Psalms 119:13 — Word Study
WLCבִּשְׂפָתַ֥י סִפַּ֑רְתִּי כֹּ֝֗ל מִשְׁפְּטֵי־ פִֽיךָ׃
BSAWith my lipssâphâh [language, or edge of expression] I proclaimçâphar■ [repeat out loud, declare, or recount] allkôl [everything, the whole] the judgmentsmishpâṭ [justice, ordinances, or regulations] of Your mouthpeh [Thy, belonging to You, lip, edge, or border]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י | with lips my | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| סִפַּ֑רְתִּי | I recount | Verb, Piel, perfect first person common singular |
| כֹּ֝֗ל | all | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| מִשְׁפְּטֵי־ | [the] judgments of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| פִֽיךָ׃ | mouth 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 | With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth. |
| KJV | With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. |
| ASV | With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth. |
| YLT | With my lips I have recounted All the judgments of Thy mouth. |
| WEB | With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth. |
| BBE | With my lips have I made clear all the decisions of your mouth. |
The translations agree on the essence of the verse, focusing on the act of proclaiming God's judgments.
The structure consists of a main clause with two phrases that elaborate on the object of the proclamation.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbסָפַר
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 119:13
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 — Meditation on God's Lawsgenerated
Psalm 119:13 is part of a larger meditation on the psalmist's relationship with God's statutes. The verses surrounding this one express a deep desire to understand and follow God's commands, highlighting the importance of His judgments in the life of a believer. This section emphasizes the psalmist's commitment to not only learn but also to publicly declare God's righteous ordinances.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:46–172 | I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed. |
| 2 | Psalm 34:11 | Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. |
| 3 | Psalm 37:30 | The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. |
| 4 | Psalm 40:9–10 | I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know. |
| 5 | Psalm 71:15–18 | My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י, bis.fa.Taigenerated
The word בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י (*bisfaṭai*) is a construct form of שָׂפָה (*saphah*), meaning 'lips' or 'language.' It indicates a personal and expressive act of speaking, suggesting both the physical lips and the idea of communication.
In this context, the use of the first person plural indicates the psalmist's intention to actively proclaim and share God's judgments, emphasizing the significance of verbal expression in worship and testimony.
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 main verb of the verse is סִפַּ֑רְתִּי, I proclaim, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the means of proclamation, followed by a noun phrase that serves as the object of the verb.
The use of the prepositional phrase בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י emphasizes the psalmist's personal involvement, indicating that the act of proclamation is intimately connected to his own lips.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י as μου (*mou*), meaning 'my.' This choice reflects a personal ownership of the act of proclamation, aligning closely with the Hebrew sense of personal expression.
The Greek word ἐχήγγειλα for סִפַּ֑רְתִּי indicates a formal declaration, which captures the essence of the psalmist's intent to announce God's judgments.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:13 expresses the psalmist's commitment to publicly declare all of God's judgments. He emphasizes the importance of using his lips to share God's ordinances, reflecting a deep reverence for God's laws and a desire to teach others.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To proclaim God's judgments means to publicly declare and share His laws and ordinances, emphasizing their importance in guiding one's life.
Speaking God's judgments signifies a personal commitment to His teachings and serves as a testimony to others about His justice and righteousness.
God's judgments provide guidance and wisdom, helping believers to navigate moral decisions and live according to His will.
The psalmist's declaration encourages us to actively share our understanding of God's laws with others and to incorporate them into our daily lives.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I actively proclaim God's judgments in my life?
- How can I use my words to encourage others to follow God's laws?
- What are some specific judgments of God that I can share with my community?
- How does understanding God's judgments shape my perspective on justice and righteousness?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers often referenced this psalm to discuss the importance of proclaiming God's laws. Here is a quotation from Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the significance of this verse.
"With my lips have I been telling of all the judgments of Your mouth" [Psalms 119:13];Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWith my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. Not the judgments of his hand, what he executes on an ungodly world; nor the intricate dispensations of his providence; those judgments of
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWith my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth - (Deuteronomy 6:6-7.) Though I have "hid thy Word in mine heart" (Psalms
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIf thou wilt teach me, I will teach others, as I have already done; and so thou shalt have glory, and others benefit by it.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.Ver. 13. With my lips have I declared] Heb. have I ciphered up; these have been the matter of my discourse; and out of the good treasure of my heart have I brought forth those good things, for the good of others, Matthew 12:35.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) With my lips.—He has not kept his hidden treasure to himself, but, like the good householder of the Gospels, has brought out things new and old.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. With my lips have I declared] 10. He should declare to his own heart, and to all his companions in iniquity, God's judgments against himself and them; that if his long-suffering mercy have not made a proper impression on their hearts, they may tremble at his approaching judgments.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. have I declared] Or, recounted. The faithful Israelite was not merely to treasure in his mind God’s declarations of His Will, but to “talk of them” (Deuteronomy 6:7), to produce his treasure for the good of others (Matthew 12:35).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWith my lips have I declared - That is, I have openly and publicly made thy words known to others; I have defended and vindicated them.
Read Albert Barnes 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
With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.
With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
With my lips I proclaim all the regulations you have revealed.
Tyndale line
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
With my lippes haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth.
Strictly literal
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
With my lips I have recounted All the judgments of Thy mouth.
With my lips I have recounted || All the judgments of Your mouth.
With my lips have I related all the ordinances of thy mouth.
With my mouth I have declared all the righteous decrees that you have revealed.
Simplified
I repeat out loud your instructions.
With my lips have I made clear all the decisions of your mouth.
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 states, "בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י סִפַּ֑רְתִּי כֹּ֝֗ל מִשְׁפְּטֵי־ פִֽיךָ׃" which translates to, "With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all five words correspond, though the word order and articles differ due to its Greek structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q90) also align closely with the Masoretic Text, containing three words, with one word partly restored and another supplied by an editor, indicating a similar reading to the Masoretic Text despite minor differences in preservation.
בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י סִפַּ֑רְתִּי כֹּ֝֗ל מִשְׁפְּטֵי־ פִֽיךָ׃
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.
בשפת׳י שפרתי כל משפטי [פי׳ך]
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
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 119:13
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 שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
lip
language
edge: shore of sea; bank of river
base
H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip
. language
. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
8193 saphah saw-faw'
or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from
5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by
analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,
bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,
prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
see HEBREW for 05595
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 05490
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.
: lips/mouth
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.
: words/language
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.
: edge/border/opening
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.
: shore/bank(of_sea/river)
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
Prep | N-fd | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp1bs
סָפַר (safar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to count or recount, with various forms indicating actions like declaring or rehearsing. The noun form סֹפֵר (sofer) refers to a scribe or secretary. The entries highlight its use in contexts of enumeration and record-keeping, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.
סָפַר 107 vb. count, Pi. recount, relate
Qal 27
count things, to learn their number
number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon
Niph. be counted, numbered
Pi. 67 recount, rehearse, declare
Pu. be recounted, related, rehearsed
base
סֹפֵר, סוֹפֵר n.m. enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe
base
H5608a סָפַר count, Pi. recount, relate .. count things, to learn their number
. number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon
. be counted, numbered
. recount, rehearse, declare
. be recounted, related, rehearsed
H5608b סֹפֵר, סוֹפֵר enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe
5608 caphar saw-far'
a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally
or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to
enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate:--commune,
(ac-)count; declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew
forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.
סָפַר (sa.phar) — to recount.
v
1) to count, recount, relate
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to count (things)
1a2) to number, take account of, reckon
1b) (Niphal) to be counted, be numbered
1c) (Piel) to recount, rehearse, declare
1c1) to recount (something), rehearse
1c2) to talk
1c3) to count exactly or accurately
1d) (Pual) to be recounted, be rehearsed, be related
סֹפֵר (so.pher) — secretary.
1) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe
1a) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary
1b) learned man, scribe
Aramaic equivalent: sa.pher (סָפִר "scribe" H5613)
V-Piel-Perf-1cs — Verb · Piel · perfect first person common singularHVpp1cs
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) primarily means judgment or justice and encompasses various aspects such as legal rights, ordinances, and decisions. It is derived from a root meaning to pronounce a verdict, covering both human and divine law. The entries highlight its application in legal contexts, including the act of deciding cases and the attributes of justice and rectitude.
מִשְׁפָּט 422 n.m. judgment
judgment
justice, right, rectitude
ordinance
decision
one's (legal) right, privilege, due
proper, fitting, measure
custom, manner
what manner of
plan
base
H4941 מִשְׁפָּט judgment . judgment
. justice, right, rectitude
. ordinance
. decision
. one's (legal) right, privilege, due
. . proper, fitting, measure
. custom, manner
. what manner of
. plan
4941 mishpat mish-pawt'
from 8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable)
pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree
(human or (participant's) divine law, individual or
collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the
crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a
participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or
even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime,
custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due,
fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly),
(manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order,
ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.
see HEBREW for 08199
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
1c) ordinance
1d) decision (in law)
1e) right, privilege, due (legal)
1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
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…
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
