Psalms 119:12
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Original Language Analysis
בָּר֖וּךְ
Blessed
H1288
בָּר֖וּךְ
Blessed
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
1 of 5
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
יְהוָ֗ה
art thou O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
art thou O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 5
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Psalms 119:64The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.1 John 2:27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.Psalms 119:108Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.Luke 24:45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,Psalms 86:11Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.Psalms 143:10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.Psalms 119:66Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.John 14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.1 Timothy 1:11According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.1 Timothy 6:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Historical Context
The blessing formula 'Blessed art thou, O LORD' appears throughout Jewish liturgy, from the Psalms to later rabbinic prayers. It expresses the covenant relationship in which Israel recognized God's sovereign goodness while seeking His ongoing guidance. The request for divine teaching reflects Israel's identity as a people shaped by revelation—unlike pagan nations who relied on human wisdom, Israel depended on God's self-disclosure through Torah.
Questions for Reflection
- How does your worship of God's character connect to your desire to learn and obey His Word?
- What does it mean practically to ask God to teach you His statutes when you already have Scripture available?
- In what ways might you be seeking biblical knowledge without the worship and reverence that should accompany it?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. This brief verse combines doxology with petition. Blessed art thou (barukh attah Yahweh, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה) is the classic Jewish benediction formula, acknowledging God's inherent worthiness of praise. The psalmist blesses God not for what he receives but for who God is in His essential character. Yet immediately following this declaration of God's blessedness comes the humble request: teach me (lammedeni, לַמְּדֵנִי).
The juxtaposition is instructive: recognizing God's supreme excellence naturally leads to desire for His instruction. The one who is blessed above all is supremely qualified to teach His statutes (chuqqekha, חֻקֶּיךָ). This reflects the biblical principle that true worship and genuine learning are inseparable—we praise the God who instructs us, and we seek instruction from the God we praise. Jesus would later promise the Holy Spirit as our teacher (John 14:26), fulfilling this prayer in the New Covenant.