Psalms 119:146 — Word Study
WLCקְרָאתִ֥יךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי וְ֝אֶשְׁמְרָ֗ה עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃
BSAI call to Youqârâʼ■ [cry out, invoke] save meyâshaʻ [rescue, deliver] that I may keepshâmar [obey, guard] Your testimoniesʻêdâh [divine witness, laws]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| קְרָאתִ֥יךָ | I call out to you | Verb qal perfect first person common singular, suffix |
| הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי | save me | Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| וְ֝אֶשְׁמְרָ֗ה | so let me keep | Conjunction, verb qal infinitive construct first person common singular |
| עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | testimonies your | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I call to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies. |
| KJV | I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. |
| ASV | I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies. |
| YLT | I have called Thee, save Thou me, And I do keep Thy testimonies. |
| WEB | I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes. |
| BBE | My cry has gone up to you; take me out of trouble, and I will be guided by your unchanging word. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by an imperative and a purpose clause, showing a clear progression from the call to action.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & 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 119:146
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 Help and Obediencegenerated
Psalm 119:146 reflects the psalmist's heartfelt plea to God for salvation, linking the act of calling upon God with the commitment to uphold His laws. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God's word and the psalmist's desire to live in accordance with it, as seen in the surrounding verses that emphasize obedience and reliance on God's guidance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:134 | Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts. |
| 2 | Judges 10:15–16 | “We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” |
| 3 | Matthew 1:21 | She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” |
| 4 | Titus 2:14 | He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. |
| 5 | Titus 3:4–8 | But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קְרָאתִ֥יךָ, ke.ra.Ti.chagenerated
The verb קָרָא (qara') means to call out to someone, often in a context of seeking help or making an appeal. The parsing indicates it is in the perfect aspect, first person common singular, showing a completed action of calling out to God.
This word captures the urgency of the psalmist's plea, as he invokes God's name directly, seeking a response to his cry for help. The act of calling out is not just a casual mention but a deep, earnest request for divine intervention.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the essence of the plea: the psalmist is calling out to God for salvation.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of three main clauses: the first clause expresses the psalmist's call to God, the second is a plea for salvation, and the third indicates the purpose of that salvation — to keep God's testimonies. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the act of calling and the desired outcome.
The finite verbs are קְרָאתִ֥יךָ, הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי, and אֶשְׁמְרָ֗ה, with each verb connecting the psalmist's actions to his intentions, creating a clear flow of thought.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb קָרָא is rendered as σε, indicating a direct address to God. This choice emphasizes the personal nature of the psalmist's appeal.
The Greek translation maintains the urgency of the original Hebrew, showing that the psalmist's plea for salvation is a direct invocation of divine help.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:146 shows the psalmist calling out to God for help, asking for salvation so that he can keep God's laws. This verse highlights the connection between seeking God's help and the desire to obey His commandments.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Calling out to God signifies a deep need for His intervention, reflecting trust in His ability to save and help.
Keeping God's testimonies is seen as an expression of obedience and commitment to His will, which is central to the psalmist's relationship with God.
The psalmist's plea for salvation shows his reliance on God, demonstrating faith in God's power to rescue and guide.
This verse teaches that prayer can be a heartfelt cry for help, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's assistance in our lives.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to call out to God for help?
- How can I better keep and obey God's testimonies in my daily life?
- What does it mean to me to rely on God for salvation?
- How can I encourage others to seek God's help in their struggles?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators, including Augustine of Hippo, reference this verse in discussions about calling upon God for help and the significance of obedience to His laws.
"I have called, save me" [Psalms 119:146] or as some copies, both Greek and Latin, have it, "I have called to You." But what is,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:146 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI cried unto thee; save me,.... In his distress he cried and prayed to the Lord; and this was a principal and leading petition, that he would "save" him out of all his troubles and afflictions, and
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.Ver. 146. I cried unto thee; save me] Salvation properly denoteth the privative part of a man’ s felicity, but iucludeth the positive part also: this must be got by prayer.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges146. I have called unto thee; save me, That I may observe thy testimonies.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI cried unto thee - I called upon thee in trouble. Save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies - Margin, “That I may keep.” The correct rendering is, “I will keep.” The idea is, that if God would
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible÷, Koph.145-152. I cried with my whole heart—Here we see the spirit of Samuel among them that called upon God.
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
I call to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies.
I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.
I call to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies.
I cried out to you, “Deliver me, so that I can keep your rules.”
Tyndale line
I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies.
I have called unto thee; save me, and I shall observe thy testimonies.
I cried to thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
I called vpon thee: saue mee, and I will keepe thy testimonies.
Strictly literal
I call upon thee; save me, and I will keep thy testimonies.
I have called Thee, save Thou me, And I do keep Thy testimonies.
I have called You, save me, || And I keep Your testimonies.
I have called on thee, save me, and I will observe thy testimonies.
I call to you; save me, and I will observe your covenant decrees.”
Simplified
I pray to you, asking, “Please save me!” so I can do what you say.
My cry has gone up to you; take me out of trouble, and I will be guided by your unchanging word.
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
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of Psalm 119:146, with the same four key words present in both texts, affirming the consistency of this verse across different traditions.
קְרָאתִ֥יךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי וְ֝אֶשְׁמְרָ֗ה עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃
4 of the 4 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 119:146
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 קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read
Qal
call, cry, utter a loud sound
call, cry
call unto some one
cry for help
proclaim
read aloud
read to oneself
summon
call = name
Niph.
reflex.
pass. be called
Pu. be called
base
H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound
. call, cry
. . call unto some one
. cry for help
. proclaim
. . read aloud
. read to oneself
. summon
. call = name
. . reflex.
. pass. be called
. be called
7121 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea
of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,
address by name, but used in a wide variety of
applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,
forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,
mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),
pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
see HEBREW for 07122
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.
: call_to/invite/entreat
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow
1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to call oneself
1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named
1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.
: call_by/name
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff — Verb qal perfect first person common singular · suffixHVqp1cs/Sp2ms
יָשַׁע (yasha`) is a Hebrew root meaning to save or deliver. It encompasses various forms of salvation, including liberation from physical and moral troubles, victory in battle, and general safety. The word can appear in different grammatical forms, such as Niph. (to be saved) and Hiph. (to save).
[יָשַׁע] vb. Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass.
Niph.
be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)
be saved in battle, victorious
Hiph.
deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)
save from moral troubles
give victory to
base
H3467 [יָשַׁע] Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass. . . be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)
. be saved in battle, victorious
. . deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)
. save from moral troubles
. give victory to
3467 yasha` yaw-shah'
a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e.
(by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or
succor:--X at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help,
preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation,
save(-iour), get victory.
יָשַׁע (ya.sah) — to save.
1) to save, be saved, be delivered
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered
1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to save, deliver
1b2) to save from moral troubles
1b3) to give victory to
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVhv2ms/Sp1bs
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
עֵדָה (edah) refers to 'testimony' or 'witness' and is noted for being used only in the plural form in the context of divine testimonies. It is derived from the feminine form of another Hebrew word, עֵד (ed), which also relates to witness. The entries consistently emphasize its technical sense in legal and religious contexts.
עֵדָה n.f. testimony, witness
base
[עֵדָה] n.f. only pl. MT testimonies
base
H5713a עֵדָה testimony, witness H5713b עֵדָה only pl. MT testimonies
5713 `edah ay-daw'
feminine of 5707 in its techn. sense; testimony:--
testimony, witness. Compare 5712.
see HEBREW for 05707
see HEBREW for 05712
עֵדָה (e.dah) — witness.
testimony, witness
עֵדָה (e.dah) — testimony.
always plural and always of laws as divine testimonies
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp2ms