Psalms 119:134 — Word Study
WLCפְּ֭דֵנִי מֵעֹ֣שֶׁק אָדָ֑ם וְ֝אֶשְׁמְרָ֗ה פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ׃
BSARedeem mepâdâh [ransom, rescue from oppression] from the oppressionʻôsheq [injury, unjust gain] of manʼâdâm [humanity, the first human Adam] that I may keepshâmar [obey, guard, protect] Your preceptspiqqûwd [commands, divine laws, principles of behavior]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פְּ֭דֵנִי | redeem me | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| מֵעֹ֣שֶׁק | from oppression of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| אָדָ֑ם | humankind | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְ֝אֶשְׁמְרָ֗ה | so let me keep | Conjunction, verb qal infinitive construct first person common singular |
| פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ׃ | precepts your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts. |
| KJV | Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. |
| ASV | Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts. |
| YLT | Ransom me from the oppression of man, And I observe Thy precepts, |
| WEB | Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts. |
| BBE | Make me free from the cruel rule of man; then I will keep your orders. |
All translations agree on the meaning of פְּ֭דֵנִי — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause with a purpose clause, indicating the psalmist's intent behind the plea for redemption.
7 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 119:134
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 Deliverancegenerated
Psalm 119:134 is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God's law and the psalmist's desire to live in accordance with it. The surrounding verses express a longing for guidance and protection from sin, emphasizing the need for divine intervention to uphold righteousness. This plea for redemption highlights the tension between human oppression and the pursuit of godly living.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:122 | Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. |
| 2 | Psalm 56:1–2 | Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. |
| 3 | Psalm 105:43–45 | He brought forth His people with rejoicing, His chosen with shouts of joy. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 11:17–20 | Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel.’ |
| 5 | Ezekiel 36:24–27 | For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פְּ֭דֵנִי, Pe.de.nigenerated
The word פְּדֵנִי (Pe.de.ni) is a verb in the imperative form, expressing a strong request for redemption or deliverance. It is derived from the root פָּדָה (padah), which means to ransom or rescue. This term is often used in the context of God liberating His people from bondage or danger.
The imperative form indicates urgency and personal need, as the psalmist seeks God's intervention to free him from oppression. This reflects a broader biblical theme of God as a redeemer who acts on behalf of His people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the essential meaning of פְּ֭דֵנִי as redeem me.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb פְּ֭דֵנִי governs the main clause, with a prepositional phrase מֵעֹ֣שֶׁק describing the source of oppression and a second clause indicating the purpose of the request. This structure emphasizes the psalmist's plea for help in the context of obedience.
The word order places emphasis on the action of redemption, highlighting the urgency of the psalmist's request.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew פְּ֭דֵנִי is translated as με, meaning 'me.' This choice reflects a direct appeal for personal deliverance, maintaining the urgency of the original Hebrew.
The Greek translation captures the essence of the psalmist's plea while adapting it to the linguistic style of the Septuagint.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:134 expresses the psalmist's plea for God to rescue him from human oppression so that he can obey God's commands. This verse highlights the importance of divine help in living a righteous life.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The 'oppression of man' refers to the unjust treatment or harm inflicted by others, which can hinder one's ability to follow God's commands.
The psalmist seeks redemption to be freed from the burdens and injustices imposed by humanity, allowing him to focus on keeping God's precepts.
God's precepts are His commands or laws that guide moral behavior and righteous living, as outlined throughout the Scriptures.
This verse exemplifies the psalmist's deep desire to adhere to God's law, emphasizing the need for divine assistance in overcoming obstacles to obedience.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced oppression or injustice in my life, and how can I seek God's help in those situations?
- How can I better understand and observe God's precepts in my daily life?
- What does it mean to me to ask God for redemption or deliverance?
- How can I support others who are facing oppression or injustice?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators reference this verse to discuss the need for divine deliverance from human injustice, highlighting the psalmist's desire to uphold God's commandments.
But what means this that he says, "O deliver me from the calumnies of men: so shall I keep Your commandments"? [Psalms 119:134]...Did not the holy people of God much the more…Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:134 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDeliver me from the oppression of man,.... Of any man, of proud and haughty men, as in Psalms 119:122; the psalmist always desired rather to fall into the hands of God than into the hands of wicked
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDeliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Deliver me from the oppression of man.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 134. As he prayed against the inward impediment of his obedience, , so here he prayeth against an external impediment of it, and a common temptation to sin.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.Ver. 134. Deliver me from the oppressions of man] Homo homini lupus. David, besides his corruptions within, met with oppressions and persecutions without; so shall all that will live godly in Christ Jesus; let them never dream of a delicacy in religion. So will I keep thy precepts] Not say, as those miscreants, Jeremiah 7:10, "We are delivered to do all these abominations"; but as good old Zechariah, Luke 1:74-75, Servati sumus ut serviamus, We have been served so that we may serve. We are delivered that we might serve God without fear, &c.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges134. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may observe thy precepts. Cp. Psalms 119:121-122.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDeliver me from the oppression of man - From constraint on the part of man, so that I may be free to act as I please. Give me true religious liberty, and let me not be under any compulsion or constraint.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleô, Pe.129-136. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me—A sense of his own peril leads the writer to a still deeper, intenser longing for perfected holiness within himself.
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
Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.
Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts.
Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.
Deliver me from oppressive men, so that I can keep your precepts.
Tyndale line
Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts.
Redeem me from the oppression of man: so will I observe thy precepts.
Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
Deliuer mee from the oppression of men, and I will keepe thy precepts.
Strictly literal
Deliver me from the oppression of man; and I will keep thy precepts.
Ransom me from the oppression of man, And I observe Thy precepts,
Ransom me from the oppression of man, || And I observe Your precepts,
Deliver me from the oppression of man, and I will observe thy precepts.
Redeem me from human oppression so that I may observe your instructions.
Simplified
Save me from cruel people so I can follow your instructions.
Make me free from the cruel rule of man; then I will keep your orders.
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 the Septuagint preserving the meaning of the Hebrew text. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, confirming the integrity of this verse across different manuscripts.
פְּ֭דֵנִי מֵעֹ֣שֶׁק אָדָ֑ם וְ֝אֶשְׁמְרָ֗ה פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ׃
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.
פד׳ני מעשק אדם ואשמורה פקודי׳כה
5 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 119:134
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.
פָּדָה (padah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to ransom or redeem. It encompasses actions like delivering or rescuing, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being ransomed or allowing someone to be ransomed. The entries highlight its use in contexts of release and preservation, but do not specify any particular verses.
פָּדָה vb. ransom
Qal ransom
Niph. she hath not been at all ransomed (from bondage)
Hiph. he shall let her be ransomed.
base
H6299 פָּדָה ransom
6299 padah paw-daw'
a primitive root; to sever, i.e. ransom; gener. to release,
preserve:--X at all, deliver, X by any means, ransom, (that
are to be, let be) redeem(-ed), rescue, X surely.
פָּדָה (pa.dah) — to ransom.
1) to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver
1a) (Qal) to ransom
1b) (Niphal) to be ransomed
1c) (Hiphil) to allow one to be ransomed
1d) (Hophal) redeemed
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sp1bs
עֹ֫שֶׁק (osheq) refers to oppression and extortion, encompassing concepts of injury and unjust gain. It is derived from the root word for injury and conveys a sense of distress and deceitful acquisition. The term is used in contexts related to cruel treatment and wrongful gain.
עֹ֫שֶׁק oppression, extortion
base
H6233 עֹ֫שֶׁק oppression, extortion
6233 `osheq o'-shek
from 6231; injury, fraud, (subjectively) distress,
(concretely) unjust gain:--cruelly, extortion, oppression,
thing (deceitfully gotten).
see HEBREW for 06231
עֹ֫שֶׁק (o.sheq) — oppression.
1) oppression, extortion, injury
1a) oppression
1b) extortion
1c) gain by extortion
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
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…
אָדָם (adam) refers to 'man' or 'mankind,' encompassing both individual humans and the species as a whole. It is also the name of the first man in the Bible, Adam, who is mentioned in various verses, including Genesis 2:19. The term can denote a city in the Jordan valley as well. The entries indicate a range of meanings, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
אָדָם 560 n.m. Gn 1:27 man, mankind
a man = human being
coll. man, mankind
n.pr.m. Adam, first man (without art.)
n.pr.loc. city in Jordan valley (as built?)
base
H120 אָדָם man, mankind . a man = human being
. coll. man, mankind
120 'adam aw-dawm'
from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the
species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common
sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
see HEBREW for 0119
אָדָם (a.dam) — man.
1) man, mankind
1a) man, human being
1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)
1c) Adam, first man
1d) city in Jordan valley
אָדָם (a.dam) — the man (Adam).
The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19;
married to Eve (H2332);
father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33;
Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121)
man, human being
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Conjunction · verb qal infinitive construct first person common singularHC/Vqc1cs
פִּקּוּד (piqqud) refers to a precept or mandate, specifically one that is appointed by God. It is derived from a root meaning to appoint and is used in a plural form to collectively denote commandments or statutes within the Law.
[פִּקּוּד] 24 n.m. precept
base
H6490 [פִּקּוּד] precept
6490 piqquwd pik-kood'
or piqqud {pik-kood'}; from 6485; properly, appointed, i.e. a
mandate (of God; plural only, collectively, for the
Law):--commandment, precept, statute.
see HEBREW for 06485
פִּקּוּד (piq.qud) — precept.
precept, statute
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2ms