Bible Strands
Psalms 119:169
May my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly, presenting a personal petition immediately after declaring that all his ways are laid bare before God. This plea occurs within a continuous sequence of requests for divine intervention and comprehension.
The words — The Hebrew verb תּקרב (tikrav) literally means "may it draw near," directing the psalmist's רִנָּתִי (rinati, "my cry of entreaty") toward the divine presence. The clause הַבִּינֵנִי (habineni), "give me understanding," is explicitly conditioned by כִּדְבָרְךָ (kidvareka, "according to your word").
The thread — The request for God-given understanding parallels the plea in Psalms 119:144 and aligns with the New Testament injunction in James 1:5 to ask God for wisdom. The motif of a distress cry reaching God's temple also echoes the account in Psalms 18:6.
Why it lands — The verse demands that a reader bring their need for comprehension directly to God, grounding the request in His revealed word rather than personal merit. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine understanding is contingent upon divine revelation.
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
King James Version
ת TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.
Cross-references
- James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Psalms 119:144 Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
- Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.
- Proverbs 2:3 if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- 1 Chronicles 22:12 Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.
- 2 Chronicles 30:27 Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard their voice, and their prayer came into His holy dwelling place in heaven.
- Daniel 2:21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.