Psalms 119:88
Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Original Language Analysis
כְּחַסְדְּךָ֥
me after thy lovingkindness
H2617
כְּחַסְדְּךָ֥
me after thy lovingkindness
Strong's:
H2617
Word #:
1 of 5
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
חַיֵּ֑נִי
Quicken
H2421
חַיֵּ֑נִי
Quicken
Strong's:
H2421
Word #:
2 of 5
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
Cross References
Psalms 25:10All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.Psalms 119:159Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.Psalms 119:40Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.Psalms 119:25My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.Psalms 119:2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.Psalms 78:5For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:Psalms 119:146I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
Historical Context
The concept of God 'quickening' appears throughout Scripture (Psalm 71:20, 80:18, 143:11). It anticipates the New Covenant promise of the life-giving Spirit (Ezekiel 37:14, John 6:63, Romans 8:11). The post-exilic community needed not just physical restoration but spiritual revival—new life from God to empower Torah obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas of spiritual deadness do you need God to 'quicken' you according to His lovingkindness?
- How does recognizing that obedience flows from divine life change your approach to keeping God's Word?
- What connection do you see between experiencing God's covenant love and gaining power to obey His testimony?
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Analysis & Commentary
Quicken me after thy lovingkindness (כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי)—chayeni (quicken/give life to me) from chayah (to live, revive) appears throughout Psalm 119 as the great need. Ke'chasdekha (according to thy lovingkindness) grounds the appeal in chesed (covenant love/loyal kindness)—not on merit but on God's faithful character. So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth (וְאֶשְׁמְרָה עֵדוּת פִּיךָ) states the purpose: ve'eshmerah (so I shall keep/guard) the edut (testimony) from pika (thy mouth).
This reveals the spiritual order: divine quickening precedes obedience. We cannot keep God's Word in our own strength—we need Spirit-empowered resurrection life. Paul prays similarly: 'That ye might be filled with all the fullness of God' (Ephesians 3:19). The Kaph stanza closes where it began—desperate for God's intervention, anchored in covenant love.