Psalms 119:141 — Word Study
WLCצָעִ֣יר אָנֹכִ֣י וְנִבְזֶ֑ה פִּ֝קֻּדֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃
BSAIʼânôkîy am lowlytsâʻîyr [small, insignificant] and despisedbâzâh [held in contempt, looked down on] but I do notlôʼ [absolutely not] forgetshâkach■ [mislay, be oblivious to] Your preceptspiqqûwd [commands, mandates]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| צָעִ֣יר | [am] insignificant | Adj |
| אָנֹכִ֣י | I | Pronoun |
| וְנִבְזֶ֑ה | and [am] despised | Conjunction, verb niphal participle (active) masculine singular |
| פִּ֝קֻּדֶ֗יךָ | precepts your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃ | I have forgotten | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts. |
| KJV | I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. |
| ASV | I am small and despised; Yet do I not forget thy precepts. |
| YLT | Small I [am], and despised, Thy precepts I have not forgotten. |
| WEB | I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts. |
| BBE | I am small and of no account; but I keep your orders in mind. |
Where they part company is צָעִיר — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features a main clause expressing the speaker's condition and a subordinate clause affirming their commitment to God's commands.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאָנֹכִי
verbשָׁכַח
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 119:141
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 — The Significance of God's Preceptsgenerated
Psalm 119:141 reflects the psalmist's feelings of insignificance and contempt, yet emphasizes the importance of not forgetting God's commands. This verse is part of a longer meditation on the value of God's law, where the psalmist acknowledges their humble state while affirming their commitment to God's word. The surrounding verses highlight the contrast between the psalmist's lowly status and the greatness of God's righteousness and commandments.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 22:6 | But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. |
| 2 | Psalm 40:17 | But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay. |
| 3 | Proverbs 15:16 | Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. |
| 4 | Proverbs 16:8 | Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. |
| 5 | Proverbs 19:1 | Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צָעִיר, tza.'Irgenerated
The Hebrew word צָעִיר (tza`iyr) means little, insignificant, or young. It can describe something small in size or number, as well as a lower status. The parsing as an adjective indicates that it describes the speaker's condition, emphasizing their humble position.
This word appears frequently in the Bible, often conveying a sense of youth or unimportance. Here, it highlights the psalmist's feelings of being looked down upon, yet it does not diminish their resolve to remember God's precepts.
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. The BSB has lowly, and so do the KJV and ASV: all three maintain the sense of insignificance conveyed by צָעִיר.
Where others part company with the BSB they part company over a real fork in the lexicon, particularly with צָעִיר. The NETB and ULB choose insignificant, while the KJV, ASV, and others opt for small, which leans more towards size than status.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by the conjunction וְ (and). The first clause states the speaker's condition, while the second clause presents their commitment to God's precepts.
The finite verb נִבְזֶ֑ה (am despised) governs the subject אָנֹכִ֣י (I) and the predicate צָעִ֣יר (lowly), indicating the speaker's state of being. The structure emphasizes the contrast between their lowly status and their steadfastness in remembering God's commands.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צָעִיר as ἐχουδενωμένος, which carries a sense of being held in contempt. This choice reflects a narrowing of the original Hebrew meaning, focusing on the disdain the speaker feels.
The LXX captures the essence of the Hebrew text while adapting it for a Greek-speaking audience, emphasizing the speaker's lowly status and the importance of God's laws.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:141 shows the speaker feeling lowly and despised but determined not to forget God's commands. This verse emphasizes the importance of holding onto God's precepts, even when one feels insignificant.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The speaker expresses feelings of insignificance and contempt from others, highlighting their humble status.
God's precepts refer to His commands and instructions, which guide the believer's life.
One can remember God's precepts by studying His word, meditating on it, and applying it in daily life.
Forgetting God's commands can lead to a life that strays from His guidance and purpose, whereas remembering them helps maintain a righteous path.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I feel lowly or despised, and how can I find comfort in God's promises?
- How can I actively remember and apply God's precepts in my life?
- What does it mean to me to be insignificant in the eyes of the world but valued by God?
- How can I encourage others who may feel lowly or despised to remember God's commands?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The verse is quoted by early Church Fathers like Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the speaker's humility and commitment to God's righteousness.
"I am young, and of no reputation; yet do I not forget Your righteousnesses:" not as my enemies, who "have forgotten Your words" [Psalms 119:141].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:141 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI [am] small and despised,.... Or, "I have been" (x). Some versions render it "young" (y); as if it had respect to the time of his anointing by Samuel, when he was overlooked and despised in his
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. I am small and despised; (yet) do not I forget thy precepts. This makes me great before God, though small before the world (1 Corinthians 1:27; Luke 1:15).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 141. Small; or, a little one; not for age, but in respect of my condition in the world; mean and obscure.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:141 I [am] small and despised: [yet] do not I forget thy precepts.Ver. 141. I am small and despised] Minutus, a worm and no man, an abject and outcast, nullificamen hominis, &c. Yet do I not forget thy precepts] My mean condition impaireth not my constancy.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(141) These words are hardly applicable to an individual, while to the struggling Israel, in relation to the great Eastern Powers, they are peculiarly suitable.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 141. I am small and despised] And on these accounts have every thing to fear. Being small, I cannot resist; being despised, I am in danger; but even all this does not induce me to start aside, or through the fear of man to be unfaithful to thee.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges141. small and despised] Insignificant in the eyes of men (not, as LXX, young, νεώτερος), and despised for his strict adherence to the law; but neither the glamour of worldly power nor the sting of worldly contempt can move him from his allegiance.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI am small and despised - The word here rendered “small” may mean “small” in respect to number - that is, “few,” Micah 5:2; Isaiah 60:22; or in respect to age - “young,” Genesis 19:31; or in respect
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
I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.
I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts.
I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.
I am insignificant and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
Tyndale line
I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
I am small and despised; Yet do I not forget thy precepts.
I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
I am small and despised: yet I do not forget thy precepts.
I am small and despised: yet do I not forget thy precepts.
Strictly literal
I am little and despised: thy precepts have I not forgotten.
Small I [am], and despised, Thy precepts I have not forgotten.
I [am] small, and despised, || I have not forgotten Your precepts.
I am little and despised: yet thy precepts have I not forgotten.
I am insignificant and despised, yet I do not forget your instructions.
Simplified
I may be unimportant and looked down on, but I don't forget your commandments.
I am small and of no account; but I keep your orders in mind.
Word by word, the decisions they made
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 reads צָעִ֣יר אָנֹכִ֣י וְנִבְזֶ֑ה פִּ֝קֻּדֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃. The Septuagint matches five of the six words, maintaining the core meaning, while the Dead Sea Scrolls reveal some variations in word order and restoration, but agree in substance with the Masoretic Text.
צָעִ֣יר אָנֹכִ֣י וְנִבְזֶ֑ה פִּ֝קֻּדֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א שָׁכָֽחְתִּי׃
5 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.
צעיר אנכי ונבזה פקודי׳ך [לא] [שכחתי]
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
צעיר אנוכי ונבזה פקודי׳כה לוא שכחתי
6 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 119:141
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.
צָעִיר (tsa`iyr) means little, insignificant, or young. It can refer to something that is small in size or number, as well as to youth or lower status. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to size and age, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
צָעִיר adj. little, insignificant, young
base
H6810 צָעִיר little, insignificant, young
6810 tsa`iyr tsaw-eer'
or tsanowr {tsaw-ore'}; from 6819; little; (in number) few;
(in age) young, (in value) ignoble:--least, little (one),
small (one), + young(-er, -est).
see HEBREW for 06819
צָעִיר (tsa.ir) — little.
1) little, insignificant, young
1a) little, insignificant
1b) insignificant, mean
1c) young, younger, youngest
Adj — AdjHAamsa
The Hebrew word אָֽנֹכִ֫י (*anokiy*) is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is a variant spelling of אֲנִי (*ani*), which also means 'I.' The entries confirm its use as a personal pronoun without significant disagreement among lexicons.
אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H595 אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי I
595 'anokiy aw-no-kee'
sometimes {aw-no'-kee}; a primitive pro.; I:--I, me, X
which.
אָֽנֹכִ֫י (a.no.khi) — I.
I (first pers. sing.)
Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)
Pron — PronounHPp1bs
בָזָה (bazah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to despise or hold in contempt. It can be used in different forms: Qal for direct action, Niphal for being despised, and Hiphil for causing someone to despise. The entries emphasize a sense of disdain and worthlessness associated with the term.
בָזָה vb. despise
Qal despise, regard with contempt
Niph.
despised
vile, worthless
despicable, contemptible
Hiph. so as to cause to despise their lords
base
H959 בָזָה despise
959 bazah baw-zaw'
a primitive root; to disesteem:--despise, disdain,
contemn(-ptible), + think to scorn, vile person.
בָּזָה (ba.zah) — to despise.
1) to despise, hold in contempt, disdain
1a) (Qal) to despise, regard with contempt
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be despised
1b2) to be despicable
1b3) to be vile, worthless
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to despise
Also means: ba.zoh (בָּזֹה "to despise" H0960)
Conj | V-Niphal — Conjunction · verb niphal participle (active) masculine singularHC/VNrmsa
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
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.
שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget
Qal 86 forget
Niph. be forgotten
Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget
Hiph. to make my people forget my name
Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.
base
H7911 שָׁכַח forget
7911 shakach shaw-kakh'
or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,
i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X
at all, (cause to) forget.
שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.
1) to forget, ignore, wither
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to forget
1a2) to cease to care
1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten
1c) (Piel) to cause to forget
1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget
1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten
Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs