Psalms 119:76
Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
Original Language Analysis
יְהִי
H1961
יְהִי
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 6
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נָ֣א
H4994
נָ֣א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
2 of 6
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
חַסְדְּךָ֣
Let I pray thee thy merciful kindness
H2617
חַסְדְּךָ֣
Let I pray thee thy merciful kindness
Strong's:
H2617
Word #:
3 of 6
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
לְנַחֲמֵ֑נִי
be for my comfort
H5162
לְנַחֲמֵ֑נִי
be for my comfort
Strong's:
H5162
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
Historical Context
The Kaph (כ) section (vv. 81-88) depicts a sufferer clinging to promises amid persecution. The petition for chesed appears 248 times in the Old Testament, always denoting God's covenant faithfulness. To pray 'according to thy word' reflects confidence that God binds Himself to His promises.
Questions for Reflection
- How often do you pray God's own promises back to Him, using Scripture as the basis for your petitions?
- What specific promises of comfort from God's Word sustain you in seasons of affliction?
- How does identifying as God's servant change the way you approach Him with your needs?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort (יְהִי־נָא חַסְדְּךָ לְנַחֲמֵנִי)—the petition opens with na (please), showing reverent boldness. Chesed (merciful kindness/covenant love) is the theological anchor—God's loyal love that never fails. Nachameni (comfort me) from nacham (to comfort, console) anticipates Isaiah's gospel proclamation: 'Comfort, comfort my people' (Isaiah 40:1).
According to thy word unto thy servant (כְּאִמְרָתְךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ) grounds the request: God has promised comfort in His imrah (word/utterance). The psalmist prays Scripture back to God—the quintessential model of biblical prayer. He claims covenant status (avdekha, thy servant) to plead covenant promises.