Psalms 119:124 — Word Study
WLCעֲשֵׂ֖ה עִם־ עַבְדְּךָ֥ כְחַסְדֶּ֗ךָ וְחֻקֶּ֥יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃
BSADealʻâsâh withʻim Your servantʻebed [faithful follower, slave] according to Your loving devotionchêçêd [kindness, mercy, faithful love] and teach melâmad [guide, instruct, show] Your statuteschôq [decrees, laws, divine rules]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֲשֵׂ֖ה | do | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine singular |
| עִם־ | with | Preposition |
| עַבְדְּךָ֥ | servant your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| כְחַסְדֶּ֗ךָ | according to covenant loyalty your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְחֻקֶּ֥יךָ | and decrees your | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃ | teach me | Verb piel imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes. |
| KJV | Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. |
| ASV | Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness, And teach me thy statutes. |
| YLT | Do with Thy servant according to Thy kindness. And Thy statutes teach Thou me. |
| WEB | Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes. |
| BBE | Be good to your servant in your mercy, and give me teaching in your rules. |
The translations agree on the wording and meaning of the verse.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase and a conjunction phrase, clearly outlining the psalmist's requests.






7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָשָׂה
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 119:124
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 Prayer for Guidance and Mercygenerated
Psalm 119:124 expresses a heartfelt plea from the psalmist, who identifies himself as God's servant. He requests that God deal with him according to His loving devotion and teach him His statutes. This reflects a deep desire for divine guidance and mercy, emphasizing the relationship between the servant and the divine master. The surrounding verses highlight the psalmist's longing for salvation and understanding of God's laws.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:41–76 | May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise. |
| 2 | Psalm 51:1 | Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. |
| 3 | Psalm 69:13–16 | But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. |
| 4 | Psalm 79:8 | Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low. |
| 5 | Psalm 103:10 | He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עָשָׂה, 'a.Sehgenerated
The verb עָשָׂה ('a.Seh) means to do or make, covering a broad range of actions from creating to performing. It is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe both divine and human actions, indicating the importance of God's active involvement in the life of His servant.
In this verse, the imperative form calls upon God to act on behalf of the psalmist, emphasizing the urgency and dependence of the servant on God's mercy and loving kindness.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes.' This wording is consistent across multiple translations, including the KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb עֲשֵׂ֖ה ('a.Seh) governs the entire verse, with two phrases following it: a prepositional phrase indicating the relationship with the servant and a second clause requesting instruction. This structure highlights the psalmist's plea for both action and teaching.
The verb is positioned at the beginning, emphasizing the psalmist's request for God's intervention, while the subsequent phrases elaborate on the nature of that request.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb עָשָׂה is rendered as ποίησον (poiēsōn), which means 'to make' or 'to do'. This choice reflects a direct translation that maintains the imperative sense of the original Hebrew.
The Greek translation underscores the psalmist's appeal for God to actively engage in his life, aligning with the themes of mercy and instruction.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:124 shows the psalmist asking God to treat him with kindness and to teach him His laws. He identifies himself as God's servant, expressing a deep need for guidance and understanding in his life.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being a servant of God involves a commitment to follow His ways and seek His guidance, as reflected in the psalmist's plea for mercy and instruction.
God's loving devotion signifies His kindness and mercy, which are foundational to the relationship He has with His people, guiding and instructing them.
Learning God's statutes is crucial for understanding His will and living a life that aligns with His desires, as the psalmist seeks in this verse.
We can ask God for guidance through prayer, seeking His wisdom and understanding in our decisions and actions, just as the psalmist does.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's loving devotion in my life?
- How can I actively seek to learn and understand God's statutes?
- What does it mean to me to identify as a servant of God?
- How can I apply the teachings of this verse in my daily life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators, like Augustine of Hippo, reference this verse to discuss God's mercy and the psalmist's relationship with Him.
In connection with this he goes on to say, "O deal with Your servant according to Your loving mercy" [Psalms 119:124]; not according to my righteousness.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:124 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDeal with thy servant according unto thy mercy,.... Which is either general and providential, and reaches to all his creatures; and according to which David had been dealt with all his days, and
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDeal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy - (Psalms 109:21.) And teach me thy statutes - his chief prayer: therefore often repeated (cf.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 124. Not according to strict justice, nor according to my sins.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.Ver. 124. Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy] i.e. Show me so much mercy as to teach me thy statutes. Cathedram in ccelis habet qui cords docet. Divine learning is of God’ s free favour. If common skill, then this much more cometh "forth from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working," Isaiah 28:19.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges121–128. Ayin. It is time for Jehovah to interpose on behalf of His servant, but the faithlessness of men only confirms his love for the law.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDeal with thy servant according unto thy mercy - Not according to justice - for, sinners as we are, we can never urge that as a plea before God.
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
Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes.
Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes.
Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes.
Show your servant your loyal love! Teach me your statutes!
Tyndale line
Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness, And teach me thy statutes.
Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercie, and teache me thy statutes.
Strictly literal
Deal with thy servant according to thy loving-kindness, and teach me thy statutes.
Do with Thy servant according to Thy kindness. And Thy statutes teach Thou me.
Do with Your servant according to Your kindness. And teach me Your statutes.
Deal with thy servant according to thy kindness, and thy statutes do thou teach me.
Show your servant your covenant faithfulness, and teach me your statutes.
Simplified
Please treat me, your servant, according to your trustworthy love. Teach me what you want me to do.
Be good to your servant in your mercy, and give me teaching in your rules.
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 on the wording and meaning of this verse, with all six words in the Septuagint matching the Hebrew text. This consistency reinforces the reliability of the text across different traditions.
עֲשֵׂ֖ה עִם־ עַבְדְּךָ֥ כְחַסְדֶּ֗ךָ וְחֻקֶּ֥יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃
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.
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 119:124
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.
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singularHVqv2ms
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
slave, servant of household
Subjects, of chief
Servants, worshippers of God
Servant of י׳, in a special sense
Israel as a people is servant of י׳
In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
Phrases
base
H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household
. Subjects, of chief
. Servants, worshippers of God
. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
. Phrases
5650 `ebed eh'-bed
from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,
(man-)servant.
see HEBREW for 05647
עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.
1) slave, servant
1a) slave, servant, man-servant
1b) subjects
1c) servants, worshippers (of God)
1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
1e) servant (of Israel)
1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) primarily means kindness or goodness, often referring to the kindness of people towards one another, especially towards the needy. It can also denote God's lovingkindness and mercy. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning of shame or reproach. The entries reflect a range of uses, from human interactions to divine attributes.
חֶ֫סֶד 247 n.m. goodness, kindness
of man:
kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
(rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
lovely appearance
of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
base
חֶ֫סֶד n.m. shame, reproach
base
H2617a חֶ֫סֶד goodness, kindness . of man: . kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
. kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
. (rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
. lovely appearance
. of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
H2617b חֶ֫סֶד shame, reproach
2617 checed kheh'-sed
from 2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety:
rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:--favour,
good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful
(kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
see HEBREW for 02616
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — kindness.
goodness, kindness, faithfulness
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — shame.
a reproach, shame
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
חֹק (choq) refers to something prescribed, such as a statute, ordinance, or limit. It encompasses a range of meanings, including prescribed tasks, portions, and decrees, whether from God or man. The plural form, חֻקִּים, denotes multiple enactments or statutes. The entries consistently emphasize its legal and prescriptive nature.
חֹק 127 n.m. something prescribed, a statute or due
prescribed task
prescribed-portion or allowance of food
action prescribed for oneself, resolve
prescribed due of the priest from offerings
prescribed limit, boundary
enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man
pl. חֻקִּים enactments, statutes of a law
base
H2706 חֹק something prescribed, a statute or due . prescribed task
. prescribed-portion or allowance of food
. action prescribed for oneself, resolve
. prescribed due of the priest from offerings
. prescribed limit, boundary
. enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man
. pl. חֻקִּים enactments, statutes of a law
2706 choq khoke
from 2710; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time,
space, quantity, labor or usage):--appointed, bound,
commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law,
measure, X necessary, ordinance(- nary), portion, set time,
statute, task.
see HEBREW for 02710
חֹק (choq) — statute: decree.
: decree
1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due
1a) prescribed task
1b) prescribed portion
1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve
1d) prescribed due
1e) prescribed limit, boundary
1f) enactment, decree, ordinance
1f1) specific decree
1f2) law in general
1g) enactments, statutes
1g1) conditions
1g2) enactments
1g3) decrees
1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God
חֹק (choq) — statute: portion.
: portion
1) statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due
1a) prescribed task
1b) prescribed portion
1c) action prescribed (for oneself), resolve
1d) prescribed due
1e) prescribed limit, boundary
1f) enactment, decree, ordinance
1f1) specific decree
1f2) law in general
1g) enactments, statutes
1g1) conditions
1g2) enactments
1g3) decrees
1g4) civil enactments prescribed by God
חֹק (choq) — statute: allotment.
: allotment/boundary
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms
לָמַד (lamad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to learn or teach. It encompasses the ideas of exercising in a skill, being trained, and instructing others. The root suggests a connection to motivation or incentive, as seen in the context of teaching with a rod. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to learn), Piel (to teach), and Pual (to be taught).
לָמַד vb. exercise in, learn
Qal learn something
Piel teach
Pual trained; taught
base
H3925 לָמַד exercise in, learn .learn something
.teach
.trained; taught
3925 lamad law-mad'
a primitive root; properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to
teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive):(un-) accustomed,
X diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -
ing).
לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: teach.
: teach
1) to learn. teach, exercise in
1a) (Qal) to learn
1b) (Piel) to teach
1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained
Also means: la.mad (לָמַד ": learn" H3925H)
לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: learn.
: learn
1) to learn. teach, exercise in
1a) (Qal) to learn
1b) (Piel) to teach
1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained
V-Piel-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb piel imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVpv2ms/Sp1bs
