Psalms 40:10

Authorized King James Version

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I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Original Language Analysis

צִדְקָתְךָ֬ thy righteousness H6666
צִדְקָתְךָ֬ thy righteousness
Strong's: H6666
Word #: 1 of 14
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
לֹא H3808
לֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 2 of 14
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
כִסִּ֨יתִי׀ I have not hid H3680
כִסִּ֨יתִי׀ I have not hid
Strong's: H3680
Word #: 3 of 14
properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
בְּת֬וֹךְ within H8432
בְּת֬וֹךְ within
Strong's: H8432
Word #: 4 of 14
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
לִבִּ֗י my heart H3820
לִבִּ֗י my heart
Strong's: H3820
Word #: 5 of 14
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ thy faithfulness H530
אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ thy faithfulness
Strong's: H530
Word #: 6 of 14
literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity
וּתְשׁוּעָתְךָ֣ and thy salvation H8668
וּתְשׁוּעָתְךָ֣ and thy salvation
Strong's: H8668
Word #: 7 of 14
rescue (literal or figurative, persons, national or spiritual)
אָמָ֑רְתִּי I have declared H559
אָמָ֑רְתִּי I have declared
Strong's: H559
Word #: 8 of 14
to say (used with great latitude)
לֹא H3808
לֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 9 of 14
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
כִחַ֥דְתִּי I have not concealed H3582
כִחַ֥דְתִּי I have not concealed
Strong's: H3582
Word #: 10 of 14
to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy
חַסְדְּךָ֥ thy lovingkindness H2617
חַסְדְּךָ֥ thy lovingkindness
Strong's: H2617
Word #: 11 of 14
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
וַ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ and thy truth H571
וַ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ and thy truth
Strong's: H571
Word #: 12 of 14
stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
לְקָהָ֥ל congregation H6951
לְקָהָ֥ל congregation
Strong's: H6951
Word #: 13 of 14
assemblage (usually concretely)
רָֽב׃ from the great H7227
רָֽב׃ from the great
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 14 of 14
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

Analysis & Commentary

The parallelism intensifies the public nature of David's witness: he has not hidden God's righteousness 'within his heart' but declared faithfulness and salvation. The phrase 'thy lovingkindness' (chesed) and 'thy truth' (emet) form a hendiadys describing God's covenant character--faithful love that is utterly reliable.

Historical Context

The terms chesed and emet frequently appear together as essential attributes of Yahweh, distinguishing Him from capricious pagan deities. This pairing appears in God's self-revelation to Moses (Exodus 34:6).

Questions for Reflection