Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

PSALMS 119:165KJV
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Psalms 119:165 (KJV)

What does Psalms 119:165 mean?

Psalms 119:165 says that those who deeply love and value God’s law experience great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble or be shaken. The verse highlights a strong connection between loving God’s teachings and living with a steady, untroubled heart.

The writer of Psalms 119 is expressing personal devotion to God’s law, speaking to anyone who seeks to follow God’s ways. In the context of this long psalm, which is a meditation on the goodness of God’s instructions, this verse stands out as a promise of inner calm and stability for those who cherish God’s guidance, even when faced with difficulties or opposition.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 119:165

  • "Great" (רַב, rav, H7227) means "many" or "abundant." The verse is not just talking about ordinary peace, but a large, overflowing measure of it.
  • "Peace" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom, H7965) is more than just the absence of conflict; it includes wholeness, well-being, and contentment. This word suggests a deep, settled sense of harmony in life.
  • "Love" (אָהַב, ahav, H157) here means a deep affection or delight, not just a sense of duty. The verse is about those who truly treasure God’s law.
  • "Law" (תּוֹרָה, torah, H8451) refers to God’s instruction or teaching, not just legal rules. It covers all of God’s guidance for living.
  • "Offend" (מִכְשׁוֹל, mikshol, H4383) means "to stumble" or "to trip up." The verse is saying that nothing will cause those who love God’s law to fall or be thrown off course.

Why Psalms 119:165 matters

  • Psalms 119:165 clears up the idea that peace is only about outward circumstances; the verse points to an inner peace that comes from loving God’s teaching, regardless of what is happening around you.
  • The verse emphasizes that loving God’s law is not about rigid rule-keeping but about a relationship that brings strength and steadiness to life.
  • In the wider context of Psalms 119, this verse shows that the benefits of God’s law are not just moral or spiritual but also emotional and practical, offering real stability and calm in daily life.

Where else these words appear

“offend” Hebrew H4383 · used in 14 verses

  • Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
  • Jeremiah 6:21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
  • Ezekiel 14:4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;