Psalms 119:13
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Original Language Analysis
בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י
With my lips
H8193
בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י
With my lips
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
1 of 5
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
סִפַּ֑רְתִּי
have I declared
H5608
סִפַּ֑רְתִּי
have I declared
Strong's:
H5608
Word #:
2 of 5
properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra
כֹּ֝֗ל
H3605
כֹּ֝֗ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
3 of 5
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Acts 4:20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.Psalms 119:46I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.Psalms 119:172My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.Psalms 118:17I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.Psalms 34:11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.Matthew 10:27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.Matthew 12:34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Historical Context
In ancient Israel, oral tradition and verbal testimony were central to faith transmission. The Shema commanded parents to teach God's words to their children through constant verbal repetition (Deuteronomy 6:7). Public recitation of God's laws occurred at feast gatherings (Deuteronomy 31:11-13). This verse reflects that culture of verbal proclamation, where truth was embodied in speech, not merely preserved in writing.
Questions for Reflection
- How comfortable are you with verbally declaring God's judgments, especially those that contradict contemporary culture?
- What proportion of God's 'judgments' do you regularly declare—are there truths you avoid mentioning?
- How can you cultivate the habit of speaking about God's Word in everyday conversations, not just formal religious settings?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. The psalmist moves from learning to proclaiming. With my lips (bisfatai, בִּשְׂפָתַי) emphasizes verbal testimony—faith is not kept private but expressed publicly. Declared (sipparti, סִפַּרְתִּי) means to recount, narrate, or announce, suggesting detailed testimony rather than vague platitudes. The object is all the judgments of thy mouth (kol-mishpatei pikkha, כָּל־מִשְׁפְּטֵי פִיךָ), God's revealed judicial decisions and moral verdicts.
The phrase judgments of thy mouth personalizes divine revelation—these are not abstract principles but words that proceed from God's own mouth, carrying His authority and character. The comprehensiveness (all) indicates the psalmist holds nothing back, declaring both comfortable and challenging truths. This anticipates the New Testament pattern where those who believe with the heart confess with the mouth (Romans 10:9-10), and Jesus' expectation that His disciples would openly acknowledge Him (Matthew 10:32).