Psalms 119:18

ยถ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Open {H1540} thou mine eyes {H5869}, that I may behold {H5027} wondrous things {H6381} out of thy law {H8451}.

Open my eyes, so that I will see wonders from your Torah.

Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law.

Commentary

Psalm 119:18 (KJV) presents a profound prayer for divine illumination and understanding of God's Word. The psalmist, immersed in the longest chapter of the Bible dedicated to the excellence of God's law, recognizes that true comprehension comes not merely from intellectual effort but from divine revelation.

Context

This verse is nestled within Psalm 119, an acrostic poem where each stanza (eight verses) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The entire psalm is a rich meditation on the beauty, power, and perfection of God's law (Torah), statutes, precepts, commandments, and testimonies. The psalmist expresses deep devotion and a longing to live according to God's will. Amidst this fervent love for the Word, Psalm 119:18 stands out as a humble acknowledgment that human understanding is limited and requires God's supernatural intervention to truly grasp the spiritual depths of His revelation.

Key Themes

  • Prayer for Spiritual Illumination: The core of the verse is a direct plea to God. "Open thou mine eyes" signifies a request for spiritual insight, not physical sight. It acknowledges human spiritual blindness and the need for God to remove the veil that hinders deep understanding of divine truth. This echoes the sentiment found in Ephesians 1:18, where Paul prays for the "eyes of your understanding being enlightened."
  • The Richness of God's Word: The "wondrous things" (Hebrew: nifla'ot) refer to the marvelous, extraordinary, and miraculous truths contained within God's law. These are not just rules, but profound insights into God's character, His purposes, and the path to a blessed life. The psalmist believes that God's Word is full of hidden treasures, waiting to be discovered by those whose eyes are divinely opened.
  • Divine Revelation and Human Need: This verse underscores the principle that divine truth is ultimately revealed by God. While diligent study is essential, true spiritual apprehension comes from the Holy Spirit's work. The psalmist recognizes his dependency on God to unlock the deeper meanings and spiritual realities embedded in His instruction.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "Open" is ื’ึธึผืœ (gal), which means to uncover, reveal, or roll away. It implies removing a covering or veil, suggesting that the "wondrous things" are already present in the law but hidden from natural sight. The phrase "wondrous things" is ื ึดืคึฐืœึธืื•ึนืช (nifla'ot), often used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe God's miraculous acts or extraordinary deeds, highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of the truths found in His Word. The term "law" is ืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” (Torah), which encompasses more than just commandments; it refers to God's instruction, teaching, and complete revelation.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 119:18 serves as a vital reminder and a model for prayer. When approaching Scripture, we should always pray for God to "open our eyes" to its truths. It encourages us to:

  • Approach Scripture with Humility: Acknowledge our need for divine help to understand spiritual truths.
  • Pray for Illumination: Make this a regular part of our Bible study, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal God's wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:10).
  • Expect Wonders: Believe that God's Word is inexhaustibly rich and full of profound insights that can transform our lives and deepen our relationship with Him.

This verse teaches that studying God's Word is not merely an academic exercise, but a spiritual encounter, where God Himself unveils the glorious and "wondrous things" within His divine instruction.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ephesians 1:17

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

  • Ephesians 1:18

    The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

  • Acts 26:18

    To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  • Isaiah 35:5

    ยถ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

  • Matthew 13:13

    Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

  • Isaiah 32:3

    And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.

  • Isaiah 29:18

    And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.