Psalms 119:85 (KJV)

What does Psalms 119:85 mean?

Psalms 119:85 describes a person who is suffering because arrogant people are trying to bring him down. Speaking to God, the writer says their actions go against God’s law. The verse places the writer’s danger beside the standard by which he judges their conduct.

The pits picture traps dug to catch an unsuspecting person. The image makes the threat feel deliberate and hidden: the writer faces people who are setting out to harm him.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 119:85

• “proud” — זֵדִים (zedim): This word refers to arrogant people. In the psalm, the word describes the people who oppose the writer, rather than a feeling of satisfaction in something good.
• “law” — תּוֹרָה (torah): This word can mean instruction or teaching. The writer measures the opponents’ conduct against the instruction he addresses as God’s.

Why Psalms 119:85 matters

• The complaint is addressed directly to God. The words “thy law” make the writer’s judgment part of his prayer, not merely a complaint about his enemies.
• The contrast continues in the next verse. After describing the opponents’ conduct, the writer calls God’s commands faithful and asks for help because he is being persecuted wrongfully.