Psalms 119:157 — Word Study
WLCרַ֭בִּים רֹדְפַ֣י וְצָרָ֑י מֵ֝עֵדְוֹתֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א נָטִֽיתִי׃
BSA[Though] my persecutorsrâdaph [numerous, many, pursuers, adversaries] and foestsar [enemies, oppressors] are manyrab I have notlôʼ [in no way, utterly] turnednâṭâh■ [swerved, declined] from Your testimoniesʻêdûwth [divine, God-given, laws, instructions, witness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| רַ֭בִּים | [are] many | Adj |
| רֹדְפַ֣י | [those who] harass me | Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| וְצָרָ֑י | and foes my | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| מֵ֝עֵדְוֹתֶ֗יךָ | from testimonies your | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| נָטִֽיתִי׃ | I have turned aside | 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 | Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies. |
| KJV | Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. |
| ASV | Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies. |
| YLT | Many [are] my pursuers, and adversaries, From Thy testimonies I have not turned aside. |
| WEB | Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven’t swerved from your testimonies. |
| BBE | Great is the number of those who are against me; but I have not been turned away from your unchanging word. |
All translations agree on the rendering of רַבִּים as many.
The structure highlights the contrast between the multitude of adversaries and the psalmist's steadfastness.






7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָטָה
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 119:157
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 Psalmist's Resolvegenerated
Psalm 119:157 reflects the psalmist's determination to adhere to God's testimonies despite facing many persecutors and foes. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God's laws and the challenges faced by those who seek to follow them, as seen in the surrounding verses that express reliance on God's mercy and the rejection of the faithless.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 3:1–2 | O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me! |
| 2 | Psalm 22:12–16 | Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. |
| 3 | Psalm 25:19 | Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred. |
| 4 | Psalm 56:2 | My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me. |
| 5 | Psalm 118:10–12 | All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רַבִּים, Ra.bimgenerated
The word רַב (rav) means many or numerous, often used to describe abundance in quantity or rank. It can function as both an adjective and a noun, conveying a sense of leadership or authority. In this verse, it emphasizes the multitude of the psalmist's adversaries.
The parsing as an adjective indicates that it describes the subject of the sentence, highlighting the overwhelming number of persecutors. This sets a stark contrast to the psalmist's unwavering commitment to God's testimonies.
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 in the verse is נָטִֽיתִי, I have turned aside, which governs the overall structure. The sentence includes several noun phrases that provide context: the subjects being the persecutors and foes, and the object being the testimonies.
The word order emphasizes the psalmist's steadfastness against the backdrop of numerous adversaries, with the finite verb concluding the thought.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates רַבִּים as πολλοὶ, which also means many. This choice maintains the original meaning of multitude while reflecting the Greek language's nuances.
This consistent rendering in the Septuagint underscores the psalmist's experience of facing numerous foes, aligning with the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:157 shows the psalmist declaring that even though he faces many enemies and persecutors, he remains committed to following God's testimonies. This verse emphasizes the importance of steadfastness in faith despite external challenges.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The 'testimonies' refer to God's laws and instructions, which guide the psalmist's life and faith.
He acknowledges the challenges he faces from many adversaries but emphasizes his unwavering commitment to God's ways.
It is part of a larger reflection on God's mercy and the psalmist's dedication to His commandments despite adversity.
The psalmist's determination encourages us to remain faithful to God's teachings, even when faced with opposition.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What challenges do I face that test my commitment to following God's ways?
- How can I find strength in God's testimonies when I feel overwhelmed by adversaries?
- In what ways can I encourage others who are facing persecution or opposition?
- What does it mean for me to remain steadfast in my faith, like the psalmist?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, emphasizing the psalmist's unwavering faith amid persecution.
"Many there are that trouble me, and persecute me; yet do I not swerve from Your testimonies" [Psalms 119:157].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:157 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMany [are] my persecutors and mine enemies,.... Because they were his enemies, therefore they were his persecutors; and they became enemies to him, or hated him, because of his religion, and on that
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMany are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies - (Psalms 119:51; Psalms 44:18.)
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 157. Though they tempt me to do so, and persecute me because I will not do it.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:157 Many [are] my persecutors and mine enemies; [yet] do I not decline from thy testimonies.Ver. 157. Many are my persecutors] Truth never wanted an adversary; and goes seldom without a scratched face. Yet do I not decline] But still adhere to thy word; when others fall off as fast as leaves fall from trees in autumn.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges153–160. Rçsh. More urgent prayers for deliverance from his persecutors. Note the thrice-repeated ‘quicken me.’
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleMany are my persecutors and mine enemies - The thought here turns on the number of his enemies, and on the effect which numbers might have in turning one from the way of truth.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleø, Resh.153-160. Plead my cause—The prayer is here as if the honour of God were involved in the deliverance of those who put their trust in him. The pleading is, for that very reason, the more earnest.
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
Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven’t swerved from your testimonies.
Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.
The enemies who chase me are numerous. Yet I do not turn aside from your rules.
Tyndale line
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies.
Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; yet have I not swerved from they testimonies.
Many are my persecutors and my enemies; yet I do not decline from thy testimonies.
My persecutours and mine oppressours are many: yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies.
Strictly literal
Many are my persecutors and mine oppressors; I have not declined from thy testimonies.
Many [are] my pursuers, and adversaries, From Thy testimonies I have not turned aside.
My pursuers and adversaries are many, || I have not turned aside from Your testimonies.
Many are my persecutors and my assailants: yet from thy testimonies do I not turn away.
My persecutors and my foes are many, yet I have not turned from your covenant decrees.
Simplified
Despite the many people who persecute and mistreat me, I have not strayed from your laws.
Great is the number of those who are against me; but I have not been turned away from 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
The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls all agree on the wording of this verse. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew word-for-word, confirming the integrity of the text across these ancient witnesses.
רַ֭בִּים רֹדְפַ֣י וְצָרָ֑י מֵ֝עֵדְוֹתֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א נָטִֽיתִי׃
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.
רבים רודפ׳י וצר׳י מעדוותי׳כה לוא נטיתי
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 119:157
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.
רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
(oft. opp. מְעַט)
much: of substances
esp. of collectives, numerous
pl. many
רַב as subst. coll. pers.
cstr. = abounding in
מִן comp. = more numerous than
רַב = abundant, enough
as adv. much, exceedingly
less oft. great
base
רַב 49 n.m. chief
base
H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances
. esp. of collectives, numerous
. pl. many
. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
. cstr. = abounding in
. + מִן comp. = more numerous than
. רַב = abundant, enough
. as adv. much, exceedingly
. less oft. great
H7227b רַב chief
7227 rab rab
by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,
number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),
captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,
one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,
things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)
much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,
populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
see HEBREW for 07231
רַב (rav) — many.
adj
1) much, many, great
1a) much
1b) many
1c) abounding in
1d) more numerous than
1e) abundant, enough
1f) great
1g) strong
1h) greater than
adv
1i) much, exceedingly
רַב (rav) — chief.
captain, chief
Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)
רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.
Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)
§ captain, chief
Adj — AdjHAampa
MANY, adjective men'ny.
1. Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals.
Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 17:4.
Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26.
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous. Psalms 34:12.
It is often preceded by as or so, and followed by so, indicating an equal number.
As many books as you take, so many shall be charged to your account.
So many laws argue so many sins.
It is followed by as.
As many as were willing-hearted brought bracelets. Exodus 34:1.
It precedes an or a, before a noun in the singular number.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene.
2. In low language, preceded by too, it denotes powerful or much; as, they are too many for us.
MANY, noun men'ny. A multitude; a great number of individuals; the people.
O thou fond many
The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.
רָדַף (radaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pursue, chase, or persecute. It conveys the idea of running after something, often with hostile intent, and can also figuratively refer to following time or securing something. The word has various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, and Hiphil, each indicating different nuances of pursuit or being pursued.
רָדַף 141 vb. pursue, chase, persecute
Qal 128
pursue
lit. put to flight, chase
lit., the pursuers
chase, hunt
pursue
fig. persecute, harass
pursue, dog
fig. follow after, aim to secure
Niph. upon the neck (i.e. closely) we are pursued
Pi. pursue ardently
Pu. it shall be chased away like chaff of the mountains
Hiph. usu. they chased him
base
H7291 רָדַף pursue, chase, persecute
7291 radaph raw-daf'
a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent;
figuratively (of time) gone by):--chase, put to flight,
follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or),
pursue(-r).
רָדַף (ra.daph) — to pursue.
1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon
1a2) to persecute, harass (fig)
1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig)
1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be pursued
1b2) one pursued (participle)
1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue
1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away
1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHVqrmpc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word צַר (tsar) is built from the root meaning 'narrow' or 'tight.' It encompasses a range of meanings including 'distress,' 'adversary,' and 'hard pebble' or 'flint.' The term can refer to physical tightness or metaphorical trouble, as well as an enemy or foe. It appears in contexts of anguish and tribulation, with a specific verse reference in Isaiah 5:28.
צַר adj. narrow, tight
base
צַר n.[m.] straits, distress
base
צַר 68 n.m. adversary, foe
base
צַר n.[m.] hard pebble, flint;—Is 5:28
ref
H6862a צַר narrow, tight H6862b צַר straits, distress H6862c צַר adversary, foe H6862d צַר hard pebble, flint
6862 tsar tsar
or tsar {tsawr}; from 6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place
(usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in
6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding):--adversary,
afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,
narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
see HEBREW for 06887
see HEBREW for 06864
צַר (tsar) — narrow.
narrow, tight
צַר (tsar) — distress.
straits, distress
צַר (tsar) — enemy.
adversary, foe, enemy, oppressor
צַר (tsar) — hard.
hard pebble, flint
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp1bs
עֵדוּת (eduwth) is a feminine noun meaning 'testimony' or 'witness.' It is derived from the root word עֵד (ed), which also relates to the concept of testimony. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing its significance in legal and religious settings.
עֵדוּת 19 and עֵדֻת 27 n.f. testimony
base
H5715 עֵדוּת, עֵדֻת testimony
5715 `eduwth ay-dooth'
feminine of 5707; testimony:--testimony, witness.
see HEBREW for 05707
עֵדוּת (e.dut) — testimony.
testimony
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/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
נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.
נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
Qal
stretch out, extend, hand, rod
stretch line and plummet
= offer
Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
Bend, turn, incline
Niph. be stretched out
Hiph.
rarely stretch out, hand
rarely spread out cloth on rock
usu. turn, incline
base
H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod
. stretch line and plummet
. = offer
. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
. Bend, turn, incline
. be stretched out
. . rarely stretch out, hand
. rarely spread out cloth on rock
. usu. turn, incline
5186 natah naw-taw'
a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,
to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great
variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow
(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,
be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,
overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread
(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),
wrest, cause to yield.
נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.
1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer
1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)
1a3) to bend, turn, incline
1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down
1a3b) to bend, bow
1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)
1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stretch out
1c2) to spread out
1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
a-sid': "Distinct from others," "privately," such is the sense of the word in 2Ki 4:4; Mr 7:33. Also "to withdraw" (Lu 9:10 the King James Version; Ac 23:19: hupochoreo, also anachoreo). One is said to have turned aside when he departs from the path of rectitude (Ps 14:3; Sirach 2:7; 1Ti 1:6). In a figurative sense it is used to express the thought of putting aside, to renounce, every hindrance or impediment to a consecrated earnest Christian life (Heb 12:1: apotithemi).
