Psalms 119:118 (KJV)

What does Psalms 119:118 mean?

Psalms 119:118 says that God rejects and brings down everyone who strays from His commands, because their deceptive ways are empty and false. The verse highlights the idea that turning away from God’s instructions leads to being cast aside, since such actions are rooted in lies.

The writer of Psalms 119, traditionally understood to be David, is speaking directly to God about people who do not follow God’s statutes. The verse comes in a long section where the psalmist is reflecting on the blessings of following God’s law and the consequences for those who do not. The focus is on the contrast between faithfulness to God’s word and the emptiness of deceitful living.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 119:118

• "Down" — סָלָה (saláh): This word often means to reject or to treat as worthless, not just to physically tread down. Here, it emphasizes that God actively discards those who abandon His ways.
• "Err" — שָׁגָה (shagáh): This word means to go astray or wander off, often with the sense of making a serious mistake, not just a minor slip. It highlights that leaving God’s statutes is a significant turning away.
• "Statutes" — חֹק (choq): This refers to God’s fixed, established rules or decrees. The verse is about people who abandon these clear, set boundaries.
• "Deceit" — תַּרְמִית (tarmít): This word means trickery or fraud, suggesting intentional dishonesty, not just being mistaken.
• "Falsehood" — שֶׁקֶר (sheqér): This is the general word for a lie or something without truth. The verse links deceitful living directly to what is false and empty.

Why Psalms 119:118 matters

• Psalms 119:118 clarifies that God’s rejection is not random but is tied to people deliberately straying from His established ways and choosing deceit.
• The verse emphasizes that God’s statutes are the standard, and anything built on deception is ultimately exposed as worthless.
• In the context of Psalm 119, this verse strengthens the overall theme that true security and value are found in holding to God’s word, not in following one’s own deceptive path.