Psalms 119:64
The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
Original Language Analysis
חַסְדְּךָ֣
of thy mercy
H2617
חַסְדְּךָ֣
of thy mercy
Strong's:
H2617
Word #:
1 of 6
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
יְ֭הוָה
O LORD
H3068
יְ֭הוָה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 6
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מָלְאָ֥ה
is full
H4390
מָלְאָ֥ה
is full
Strong's:
H4390
Word #:
3 of 6
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
Cross References
Psalms 33:5He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.Psalms 119:12Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.Psalms 119:26I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.Psalms 145:9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Historical Context
Israel's theology held creation and covenant together—the God who established cosmic order through His word also established moral order through Torah. Post-exilic Judaism developed the concept that Torah itself participated in creation (Proverbs 8:22-31). The early church affirmed that Christ the Logos both created all things (John 1:3) and revealed God's character definitively (John 1:14, Hebrews 1:2-3).
Questions for Reflection
- Where do you see evidence of God's covenant mercy (<em>chesed</em>) saturating creation and daily life, even amid brokenness?
- How does studying God's statutes sharpen your ability to recognize His mercy operating throughout the world?
- In what ways might modern secularism blind people to the 'fullness' of divine mercy evident in creation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes. This verse (ט Teth section) shifts from human community to cosmic scope. The phrase full of thy mercy (מָלְאָה, mal'ah)—the verb conveys saturation and abundance. Mercy (חֶסֶד, chesed) is covenant faithfulness, loyal love, steadfast kindness—God's character displayed throughout creation and history.
The petition teach me thy statutes (לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ, lammedeni chuqqekha) recognizes that perceiving God's chesed throughout creation requires spiritual instruction. Creation reveals God's glory (Psalm 19:1), but Scripture interprets creation rightly. Paul similarly argues that creation displays God's 'eternal power and divine nature' (Romans 1:20), yet humans suppress this truth. Only God can open eyes to see His chesed saturating reality.