Psalms Chapter 119 · Verse 145
I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
Original Language Analysis
קָרָ֣אתִי
KOPH I cried
H7121
קָרָ֣אתִי
KOPH I cried
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
1 of 7
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
בְכָל
H3605
בְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 7
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לֵ֭ב
with my whole heart
H3820
לֵ֭ב
with my whole heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
3 of 7
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
עֲנֵ֥נִי
hear
H6030
עֲנֵ֥נִי
hear
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
יְהוָ֗ה
me O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
me O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Psalms 119:10With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.Psalms 119:106I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.Jeremiah 29:13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.Psalms 62:8Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.Psalms 119:44So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.Psalms 86:4Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.Psalms 119:115Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.Psalms 102:1Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.1 Samuel 1:15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.1 Samuel 1:10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
Historical Context
In Israel's liturgy, crying out to YHWH in distress was a foundational act of covenant faith (Exodus 2:23, Judges 3:9, Psalm 18:6). The prophets repeatedly called for wholehearted return to YHWH (Joel 2:12).
Questions for Reflection
- What would it look like to pray with your 'whole heart' rather than divided loyalties or halfhearted devotion?
- How does linking prayer ('hear me') with commitment ('I will keep') change the nature of your petitions?
Analysis & Commentary
I cried with my whole heart (קָרָאתִי בְכָל־לֵב, qarati be-khol-lev)—The Qoph (ק) stanza begins with wholehearted prayer. Qara means to call out, summon, proclaim—here a desperate cry for divine response. Hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes—The petition is paired with a vow of obedience. Prayer and promise are inseparable; the psalmist seeks God's help to do God's will.
This is covenant prayer—not bargaining but alignment. James 5:16 speaks of "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man." Jesus prayed with this same intensity in Gethsemane: "Not my will, but thine" (Luke 22:42). Wholehearted prayer combines urgency (I cried), totality (whole heart), divine dependence (hear me), and volitional commitment (I will keep).