Psalms 119:22

Remove my scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, pleading for removal of public disgrace while rulers slander him for his obedience. This occurs in a sequence where the speaker contrasts divine judgment on the arrogant with his own continued meditation on God’s statutes.

The words — The Hebrew verb גַּל (gal) translates literally to "roll away" or "remove," paired with חֶרְפָּה (cherpah, "reproach") and בּוּז (boz, "contempt") to describe the scorn being lifted. The causal particle כִּי (ki) links the plea to the factual declaration עֵדֹתֶיךָ נָצַרְתִּי ("I have kept Your testimonies").

The thread — The request to lift reproach appears in Psalms 39:8 and Psalms 119:39, while 1 Peter 2:20 references the broader biblical pattern of faithful endurance under unjust accusation.

Why it lands — The text states that keeping divine commands provokes human scorn, and it requires the reader to present that reality directly to God rather than defending himself. It frames obedience as the ground for divine intervention, not human merit.

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

גַּ֣לgalroll away מֵֽ֭עָלַיMe./'a.la/ifrom/ on <the>/ me חֶרְפָּ֣הcher.Pahreproach וָב֑וּזva./Vuzand/ contempt כִּ֖יkifor עֵדֹתֶ֣יךָ'e.do.Tei./khatestimonies/ your נָצָֽרְתִּי׃na.Tza.re.tiI observe

King James Version

Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

Cross-references

Psalms 39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of fools.
Psalms 119:39 Turn away the disgrace I dread, for Your judgments are good.
1 Peter 2:20 How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
1 Peter 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Samuel 25:10 But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
1 Samuel 25:39 On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
2 Samuel 16:7 And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
Job 16:20 My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
Psalms 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.