KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

PSALMS 119:145KJV
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Psalms 119:145 (KJV)

What does Psalms 119:145 mean?

Psalms 119:145 shows the psalmist calling out to God with complete sincerity, asking God to listen and promising to obey God's commands. The verse highlights a deep, personal plea and a commitment to follow God's instructions.

The speaker is traditionally understood to be the psalmist, likely David, addressing the LORD directly in prayer. The situation is one of earnestness—the psalmist is not holding anything back but is reaching out with his "whole heart." This verse fits into the larger Psalm 119, where the writer repeatedly expresses love for God’s law and a desire to live by it.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 119:145

  • "cried" (קָרָא, qara): This word means to call out or cry loudly, often in a way that seeks urgent attention. Here, it shows the intensity and desperation in the psalmist’s prayer.
  • "heart" (לֵב, lev): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" is not just emotions but the center of one’s will and decision-making. The psalmist is engaging his whole self, not just his feelings.
  • "hear" (עָנָה, anah): This word can mean to answer or respond, not just to listen. The psalmist is asking for an active reply from God, not just passive hearing.
  • "keep" (נָצַר, natsar): This word means to guard or watch over carefully. The psalmist is promising not just to obey but to treasure and protect God’s statutes.
  • "statutes" (חֹק, choq): These are specific decrees or rules set by God, emphasizing the psalmist’s respect for God’s detailed instructions.

Why Psalms 119:145 matters

  • The verse clears up the idea that prayer is only about asking for things; here, prayer is tied directly to a promise of obedience and a relationship with God’s word.
  • It emphasizes the importance of sincerity in seeking God—"with my whole heart" means nothing is held back, which is a recurring theme in Psalm 119.
  • This verse connects to the larger structure of Psalm 119, where each section highlights a different aspect of loving and keeping God’s law, showing that devotion is both emotional and practical.

Where else these words appear

“keep” Hebrew H5341 · used in 62 verses

  • Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
  • Psalms 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
  • Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

“statutes” Hebrew H2706 · used in 124 verses

  • Genesis 47:22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.
  • Deuteronomy 26:16 This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
  • Psalms 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.