Psalms 119:130

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

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Word by word — the Hebrew

Word	Hebrew	Strong’s	Meaning
entrance	פֵּ֖תַח Pe.tach	H6608	opening (figuratively) i.e. disclosure · noun, common masculine singular construct
words	דְּבָרֶ֥יךָ de.va.Rei.kha	H1697	a word · noun, common masculine plural construct + pronominal suffix, 2nd person masculine singular
light	יָאִ֗יר ya.'Ir	H215	to be (causative · verb, hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular
understanding	מֵבִ֥ין me.Vin	H995	to separate mentally (or distinguish) · verb, hiphil active participle, masculine singular absolute
simple	פְּתָיִֽים pe.ta.Yim	H6612	silly (i.e. seducible) · noun, common masculine plural absolute

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God…
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins…
Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Luke 1:77-79 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the d…
Proverbs 1:22-23 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:130

Here is, 1. The great use for which the word of God was intended, to give light, that is, to give understanding, to give us to understand that which will be of use to us in our travels through this world; and it is the outward and ordinary means by which the Spirit of God enlightens the understanding of all that are sanctified. God's testimonies are not only wonderful for the greatness of them, but useful, as a light in a dark place. 2. Its efficacy for this purpose. It admirably answers the end; for, (1.) Even the entrance of God's word gives light. If we begin at the beginning, and take it before us, we shall find that the very first verses of the Bible give us surprising and yet satisfyin…

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John Gill on Psalms 119:130

The entrance of thy words giveth light,.... The beginning of them; the first three chapters in Genesis, what light do they give into the origin of all things; the creation of man, his state of innocence; his fall through the temptations of Satan, and his recovery and salvation by Christ, the seed of the woman, the first principles of the oracles of God, the rudiments of religion, the elements of the world, the rites of the ceremonial law, gave great light into Gospel mysteries. As soon as a man enters upon reading the Scriptures, if he has any degree of understanding of the things in them, they immediately throw light into his mind; or, however, as soon as ever the word has an entrance into…

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John Calvin on Psalms 119:129-136

Psalm 119:129-136 129. ph Thy testimonies are marvelous; therefore my soul hath kept them. 130. ph The entrance of thy words is light, which giveth understanding to the little ones. 131. ph I opened my mouth and panted, because I loved thy commandments. 132. ph Look upon me, and be merciful to me, according to thy judgment towards them that love thy name. 133. ph Direct my steps according to thy word, and let no iniquity have [9] dominion in me. 134. ph Deliver me from the oppression of men; and I will keep thy precepts. 135. ph Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. 136. ph Rivers of waters run from my eyes, because they have not kept thy law. 129. Thy testimo…

The Church Fathers

"When your word goes forth," he says, "it gives light, and makes His little ones to understand" [Psalm 119:130]. What is the little one save the humble and weak? Be not proud therefore, presume not in your own strength, which is nought; and you will understand why a good law was given by a good God, though it cannot give life. For it was given for this end, that it might make you a little one instead of great, that it might show that you had not strength to do the law of your own power: and that thus, wanting aid and destitute, you might fly unto grace, saying, "Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.". ..Let all be little ones, and let all the world be guilty before You: because "by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified" in Your sight; "for by the Law is the knowledge of sin," etc. [Romans 3:19-21] These are Your wonderful testimonies, which the soul of this little one has searched; and has therefore found, because he became humbled and a little one. For who does Your commandments as they ought to be done, that is, by "faith which works through love," [Galatians 5:6] save love itself be shed abroad in his heart through the Holy Spirit? [Romans 5:5]
— Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 119

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Poetry — Has been well defined as “the measured language of emotion.” Hebrew poetry deals almost exclusively with the great question of man’s relation to God. “Guilt, condemnation, punishment, pardon,…
Light · FIGURATIVE AND SYMBOLI — FIGURATIVE AND SYMBOLI
Scriptures, The · Designed for: Illuminating — Designed for: Illuminating
Simplicity · They who have the grace of: Are made wise by the word of God — They who have the grace of: Are made wise by the word of God

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Psalms 119:130

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:130

John Gill on Psalms 119:130

John Calvin on Psalms 119:129-136

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Psalms 119:130

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:130

John Gill on Psalms 119:130

John Calvin on Psalms 119:129-136

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Keil & Delitzsch on Psalms 119:129-136

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Psalms 119:129-136