PSA 119

Psalm 119:55

WEB

I have remembered your name, Yahweh, in the night, and I obey your law.

BSB

In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law.

KJV

I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

Matthew Henry

Verses 55–56

Psalms 119:55–56

Here is, 1. The converse David had with the word of God; he kept it in mind, and upon every occasion he called it to mind. God's name is the discovery he has made of himself to us in and by his word. This is his memorial unto all generations, and therefore we should always keep it in memory - remember it in the night, upon a waking bed, when we are communing with our own hearts. When others were sleeping David was remembering God's name, and, by repeating that lesson, increasing his acquaintance with it; in the night of affliction this he called to mind. 2. The conscience be made of conforming to it. The due remembrance of God's name, which is prefixed to his law, will have a great influence upon our observance of the law: I remembered thy name in the night, and therefore was careful to keep thy law all day. How comfortable will it be in the reflection if our own hearts can witness for us that we have thus remembered God's name, and kept his law! 3. The advantage he got by it (Psa 119:56): This I had because I kept thy precepts. Some understand this indefinitely: This I had (that is I had that which satisfied me; I had every thing that is comfortable) because I kept thy precepts. Note, All that have made a business of religion will own that it has turned to a good account, and that they have been unspeakable gainers by it. Others refer it to what goes immediately before: "I had the comfort of keeping thy law because I kept it." Note, God's work is its own wages. A heart to obey the will of God is a most valuable reward of obedience; and the more we do the more we may do, and shall do, in the service of God; the branch that bears fruit is made more fruitful, Joh 15:2.

Cross-references: Ps 119:56 · John 15:2

Hebrew interlinear

H2142

זָכַרzâkar/zaw-kar'/

v — mark, remember, mention, be male

Derivation: a primitive root; also as denominative from 2145

properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male

KJV: × burn (incense), × earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, × still, think on, × well.

זָכַר

vb — remember

זָכַר vb. remember

Qal

I. Human subj.

1. remember, recall, call to mind, usu. as affecting present feeling, thought or action

2. remember persons (human subj.)

3. remember י׳

4. remember

5. think of or on, call to mind something present or future

6. remember a day, to observe, commemorate it

7. remember, with implied mention of, obj.

II. Subj. י׳ (אלהִם)

1. remember persons

2.

a. remember the distress of his servants

b. their devotion

3.

a. remember his own covenant (with them)

b. his mercy

c. extenuating circumstances

4. remember sins, idolatries

Niph.

1. be brought to remembrance, remembered, thought of, usu. c. neg.

2. neg. be not remembered = no longer exist, of name of Israel, as nation

3. be remembered, of particular days, in order to be observed, commemorated

Hiph.

1. cause to remember, remind

2. cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance

3. mention

4. record, only pt.

5. of sacrifice, make a memorial

H3915

לַיִלlayil/lah'-yil/

n-m — twist, night, adversity

Derivation: or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as 3883;

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity

KJV: (mid-)night (season).

לַ֫יְלָה

n.m — night

לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל 242 n.m. night

H8034

שֵׁםshêm/shame/

n-m — appellation, honor, authority, character

Derivation: a primitive word [perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064];

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

KJV: base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

שֵׁם

n.m — name

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

1. of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

2.

a. usu. of pers.

b. = reputation

c. esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

3. name, as designation of God

4. of false gods, use forbidden

5. = memorial, monument

H3068

יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/

n-pr — Existent, Jeho-vah

Derivation: from 1961;

(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God

KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

יהוה

n.pr.dei — God

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

I. יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

II.

1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

2. the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

H8104

שָׁמַרshâmar/shaw-mar'/

v — hedge, guard, protect, attend to

Derivation: a primitive root;

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.

KJV: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).

שָׁמַר

vb — keep

שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve

Qal 425

1.

a. keep, have charge of

b. keep, guard, captives

c. hence, watch for, wait for

d. watch, observe

2.

a. keep, retain, of storing up (food)

b. keep within bounds, restrain

3.

a. observe, celebrate

b. keep sabbath

c. of other obligations

d. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

4. sts. י׳ subj.

5. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest

Niph. 36

1. be on one's guard

2. keep oneself, refrain, abstain

3. be kept, guarded

Pi. those paying regard to false vanities

Hithp. I kept myself from

H8451

תּוֹרָהtôwrâh/to-raw'/

n-f — precept, statute, Decalogue, Pentateuch

Derivation: or תֹּרָה; from 3384;

a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch

KJV: law.

תּוֹרָה

n.f — direction

תּוֹרָה n.f. direction, instruction, law

1. instruction

2. law (prop. direction)

3. custom, manner

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