Psalms 119:155
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
Original Language Analysis
רָח֣וֹק
is far
H7350
רָח֣וֹק
is far
Strong's:
H7350
Word #:
1 of 7
remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)
מֵרְשָׁעִ֣ים
from the wicked
H7563
מֵרְשָׁעִ֣ים
from the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
2 of 7
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
יְשׁוּעָ֑ה
Salvation
H3444
יְשׁוּעָ֑ה
Salvation
Strong's:
H3444
Word #:
3 of 7
something saved, i.e., (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 7
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
חֻ֝קֶּיךָ
not thy statutes
H2706
חֻ֝קֶּיךָ
not thy statutes
Strong's:
H2706
Word #:
5 of 7
an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
Historical Context
The Hebrew yeshu'ah became the basis for the personal name Joshua/Jesus. The psalm's insistence that salvation requires seeking God's statutes counters both ancient paganism (which ignored Yahweh's law) and modern antinomianism (which divorces salvation from obedience). True faith seeks God through His self-revelation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the connection between seeking God's statutes and finding salvation challenge 'easy-believism' without falling into works-righteousness?
- What does it mean to 'seek' God's Word in a way that brings you near to salvation rather than just acquiring religious knowledge?
- How does Jesus as <em>Yeshu'ah</em> (Salvation) embodied in flesh fulfill the psalmist's equation of Word-seeking and salvation-finding?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Salvation is far from the wicked (רָחוֹק מֵרְשָׁעִים יְשׁוּעָה, rachok meresh'im yeshu'ah)—Not 'difficult' but positionally rachok ('far, remote, inaccessible'). The reason? They seek not thy statutes (כִּי חֻקֶּיךָ לֹא דָרָשׁוּ, ki chuqekha lo darashu). Darash means 'seek diligently, inquire, investigate.' The wicked's problem isn't moral failure per se but deliberate non-seeking of God's chuqqim (decrees, inscribed ordinances).
This anticipates John 5:39-40: the religious leaders searched (eraunate) Scriptures yet refused to come to Christ for life. Distance from the Word creates distance from yeshu'ah—salvation, deliverance, the very name Yeshua (Jesus).