Psalms 119:170

KJV

Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let my supplication {H8467} come {H935} before {H6440} thee: deliver {H5337} me according to thy word {H565}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Let my prayer come before you; in keeping with your promise, rescue me.

Berean Standard Bible

May my plea come before You; rescue me according to Your promise.

American Standard Version

Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 119:170 presents a fervent, direct prayer from the psalmist, earnestly pleading for God to hear his supplication and grant deliverance. This petition is not based on personal merit or presumption, but is firmly rooted in the unwavering foundation of God's revealed promises and faithfulness as expressed in His Word. The verse encapsulates a profound reliance on divine truth as the ultimate basis for all appeals to the Almighty, underscoring the accessibility and power of prayer when it is aligned with God's character and written revelation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 119 is a monumental acrostic poem, the longest chapter in the Bible, entirely devoted to extolling the virtues, wisdom, and life-giving power of God's law, statutes, precepts, commandments, and word. Comprising 176 verses, each stanza of eight verses begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 170 falls within the final section (verses 169-176), corresponding to the Hebrew letter "Taw." In this concluding octet, the psalmist intensifies his fervent prayer, expressing a deep and urgent desire for God's attention and intervention. This section serves as a powerful summation of the psalmist's lifelong devotion to and reliance on God's Word, even amidst persistent trials and the opposition of adversaries, culminating in a final, passionate plea for salvation and life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Psalms, including Psalm 119, emerged from the rich spiritual and communal life of ancient Israel. The concept of "God's word" (Torah, mishpatim, huqqim, etc.) was not merely a set of rules but the very essence of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh, guiding every aspect of their moral, spiritual, and national existence. In this culture, prayer was understood as a direct, personal, and often desperate appeal to God, who was believed to be intimately involved in the lives of His people. The idea of God's "word" carried immense weight; just as a king's decree was binding and unchangeable, so much more was the word of the sovereign God considered utterly reliable and efficacious. The psalmist's appeal "according to thy word" would have resonated deeply within a society that revered divine revelation as the ultimate truth and foundation for life and hope.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 119:170 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the **Supreme Authority and Sufficiency of God's Word**. The psalmist's confidence in deliverance is directly tied to "thy word," reinforcing the central message of Psalm 119 that God's revelation is the ultimate source of truth, guidance, and hope, serving as a [lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path](/psalms/119-105 "Psalm 119:105 - God's Word as a Lamp"). Secondly, the verse highlights the **Efficacy and Accessibility of Earnest Prayer**. The plea "Let my supplication come before thee" underscores the psalmist's belief that God is attentive and responsive to the heartfelt cries of His people, encouraging persistent and bold communication with the divine. Finally, the theme of **Divine Deliverance** is prominent. The request for "deliver me" speaks to the psalmist's vulnerability in a fallen world and his unwavering trust in God's power to rescue him from various forms of distress, whether from enemies, sin, or despair, a recurring motif throughout the entire book of [Psalms](/psalms/1 "The Book of Psalms - Songs of Worship and Lament").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Supplication (Hebrew, _teḥinnāh'_):** This noun denotes an earnest plea for favor, mercy, or grace. It carries the nuance of a humble, dependent request, often made by one in a position of weakness or need, appealing to the compassion and benevolence of a superior. It emphasizes the heartfelt and sincere nature of the psalmist's prayer, acknowledging his reliance on God's unmerited favor rather than any claim of right.
* **Deliver (Hebrew, _nāṣal'_):** This verb means to snatch away, rescue, deliver, or preserve. It implies a powerful and decisive act of intervention, often from danger, bondage, or destruction. The use of _nāṣal_ here suggests that the psalmist is in a perilous situation from which only God's mighty hand can free him, highlighting God's active role as rescuer and redeemer.
* **Thy word (Hebrew, _dābār'_):** A profoundly rich and multifaceted term in Hebrew, _dābār_ can refer to a spoken word, a promise, a decree, a command, or even a matter or thing. In this context, "thy word" refers to the entirety of God's revealed will, His covenant promises, His divine utterances, and His established character. It is the unshakeable foundation upon which the psalmist bases his plea, signifying that God's faithfulness to His own declarations is the ultimate guarantee of deliverance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let my supplication come before thee":** This opening clause expresses a fervent, direct, and personal appeal to God. The psalmist desires that his earnest prayer, born out of deep need and humility, would not only be heard but would effectively "come before" God, implying a favorable reception and divine attention. It reflects a profound belief in God's accessibility and His willingness to engage personally with His people's cries.
* **"deliver me according to thy word":** This second clause reveals the crucial basis for the psalmist's request for deliverance. His plea is not a demand based on perceived merit or human expectation, but a humble yet confident appeal rooted entirely in God's revealed promises and His covenant faithfulness. The phrase "according to thy word" signifies that God's own declarations and character are the standard and guarantee by which deliverance will be accomplished, affirming the absolute reliability and power of God's spoken and written truth.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. The most prominent is **Petition**, as the entire verse functions as a direct and earnest appeal to God for intervention. The psalmist's direct address to God ("thee") is an example of **Apostrophe**, where the speaker addresses an absent or abstract entity as if present and capable of hearing. The phrase "according to thy word" functions as a powerful statement of **Reliance** and **Trust**, anchoring the psalmist's hope not in his own strength or righteousness, but in the immutable character and promises of God. Furthermore, "thy word" serves as a **Metonymy**, where the "word" stands in for the entirety of God's revealed will, His covenant promises, and His divine faithfulness, which form the unassailable foundation for the psalmist's plea.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 119:170 beautifully encapsulates the profound theological truth that prayer is most effective and confident when it is grounded in God's revealed will. It highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and the authoritative nature of His Word, not merely as a guide for life, but as the very guarantee of His action. The psalmist's plea for deliverance "according to thy word" illustrates that true biblical prayer is not a human attempt to manipulate God, but a humble yet bold appeal to His character and His own declarations, trusting that He will act in accordance with who He has revealed Himself to be. This verse affirms that God hears and responds to the earnest supplications of His people, especially when those prayers echo His divine heart and purposes.

* [John 15:7](/john/15-7 "John 15:7 - Abiding in Christ and His Words")
* [1 John 5:14-15](/1-john/5-14 "1 John 5:14-15 - Confidence in Prayer")
* [Philippians 4:6-7](/philippians/4-6 "Philippians 4:6-7 - Anxiety, Prayer, and Peace")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 119:170 offers profound encouragement and a vital model for believers today. It calls us to approach God in prayer with both earnestness and absolute confidence, knowing that He is not distant but intimately attentive to our cries. The core insight, however, lies in the phrase "according to thy word." This challenges us to anchor our petitions not in fleeting emotions or self-centered desires, but in the firm, unchanging promises and character of God as revealed in Scripture. When we pray for deliverance—whether from sin, anxiety, illness, or difficult circumstances—we are empowered to do so with assurance, knowing that God is faithful to His Word. This verse compels us to immerse ourselves in the Bible, allowing its truths to shape our desires and articulate our prayers, transforming our supplications from mere wishes into powerful appeals aligned with divine will. It reminds us that our most effective prayers are those that echo God's own declarations, trusting that He will act in His perfect time and way to rescue and sustain His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's "word" as His promises and character deepen your confidence in prayer?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you currently need God's deliverance, and how can you pray for it "according to His word"?**
* **How does Psalm 119:170 challenge you to spend more time immersing yourself in Scripture as the foundational basis for your petitions?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean to pray "according to thy word"?**

Answer: To pray "according to thy word" means to align our petitions with God's revealed will, promises, and character as found in the Scriptures. It is not about quoting verses as a magical incantation, but rather understanding God's heart and purposes for His people and for the world, and then bringing our requests in harmony with that understanding. For instance, if we pray for wisdom, we can do so confidently because God promises to give it generously to those who ask ([James 1:5](/james/1-5 "James 1:5 - Asking for Wisdom")). If we seek forgiveness, we know He is faithful and just to forgive us when we confess our sins ([1 John 1:9](/1-john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")). This approach grounds our prayers in divine truth, giving us assurance that we are asking for what God desires to give, rather than merely our own desires. It transforms prayer from wishful thinking into a confident appeal based on God's unwavering faithfulness and His established covenant with His people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 119:170 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's fervent plea for deliverance "according to thy word" is perfectly embodied in Jesus, who is Himself the living [Word of God made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"). Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently acted and spoke in perfect alignment with the Father's will and promises, declaring, "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge... for I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me" ([John 5:30](/john/5-30 "John 5:30 - Jesus' Dependence on the Father")). His life was a testament to complete reliance on God's revealed truth, culminating in His obedient submission to the Father's word even unto death on the cross, where He prayed, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). Through Christ, believers receive the ultimate deliverance—rescue from the dominion of sin, the power of darkness, and the sting of death ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness")). Our prayers for deliverance are now heard and answered "according to His word" because we pray in the name of the One who perfectly fulfilled all of God's promises, embodies His very essence, and intercedes for us at the Father's right hand ([John 14:13-14](/john/14-13 "John 14:13-14 - Asking in Jesus' Name"); [Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ's Intercession")).

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 119:41

¶ VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, [even] thy salvation, according to thy word.

Psalms 28:2

Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

2 Samuel 7:25

And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish [it] for ever, and do as thou hast said.

Psalms 89:20

I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

Psalms 89:25

I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

Genesis 32:9

¶ And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

Genesis 32:12

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.