Psalms 119:48

KJV

My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

KJV (with Strong's)

My hands {H3709} also will I lift up {H5375} unto thy commandments {H4687}, which I have loved {H157}; and I will meditate {H7878} in thy statutes {H2706}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will lift my hands to your mitzvot, which I love; and I will meditate on your laws.

Berean Standard Bible

I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on Your statutes.

American Standard Version

I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate on thy statutes. ז ZAYIN.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 119:48 beautifully encapsulates the Psalmist's profound and active devotion to God's divine revelation. It portrays a holistic commitment, where deep affection for God's commandments is expressed through a posture of intentional embrace and sustained, heartfelt meditation on His statutes, signifying a life fully yielded to divine wisdom and instruction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an elaborate acrostic poem structured around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, with each of its 22 stanzas (eight verses each) beginning with a successive letter. Verse 48 falls within the "Waw" (ו) section (verses 41-48), which often expresses a deep longing for God's salvation and a fervent desire to walk in His ways, even amidst personal struggles or external opposition. The entire psalm is a fervent prayer, a declaration of unwavering reliance on God's perfect law, and a testament to the life-giving power of His Word, serving as a comprehensive guide for living a righteous life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the "Torah" (God's instruction or law) was not merely a set of rules but the very revelation of God's character and will, foundational to national identity and individual piety. It was understood as a divine gift, a source of wisdom, life, and blessing, distinct from the arbitrary laws of surrounding nations. The act of "lifting up hands" was a common posture of prayer, worship, or taking an oath, signifying reverence, surrender, or a readiness to receive. Meditation on the law was a deeply ingrained practice, often involving quiet recitation or murmuring of the text, reflecting a culture where the divine word was to be internalized and lived out, not just intellectually apprehended.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent throughout Psalm 119 and the broader biblical narrative. First, it highlights a **profound affection for God's law**, expressed by the phrase "which I have loved." This is not mere intellectual agreement but a deep, heartfelt devotion, recognizing God's ways as inherently good, just, and beneficial, leading to true freedom and blessing, as echoed in [Psalm 19:7-11](/psalms/19-7 "Psalm 19:7-11 - The Perfection of God's Law"). Second, it emphasizes **active embrace and obedience**: "My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments" signifies a posture of readiness, acceptance, and active engagement with God's will, a full bodily and volitional commitment to adhering to divine instruction. This active commitment resonates with the call to [obey God's commandments as a sign of love](/john/14-15 "John 14:15 - Obedience as a Sign of Love for Christ"). Finally, the verse underscores the importance of **deep, sustained meditation**: "and I will meditate in thy statutes" points to a continuous, thoughtful, and spiritual engagement with God's word, moving beyond superficial reading to deep internalization and spiritual nourishment. This deep contemplation is also commanded in [Joshua 1:8](/joshua/1-8 "Joshua 1:8 - Meditate on the Law Day and Night").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **lift up (Hebrew, _nasa'_):** This verb (נָשָׂא) carries a range of meanings, including to lift, carry, bear, or take. In the context of "lifting up hands," it signifies a posture of prayer, worship, supplication, or a gesture of solemn commitment and readiness to receive or obey. It indicates an intentional and active engagement, a physical manifestation of an internal disposition towards God's commands.
* **loved (Hebrew, _'ahev_):** The verb (אָהֵב) denotes a deep, personal affection, a strong emotional attachment, and a profound delight. It goes beyond mere intellectual assent or grudging compliance, suggesting a genuine fondness and appreciation for God's commandments, viewing them not as burdens but as sources of joy and life.
* **meditate (Hebrew, _hagah_):** This rich verb (הָגָה) implies a low murmuring, a deep internal pondering, or even a soft vocalization of the text. It's not just intellectual thought but a holistic engagement that involves the mind, heart, and sometimes the lips, akin to a lion growling over its prey, thoroughly consuming it. It describes a continuous, reflective, and often vocal engagement with the divine word, allowing it to penetrate and transform the inner being.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments":** This clause expresses the Psalmist's active and intentional commitment to God's commands. "Lifting up hands" symbolizes a posture of reverence, worship, and readiness to receive and obey. It signifies a complete embrace of God's will, moving beyond passive acknowledgment to active, volitional engagement and adherence to His instructions. It suggests a life lived in alignment with divine precepts, a willingness to be guided and shaped by them.
* **"which I have loved":** This phrase reveals the underlying motivation for the Psalmist's commitment: a deep, personal affection for God's commandments. This love is not merely intellectual but heartfelt, indicating that the Psalmist finds delight and joy in God's law, recognizing its inherent goodness, wisdom, and life-giving power. This love transforms obedience from a duty into a joyful response.
* **"and I will meditate in thy statutes":** This final clause describes the continuous, internal process of engaging with God's word. "Meditate" (hagah) implies a deep, reflective, and often vocal pondering of the statutes, allowing them to permeate the mind and heart. It's a sustained dwelling on divine truth, internalizing its principles, and allowing them to shape one's thoughts, attitudes, and actions. This meditation is a source of spiritual nourishment and wisdom.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 119:48 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and I will meditate in thy statutes") echoes and reinforces the sentiment of the first ("My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved"). Both clauses speak to a deep, active, and affectionate engagement with God's revealed will, using slightly different terms ("commandments" and "statutes") to refer to the same divine instruction. The phrase "My hands also will I lift up" functions as **Symbolism**, representing a posture of worship, prayer, readiness, and active commitment to God's word. It's a physical manifestation of an internal spiritual state. The entire psalm, including this verse, is part of an elaborate **Acrostic Structure**, where each eight-verse stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. While not a device within the verse itself, this overarching structure emphasizes the comprehensive and systematic devotion of the Psalmist to every facet of God's perfect law.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse beautifully encapsulates the biblical ideal of a holistic relationship with God's Word, one characterized by both passionate affection and diligent application. It underscores the theological truth that God's commandments are not burdensome impositions but rather expressions of His perfect wisdom and love, designed for humanity's flourishing. The Psalmist's love for the law reflects a deeper love for the Lawgiver, recognizing that true freedom and blessedness are found in aligning one's life with divine instruction. The active "lifting up of hands" signifies a posture of humble submission and eager obedience, while "meditation" speaks to the internal transformation that occurs when God's truth is deeply internalized. This integrated approach to God's Word—loving it, obeying it, and pondering it—is presented as the pathway to spiritual vitality and a life pleasing to God.

* [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6 "Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Love and Teach God's Word")
* [Psalm 1:2](/psalms/1-2 "Psalm 1:2 - Delight in the Law of the Lord")
* [Romans 7:12](/romans/7-12 "Romans 7:12 - The Law is Holy, Righteous, and Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 119:48 offers a profound challenge and invitation to believers today. In a world often characterized by superficial engagement and fleeting attention, the Psalmist calls us to a deep, abiding, and active relationship with God's Word. Our interaction with Scripture should not be a mere intellectual exercise or a quick daily ritual, but a heartfelt encounter fueled by genuine love. Do we truly "love" God's commandments, seeing them as good, wise, and beneficial for our lives, or do we view them as restrictive burdens? The "lifting up of hands" calls us to active obedience, to translate our understanding into tangible actions, making God's will a practical priority in our daily choices and interactions. Furthermore, the call to "meditate" urges us beyond simply reading the Bible to truly dwelling on its truths, allowing them to penetrate our minds, shape our hearts, and transform our character. This kind of deep, prayerful engagement with Scripture is essential for spiritual growth, discernment, and a life that genuinely reflects God's glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Do I genuinely love God's commandments, or do I view them as burdens?**
* **In what practical ways do I "lift up my hands" to God's word, actively embracing and obeying it?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more consistent practice of meditating on Scripture in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "lifting up hands" in this verse?**

Answer: "Lifting up hands" (Hebrew: _nasa' kapayim_) is a posture with deep significance in biblical contexts. Here, it symbolizes several things: a posture of prayer or worship, indicating reverence and devotion; a gesture of taking an oath or making a vow, signifying solemn commitment; and a readiness to receive or embrace. In Psalms 119:48, it primarily conveys the Psalmist's active and eager acceptance of God's commandments. It's not a passive acknowledgement but an intentional, physical expression of a desire to align oneself fully with God's will and to be ready to obey.

**How is "meditate" (hagah) different from just reading?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "meditate" here is _hagah_ (הָגָה), which implies much more than a casual reading. It suggests a deep, internal pondering, often accompanied by a low murmuring or vocalization of the text. Unlike simply reading for information, _hagah_ involves chewing on the words, mulling them over, repeating them, and allowing them to sink deeply into one's mind and heart. It's a holistic engagement that leads to internalization, reflection, and transformation. This kind of meditation is about savoring the truth, allowing it to shape one's thoughts, emotions, and actions, as seen in the blessed person described in [Psalm 1:2](/psalms/1-2 "Psalm 1:2 - Delight in the Law of the Lord").

**Why are there so many different terms for God's law in Psalm 119?**

Answer: Psalm 119 uses at least ten different synonymous terms for God's divine revelation (e.g., commandments, statutes, precepts, judgments, testimonies, word, law, ways). This rich vocabulary is a literary device to emphasize the comprehensive and multifaceted nature of God's instruction. Each term highlights a slightly different aspect: "commandments" (מִצְוָה, _mitzvah_) emphasizes divine direction, "statutes" (חֹק, _choq_) speaks of divine decrees or ordinances, and "testimonies" (עֵדוּת, _'edut_) refers to God's solemn declarations. By using this variety, the Psalmist conveys a complete and unwavering devotion to every facet of God's perfect and all-encompassing will, underscoring its sufficiency and perfection for every aspect of life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While the Psalmist's profound love and commitment to God's law in Psalms 119:48 is exemplary, its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning are found in Jesus Christ. Jesus perfectly embodied the spirit of this verse, declaring that He did not come to abolish the Law but to [fulfill it](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law"). His entire life was a seamless expression of loving God's commandments and meditating in His statutes, culminating in His perfect obedience even unto death. As the [Word made flesh](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God"), Christ is the living embodiment of God's revelation, and our love for God's commandments now finds its highest expression in our love for Him. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to "lift up their hands" in active obedience, not under the burden of the law, but as a joyful response to His grace, enabling the [righteous requirement of the law to be fulfilled in us](/romans/8-4 "Romans 8:4 - The Righteous Requirement of the Law Fulfilled in Us"). Our meditation on God's statutes is now centered on Christ, who is the sum and substance of all divine truth, and our obedience becomes a tangible sign of our love for Him, as He Himself taught: "[If you love me, you will keep my commandments](/john/14-15 "John 14:15 - If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments")". Thus, the Psalmist's longing for and devotion to the law ultimately points to the One who is the Law's perfect end and the source of our ability to truly delight in and live out God's will through the life-giving power of the Spirit ([2 Corinthians 3:6](/2_corinthians/3-6 "2 Corinthians 3:6 - The Spirit Gives Life")).

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 119:15

I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Psalms 1:2

But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Matthew 7:21

¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

John 15:14

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

James 1:22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

John 13:17

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.