It is derived from the root word referenced as H7663. The entries consistently define it as expectation or hope, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[שֵׂ֫בֶר] n.m. hope
base
H7664 שֵׂ֫בֶר
7664 seber say'-ber
from 7663; expectation:--hope.
see HEBREW for 07663
שֵׂ֫בֶר (se.ver) — hope.
hope
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
