Psalms 119:7
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Original Language Analysis
א֭וֹדְךָ
I will praise
H3034
א֭וֹדְךָ
I will praise
Strong's:
H3034
Word #:
1 of 6
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
בְּ֝לָמְדִ֗י
when I shall have learned
H3925
בְּ֝לָמְדִ֗י
when I shall have learned
Strong's:
H3925
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, to goad, i.e., (by implication) to teach (the rod being an middle eastern incentive)
Cross References
Psalms 119:171My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.John 6:45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.Psalms 119:12Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.Isaiah 48:17Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.Psalms 9:1I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.Psalms 119:73Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.Psalms 119:27Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.Psalms 119:64The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.Psalms 143:10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.Psalms 119:124Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
Historical Context
Psalm 119 is an elaborate acrostic poem, with eight verses for each of the 22 Hebrew letters. Verses 1-8 begin with Aleph (א), verses 9-16 with Beth (ב), and so forth. This intricate structure aided memorization and demonstrated the comprehensive nature of God's Word—covering the entire alphabet, so to speak. The psalm likely served as a teaching tool in Second Temple Judaism, emphasizing Torah meditation as the pathway to wisdom and covenant faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does growing knowledge of Scripture shape your worship—do you find that deeper biblical understanding leads to more authentic praise?
- What is the relationship between 'uprightness of heart' and external religious practices in your own life?
- In what ways might you be offering God worship that lacks the foundation of learning His righteous judgments?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. This verse concludes the Beth (ב) stanza of the alphabetic acrostic. Uprightness of heart (yosher levav, יֹשֶׁר לֵבָב) signifies moral integrity and sincerity—not merely correct external worship but authentic inner devotion. The psalmist links praise to learning, suggesting that deeper understanding of God's righteous judgments (mishpatei tzidqekha, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ) naturally produces heartfelt worship.
The future tense I will praise (odekha, אוֹדְךָ) expresses resolve and anticipation. As the psalmist progressively learns God's statutes, praise will increasingly flow from a heart aligned with divine truth. This anticipates the New Testament teaching that worship must be in spirit and truth (John 4:24), grounded in genuine knowledge of God's character and ways.