Psalms 119:29 (KJV)

What does Psalms 119:29 mean?

Psalms 119:29 is a prayer asking God to take away the tendency or path of lying from the speaker and instead to give the gift of understanding and following God’s law. The verse shows a desire to move away from dishonesty and to receive God’s teachings as a gracious gift.

The speaker is traditionally understood to be the psalmist, likely King David, addressing God directly. The verse comes from a long psalm where the writer expresses deep longing to live according to God’s instructions. Here, the psalmist recognizes both the danger of falsehood and the need for God’s help to live truthfully, seeing God’s law as something received by grace rather than earned.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 119:29

• "Remove" (סוּר, sur, H5493): This word means to turn aside or take away. The psalmist is not just asking for help resisting lying, but for God to actively take away the entire path or habit of falsehood.
• "Way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek, H1870): This word often means a road or path, but here it refers to a way of living or a pattern of behavior. The psalmist is concerned about a whole lifestyle shaped by lying, not just isolated acts.
• "Lying" (שֶׁקֶר, sheqer, H8267): This word means falsehood or deception. The concern is with all kinds of dishonesty, not just spoken lies.
• "Law" (תּוֹרָה, torah, H8451): This word means instruction or teaching, not just legal rules. The psalmist wants to receive God’s guidance for life.
• "Graciously" (חָנַן, chanan, H2603): This word means to show favor or be gracious. The psalmist sees understanding God’s law as something God must give out of kindness, not something the psalmist can achieve alone.

Why Psalms 119:29 matters

• This verse clarifies that the psalmist sees the tendency to lie as a deep-rooted problem, not just an occasional slip, and asks for God’s intervention to remove it entirely.
• The verse highlights that following God’s law is not just about personal effort but depends on God’s gracious help, showing a humble attitude toward spiritual growth.
• In the context of Psalm 119, which repeatedly celebrates God’s word, this verse shows that the psalmist’s desire for truthfulness is directly connected to a longing for God’s teaching.