Psalms 119:58

¶ I intreated thy favour with [my] whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

I intreated {H2470} thy favour {H6440} with my whole heart {H3820}: be merciful {H2603} unto me according to thy word {H565}.

I beg your favor with my whole heart; show pity to me, in keeping with your promise.

I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.

I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Commentary

Psalm 119:58 is a heartfelt prayer from the psalmist, expressing deep sincerity in seeking God's favor and appealing to His divine mercy, grounded firmly in the reliability of His promises.

Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, a magnificent acrostic poem dedicated entirely to the excellence, power, and comfort of God's law, statutes, precepts, testimonies, and judgments—collectively referred to as His "word." This particular verse falls within the section (Peh, verses 41-48) where the psalmist expresses a desire for God's salvation and mercy, and a commitment to keeping His commandments. Here, the focus shifts to a personal, earnest plea for divine intervention based on a foundational trust in God's character and promises.

Key Themes

  • Wholehearted Supplication: The phrase "I intreated thy favour with my whole heart" highlights the intensity and sincerity of the psalmist's prayer. This is not a casual request but a desperate, undivided plea for God's goodwill and acceptance. It signifies a complete devotion and earnestness in approaching the Divine, much like the command to love the Lord with all one's heart.
  • Reliance on God's Word: The petition "be merciful unto me according to thy word" is crucial. It reveals that the psalmist's hope for mercy is not based on personal merit or whim, but on God's own revealed character and promises. It's an appeal to God's covenant faithfulness, recognizing that God is bound by His own declarations and that His word will not return void. This demonstrates profound trust in the reliability and authority of Scripture.
  • Divine Mercy: The core request is for God's mercy. This acknowledges a human need for grace and compassion, recognizing that God's favor is unmerited. It is a humble appeal to the Lord's benevolent nature, which is consistently portrayed throughout the Bible as abundant in mercy and lovingkindness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "intreated thy favour" is chālîtî fānêḵā (חָלִיתִי פָנֶיךָ), which literally means "I have made thy face sick" or "I have softened thy face." In this context, it's an idiom meaning to earnestly implore, to seek to appease, or to make supplication before someone, particularly by seeking their presence or favor. It conveys a sense of fervent, persistent prayer. The "whole heart" (bĕḵol-lēḇî - בְּכָל־לִבִּי) emphasizes the complete sincerity and undivided attention given to this plea.

Practical Application

Psalm 119:58 provides a powerful model for prayer today. It teaches us to approach God with:

  • Sincerity: Our prayers should come from a genuine place of need and devotion, not merely ritual or obligation.
  • Confidence in God's Promises: We can boldly ask for God's mercy and favor because He has promised them in His Word. Our petitions are strengthened when they align with what God has already revealed about Himself and His will. It encourages us to know the Scriptures so we can pray "according to His word."
  • Humility: Acknowledging our need for mercy reminds us of God's sovereignty and our dependence on His grace.
This verse encourages believers to ground their deepest petitions in the unchanging character and reliable promises of God found in His holy Word.

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

Cross-References

  • Psalms 119:41

    ¶ VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, [even] thy salvation, according to thy word.

  • Hebrews 10:22

    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Psalms 119:170

    Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

  • Psalms 119:10

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

  • 1 Kings 13:6

    And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as [it was] before.

  • Psalms 27:8

    [When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

  • Psalms 4:6

    ¶ [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.