TRV
Translation
KJV (with Strong's)
American Standard Version
Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness. ו VAV.
World English Bible Messianic
Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness.
Young's Literal Translation
Lo, I have longed for Thy precepts, In Thy righteousness quicken Thou me,
See also
In the KJVVerse 15,939 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 119 verse 40
40 ¶ Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Here, 1. David professes the ardent affection he had to the word of God: "I have longed after thy precepts, not only loved them, and delighted in what I have already attained, but I have earnestly desired to know them more and do them better, and am still pressing forward towards perfection." Tastes of the sweetness of God's precepts will but set us a longing after a more intimate acquaintance with them. He appeals to God concerning this passionate desire after his precepts: "Behold, I have thus loved, thus longed; thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I am thus affected." 2. He prays for grace to enable him to answer this profession. "Thou hast wrought in me this languishing desire, put life into me, that I may prosecute it; quicken me in thy righteousness, in thy righteous ways, according to thy righteous promise." Where God has wrought to will he will work to do, and where he has wrought to desire he will satisfy the desire.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verse 40. Public domain.
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Cyril of JerusalemAD 386
MYSTAGOGICAL LECTURES 1:6
Next you say, “and all his pomp.” The pomp of the devil is the craze for the theater, the horse races in the circus, the wildbeast hunts and all such emptiness, from which the saint prays to God to be delivered in the words, “Turn away my eyes that they may not behold worthless things.” Avoid an addiction to the theater, with its portrayal of sinful conduct, the lewd and unseemly antics of actors and the frantic dancing of degenerates. Not for you, either, the folly of those who, to gratify their miserable appetite, expose themselves to wild beasts in the combats in the amphitheater. They pamper their belly at the cost of becoming themselves, in the event, food for the mouths of savage beasts; of these gladiators it is fair to say that in the service of the belly that is their god they court death in the arena. Shun also the bedlam of the races, a spectacle in which souls as well as riders come to grief. All these follies are the pomp of the devil.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
On the Duties of the Clergy 2.6.26
Therefore, as I am about to speak of what is useful, I will take up those words of the prophet: “Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to covetousness,” that the sound of the word useful may not rouse in us the desire for money. Some indeed put it thus: “Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to what is useful,” that is, that kind of usefulness that is always on the watch for making gains in business and has been bent and diverted by the habits of people to the pursuit of money. For as a rule most people call useful only what is profitable, but we are speaking of that kind of usefulness that is sought in earthly loss “that we may gain Christ,” whose gain is “godliness with contentment.” Great, too, is the gain whereby we attain to godliness, which is rich with God, not indeed in fleeting wealth but in eternal gifts, and in which rests no uncertain trial but constant and unending grace.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
FLIGHT FROM THE WORLD 1:4
Therefore David, who had experienced those very glances that are dangerous for a man, aptly says that the one is blessed whose every hope is in the name of God. For such a person does not have regard to worthless things and follies if he always strives toward Christ and always looks on Christ with his inner eyes. For this reason David turned to God again and said, “Turn away my eyes, that they may not see vanity.” The circus is vanity, because it is totally without profit; horse racing is vanity, because it is counterfeit as regards salvation; the theater is vanity, every game is vanity. “All things are vanity!” as Ecclesiastes said, all things that are in this world. Accordingly, let one who wishes to be saved ascend above the world, let him seek the Word who is with God, let him flee from this world and depart from the earth. For one cannot comprehend that which exists and exists always, unless he has first fled from here. On this account also, the Lord, wishing to approach God the Father, said to the apostles, “Arise, let us go from here.”
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 119
"Behold, I have coveted Your commandments: O quicken Thou me in Your righteousness" [Psalm 119:40]. Behold, I have coveted to love You with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and my neighbour as myself, but, "O quicken Thou me" not in my own, but "in Your righteousness," that is, fill me with that love which I have longed for. Aid me that I may do that which Thou chargest me: Yourself give what Thou dost command. "O quicken Thou me in Your righteousness:" for in myself I had that which would cause my death: but I find not save in You whence I may live. Christ is Your righteousness, "Who of God is made unto us wisdom," etc. [1 Corinthians 1:30-31] And in Him I find Your commandments, which I have coveted, that in Your righteousness, that is, in Him, You may quicken me. For the Word Himself is God; and "the Word was made flesh," [John 1:14] that He Himself also might be my neighbour.
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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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SUMMARY
Psalms 119:40 articulates the psalmist's profound and earnest desire for God's divine instructions, referred to as "precepts," coupled with an urgent and dependent plea for spiritual revitalization. This verse encapsulates a core aspect of the believer's walk: a deep, passionate hunger for God's revealed truth and a humble acknowledgment of complete reliance on His inherent righteousness to impart life, strength, and enablement for faithful obedience. It is a heartfelt prayer for divine animation to live in full alignment with the very commands that are cherished.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 119:40 employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its message. The initial Exclamation "Behold" (Hebrew: hinneh) immediately arrests the reader's attention, signaling the profound significance and earnestness of the psalmist's subsequent declaration. The phrase "I have longed after thy precepts" is a form of Personification or Anthropomorphism, attributing human desire and intense longing to the psalmist's relationship with the abstract divine commands, thereby deeply personalizing his devotion and spiritual hunger. It also contains elements of Hyperbole, as "longed after" suggests an almost insatiable craving, vividly emphasizing the extraordinary depth of his spiritual hunger and commitment. The subsequent plea, "quicken me," is a direct Supplication or fervent prayer, reflecting a profound and humble dependence on God for spiritual vitality. The phrase "in thy righteousness" functions as a powerful Metonymy, where God's intrinsic attribute (righteousness) stands for His entire character, His covenant faithfulness, and His just nature, which serves as the unwavering ground for the psalmist's request for life and enablement. The entire verse demonstrates a profound Parallelism of thought, where the psalmist's fervent desire for God's written word is intrinsically and holistically linked to his desperate need for God's life-giving power, illustrating a complete and integrated approach to spiritual vitality and obedience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 119:40 beautifully intertwines the profound theological themes of divine revelation and human dependence, presenting a quintessential model of spiritual yearning rooted deeply in God's immutable character. The psalmist's intense longing for God's precepts reflects a profound recognition that true life, wisdom, and flourishing are found exclusively in aligning one's entire being with the Creator's revealed will. This passionate desire for God's word is not merely an intellectual pursuit but a deeply spiritual craving, acknowledging that the divine commands are not burdensome rules but rather life-giving truths designed for human flourishing. The subsequent prayer for "quickening" underscores the vital theological truth that spiritual vitality is not a self-generated human achievement or a product of sheer willpower, but rather a gracious, supernatural impartation from God, grounded in His unwavering righteousness and covenant faithfulness. It highlights the dynamic and essential interplay between sincere human aspiration and divine enablement, where our heartfelt desire for God's truth is met by His sovereign, life-giving power, ensuring that genuine obedience flows from a spirit divinely enlivened and empowered.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 119:40 offers a profound and challenging blueprint for our own spiritual lives, compelling us to deeply examine the true depth of our desire for God's Word. Do we genuinely "long after" His precepts with an intense, craving hunger, seeing them as essential for life, or do we approach them with indifference, viewing them as mere antiquated rules rather than life-giving, transformative truths? This verse serves as a powerful reminder that genuine spiritual vitality is not self-generated through human willpower, discipline, or self-effort alone, but is fundamentally a divine gift, a supernatural "quickening" that God graciously bestows. When we find ourselves spiritually dry, weary, struggling with apathy, or battling persistent disobedience, this verse provides a potent and humble prayer: "Quicken me in thy righteousness." It is an acknowledgment of our absolute dependence on God and His unwavering, righteous character to empower us to live a life that is truly pleasing to Him. This encourages a daily posture of actively seeking God's Word and consistently relying on His life-giving power for strength, discernment, and direction, especially in navigating the complexities, pressures, and temptations of contemporary life, ensuring that our obedience flows from a heart made alive and sustained by His Spirit.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "quicken me" mean in a spiritual sense?
Answer: In a spiritual sense, "quicken me" (from the Hebrew châyâh, meaning "to live" or "to revive") is a fervent plea for God to impart or restore spiritual life, vitality, and renewed energy. It is a prayer for revival, for deliverance from spiritual lethargy, apathy, or a sense of spiritual deadness, and for renewed strength and passion to obey God's commands and walk faithfully in His ways. It profoundly acknowledges that true spiritual life, the capacity for genuine obedience, and the ability to live righteously are not inherent human capabilities but are gracious, supernatural gifts from God, who is the ultimate source of all life, as Jesus Himself declared in John 6:63.
Why does the psalmist ask to be quickened "in thy righteousness"?
Answer: The phrase "in thy righteousness" is deeply significant; it means the psalmist is appealing to God's inherent, perfect character as the unwavering basis for his request. God's righteousness refers to His perfect justice, His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, and His absolute moral rectitude. By appealing to God's righteousness, the psalmist expresses profound trust that God, being perfectly just and true to His own nature, will uphold His promises to His people and provide the necessary life and strength to follow His ways. It implies that God's righteousness is not merely a static standard for humanity, but also a dynamic, active attribute that empowers, sustains, and brings life to those who earnestly seek Him and His will, as seen in passages like Psalms 36:6.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 119:40 finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the living embodiment of God's precepts and the very source of all spiritual quickening. While the psalmist longed for God's written word, believers in the New Covenant now long for Christ, who is the eternal Word made flesh, dwelling among us, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Jesus perfectly fulfilled every precept of God's law, living a life of absolute and unblemished righteousness on our behalf, not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Furthermore, the "quicken me" of the psalmist's heartfelt prayer is answered definitively and eternally in Christ, who declares Himself to be "the life" (John 14:6) and who sovereignly gives spiritual life to those who were once dead in trespasses and sins, raising them with Him (Ephesians 2:1-5). Our spiritual vitality, our ability to walk in newness of life, and our standing in God's righteousness are not achieved through our own efforts or adherence to rules but are entirely dependent on being united with Christ through faith, for He Himself has become our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). Thus, our deepest longing for God's truth is fully satisfied in Him, and our desperate need for spiritual life is met by His resurrection power, enabling us to live truly "in His righteousness" by grace through faith.