Psalms 119:43

KJV

¶ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

KJV (with Strong's)

And take {H5337} not the word {H1697} of truth {H571} utterly {H3966} out of my mouth {H6310}; for I have hoped {H3176} in thy judgments {H4941}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Don't take away completely my power to speak the truth; for I put my hope in your rulings;

Berean Standard Bible

Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.

American Standard Version

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thine ordinances.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 119:43 is a fervent and profound prayer from the psalmist, pleading with God to preserve his ability to articulate divine truth. It reflects a deep-seated desire to remain a faithful witness to God's revealed will and righteous decrees, grounded in an unwavering hope in His perfect "judgments." This verse encapsulates the believer's dependence on God for the courage and opportunity to speak His word, even amidst potential opposition or the temptation to silence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 119:43 is situated within the longest psalm in the biblical canon, [Psalm 119](/psalms/119 "Psalm 119 - The Praise of God's Law"), an elaborate acrostic poem meticulously structured to extol the multifaceted virtues of God's law, statutes, precepts, and judgments. Each eight-verse section corresponds to a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 43 falls within the "Kaph" section (verses 41-48), where the psalmist frequently expresses a longing for God's steadfast love and salvation, consistently grounding his hope in the divine word. The overarching theme of [Psalm 119](/psalms/119 "Psalm 119 - The Praise of God's Law") is the profound value, transformative power, and enduring reliability of God's perfect law in the life of a believer, particularly in the face of affliction, slander, and opposition. The psalmist's plea here is not isolated but part of a continuous meditation on the necessity of God's word for life, guidance, and testimony.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Psalms, including [Psalm 119](/psalms/119 "Psalm 119 - The Praise of God's Law"), emerged from an ancient Israelite context where divine law (Torah) was central to national identity, worship, and daily life. God's "judgments" (מִשְׁפָּטִים, *mishpatim*) were understood not merely as legal rulings but as expressions of His righteous character and covenant faithfulness, guiding both individual and communal conduct. In a society where oral tradition and public proclamation were vital, the ability to speak God's truth was a privilege and a responsibility, often tied to prophetic or testimonial roles. To be "silenced" or to have the "word of truth taken out of one's mouth" could imply external pressures like persecution, internal struggles like fear or doubt, or even a divine withdrawal of favor, preventing one from bearing witness to God's righteousness. The psalmist's prayer reflects a deep understanding of the covenant relationship, where God's people are called to declare His works and His word, often in a hostile world.

* **Key Themes:**
* **Preservation of Testimony:** The psalmist's primary plea is for God to preserve his ability to speak His "word of truth." This is not merely a request for personal confession but a fervent desire to maintain the courage, clarity, and opportunity to proclaim God's righteousness and wisdom to others. It is a prayer against being silenced by fear, shame, external pressures, or even a spiritual inability to articulate divine revelation. This theme underscores the vital role of verbal witness in the life of faith, recognizing that the truth must not only be known but also spoken.
* **Hope in God's Judgments:** The motivation behind the psalmist's plea is his unwavering hope in God's "judgments." These refer to God's righteous decrees, ordinances, and divine rulings, which are perceived as utterly trustworthy, foundational, and perfectly just. This hope is not a passive wish but an active, confident reliance on God's perfect governance, justice, and faithfulness to His word. This profound trust in God's character, as revealed in His commands, empowers the psalmist to desire to speak His truth. This reflects a broader biblical theme, as seen in [Psalm 130:5](/psalms/130-5 "Psalm 130:5 - Waiting and Hoping in God's Word"), where the soul waits and hopes in His word.
* **Interdependence of Faith and Confession:** The verse powerfully highlights a crucial link between internal conviction (hope in God's judgments) and external expression (speaking the word of truth). A vibrant, living hope in God's character and His word naturally seeks articulation and proclamation. Conversely, the act of speaking God's truth, even in challenging circumstances, often serves to reinforce and deepen one's internal hope and conviction. This dynamic relationship underscores that faith is not merely a private belief but a public declaration that shapes and strengthens the believer.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dāḇār'_):** The Hebrew term דָּבָר (*dāḇār*) is rich in meaning, encompassing "word," "matter," "thing," "speech," and "decree." When paired with "truth" (אֱמֶת, *’ĕmet*), it denotes a message that is utterly reliable, consistent with reality, and divinely authoritative. It is not mere human opinion or philosophy but God's self-revelation, His authoritative and dependable communication to humanity. The psalmist's prayer is for the preservation of this specific, divinely revealed truth.
* **Judgments (Hebrew, _mišpāṭîm'_):** The term מִשְׁפָּטִים (*mišpāṭîm*) refers to God's "judgments," "ordinances," or "decrees." In the context of [Psalm 119](/psalms/119 "Psalm 119 - The Praise of God's Law"), it primarily signifies God's righteous laws and principles that govern the universe and human conduct. These are not arbitrary rules but expressions of God's perfect justice and wisdom, serving as a reliable guide for life. The psalmist's hope is firmly anchored in the certainty and righteousness of these divine pronouncements.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth":** This is a heartfelt plea, a supplication to God. The psalmist is not merely asking for the ability to speak, but specifically to speak "the word of truth"—God's revealed, reliable, and authoritative message. The adverb "utterly" (עַד־מְאֹד, *‘ad-mĕ’ōd*) intensifies the request, indicating a desire that this truth never be completely removed or silenced from his ability to articulate it. This implies a fear of being unable or unwilling to bear witness, whether due to external oppression, internal spiritual struggle, or a divine withdrawal of the capacity to speak. It is a prayer for continued spiritual vitality and courage in proclamation.
* **"for I have hoped in thy judgments":** This clause provides the foundational reason and motivation for the preceding plea. The psalmist's desire to speak the word of truth is rooted in his deep and abiding hope (יָחַלְתִּי, *yaḥaltî*, "I have hoped" or "I have waited expectantly") in God's "judgments." This hope is not a passive wish but an active, confident reliance on God's righteous decrees, His just and perfect will as revealed in His law. Because he trusts implicitly in the goodness and reliability of God's character and His word, he yearns to continue speaking that truth. His internal conviction fuels his external desire to testify.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily functions as a **Prayer** or **Supplication**, directly addressing God with a specific request. The psalmist employs **Metaphor** by referring to the "mouth" as the vessel or instrument through which the "word of truth" is spoken, implying that this truth is a living entity that can be "taken out" or withheld. The phrase "utterly out of my mouth" can also be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the psalmist's intense desire for the complete and continuous presence of God's truth in his speech. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Cause-and-Effect** relationship or **Reasoning** established by the conjunction "for," linking the psalmist's hope in God's judgments as the foundational reason for his plea to speak the word of truth. This structure highlights the deep connection between internal faith and external expression.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 119:43 powerfully encapsulates the theological truth that God's revelation is not merely for private contemplation but for public proclamation. The "word of truth" is a divine gift, entrusted to believers not only for their sanctification but also for their testimony to the world. The psalmist's plea underscores the inherent value of truth-telling in a world often hostile to divine revelation, emphasizing that our ability to speak God's truth is both a spiritual gift and a divine enablement. This verse also highlights the foundational role of hope and trust in God's character—specifically in His "judgments"—as the wellspring from which courageous and consistent confession flows. It teaches that our confidence in God's righteousness empowers our witness, making the preservation of our testimony a matter of divine grace and human dependence.

* [Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief for Salvation")
* [John 17:17](/john/17-17 "John 17:17 - Sanctified by Truth")
* [Jeremiah 1:9](/jeremiah/1-9 "Jeremiah 1:9 - God Puts His Words in Jeremiah's Mouth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 119:43 is a prayer for spiritual courage and consistency, a model for believers today who navigate a world often indifferent or hostile to biblical truth. It challenges us to examine the depth of our hope in God's "judgments"—His righteous character and unchanging word—and to recognize how that hope directly fuels our desire and ability to speak His truth. In moments of fear, doubt, or external pressure, the psalmist's plea reminds us that our capacity to bear witness is ultimately sustained by God. We are called to actively pray for the preservation of our voice for truth, not just for our own sake, but for the sake of those who need to hear God's liberating message. This verse encourages us to be bold in our confession, anchored in the certainty that God's word is true and His judgments are just, ensuring that His "word of truth" is never "utterly out of our mouth."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What circumstances or fears might cause me to hesitate or be silent when it comes to speaking God's "word of truth"?**
* **How does my "hope in God's judgments" (His righteous character and perfect will) empower or hinder my willingness to speak His truth?**
* **In what practical ways can I actively pray for and cultivate the courage to speak God's truth in my daily interactions?**

### FAQ
**Why would the psalmist pray for God not to "take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth"? Does God silence His faithful?**

Answer: The psalmist's prayer reflects a deep awareness of human frailty and the potential for various forms of spiritual or physical silencing. While God certainly does not desire to silence His faithful, this plea can be understood in several ways. Firstly, it could be a prayer against external opposition or persecution that might physically prevent him from speaking, or against the fear that such opposition might induce. Secondly, it could be a prayer against internal spiritual dryness, doubt, or a loss of conviction that would render him unable to articulate divine truth with passion and clarity. Thirdly, it might be a recognition that the ability to speak God's word is a gift and a privilege, and the psalmist is asking God to sustain that gift, ensuring he remains a vibrant and effective witness. It's a prayer of dependence, acknowledging that even the desire and ability to speak God's truth ultimately comes from Him. This is similar to the prayer for boldness found in [Acts 4:29](/acts/4-29 "Acts 4:29 - Prayer for Boldness").

**What is the significance of the psalmist's "hope in thy judgments" as the reason for his plea?**

Answer: The phrase "for I have hoped in thy judgments" provides the essential motivation and foundation for the psalmist's prayer. "Judgments" (Hebrew: *mišpāṭîm*) here refers to God's righteous decrees, ordinances, and the principles of His divine law, which are expressions of His perfect justice and wisdom. The psalmist's "hope" (Hebrew: *yaḥal*) is not a passive wish but an active, confident waiting and trust in the reliability and goodness of these divine pronouncements. Because he deeply trusts that God's word and ways are perfectly just and true, he passionately desires to continue speaking that truth. His internal conviction and unwavering confidence in God's character and His word are the wellspring from which his desire to testify flows. This connection highlights that true proclamation is always rooted in profound trust, as seen in [Psalm 33:4](/psalms/33-4 "Psalm 33:4 - The Word of the Lord is Upright and True").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 119:43 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is Himself the embodiment of the "word of truth." [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Became Flesh") declares that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," and [John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life") reveals Jesus as "the way, and the truth, and the life." He perfectly spoke God's judgments, always proclaiming the Father's will and truth without deviation or compromise, even in the face of intense opposition and the ultimate silencing of the cross. The psalmist's prayer for the preservation of truth-speaking is answered in Christ, who not only spoke the truth but *is* the truth, and who, through His resurrection, ensured that the "word of truth" would never be "utterly out of the mouth" of His church. Moreover, the hope in God's judgments is fully realized in Christ's perfect righteousness and His coming reign, where all God's decrees will be perfectly executed ([Revelation 19:11](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11 - The Rider on the White Horse")). As believers, we are now empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue proclaiming this "word of truth"—the Gospel of Jesus Christ—to the ends of the earth, fulfilling the Great Commission found in [Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission"), knowing that the One who enables our speech is faithful.

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 9:4

For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

1 Peter 2:23

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

Psalms 119:175

¶ Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Psalms 119:13

¶ With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

Psalms 119:52

¶ I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

Psalms 71:17

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.