Psalms 119:175 — Word Study
WLCתְּֽחִי־ נַ֭פְשִׁי וּֽתְהַֽלְלֶ֑ךָּ וּֽמִשְׁפָּטֶ֥ךָ יַעֲזְרֻֽנִי׃
BSALet menephesh [my soul, nephsh/i] livechâyâh▸ [to have life, be revived] to praise Youhâlal▸ [celebrate, shine] may Your judgmentsmishpâṭ [divine, righteous, justice, ordinances] sustain meʻâzar▸ [help, support]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| תְּֽחִי־ | may it live | Verb, Qal, jussive third person feminine singular |
| נַ֭פְשִׁי | self my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וּֽתְהַֽלְלֶ֑ךָּ | so it may praise you | Conjunction, verb piel third person feminine singular, suffix |
| וּֽמִשְׁפָּטֶ֥ךָ | and judgments your | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יַעֲזְרֻֽנִי׃ | may they help me | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Let me live to praise You; may Your judgments sustain me. |
| KJV | Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. |
| ASV | Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me. |
| YLT | My soul liveth, and it doth praise Thee, And Thy judgments do help me. |
| WEB | Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me. |
| BBE | Give life to my soul so that it may give you praise; and let your decisions be my support. |
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The sentence consists of a main clause expressing a desire for life and a subordinate clause indicating the source of support.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָיָה
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 119:175
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 Life and Supportgenerated
Psalm 119:175 is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist, asking for life to continue in order to praise God. This verse is part of a larger reflection on the importance of God's judgments and how they provide sustenance and support to the believer. It emphasizes the deep connection between living, praising, and relying on divine guidance, as seen in the surrounding verses that express longing for salvation and adherence to God's law.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 9:13–14 | Be merciful to me, O LORD; see how my enemies afflict me! Lift me up from the gates of death, |
| 2 | Psalm 30:9 | “What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness? |
| 3 | Psalm 51:14–15 | Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. |
| 4 | Psalm 118:18–19 | The LORD disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. |
| 5 | Isaiah 38:19 | The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תְּֽחִי־, te.chi-generated
The Hebrew word חָיָה (chayah) means to live or have life, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It conveys the idea of being revived or quickened, indicating a desire for continued existence for the purpose of praising God.
In this verse, the jussive form expresses a wish or desire, reflecting the psalmist's yearning for life to be sustained in order to fulfill the act of praise. This word highlights the importance of life in the context of worship and devotion.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, emphasizing the psalmist's plea for life to praise God and the sustaining nature of His judgments.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb תְּֽחִי־ governs the verse, with two clauses following: one expressing the desire for life and the other for divine judgments to provide support. The structure emphasizes the relationship between living, praising, and receiving help.
The sentence flows from the psalmist's wish for life to the request for God's judgments to sustain him, creating a cohesive plea that intertwines these elements.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תְּֽחִי־ as ζήσεται (zēsetai), which also means 'to live.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence in meaning, emphasizing the continuity of life as essential for praise.
The Greek version maintains the focus on life and support, aligning closely with the Hebrew intent.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:175 expresses a desire for life to continue so that the psalmist can praise God. It also asks for God's judgments to provide help and support. This verse highlights the connection between living, worshiping, and relying on God's guidance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist desires life not just for existence but to actively engage in worship and praise of God.
God's judgments provide guidance, support, and a framework for living righteously, which the psalmist relies on.
The soul represents the essence of the psalmist, emphasizing that the desire for life is deeply personal and connected to worship.
Divine judgments are seen as a source of strength and support, guiding believers in their actions and decisions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I ensure my life is a reflection of praise to God?
- How do I seek God's judgments in my daily decisions?
- What does it mean for me to rely on God's support in my life?
- How can I express my gratitude for the life I have been given?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo references this verse in his exposition, discussing the connection between faith, life, and praise.
But in this faith, though the heathen rage furiously, and the people imagine a vain thing: though the flesh be slain while it preaches You: "My soul shall live,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:175 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet my soul live, and it shall praise thee,.... The psalmist desires the continuance of his natural life, not for his own personal advantage, nor for the sake of his family, nor with any worldly,
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleVer. 175. Either, 1. Thy providential dispensation, whereby thou judgest and rulest the world, punishing the wicked, and protecting and delivering the godly. Or, 2. Thy word or testimonies, as this word most commonly signifies in this Psalm, which are the only ground of my hope in thy help.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.Ver. 175. Let thy judgments help me] sc. To heaven: together with God’ s word, there goeth forth a power.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 175. Let my soul live] Let my life be preserved, and my soul quickened!
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges175. and it shall praise thee] Or, that it may praise thee. The object of the life for which he has prayed so often—life prolonged, revived, invigorated, freed from the persecutions and trials which impede and prevent the exercise of its full activities—is just this, that his whole self may praise God (Psalms 146:2). and let thy judgments help me] Either the ordinances which are the rule of his life (102, 106), or acts of judgement, by which his enemies are punished.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet my soul live, and it shall praise thee - I desire life that I may praise thee; if I do live, I will praise thee.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleú, Tav.169-176. Let thine hand help me—Finally, the two great wants of man, strength of soul to live righteously and deliverance from outward evils, are rehearsed. The writer is persecuted for his faith.
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
Let me live to praise You; may Your judgments sustain me.
Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.
Let me live to praise You; may Your judgments sustain me.
May I live and praise you! May your regulations help me!
Tyndale line
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Let my soule liue, and it shall praise thee, and thy iudgements shall helpe me.
Strictly literal
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
My soul liveth, and it doth praise Thee, And Thy judgments do help me.
My soul lives, and it praises You, || And Your judgments help me.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee: and let thy decrees help me.
May I live and praise you, and may your righteous decrees help me.
Simplified
May I live my life in praise to you, and may your instructions help me.
Give life to my soul so that it may give you praise; and let your decisions be my support.
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, Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls all agree on the wording of this verse, confirming the psalmist's plea for life and support from God's judgments.
תְּֽחִי־ נַ֭פְשִׁי וּֽתְהַֽלְלֶ֑ךָּ וּֽמִשְׁפָּטֶ֥ךָ יַעֲזְרֻֽנִי׃
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.
תחי נפש׳י ותהלל׳כה ומשפטי׳כה יעוזר׳ני
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 119:175
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.
חָיָה (chayah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to live or have life, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It includes various nuances such as reviving, preserving life, and restoring health. The entries detail its use in different stems, with Qal focusing on living and being quickened, while Piel and Hiphil emphasize giving life and reviving. No specific verse references are provided.
חָיָה 283 vb. live
Qal 203
live
be quickened, revive
Pi.
preserve alive, let live
give life
quicken, revive, refresh
Hiph.
preserve alive, let live
quicken, revive
base
H2421 חָיָה live .. live
. be quickened, revive
. . preserve alive, let live
. give life
. quicken, revive, refresh
. . preserve alive, let live
. quicken, revive
2421 chayah khaw-yaw'
a primitive root (compare 2331, 2421); to live, whether
literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive:--keep
(leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let,
suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, (X God) save
(alive, life, lives), X surely, be whole.
see HEBREW for 02331
see HEBREW for 02421
חָיָה (cha.yah) — to live.
1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to live
1a1a) to have life
1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive
1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon
1a1d) to live (prosperously)
1a2) to revive, be quickened
1a2a) from sickness
1a2b) from discouragement
1a2c) from faintness
1a2d) from death
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to preserve alive, let live
1b2) to give life
1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh
1b3a) to restore to life
1b3b) to cause to grow
1b3c) to restore
1b3d) to revive
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to preserve alive, let live
1c2) to quicken, revive
1c2a) to restore (to health)
1c2b) to revive
1c2c) to restore to life
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · jussive third person feminine singularHVqj3fs
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word הָלַל (halal) is a primitive root that encompasses meanings related to shining, boasting, and foolishness. It can signify to praise or celebrate, often in a clamorously foolish manner, and includes the idea of making a boast or being made a fool of. The entries indicate a range of uses, from expressing God's favor to acting madly.
[הָלַל] vb. shine
Qal when it, viz. his lamp, shone upon my head, fig. of God’s favour.
Hiph. flash forth light
base
[הָלַל] vb. be boastful, Pi. praise
Qal be boastful
Pi.
praise man or woman
usually praise י׳
appar. boast, make one’s boast
Pu. be praised
Hithpa. glory, boast, make one’s boast
Po‛el make into a fool, make a fool of
Po‛al of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)
Hithpo. act madly, or like a madman
base
H1984a הָלַל shine H1984b הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise H1984c הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise .be boastful
. . praise man or woman
. usually praise י׳
. appar. boast, make one’s boast
. be praised
. glory, boast, make one’s boast
.make into a fool, make a fool of
.of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)
. act madly, or like a madman
1984 halal haw-lal'
a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of
color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to
be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate;
also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend,
(deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make,
feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy
of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to shine.
1) to shine
1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour)
1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: praise.
: praise
1) to praise, boast, be boastful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be boastful
1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to praise
1b2) to boast, make a boast
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
1d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to be foolish.
1) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool
1f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: boast.
: boast
1) to praise, boast, be boastful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be boastful
1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to praise
1b2) to boast, make a boast
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
Conj | V-Piel-Juss-3fs | Suff — Conjunction · verb piel third person feminine singular · suffixHC/Vpu3fs/Sp2ms
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)
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
עָזַר (azar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to help or succour. It is built from a primitive root that conveys the idea of surrounding or protecting. The entries indicate its use in various forms: Qal (to help), Niphal (to be helped), and Hiphil (to help). The word captures the essence of providing support or aid.
[עָזַר] 82 vb. help, succour
Qal help
Niph. I am helped
Hiph. v. Qal.
base
H5826 [עָזַר] help, succour
5826 `azar aw-zar'
a primitive root; to surround, i.e. protect or aid:--help,
succour.
עָזַר (a.zar) — to help.
1) to help, succour, support
1a) (Qal) to help
1b) (Niphal) to be helped
1c) (Hiphil) to help
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVqi3mp/Sp1bs