Psalms 119:1-176 - Exposition

1. TORAH , "the Law" itself; but not merely the Law given on Mount Sinai; rather, God's law in the widest sense, all whereby he has intimated his will to man.

2. ' EDVOTH , or ' EDOTH , "testimonies." God's commands, considered as witnesses to his character, and as attesting his will.

3. MISHPATIM , "judgments." Judicial pronouncements by act or word against particular lines of conduct.

4. KHUQQIM , "statutes"—once translated "ordinances" ( Psalms 119:91 ). Enactments of God as Legislator, but not confined to the written Law.

5. DABAR or DEBARIM , "God's Word" or "Words." His actual spoken or written utterances.

6. PIQQUDIM , "precepts." Instructions given to men to direct their conduct.

7. MITSROTH , "commandments." Only slightly differing from piqqudim—rather wider.

8. IMRAH , properly "promise," but used rather as a variant, instead of dabar , and extending to all God's utterances.

9. DAREK or DEEAKIM , "way" Or "ways." Prescribed lines of conduct (very seldom used).

The synonyms from 1 to 8 occur, each of them twenty times, or oftener, in the psalm. Darek ( derakim ) occurs only four times. Emunah , which has been called a synonym (Kay), scarcely deserves to be so considered. It is only wanted as a synonym once ( Psalms 119:90 ). The excellence of "the Law" is considered in almost every possible aspect.

א ALEPH .