Psalms 119:158

“RESH: Plead My Cause and Grant Me Life”· Psalms 119:153–160
Translation
King James Version
¶ I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
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KJV (with Strong's)
I beheld H7200 the transgressors H898, and was grieved H6962; because they kept H8104 not thy word H565.
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Complete Jewish Bible
I look at traitors with disgust, because they don't keep your word.
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Berean Standard Bible
I look on the faithless with loathing because they do not keep Your word.
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American Standard Version
I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word.
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World English Bible Messianic
I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don’t observe your word.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
I saw the transgressours and was grieued, because they kept not thy worde.
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Young's Literal Translation
I have seen treacherous ones, And grieve myself, Because Thy saying they have not kept.
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See also
Psalms 139:21Psalms 119:53Psalms 119:136Ezekiel 9:4Mark 3:5
In the KJVVerse 16,057 of 31,102 · 51.6%

Study This Verse

Summary

Psalms 119:158 vividly portrays the psalmist's profound sorrow and righteous indignation upon witnessing those who willfully disregard God's divine instructions. His grief is not merely a personal sentiment but stems from a deep reverence for the Lord and His holy law, reflecting a heart that aches over the dishonor brought to God by human disobedience. This verse powerfully contrasts the psalmist's unwavering commitment to God's Word with the treachery of transgressors, emphasizing the immense value he places on divine revelation as the indispensable foundation for all righteous living and spiritual flourishing.

Context

Literary Context

Psalms 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a meticulously crafted acrostic poem (though its acrostic nature is not preserved in English translations) entirely devoted to exalting the glory, power, and perfection of God's Word, often referred to as Torah. Each of its 22 stanzas, corresponding to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, comprises eight verses, with nearly every verse employing one of the many synonyms for God's law (e.g., statutes, precepts, judgments, commandments, testimonies, word, ways). The psalmist consistently expresses an unwavering love, delight, and devotion to these divine revelations. In the specific "Resh" section (verses 153-160) where verse 158 is found, the psalmist continues to plead for God's merciful help and deliverance from his adversaries and oppressors, while simultaneously reaffirming his own steadfast commitment to divine truth despite their opposition. His grief over the transgressors is thus framed within a larger narrative of personal devotion, reliance on God's Word, and a longing for divine vindication amidst external pressures and spiritual rebellion.

Historical & Cultural Context

The precise historical setting of Psalms 119 remains debated, but it undeniably reflects a period where the Law of Moses (Torah) was central to Israelite identity, communal life, and individual worship. The "transgressors" mentioned could refer to various groups: foreign oppressors who scorned Yahweh's commands, internal apostates within the covenant community, or even those who, by their actions, showed contempt for God's revealed will. In ancient Israel, adherence to the Torah was not merely a legalistic exercise but the very essence of their covenantal relationship with Yahweh, promising profound blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience, as articulated in passages like Deuteronomy 28. The psalmist's deep emotional response in Psalms 119:158 is culturally intelligible within a worldview where God's Word was seen as the foundational bedrock of societal order, justice, and individual well-being. Disregarding it was understood as an act of profound rebellion against the divine King and a betrayal of the sacred covenant.

Key Themes

This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prevalent within Psalms 119 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it underscores the Centrality and Sufficiency of God's Word as the ultimate guide for life, contrasting the psalmist's profound delight in it with the transgressors' active rejection. This aligns seamlessly with the opening of the Psalter, which extols the blessedness of the one whose "delight is in the law of the Lord" and who meditates on it day and night (Psalms 1:2). Secondly, it highlights Righteous Grief and Indignation, demonstrating that true piety involves not only personal obedience but also a holy sorrow over the sin and rebellion of others, particularly when it dishonors God. This is not a self-righteous condemnation but a compassionate lament for those who walk a path of spiritual peril, echoing God's own grief over human sin as seen in Genesis 6:6. Lastly, the verse reinforces the pervasive Psalmic theme of the Contrast Between the Righteous and the Wicked, distinguishing those who walk in God's ways from those who reject them, thereby emphasizing the vastly different outcomes and spiritual states associated with these two paths.

Exposition and Analysis

Key Word Analysis

beheld râʼâh' H7200

This word signifies "to see, literally or figuratively." It implies more than a casual glance; it suggests a deliberate act of observing, perceiving, or even discerning. The psalmist actively, perhaps even painfully, takes note of the actions and character of the transgressors, indicating a focused attention that leads to his emotional response.

transgressors bâgad' H898

This root means "to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage; deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress." The term "transgressors" here carries a strong connotation of treachery and faithlessness. These are not merely those who make mistakes, but individuals who have acted perfidiously, broken trust, or betrayed a covenant, particularly in their relationship with God and His established order. It implies a deliberate and active rebellion against divine authority.

grieved qûwṭ' H6962

This primitive root means "to cut off, i.e. (figuratively) detest; begrieved, loathe self." The psalmist's grief is not a mild sadness but a deep sense of disgust, loathing, or profound indignation. It is a strong moral revulsion and distress at the sight of such deliberate disobedience to God's holy standards, indicating a heart deeply aligned with God's own abhorrence of sin.

word ʼimrâh' H565

This feminine noun means "something said; commandment, speech, word." In the context of Psalms 119, it refers to God's divine revelation, His spoken commands, precepts, and decrees. It is the authoritative and life-giving instruction from the Creator.

kept shâmar' H8104

This root means "to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man)." The failure to "keep" God's word implies a failure to guard it, observe it, obey it, or preserve it in their lives. It signifies a deliberate neglect and active disregard for divine truth.

Verse Breakdown

"I beheld the transgressors,"

The psalmist actively observes and perceives those who are faithless and treacherous towards God. This is not a passive glance but a focused attention on their actions and their disregard for divine commands, which prompts his subsequent profound emotional response. His "beholding" implies a deep awareness of their spiritual state and rebellious conduct.

"and was grieved;"

Upon witnessing their treachery and disobedience, the psalmist is overcome with a profound sense of sorrow, disgust, and righteous indignation. This "grief" is a holy emotion, reflecting his intense love for God and His Word, and his deep pain at seeing God dishonored and His truth spurned. It is a sorrow that stems from spiritual alignment with God's own heart.

"because they kept not thy word."

This clause provides the explicit and singular reason for the psalmist's profound grief. The core issue is not a personal offense against him, but the transgressors' deliberate failure to "keep" (meaning to observe, obey, guard, or preserve) God's Word. Their active disobedience and disregard for divine revelation is a direct affront to divine authority and truth, and it is this spiritual rebellion that wounds the psalmist's heart so deeply.

Literary Devices

The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. Pathos is prominently evident in the psalmist's expressed grief, drawing the reader into his emotional state and inviting empathy for his righteous sorrow. This emotional appeal underscores the gravity of the transgressors' actions. The stark Contrast between the psalmist's pervasive devotion to God's Word (a theme that permeates the entire psalm) and the transgressors' active failure to keep it highlights the spiritual chasm between the righteous and the wicked. The use of "transgressors" (Hebrew bôgĕdîm) is a potent form of Synecdoche or Metonymy, where the group is identified by their defining characteristic of treachery and unfaithfulness, emphasizing their active rebellion against God's covenant. The entire verse functions as a concise Statement of Lament, expressing deep sorrow over the state of the world and the dishonor brought to God by human sin, a common and significant feature in many Psalms.

Theological and Thematic Connections

Psalms 119:158 reveals a profound theological truth: true spiritual maturity involves not only personal adherence to God's Word but also a deep, empathetic sorrow for those who reject it. This grief is not judgmental condemnation but a holy indignation stemming from an ardent love for God and His truth, recognizing the destructive consequences of disobedience for both humanity and the honor of God. It mirrors God's own sorrow over human sin and underscores the immense value placed on divine revelation as the foundational blueprint for all life and righteousness. The psalmist's reaction serves as a model for believers, challenging them to cultivate a heart that is grieved by sin, not just for its impact on humanity, but primarily for the profound dishonor it brings to the Creator and His holy name.

Psalms 1:2Ezekiel 9:4Romans 9:1-3

Reflection and Application

Psalms 119:158 challenges contemporary believers to examine the depth of their own love for God's Word and their emotional response to the world's increasing disregard for divine truth. Do we, like the psalmist, feel a genuine, holy grief when we witness widespread rebellion against God's commands, or are we desensitized to the spiritual peril of those who "kept not thy word"? This verse calls us to cultivate a heart aligned with God's own sorrow over sin, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to His truth towards a passionate, empathetic concern for a world that has strayed. Such grief is not despair or self-righteous judgment, but a catalyst for fervent intercession, courageous evangelism, and a renewed commitment to uphold God's standards in our own lives, standing firm in truth while extending compassion and the gospel message to those lost in disobedience. It should stir us to live out the Word with greater integrity, becoming living testimonies to its transformative power.

Questions for Reflection

  1. How does my own heart respond to the widespread disregard for God's Word in society today? Is it with indifference, anger, or a holy grief that mirrors God's own sorrow?
  2. In what practical ways can I cultivate a deeper love for God's Word that naturally leads to a compassionate sorrow for those who reject it?
  3. How might this "grief" motivate me to pray differently, speak truth more boldly, or serve with greater urgency and love in my community and beyond?

FAQ

What does "transgressors" mean in this context, and why is the psalmist so grieved by them?

The Hebrew word for "transgressors" (bôgĕdîm) denotes individuals who are not merely casual wrongdoers but are actively faithless, treacherous, or deceitful. They are those who have betrayed a trust or acted perfidiously against God's covenant and His established order. The psalmist is "grieved" (qûwṭ), meaning he feels a deep disgust, loathing, or moral indignation, because these individuals have deliberately chosen not to "keep" (obey, guard, preserve) God's Word. His grief stems from his profound love for God and His law, and his pain at seeing God dishonored and His truth rejected. It's a righteous sorrow for the spiritual rebellion and the destructive path chosen by those who abandon divine instruction, similar to how God Himself was "grieved" by humanity's wickedness in Genesis 6:6. This grief is a mark of true piety, reflecting a heart aligned with God's own abhorrence of sin and His desire for humanity to live in accordance with His life-giving commands.

Christ-Centered Fulfillment

Psalms 119:158 finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied both an unwavering devotion to God's Word and a profound, redemptive grief over those who rejected it. Unlike the psalmist, who lamented the transgressors from a position of human frailty, Jesus, the Word made flesh, perfectly upheld every jot and tittle of God's law (Matthew 5:17-18). His earthly ministry was profoundly marked by a deep compassion for the lost and a poignant sorrow for those who refused to believe. He famously wept over Jerusalem, lamenting their unwillingness to gather under His protective wing, precisely because "they kept not thy word" in recognizing their Messiah and the time of their visitation (Luke 19:41-44). On the cross, Jesus bore the ultimate grief, becoming the target of divine wrath for the very transgressions that grieved the psalmist, offering Himself as the perfect, atoning sacrifice for all who "kept not thy word" (Isaiah 53:5-6). Thus, His sorrow was not merely an emotional response but an active, substitutionary work that provides the only path for transgressors to be reconciled to God, receive forgiveness, and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience to His life-giving Word.

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Public-domain commentary

Matthew Henry

From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 119:158.

1662–1714 · 1 verse
Passage under commentPsalms 119:158
158¶ I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

Here is, 1. David's sorrow for the wickedness of the wicked. Though he conversed much at home, yet sometimes he looked abroad, and could not but see the wicked walking on every side. He beheld the transgressors, those whose sins were open before all men, and it grieved him to see them dishonour God, serve Satan, debauch the world, and ruin their own souls, to see the transgressors so numerous, so daring, so very impudent, and so industrious to draw unstable souls into their snares. All this cannot but be a grief to those who have any regard to the glory of God and the welfare of mankind. 2. The reason of that sorrow. He was grieved, not because they were vexatious to him, but because they were provoking to God: They kept not thy word. Those that hate sin truly hate it as sin, as a transgression of the law of God and a violation of his word.

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Historical interpretation

Historical Reception

One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.

1 quote · AD 430
AD 430Augustine of HippoPost-NiceneSourceExposition on Psalm 119
"I have seen," he says, "the foolish, and I pined" [Psalm 119:158]: or, as other copies read, "I have seen them that keep not covenant:" this is the reading of most. But who are they who have not kept covenant, save they who have swerved from the testimonies of God, not bearing the tribulation of their many persecutors? Now this is the covenant, that he who shall have conquered shall be crowned. They who, not bearing persecution, have by denial swerved from the testimonies of God, have not kept the covenant. These then the Psalmist saw, and pined, for he loved them. For that jealousy is good, springing from love, not from envy. He adds in what respect they had failed to keep the covenant, "Because they kept not Your word." For this they denied in their tribulations.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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