Psalms 119:95 — Word Study
WLCלִ֤י קִוּ֣וּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים לְאַבְּדֵ֑נִי עֵ֝דֹתֶ֗יךָ אֶתְבּוֹנָֽן׃
BSAThe wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty of crime, sinners, bad people] waitqâvâh■ [to await, gather to destroy] to destroyʼâbad but I will ponderbîyn▸ [consider, think about] Your testimoniesʻêdâh [divine, laws, witness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לִ֤י | for me | Preposition, suffix |
| קִוּ֣וּ | they have waited | Verb, Piel, perfect third person common plural |
| רְשָׁעִ֣ים | wicked [people] | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לְאַבְּדֵ֑נִי | to destroy me | Preposition, verb piel infinitive construct common, suffix |
| עֵ֝דֹתֶ֗יךָ | testimonies your | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| אֶתְבּוֹנָֽן׃ | I will consider carefully | Verb, Hithpael, imperfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder Your testimonies. |
| KJV | The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. |
| ASV | The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me; But I will consider thy testimonies. |
| YLT | Thy wicked waited for me to destroy me, Thy testimonies I understand. |
| WEB | The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes. |
| BBE | The sinners have been waiting for me to give me up to destruction; but I will give all my mind to your unchanging ward. |
Where they part company is in the choice of verbs — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence features a main clause followed by a contrasting clause, emphasizing the psalmist's response to the wicked's intentions.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectרָשָׁע
verbקָוָה
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 119:95
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 Contrast of the Wicked and the Righteousgenerated
Psalm 119:95 reveals the tension between the psalmist and the wicked who seek to harm him. The psalmist acknowledges their intentions but chooses to focus on contemplating God's testimonies instead. This verse is part of a larger meditation on the importance of God's laws and how they guide the psalmist's life amidst adversity, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:61–69 | Though the ropes of the wicked bind me, I do not forget Your law. |
| 2 | Psalm 10:8–10 | He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless. |
| 3 | Psalm 27:2 | When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell. |
| 4 | Psalm 37:32 | Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, |
| 5 | Psalm 38:12 | Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֶתְבּוֹנָֽן, 'et.bo.Nangenerated
The verb אֶתְבּוֹנָן ('et.bo.Nan) is in the Hithpael form, which indicates a reflexive action — the psalmist is actively engaging in the process of understanding. This form emphasizes a careful consideration and introspection.
This word is derived from the root בִּין (biyn), which means to discern or understand. The psalmist expresses a commitment to reflect deeply on God's testimonies, contrasting the destructive intentions of the wicked.
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 of the verse is קִוּ֣וּ (ki.Vu), they have waited, which governs the actions of the wicked. The structure is straightforward, with a main clause followed by a contrasting clause introduced by אֲבָל (aval), meaning but, indicating the psalmist's response.
The sentence is built around the subject רְשָׁעִ֣ים (re.sha.'Im), wicked, and the actions they take against the psalmist. The focus shifts from the wicked's intent to the psalmist's resolve to reflect on God's testimonies.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates קִוּ֣וּ as ὑπέμειναν (hypemeinan), meaning they have endured, which emphasizes a sense of waiting with anticipation. This choice suggests a deeper layer of patience in the wicked's plotting.
The term אֶתְבּוֹנָן is rendered as συνῆκα (suneika), meaning I understood, which shifts the focus from active consideration to a realization of understanding, indicating a different nuance in the psalmist's response.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:95 shows the psalmist recognizing that wicked people are waiting to harm him, but instead of being consumed by fear, he chooses to reflect on God's laws and testimonies. This contrast highlights the psalmist's commitment to understanding God's guidance despite the threats he faces.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that the wicked are actively plotting harm against the psalmist, showcasing their malicious intent.
The psalmist chooses to focus on pondering God's testimonies, demonstrating a commitment to divine guidance rather than succumbing to fear.
God's testimonies refer to His laws and instructions, which guide the psalmist in his life and decisions.
Pondering God's testimonies is crucial for the psalmist as it provides strength, understanding, and direction in the face of adversity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I reflect on God's guidance when facing challenges in my life?
- How do I respond to those who may wish to harm me or undermine my faith?
- What are some specific testimonies of God that I can meditate on during difficult times?
- How can I cultivate a habit of careful consideration of God's words in my daily life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo references this verse in his exposition, highlighting the psalmist's understanding of God's testimonies in contrast to the wicked's intentions.
"The ungodly," he says, "have awaited me that they might destroy me; but I have understood Your testimonies" [Psalms 119:95].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:95 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe wicked have waited for me to destroy me,.... This is another reason why he desires the Lord would save him; because wicked men, such who feared not God, nor regarded men, sons of Belial; such as
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAs my best comforters, and counsellors, and defenders against all the assaults and designs of mine enemies.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: [but] I will consider thy testimonies.Ver. 95. The wicked have waited] Nothing less than destruction will satisfy persecutors; but the Lord knows how to deliver his Peters out of the hands of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews, Acts 12:11 2 Peter 2:9. But I will consider thy testimonies] And therewith hearten and harden myself against their insolences and attempts for my hurt.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges89–96. Lamed. The eternity, immutability, and comprehensiveness of God’s law, which has been the Psalmist’s support in affliction.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe wicked have waited for me to destroy me - That is, they have lain in wait; or, they have laid a plan. They are watching the opportunity to do it.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleì, Lamed.89-96. Thy word is settled in heaven—This lofty declaration of the character of the word, gives the reason why it may be trusted.
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
The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder Your testimonies.
The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes.
The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder Your testimonies.
The wicked prepare to kill me, yet I concentrate on your rules.
Tyndale line
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me; But I will consider thy testimonies.
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me; but I will consider thy testimonies.
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
The wicked haue waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Strictly literal
The wicked have awaited me to destroy me; [but] I attend unto thy testimonies.
Thy wicked waited for me to destroy me, Thy testimonies I understand.
Your wicked waited for me to destroy me, || I understand Your testimonies.
Wicked men have waited for me to destroy me; [but] I will reflect on thy testimonies.
The wicked prepare to destroy me, but I will seek to understand your covenant decrees.
Simplified
Even though wicked people are waiting to ambush and kill me, I will focus my mind on what you say.
The sinners have been waiting for me to give me up to destruction; but I will give all my mind to your unchanging ward.
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 six words matched in the Septuagint's rendering. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the Masoretic Text, confirming the integrity of this verse across different textual traditions.
לִ֤י קִוּ֣וּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים לְאַבְּדֵ֑נִי עֵ֝דֹתֶ֗יךָ אֶתְבּוֹנָֽן׃
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.
ל׳י קוו רשעים לאבד׳ני עדוותי׳כה אתבונן
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 119:95
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.
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
קָוָה (qavah) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses the meanings of waiting, expecting, and collecting. It can refer to eagerly waiting or lying in wait, as well as the act of gathering together. The word appears in different forms, including Qal and Piel, indicating various nuances of waiting and collecting.
[קָוָה] vb. wait for
Qal those waiting for
Pi.
wait, or look eagerly, for
lie in wait for
wait (linger) for
base
[קָוָה] vb. collect;—Niph. be collected
base
H6960a קָוָה wait for . wait, or look eagerly, for
. lie in wait for
. wait (linger) for
H6960b קָוָה collect;—Niph. be collected
6960 qavah kaw-vaw'
a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting),
i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:--gather (together),
look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).
קָוָה (qa.vah) — to await.
1) to wait, look for, hope, expect
1a) (Qal) waiting (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to wait or look eagerly for
1b2) to lie in wait for
1b3) to wait for, linger for
קָוָה (qa.vah) — to collect.
1) to collect, bind together
1a) (Niphal) to be collected
V-Piel-Perf-3cp — Verb · Piel · perfect third person common pluralHVpp3cp
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6…
Read the full entry →H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals
. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory
. be lost, strayed
. . cause to perish, destroy, kill
. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with
. cause to stray, lose
. . destroy, put to death, in judgment
. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.
6 'abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose
oneself; by implication to perish (causative,
destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,
lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be
undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.
1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) perish, die, be exterminated
1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)
1a3) be lost, strayed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate
1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)
1b3) cause to stray, lose
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to destroy, put to death
1c1a) of divine judgment
1c2) object name of kings (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vpcc/Sp1bs
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
בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
בִּין vb. discern
Qal
perceive
understand, know (with mind)
observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
have discernment, insight, understanding
Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
Po. he attentively considereth him
Hiph.
understand
give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
give understanding, make understand, teach
Hithp.
shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
get understanding, understand
shew oneself to have understanding
base
H995 בִּין discern .. perceive
. understand, know (with mind)
. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
. have discernment, insight, understanding
. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
. he attentively considereth him
. . understand
. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
. give understanding, make understand, teach
. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
. get understanding, understand
. shew oneself to have understanding
995 biyn bene
a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),
i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,
diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,
have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be
prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,
make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)
wise(-ly, man).
בִּין (bin) — to understand.
1) to discern, understand, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to perceive, discern
1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)
1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider
1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding
1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to understand
1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach
1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently
1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct
2) (TWOT) prudent, regard
V-r-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect first person common singularHVti1cs
kar'-fool-i: The same two strands of anxiety and of attention appear in this word as in care. Several words in the Hebrew and Greek are thus rendered in the English versions "Anxiously" is the thought in "The inhabitants of Maroth waited carefully for good" (chalah, "to be in pain," "was grieved" King James Version margin, "waiteth anxiously" the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, "is in travail" the Revised Version, margin, the American Revised Version, margin, Mic 1:12).
In the sense of attentively, the Hebrew emphatic expression, the infinite absolute with the finite verb is rendered "carefully" in, "Thou shalt carefully hearken" (literally "hearing, thou shalt hear," "diligently hearken" the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version,