Psalms 119:118

KJV

¶ Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit [is] falsehood.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou hast trodden down {H5541} all them that err {H7686} from thy statutes {H2706}: for their deceit {H8649} is falsehood {H8267}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You reject all who stray from your laws, for what they deceive themselves with is false.

Berean Standard Bible

You reject all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceitfulness is in vain.

American Standard Version

Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 119:118 declares God's decisive and active judgment against those who deviate from His divine statutes, asserting that their deceptive schemes and treacherous ways are inherently baseless and ultimately futile. It underscores the Lord's unwavering commitment to upholding His truth and justice, ensuring that all rebellion against His perfect law will ultimately be met with divine defeat and exposure.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an elaborate acrostic poem structured around the Hebrew alphabet, with each of its 22 sections containing eight verses beginning with the same letter. This psalm is a profound meditation on the beauty, wisdom, and redemptive power of God's law, statutes, precepts, and commandments, using at least eight different synonyms for God's word. Psalms 119:118 falls within the 'Ayin' section (verses 113-120), which often contrasts the psalmist's fervent devotion to God's word with the actions and ultimate fate of those who reject it. The preceding verses (e.g., [Psalms 119:113-117](/psalms/119-113 "Psalms 119:113-117 - The Psalmist's Love for God's Law")) express the psalmist's hatred for double-mindedness and his reliance on God's sustaining power, setting the stage for the declaration of God's judgment on those who stray. The following verses continue to emphasize God's role as a protector and judge (e.g., [Psalms 119:119-120](/psalms/119-119 "Psalms 119:119-120 - God's Judgment on the Wicked")), reinforcing the theme of divine retribution against the wicked.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The concept of "statutes" (חֻקִּים, _chuqqim_) refers to God's divine decrees or ordinances, which were foundational to the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's laws were paramount, and rebellion against them carried severe consequences. The imagery of "trodden down" (from the root שָׁעָה, _sha'ah_) evokes a powerful military or judicial metaphor, signifying complete subjugation, defeat, or crushing underfoot, a common idiom for victory over enemies (e.g., [Isaiah 63:3](/isaiah/63-3 "Isaiah 63:3 - Treading the Winepress of God's Wrath")). This imagery would have been readily understood by an ancient Israelite audience as a declaration of God's sovereign power and His active intervention to uphold justice and defend His covenant. The contrast between truth and "falsehood" (שֶׁקֶר, _sheqer_) was also a critical moral and theological distinction, as deceit was seen as an affront to God's character and destructive to communal trust.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 119 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice and Sovereignty**, asserting that God is not a passive observer but an active judge who ensures accountability for those who disregard His law. This reinforces the theme of God's ultimate control over human destiny, as seen in [Psalm 2:4-5](/psalms/2-4 "Psalm 2:4-5 - God's Laughter at the Nations"). Secondly, it emphasizes the **Futility and Self-Destructive Nature of Deceit and Rebellion**. The declaration that "their deceit is falsehood" means that any life or scheme built on lies, treachery, or opposition to God's truth is inherently empty, without substance, and destined to fail. This resonates with wisdom literature's warnings against the path of the wicked, as articulated in [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "Proverbs 14:12 - A Way That Seems Right"). Thirdly, the verse offers **Comfort and Vindication for the Righteous**. For the psalmist, who diligently strives to follow God's statutes, this declaration provides assurance that God will ultimately expose and defeat those who oppose His ways, thereby vindicating His truth and His faithful people. This theme of God's protection for the righteous is a recurring motif throughout the Psalms, such as in [Psalm 37:1-9](/psalms/37 "Psalm 37 - The Destiny of the Righteous and the Wicked").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **trodden down (Hebrew, _sha'ah'_):** From the root שָׁעָה (sha'ah), used here in the Piel stem, meaning to trample, crush, or subdue. This is a strong, active verb conveying decisive action and complete subjugation. It implies a forceful and definitive defeat, often used in contexts of military conquest or divine judgment where an enemy is utterly vanquished and brought low.
* **err (Hebrew, _ta'ah'_):** From the root תָּעָה (ta'ah), meaning to wander, stray, or go astray. It denotes deviation from a correct path, whether physically, morally, or spiritually. In this context, it specifically refers to those who deviate from God's "statutes," indicating a willful or persistent departure from His divine law and truth.
* **deceit (Hebrew, _mirmah'_):** From the root מִרְמָה (mirmah), referring to fraud, treachery, cunning, or trickery. It describes actions or intentions characterized by dishonesty and a desire to mislead or harm others. This word highlights the intrinsic nature of the "erring" individuals' plans and character.
* **falsehood (Hebrew, _sheqer'_):** From the root שֶׁקֶר (sheqer), which means lie, deceit, vanity, or emptiness. It signifies something that is untrue, deceptive, or lacking in substance and reality. The pairing with "deceit" emphasizes the utter worthlessness and ultimate failure of any scheme or life built upon a foundation of untruth, particularly in opposition to God's reality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes":** This clause declares God's active and powerful judgment. The "Thou" refers directly to God, emphasizing His personal involvement and sovereign authority. To "trod down" signifies a complete and decisive defeat, a crushing subjugation of those who "err" or stray from God's divine "statutes" (His laws and decrees). This is not merely a passive observation of consequences but an active, divinely orchestrated downfall for those who willfully depart from His established ways.
* **"for their deceit is falsehood":** This second clause provides the divine rationale for the judgment described in the first. The reason God "treads down" those who err is because their very "deceit"—their cunning, treachery, and deceptive practices—is fundamentally "falsehood." This means their entire approach, built on lies and rebellion against truth, is inherently empty, without substance, and destined to collapse. It highlights the ultimate futility and self-defeating nature of any path that deviates from God's truth.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "Thou hast trodden down," attributing a human-like action of crushing or subduing to God, thereby emphasizing His active power and decisive intervention in human affairs. The phrase "trodden down" also functions as a powerful **Metaphor** for complete defeat and subjugation, drawing on the imagery of a conqueror trampling enemies. Furthermore, the verse exhibits **Synonymous Parallelism** in its structure, where the second clause, "for their deceit is falsehood," explains and reinforces the meaning of the first clause, "Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes." This parallelism highlights the intrinsic connection between deviation from God's law and the inherent emptiness of a life built on deceit. There is also an implicit **Contrast** between the steadfast, eternal nature of God's "statutes" and the ephemeral, futile nature of human "deceit" and "falsehood."

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly speaks to the nature of God's justice and the ultimate triumph of truth over deception. It affirms that God is not indifferent to human rebellion or the perversion of His truth. Rather, He actively opposes those who stray from His divine order, ensuring that their deceptive schemes, no matter how cunning, will ultimately be exposed as empty and destined for failure. This declaration offers assurance to the faithful that God's righteous character guarantees the eventual downfall of all that stands in opposition to His word. It underscores the profound biblical truth that a life built on anything other than God's revealed truth is inherently unstable and will not endure.

* [Proverbs 12:22](/proverbs/12-22 "Proverbs 12:22 - Lying Lips Abhorrent to the Lord")
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping")
* [Psalm 1:6](/psalms/1-6 "Psalm 1:6 - The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 119:118 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering commitment to justice and truth, offering both a warning and a comfort. In a world often marked by deception, injustice, and the apparent prosperity of those who disregard moral boundaries, this verse calls us to trust in God's ultimate sovereignty. It assures us that while evil may seem to flourish for a time, its foundation is inherently flawed, and God will decisively deal with all who persist in straying from His statutes. For believers, this should inspire confidence in God's righteous governance and encourage us to live lives of uncompromising integrity, knowing that any path built on falsehood is ultimately self-defeating. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for any areas where we might be tempted to rely on deceit or deviate from God's clear commands, urging us to instead anchor our lives firmly in the truth of His word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge my perception of God's justice in a world where evil often seems to prosper?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to rely on "deceit" or half-truths, and how does this verse warn against such actions?**
* **How can I more deeply align my life with God's "statutes" to avoid "erring" from His path?**

### FAQ
**Does "trodden down" imply God's immediate judgment on all who sin?**

Answer: While "trodden down" signifies a decisive act of divine judgment and subjugation, it does not necessarily imply immediate, visible judgment for every individual sin. The Bible also speaks extensively of God's patience, long-suffering, and desire for repentance (e.g., [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord's Patience")). This verse speaks to the *certainty* of God's ultimate justice and the inevitable downfall of those who persistently and defiantly err from His statutes, living a life characterized by deceit and rebellion against His truth. It's about the ultimate outcome and the divine principle that rebellion against God's order will not stand.

**What does "their deceit is falsehood" mean practically?**

Answer: This phrase means that any scheme, plan, or way of life built upon deception, treachery, or a rejection of God's truth is inherently empty, without true substance, and ultimately futile. It implies that what appears to be clever or advantageous through deceit is, in reality, baseless and will eventually be exposed as worthless. It's a declaration of the inherent instability and self-defeating nature of falsehood when confronted with the absolute reality of God's truth. For example, a lie might offer temporary gain, but it cannot build lasting trust or genuine prosperity, as [Proverbs 21:6](/proverbs/21-6 "Proverbs 21:6 - Ill-Gotten Gains") suggests.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 119:118 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of God's statutes and the very Truth itself. While the Old Testament verse speaks of God treading down those who err from His law, Christ perfectly upheld every one of God's statutes, never erring or engaging in deceit (e.g., [1 Peter 2:22](/1_peter/2-22 "1 Peter 2:22 - Christ's Sinlessness")). He is the ultimate standard against which all deceit and falsehood are exposed. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus decisively "trod down" the powers of sin, death, and the devil, who is the father of lies (e.g., [John 8:44](/john/8-44 "John 8:44 - The Devil, Father of Lies")). The cross represents God's ultimate judgment against the "falsehood" of sin and rebellion, and Christ's victory ensures that all who trust in Him are delivered from the futility of a life built on deceit. Furthermore, when Christ returns, He will execute final judgment, definitively treading down all who have rejected God's truth and persisted in their error, bringing to full fruition the promise of divine justice against all falsehood (e.g., [Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11-16 - The Rider on the White Horse")). Thus, Jesus is both the perfect fulfiller of God's law and the one through whom God's judgment against all deceit and error is perfectly executed.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 119:10

¶ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psalms 119:21

¶ Thou hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

Ephesians 5:6

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Psalms 119:29

Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

Ephesians 4:22

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

2 Thessalonians 2:9

[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2 Thessalonians 2:11

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: