Psalms 119:19

KJV

¶ I [am] a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

KJV (with Strong's)

I am a stranger {H1616} in the earth {H776}: hide {H5641} not thy commandments {H4687} from me.

Complete Jewish Bible

Though I'm just a wanderer on the earth, don't hide your mitzvot from me.

Berean Standard Bible

I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.

American Standard Version

I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 119:19 presents a profound prayer from the psalmist, articulating a deep awareness of their transient existence on earth and an urgent, dependent plea for God to continuously reveal and illuminate His divine commandments. This verse encapsulates the heart of a spiritual sojourner who recognizes their temporary status in this world and their absolute reliance on God's revealed truth for guidance, direction, and purpose amidst life's complexities. It is a testament to the believer's unique identity as an alien in a foreign land, whose only true compass is the unchanging Word of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an elaborate acrostic poem structured into 22 stanzas, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each eight-verse stanza begins with the same Hebrew letter, and nearly every verse within the psalm refers to God's law, statutes, precepts, testimonies, judgments, or commandments. Verse 19 falls within the "Gimel" stanza (verses 17-24), which immediately follows the "Beth" stanza (verses 9-16). While the "Beth" stanza emphasizes the purity and cleansing power of God's Word for a young person, the "Gimel" stanza shifts to a more personal plea for God's gracious dealing and for the psalmist's ability to keep His Word, often from a position of vulnerability or affliction. The psalmist's declaration of being a "stranger" here underscores the need for divine guidance in an unfamiliar and potentially hostile world, a theme that resonates throughout the psalm's continuous petitions for understanding and obedience, such as in [Psalms 119:33](/psalms/119-33 "Psalms 119:33 - Teach Me Your Statutes").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The concept of a "stranger" or "sojourner" (Hebrew: _ger_) held significant meaning in ancient Israel. A _ger_ was a non-native resident living within Israelite society, often without full land rights or tribal affiliation, and thus dependent on the hospitality and laws of the host nation. The Mosaic Law frequently commanded special care and protection for the _ger_, recognizing their vulnerable status (e.g., [Deuteronomy 10:19](/deuteronomy/10-19 "Deuteronomy 10:19 - Love the Sojourner")). Spiritually, this term became a powerful metaphor for God's people, who, even in their own land, recognized that their ultimate belonging was with God, not merely in a physical territory. Abraham, the patriarch, famously described himself as a "sojourner and alien" (Hebrew: _ger v'toshav_) in the land God promised him ([Genesis 23:4](/genesis/23-4 "Genesis 23:4 - Abraham as a Sojourner")). This identity underscored a reliance on God's provision and guidance, as well as a detachment from the permanent structures of the earthly realm.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Psalm 119 and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **Sojourner Identity** of the believer, emphasizing that their true citizenship and ultimate home are not found in this world, but with God. This spiritual alienation from the world's values and systems necessitates a different set of guiding principles. Secondly, it underscores a profound **Dependence on Divine Revelation**. The plea "hide not thy commandments from me" is not a request for new revelation, but for continuous clarity, understanding, and application of God's already revealed Word. It implies that without God's active illumination, His truth can remain obscure, leaving the believer lost. Finally, the verse speaks to the **Sufficiency of God's Word** as the sole, indispensable guide for navigating life as a spiritual alien. For the psalmist, God's commandments are not burdensome rules but the very light and life necessary for the journey, as articulated in [Psalms 119:105](/psalms/119-105 "Psalms 119:105 - Your Word is a Lamp").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stranger (Hebrew, _ger_):** This term (גֵּר) denotes a temporary resident, an alien, or a sojourner in a foreign land. It implies a lack of permanent dwelling, full citizenship rights, or ancestral ties to the land. In a spiritual context, it signifies that the psalmist, and by extension all believers, do not find their ultimate home, security, or identity in the earthly realm. Their existence here is provisional, and their true allegiance and destiny lie elsewhere, with God. This transient status naturally evokes a sense of vulnerability and a heightened need for external guidance.
* **Commandments (Hebrew, _mitzvot_):** One of the many synonyms used in Psalm 119 for God's divine law, _mitzvot_ (מִצְוֹת) literally means "commands" or "precepts." It refers to God's authoritative instructions, which are not merely suggestions but binding directives for living. In the context of the psalm, _mitzvot_ represents the revealed will of God, encompassing His moral, ethical, and spiritual guidance. The psalmist's plea for these not to be "hidden" emphasizes their essential nature as the indispensable map and compass for the "stranger" navigating an unfamiliar world.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I am a stranger in the earth":** This opening clause is a profound declaration of identity. The psalmist acknowledges their transient and non-native status on earth. It's not a lament of loneliness but a theological statement about their true spiritual citizenship. As a "stranger," they are distinct from the world's systems, values, and ultimate allegiances. This self-awareness sets the stage for the subsequent plea, highlighting the inherent vulnerability and disorientation that comes with being a sojourner in a foreign land, necessitating divine direction.
* **"hide not thy commandments from me":** This is a fervent, dependent prayer. It recognizes God's absolute sovereignty over His truth – He can reveal it or conceal it. The psalmist is not asking for new revelation, but for the continuous, clear illumination and understanding of God's already revealed will. To "hide" God's commandments would mean to obscure their meaning, prevent their application, or withhold the insight needed to live by them. This plea underscores the psalmist's desperate need for God's active presence and guidance through His Word, without which they would be lost, unable to discern right from wrong or navigate the complexities of life as a spiritual alien.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where the psalmist describes themselves as a "stranger in the earth." This metaphor vividly conveys the believer's temporary and non-native status in the world, emphasizing a spiritual alienation from earthly systems and a longing for a true, eternal home. This imagery evokes a sense of dependence and vulnerability, setting up the subsequent plea. The verse also utilizes **Apostrophe**, a direct address to God ("hide not thy commandments from me"), which intensifies the personal and intimate nature of the prayer, highlighting the psalmist's direct communication and reliance on the divine. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Cause and Effect** relationship: because the psalmist is a stranger, they desperately need God's commandments not to be hidden, underscoring the vital role of divine revelation for the spiritual pilgrim.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 119:19 beautifully articulates a core biblical truth: the people of God are pilgrims on a journey, not permanent residents of this fallen world. This perspective shapes their priorities, values, and ultimate allegiances, distinguishing them from those whose hope is solely in earthly pursuits. The psalmist's desperate plea for God's commandments to not be hidden underscores the absolute necessity of divine revelation for navigating life's moral and spiritual landscape. Without God's Word, the "stranger" would be utterly lost, unable to discern truth from error or find the path to true flourishing. This verse thus connects the believer's identity as a sojourner with their fundamental reliance on God's active and continuous illumination of His truth, which serves as their indispensable guide in a world that is not their home.

* [Hebrews 11:13](/hebrews/11-13 "Hebrews 11:13 - Pilgrims and Sojourners")
* [1 Peter 2:11](/1_peter/2-11 "1 Peter 2:11 - Aliens and Sojourners")
* [Deuteronomy 29:29](/deuteronomy/29-29 "Deuteronomy 29:29 - Secret and Revealed Things")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 119:19 offers a timeless and deeply relevant prayer for believers in every generation. In a world that often feels disorienting, confusing, and at times hostile to faith, we too are called to embrace our identity as spiritual strangers. This means recognizing that our ultimate citizenship, our true home, and our deepest allegiances are not to any earthly kingdom or system, but to God and His eternal kingdom. This perspective liberates us from the tyranny of worldly expectations and pursuits, allowing us to live with a divine detachment that prioritizes God's will above all else. The psalmist's fervent plea reminds us that this pilgrim journey requires constant, clear guidance from God's Word. We must cultivate a daily hunger for His commandments, not as burdensome rules, but as the very light that illuminates our path, the compass that directs our steps, and the truth that sets us free. Our prayer, like the psalmist's, should be for God to continually open our eyes and hearts, ensuring His Word is never hidden from us, but always a vibrant, living source of wisdom and direction.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do you experience yourself as a "stranger in the earth" in your daily life? How does this identity shape your priorities and values?**
* **What does it mean for God's commandments to be "hidden" from us today? What practices or attitudes might contribute to this spiritual blindness?**
* **How can you actively seek God's illumination of His Word so that it is not hidden from you? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding and application of His truth?**
* **How does recognizing your temporary status on earth influence your engagement with worldly systems, culture, and material possessions?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean to be a "stranger in the earth" today?**

Answer: To be a "stranger in the earth" today means to live with the profound awareness that our ultimate home, citizenship, and allegiance are in God's eternal kingdom, not in the present world system. It implies that our values, ethics, and worldview are derived from divine revelation, not from prevailing cultural norms. This identity calls believers to live "in the world but not of the world," engaging with society while maintaining a distinct, counter-cultural commitment to Christ. It means recognizing that earthly comforts, successes, and even trials are temporary, and our true security and hope rest in God alone. This concept is echoed throughout the New Testament, particularly in [1 Peter 2:11](/1_peter/2-11 "1 Peter 2:11 - Aliens and Sojourners"), which exhorts believers as "aliens and strangers" to abstain from fleshly lusts.

**Why is it important that God "hide not" His commandments from us?**

Answer: It is critically important that God "hide not" His commandments because His revealed Word is the sole reliable source of truth, guidance, and wisdom for navigating life, especially for those who identify as spiritual strangers. Without God's clear illumination of His truth, we would be left to our own limited understanding, susceptible to deception, moral confusion, and spiritual wandering. The world's values often contradict God's will, and without His commandments, we lack the divine compass needed to discern right from wrong, to live purposefully, and to find our way back to Him. This plea is for continuous clarity, understanding, and the ability to apply God's Word to our lives, ensuring it remains a lamp to our feet and a light to our path ([Psalms 119:105](/psalms/119-105 "Psalms 119:105 - Your Word is a Lamp")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 119:19 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the quintessential "stranger in the earth," the Son of God who willingly left His heavenly home to tabernacle among humanity ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Though He created the world, He was not of it, and the world often did not recognize Him ([John 1:10-11](/john/1-10-11 "John 1:10-11 - The World Did Not Know Him")). Jesus perfectly embodied the sojourner identity, having "nowhere to lay his head" ([Matthew 8:20](/matthew/8-20 "Matthew 8:20 - The Son of Man Has No Place to Lay His Head")) and living with an unwavering focus on His Father's will rather than earthly comforts or accolades. Furthermore, Christ is the ultimate revelation of God's commandments and His very being. In Him, God's truth is not hidden but fully unveiled; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")). God, who spoke in various ways in the past, has now spoken definitively through His Son ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son")). Through Christ, and by the indwelling of His Spirit, believers are empowered to understand God's Word and live as spiritual sojourners, knowing their true citizenship is in heaven ([Philippians 3:20](/philippians/3-20 "Philippians 3:20 - Our Citizenship is in Heaven")), and that the Spirit of truth guides them into all truth ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth")).

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

1 Chronicles 29:15

For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.

Psalms 39:12

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I [am] a stranger with thee, [and] a sojourner, as all my fathers [were].

Psalms 119:10

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

Hebrews 11:13

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Hebrews 11:16

But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Luke 24:45

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

1 Peter 2:11

Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;