Psalms 119:79 — Word Study
WLCיָשׁ֣וּבוּ לִ֣י יְרֵאֶ֑יךָ וְ֝יֹדְעֵ֗י עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃
BSAMay those who fear Youyârêʼ [reverently, with awe and respect] turnshûwb▸ [to return, come back] those who knowyâdaʻ [have come to understand, are acquainted with, to ascertain by seeing, perceive] Your testimoniesʻêdâh [divine, witness, laws, instructions]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יָשׁ֣וּבוּ | let them turn | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| לִ֣י | to me | Preposition, suffix |
| יְרֵאֶ֑יךָ | [those] fearing you | Suffix |
| וְ֝יֹדְעֵ֗י | and [those who] know | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common |
| 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 | May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies. |
| KJV | Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. |
| ASV | Let those that fear thee turn unto me; And they shall know thy testimonies. |
| YLT | Those fearing Thee turn back to me, And those knowing Thy testimonies. |
| WEB | Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes. |
| BBE | Let your worshippers be turned to me, and those who have knowledge of your words. |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of יָשׁ֣וּבוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the psalmist's request, with the subject and complement clearly defined, emphasizing the relationship sought.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשׁוּב
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 119:79
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 — Meditation on God's Lawsgenerated
Psalm 119:79 is part of a larger reflection where the psalmist contrasts the arrogant with those who fear God. The psalmist expresses a longing for the company of those who respect God's instructions and have come to understand His testimonies, emphasizing a community of faith that values divine guidance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:63–74 | I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts. |
| 2 | Psalm 7:7 | Let the assembled peoples gather around You; take Your seat over them on high. |
| 3 | Psalm 142:7 | Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָשׁ֣וּבוּ, ya.Shu.vugenerated
The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing.
The parsing indicates this is a verb in the imperfect tense, third person masculine plural, suggesting a continuous or repeated action. The psalmist is not just asking for a one-time return; he desires an ongoing relationship with those who fear God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations agree on the key elements of the verse, with variations in phrasing.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יָשׁ֣וּבוּ, let them turn, which governs the entire clause. The structure is straightforward, with a subject (those who fear You) and a complement (those who know Your testimonies) following the verb.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of turning, indicating the psalmist's desire for a reciprocal relationship with those who respect God's laws.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָשׁ֣וּבוּ as ἐπιστρεψάτωσάν, which carries a similar meaning of turning back. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the need for a return to God and His ways.
The use of the Greek word suggests a focus on the action of returning, emphasizing the psalmist's desire for connection with those who revere God.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:79 expresses a plea for those who fear God to turn towards the psalmist, who seeks their companionship. This reflects a desire for community among those who understand and respect God's testimonies.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To fear God means to have a deep respect and reverence for Him, acknowledging His authority and laws.
The psalmist desires fellowship with those who share a common respect for God's ways, creating a supportive community.
God's testimonies refer to His laws and instructions, which guide His people in living righteously.
This verse highlights the importance of community among those who revere God and seek to follow His teachings, a central theme throughout Psalm 119.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I demonstrate my fear of God in my daily life?
- In what ways can I seek out and connect with others who share my respect for God's laws?
- What role do God's testimonies play in my understanding of His character?
- How can I encourage others to turn towards God and His teachings?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse includes Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the significance of those who fear God turning to the psalmist.
"Let such as fear You," he says, "and have known Your testimonies, be turned unto me" [Psalms 119:79].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:79 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet those that fear thee turn unto me,.... Whose companion he was fond of being, Psalms 119:63; There were some good men, it seems, that turned from him, took the part of his enemies, and sided with
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. Let those that fear then turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies - (cf.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTurn unto me; either, 1. Turn their eyes to me as a spectacle of God’ s wonderful mercy; or rather, 2. Turn their hearts and affections to me, which have been alienated from me, either by the artifices and calumnies of my adversaries, or by my sore and long distresses, which made them prone to think that either I had deceived them with false pretences, or that God for my sins had utterly forsaken me; which doubtless was a very grievous burden to David, who had a far greater esteem and affection for such persons than for all other men, and desired above all things to stand right in their opinions. Known, i.e. loved and practised them; as words of knowledge are oft used.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.Ver. 79. Let those that fear thee] These are fitly opposed to those proud ones, as Malachi 3:13; Malachi 3:16. Turn unto me] From whom they have shrunk in mine affliction. And those that have known thy testimonies] Deum cognoscere et colere, to know and serve God is the whole duty of a man, saith Lactantius.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 79. Let those that fear thee] The truly pious. Turn unto me] Seeing thy work upon me, they shall acknowledge me as a brand plucked from the burning.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges79. and those that have known &c.] Even those who know. So the Q’rç, with LXX, Syr., Jer. The K’thîbh has and they shall know, or, that they may know, with the Targ. This gives the best sense. Let my experience of Thy mercy shew the godly the blessedness of keeping Thy testimonies.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet those that fear thee turn unto me - Let thy friends be my friends. Let them show me favor, and count me among their companions.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleé, Jod.73-80. I may learn thy commandments—The psalmist considers the value of broad and truthful experiences in the word as related to his influence upon others.
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
May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.
Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.
May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.
May your loyal followers turn to me, those who know your rules.
Tyndale line
Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
Let those that fear thee turn unto me; And they shall know thy testimonies.
Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and they shall know thy testimonies.
Let those that fear thee turn to me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
Let such as feare thee turne vnto me, and they that knowe thy testimonies.
Strictly literal
Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that know thy testimonies.
Those fearing Thee turn back to me, And those knowing Thy testimonies.
Those fearing You turn back to me, || And those knowing Your testimonies.
Let those that fear thee return unto me, and those that know thy testimonies.
May those who honor you turn to me, those who know your covenant decrees.
Simplified
Let those who follow you turn to me, those who understand your laws.
Let your worshippers be turned to me, and those who have knowledge of your words.
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 align closely, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some damage, but the core meaning remains intact, with the editor supplying missing words to maintain the sense of the verse.
יָשׁ֣וּבוּ לִ֣י יְרֵאֶ֑יךָ וְ֝יֹדְעֵ֗י עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃
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.
[ישובו] [ל׳י] [יראי׳ך] וידעו עדותי׳ך
2 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
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 119:79
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 שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.
שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return
Qal 683;—turn back, return:
turn back
return, come or go back
esp. return unto
of dying
of revival from death
fig. of human relations:
return to leader, king
= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
turn, i.e. resort to
return to a physical condition
abs. = change course of action
fig., specif. of spiritual relations:
turn back from God = apostatize
of י׳, turn away
turn back to God (= seek penitently)
abs. repent
turn back from evil
of י׳
of י׳, return (to shew favour)
of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
denoting repetition, etc.
trans.
Pō‛l.
bring back
fig. restore, refresh
restore, repair
lead away (enticingly)
shew turning = apostatize
Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back
bring back into bondage
put back
= draw back
= give back, restore
= relinguish
= give in payment, requital
bring one back (from dead)
bring back heart
= refresh
H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back
. return, come or go back
. esp. return unto
. . of dying
. of revival from death
. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king
. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
. turn, i.e. resort to
. return to a physical condition
. abs. = change course of action
. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize
. of י׳, turn away
. turn back to God (= seek penitently)
. abs. repent
. turn back from evil
. of י׳
. of י׳, return (to shew favour)
. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
. denoting repetition, etc.
. trans.
. . bring back
. . fig. restore, refresh
. restore, repair
. lead away (enticingly)
. shew turning = apostatize
. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage
. put back
. = draw back
. = give back, restore
. = relinguish
. = give in payment, requital
7725 shuwb shoob
a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or
intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily
with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to
retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,
dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,
make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer
(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring
(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),
cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +
continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,
fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give
(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)
more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put
(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,
relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,
שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.
: return
1) to return, turn back
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn back, return
1a1a) to turn back
1a1b) to return, come or go back
1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back
1a1d) of dying
1a1e) of human relations (fig)
1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)
1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise
1a1f2) to turn away (of God)
1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent
1a1f4) turn back (from evil)
1a1g) of inanimate things
1a1h) in repetition
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to bring back
1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)
1b3) to lead away (enticingly)
1b4) to show turning, apostatise
1c) (Pual) restored (participle)
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back
1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment
1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore
1d3) to bring back, report to, answer
1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
יָרֵא (yare') is an adjective and verb derived from the root יָרֵא (H3372), meaning 'to fear.' It encompasses meanings such as 'afraid' and 'reverent.' The entries indicate a moral aspect to fear, suggesting a sense of reverence alongside being fearful.
יָרֵא adj. verb. v. supr. [j.df.aa] Pt.
base
H3373 יָרֵא adj. verb. v. supr. [3372] Pt.
3373 yare' yaw-ray'
from 3372; fearing; morally, reverent:--afraid, fear (-ful).
see HEBREW for 03372
יָרֵא (ya.re) — afraid.
fearing, reverent, afraid
Adj | Suff — SuffixHAampc/Sp2ms
יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
know, learn to know
perceive
perceive and see; find out and discern
discriminate, distinguish
know by experience
recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
consider
not know = not expect
know a person, be acquainted with
know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
be skilful in
abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
be made known, be or become known, of things
make oneself known of pers.
be perceived
be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
base
H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know
. perceive
. perceive and see; find out and discern
. discriminate, distinguish
. know by experience
. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
. consider
. not know = not expect
. know a person, be acquainted with
. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
. be skilful in
. abs. have knowledge, be wise
. . be made known, be or become known, of things
. make oneself known of pers.
. be perceived
. be instructed
. cause to know
. known
. make known, declare
. made known
. make oneself known
3045 yada` yaw-dah'
a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted
with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,
(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X
could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)
discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,
can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause
to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have
(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be
learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man
of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,
יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.
1) to know
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to know
1a1a) to know, learn to know
1a1b) to perceive
1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern
1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish
1a1e) to know by experience
1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
1a1g) to consider
1a2) to know, be acquainted with
1a3) to know (a person carnally)
1a4) to know how, be skilful in
1a5) to have knowledge, be wise
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
1b2) to make oneself known
1b3) to be perceived
1b4) to be instructed
1c) (Piel) to cause to know
1d) (Poal) to cause to know
1e) (Pual)
1e1) to be known
1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare
1g) (Hophal) to be made known
1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural commonHC/Vqrmpc
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