Psalms 119:171
My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
Original Language Analysis
תַּבַּ֣עְנָה
shall utter
H5042
תַּבַּ֣עְנָה
shall utter
Strong's:
H5042
Word #:
1 of 6
to gush forth; figuratively, to utter (good or bad words); specifically, to emit (a foul odor)
שְׂפָתַ֣י
My lips
H8193
שְׂפָתַ֣י
My lips
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
2 of 6
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
כִּ֖י
H3588
כִּ֖י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 6
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Cross References
Psalms 94:12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;Psalms 119:7I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.Psalms 51:15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.Psalms 50:23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.Psalms 71:17O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Historical Context
The causal connection ('when thou hast taught me') shows that authentic praise requires understanding. Israel's worship wasn't mindless ecstasy but informed response to revelation. Moses prayed for God to 'teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom' (Psalm 90:12)—wisdom enables worship.
Questions for Reflection
- How does your praise life reflect the depth of your instruction in God's statutes?
- What would it look like practically for praise to 'pour forth' (<em>nava</em>) from your lips as natural overflow of God's teaching?
- How does the connection between divine teaching and human praise guard against both dead orthodoxy and contentless emotionalism?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
My lips shall utter praise (תַּבַּעְנָה שְׂפָתַי תְּהִלָּה, tava'nah sefatai tehillah)—Nava means 'pour forth, gush, stream, bubble up.' Tehillah is 'praise, laudation'—the root of Tehillim (Psalms). Lips overflow with praise. The condition: when thou hast taught me thy statutes (כִּי תְלַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ, ki telamedeni chuqqekha). Lamad ('teach, instruct, train') with chuqqim (statutes, inscribed decrees) as object. Learning produces praising.
This echoes Ephesians 5:18-19: Spirit-filling results in 'speaking...in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.' True praise flows from divine instruction, not emotional manipulation.