Psalms 119:123 — Word Study
WLCעֵ֭ינַי כָּל֣וּ לִֽישׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ וּלְאִמְרַ֥ת צִדְקֶֽךָ׃
BSAMy eyesʻayin [wasted with desire, strained from waiting] failkâlâh■ looking for Your salvationyᵉshûwʻâh [rescue, deliverance from trouble] [and] for Your righteoustsedeq [just, morally upright] promiseʼimrâh [word, assurance of victory]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֵ֭ינַי | eyes my | Noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| כָּל֣וּ | they are exhausted | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| לִֽישׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ | for deliverance your | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וּלְאִמְרַ֥ת | and for [the] word of | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| צִדְקֶֽךָ׃ | righteousness your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, and for Your righteous promise. |
| KJV | Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. |
| ASV | Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word. |
| YLT | Mine eyes have been consumed for Thy salvation. And for the saying of Thy righteousness. |
| WEB | My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word. |
| BBE | My eyes are wasted with desire for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness. |
Where they part company is in their translations of specific phrases, but they all convey the same essential meaning.
The main clause is supported by two prepositional phrases that detail the psalmist's longing.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbכָּלָה
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 119:123
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 — A Plea for Salvation and Righteousnessgenerated
Psalm 119:123 reflects the psalmist's emotional state, revealing a deep yearning for God's salvation and assurance of His righteous promises. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God's law and the hope it brings during times of distress. The psalmist's plea highlights the human experience of waiting for divine intervention and guidance, a theme echoed throughout the Psalms.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:81–82 | My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. |
| 2 | Psalm 69:3 | I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. |
| 3 | Psalm 130:6 | My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning— more than watchmen wait for the morning. |
| 4 | Psalm 143:7 | Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit. |
| 5 | Lamentations 4:17 | All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְשׁוּעָה, yeshu'ahgenerated
The word יְשׁוּעָה (*yeshu'ah*) is derived from the root meaning to save. It encompasses concepts of rescue and deliverance, often with a spiritual dimension. The parsing indicates it is a feminine singular noun, suggesting a focus on the concept of salvation as a singular, significant event or state.
In this verse, the psalmist emphasizes a longing for God's deliverance, indicating that salvation is not just a physical rescue but also a spiritual assurance. The use of this term reflects the psalmist's reliance on God for help in times of trouble.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the rendering of יְשׁוּעָה as salvation, with the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all maintaining this terminology.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb כָּל֣וּ (*kalah*) governs the main clause, indicating the state of the psalmist's eyes. The structure of the verse includes a subject noun phrase, prepositional phrases that provide context for the longing expressed, and additional noun phrases detailing the objects of the psalmist's hope.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the psalmist's eyes failing, a poignant expression of desperation and hope intertwined.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יְשׁוּעָה as σου (*sou*), indicating a personal connection to the concept of salvation. This choice emphasizes the intimate relationship between the psalmist and God, highlighting the expectation of divine aid.
The Greek word choice reflects a continuity of meaning, focusing on the personal aspect of deliverance that resonates with the original Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:123 expresses the psalmist's deep longing for God's help and righteousness. The eyes failing indicates a weariness from waiting, while the hope for salvation and assurance of God's promises reflects a trust in divine intervention.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The phrase indicates a deep weariness and longing, suggesting that the psalmist is exhausted from waiting for God's help.
This refers to the deliverance and rescue that God provides, both physically and spiritually, as promised in Scripture.
It highlights the psalmist's reliance on God's law and promises, emphasizing the importance of waiting for divine intervention in times of distress.
We can learn the importance of patience and trust in God during difficult times, as well as the value of seeking His guidance and salvation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I feel like I am waiting for God's salvation?
- How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's promises during times of uncertainty?
- What does it mean for me to look for God's deliverance in my daily life?
- How can I encourage others who are also waiting for God's help and guidance?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss the longing for salvation and the hope found in God's promises, as seen in Augustine's exposition.
...To prefigure His Cross, Moses by the merciful command of God raised aloft on a pole the image of a serpent in the desert, that the likeness of sinful flesh which must be crucified in Christ might be prefigured.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:123 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMine eyes fail for that salvation,.... For temporal salvation or deliverance from oppressors; and for spiritual salvation, for views of an interest in it, the joys and comforts of it; and for the
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 123. For the performance of thy righteous, or faithful, or merciful word or promise.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.Ver. 123. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation] Not my bodily eyes only, but the eyes of my faith. See Psalms 119:81-82. And for the word of thy righteousness] That is, for thy faithful promises, which many times bear a long date.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 123. Mine eyes fail] See on Psalms 119:82.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges123. Cp. Psalms 119:81-82. the word of thy righteousness] The promise of deliverance which Jehovah, as a righteous and therefore a faithful God, is pledged to fulfil.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleMine eyes fail for thy salvation - See the notes at Psalms 119:81-82. And for the word of thy righteousness - Thy righteous word - that it may be made known to me, and that I may see its beauty and enjoy it.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleò, Ayin.121-128. Leave me not to mine oppressors—Let “him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” Such is the line of thought in this division. In the pressure of evil the strongest has feelings of weakness.
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
My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, and for Your righteous promise.
My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word.
My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, and for Your righteous promise.
My eyes grow tired as I wait for your deliverance, for your reliable promise to be fulfilled.
Tyndale line
Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word.
Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for thy righteous word.
My eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
Mine eyes haue failed in waiting for thy saluation, and for thy iust promise.
Strictly literal
Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the *word of thy righteousness.
Mine eyes have been consumed for Thy salvation. And for the saying of Thy righteousness.
My eyes have been consumed for Your salvation. And for the saying of Your righteousness.
My eyes look eagerly for thy salvation, and for thy righteous promise.
My eyes grow tired as I wait for your salvation and for your righteous word.
Simplified
I strain my eyes looking for your salvation, watching for you to fulfill your promise to make everything good.
My eyes are wasted with desire for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness.
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 in their wording, with all five words matched. This alignment shows consistency in the translation and interpretation of the verse across these ancient texts.
עֵ֭ינַי כָּל֣וּ לִֽישׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ וּלְאִמְרַ֥ת צִדְקֶֽךָ׃
5 of the 5 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.
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 119:123
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.
The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye
lit. as physical organ
eyes as showing mental qualities
desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
Transferred mngs.:
visible surface of earth
appearance
gleam, sparkle
Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
base
עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:
ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1
ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19
ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.
ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)
base
H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ
. . eyes as showing mental qualities
. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth
. appearance
. gleam, sparkle
. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)
5869 `ayin ah'-yin
probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or
figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the
landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +
displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,
fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,
knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,
presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +
think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.
: eye
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.
: seeing
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.
: appearance
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).
: before(the_eyes)
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.
: sin
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
N-cd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHNcfdc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word כָּלָה (*kalah*) is a primitive root meaning to end or finish. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to complete, accomplish, perish, and destroy. The entries indicate various uses in both intransitive and transitive forms, covering actions like finishing a task or causing something to cease. Notably, it can also imply negative connotations, such as plotting or destruction.
כָּלָה 204 vb. be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent
Qal
be complete, at an end, of a period of time
be completed, finished, of a work
be accomplished, fulfilled
be idealy complete, be determined, always in a bad sense, plotted
be spent, used up (prop. come to an end), of water
waste away, be exhausted, fail
come to an end, vanish = perish, be destroyed
Pi.
complete, bring to an end, finish, a thing, task, work, etc.
complete a period of time
finish doing a thing
make an end, end
accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass
accomplish in thought, determine
put an end to, cause to cease
cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend
destroy, sts. exterminate
base
H3615 כָּלָה be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent .. . be complete, at an end, of a period of time
. be completed, finished, of a work
. be accomplished, fulfilled
. be idealy complete, be determined, always in a bad sense, plotted
. . be spent, used up (prop. come to an end), of water
. waste away, be exhausted, fail
. come to an end, vanish = perish, be destroyed
. . . complete, bring to an end, finish, a thing, task, work, etc.
. complete a period of time
. finish doing a thing
. make an end, end
. accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass
. accomplish in thought, determine
. . put an end to, cause to cease
. cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend
. destroy, sts. exterminate
3615 kalah kaw-law'
a primitive root; to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be
finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare,
consume):--accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine,
destroy (utterly), be (when ... were) done, (be an) end (of),
expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, X fully, X
have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make
clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste.
כָּלָה (ka.lah) — to end: finish.
: finish
1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be complete, be at an end
1a2) to be completed, be finished
1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled
1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense)
1a5) to be spent, be used up
1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail
1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish
1b2) to complete (a period of time)
1b3) to finish (doing a thing)
1b4) to make an end, end
1b5) to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass
1b6) to accomplish, determine (in thought)
1b7) to put an end to, cause to cease
1b8) to cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend
1b9) to destroy, exterminate
1c) (Pual) to be finished, be ended, be completed
כָּלָה (ka.lah) — to end: destroy.
: destroy
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah) refers to concepts of salvation, deliverance, and welfare, often with a spiritual dimension. It is derived from a root meaning to save and encompasses ideas of victory and prosperity. The term is used in contexts related to divine aid and protection, emphasizing both physical and spiritual deliverance.
יְשׁוּעָה n.f. salvation
welfare, prosperity
deliverance
salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
victory
base
H3444 יְשׁוּעָה salvation . welfare, prosperity
. deliverance
. salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
. victory
3444 yshuw`ah yesh-oo'-aw
feminine passive participle of 3467; something saved, i.e.
(abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory,
prosperity:--deliverance, health, help(-ing), salvation, save,
saving (health), welfare.
see HEBREW for 03467
יְשׁוּעָה (ye.shu.ah) — salvation.
1) salvation, deliverance
1a) welfare, prosperity
1b) deliverance
1c) salvation (by God)
1d) victory
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms
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)
Conj | Prep | N-fs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular constructHC/R/Ncfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
צֶ֫דֶק (tsedeq) refers to concepts of rightness and righteousness, encompassing moral, legal, and natural dimensions. It includes justice in governance, ethical correctness, and vindication in disputes. The term also suggests prosperity and deliverance, particularly in relation to God's covenant and the Messianic king. The entries consistently emphasize its broad application in both personal and societal contexts.
צֶ֫דֶק n.m. rightness, righteousness
what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures
righteousness, in government
righteousness, justice, in a case or cause
rightness, in speech
righteousness, as ethically right
righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity
base
H6664 צֶ֫דֶק rightness, righteousness . what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures
. righteousness, in government
. righteousness, justice, in a case or cause
. rightness, in speech
. righteousness, as ethically right
. righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity
6664 tsedeq tseh'-dek
from 6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also
(abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity:--X even, (X
that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous)
(cause, -ly, - ness).
see HEBREW for 06663
צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — righteousness.
1) justice, rightness, righteousness
1a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures)
1b) righteousness (in government)
1b1) of judges, rulers, kings
1b2) of law
1b3) of Davidic king, Messiah
1b4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government
1b5) of God's attribute
1c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause)
1d) rightness (in speech)
1e) righteousness (as ethically right)
1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity
1f1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption
1f2) in name of Messianic king
1f3) of people enjoying salvation
1f4) of Cyrus
צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — Righteousness.
This name means justice, righteousness
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms