Psalms 119:10
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Original Language Analysis
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 6
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לִבִּ֥י
With my whole heart
H3820
לִבִּ֥י
With my whole heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
2 of 6
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ
have I sought
H1875
דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ
have I sought
Strong's:
H1875
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
4 of 6
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
Cross References
Psalms 119:34Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.Psalms 119:2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.Psalms 23:3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.2 Chronicles 15:15And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.Isaiah 35:8And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.Psalms 119:133Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.Psalms 119:118Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.Psalms 119:21Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.Colossians 3:22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:Psalms 78:37For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
Historical Context
The language of seeking God with the whole heart echoes Deuteronomy 4:29 and Jeremiah 29:13, both promising that earnest seekers will find God. In Israel's covenant theology, wholehearted devotion was the central demand (Deuteronomy 6:5), contrasted with the divided loyalty that led to idolatry and exile. The image of wandering recalls Israel's wilderness experience, where physical wandering symbolized spiritual rebellion.
Questions for Reflection
- What competing affections or divided loyalties prevent you from seeking God with your 'whole heart'?
- In what areas of life are you most prone to wander from God's commandments, even when your overall trajectory is toward Him?
- How can God's Word serve as a practical safeguard against spiritual drift in your daily life?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Opening the Beth (ב) stanza's second quatrain, this verse emphasizes wholehearted devotion. Whole heart (bekhol-libbi, בְּכָל־לִבִּי) denotes undivided passion and complete sincerity—no partial commitment or reserved affections. The psalmist has sought (derashtikhha, דְּרַשְׁתִּיךָ) God Himself, not merely His blessings, using a term that implies diligent inquiry and fervent pursuit.
Yet even after such wholehearted seeking, the prayer let me not wander (al-tashgeni, אַל־תַּשְׁגֵּנִי) acknowledges human vulnerability to drift. The verb suggests inadvertent straying, like a sheep wandering from the path. This reveals the ongoing tension in the believer's life: genuine devotion coexists with constant susceptibility to spiritual drift. The solution is not greater willpower but closer adherence to God's commandments (mitzvotekha, מִצְוֹתֶיךָ), which function as guardrails keeping us on the path.