Psalms 119:171

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, transitioning from a request for rescue in the preceding verse to a declaration of worship. This moment occurs within a structured acrostic composition where the speaker moves from petition to testimony.

The words — The Hebrew תַּבַּ֣עְנָה (ta.Ba'.nah) literally means "may they pour forth," describing the psalmist's lips releasing praise. This action is triggered by כִּ֖י (ki), "for," which introduces the cause: God's instruction in חֻקֶּֽי/ךָ (chu.Kei./cha), "your decrees."

The thread — The link between divine instruction and vocal praise appears in Psalms 94:12, which blesses those disciplined and taught by God's law. The motif of lips declaring praise in response to God's work also runs through Psalms 51:15 and Psalms 71:23.

Why it lands — The text states that receiving instruction produces spoken praise, then implies that worship is the expected output of learning. A reader must acknowledge that divine teaching carries the obligation to publicly declare it rather than retain it privately.

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.