Psalms 119:131

I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly within a structured meditation on divine instruction, positioned between a statement that God's words illuminate the simple and a petition for divine mercy.

The words — The Hebrew פָּעַרְתִּי (pa‘artî) translates literally as "I opened wide," coupled with אֶשְׁאָפָה (ešʾāfâ) for "I panted," depicting an involuntary physical response to intense desire.

The thread — This posture of breathless expectation for divine instruction appears earlier in the psalm where the author notes his soul is consumed with longing for God’s judgments, and aligns with the apostolic instruction to crave spiritual nourishment for salvation (Psalms 119:20; 1 Peter 2:2).

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to treat obedience not as a routine duty but as an urgent, dependent pursuit that demands immediate attention.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

פִּֽי־p/i-mouth/ my פָ֭עַרְתִּיFa.'ar.tiI opened wide וָאֶשְׁאָ֑פָהva./'esh.'A.fa/hand/ I panted/ !כִּ֖יkifor לְמִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָle./mitz.vo.Tei./khafor/ commandments/ your יָאָֽבְתִּי׃ya.'A.ve.tiI longed

King James Version

I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

Cross-references

Psalms 42:1 For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.
Psalms 119:20 My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
Psalms 81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.
Isaiah 26:8 Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Job 29:23 They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
Psalms 119:162 I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.
Psalms 119:174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.
Psalms 119:40 How I long for Your precepts! Revive me in Your righteousness.