Psalms 19:9

9. The fear of the Lord We must accept this as another title of “the law,” Psalms 19:8, by metonomy of the effect, that is, taking the effect, “fear,” for the cause, “law,” because it is the office of the latter to create fear, or reverence, in the mind, as Deuteronomy 17:19. יראת , ( yeerath,) translated “fear,” seems to take the signification of instruction, doctrine, from its verbal root ירה , ( yahrah,) which in Hippil has the sense of to instruct, teach. From the same root comes תורה , law. The connexion the parallel word “judgments” in the next line and the predicates pure and enduring forever require the sense we have given.

Clean Pure, unmixed. The word is often applied to the purity of metals. Exodus 25:11; Exodus 25:17, Psalms 12:6; the purity of water, etc., Ezekiel 36:25. There is no alloy of error in God’s word.

Enduring for ever For the reason just given its purity it will never change or pass away. Unlike human laws, which often contain mixtures of good and evil, the divine law is essential holiness, justice, and love; the living word, which abideth for ever.

Judgments So called because God’s laws are the rule and measure of his judicial decisions on moral conduct.

Are true Truth, faithfulness, the abstract for the concrete.

Altogether Wholly and harmoniously. Whether viewed separately or as a collective body, the divine laws are perfect in themselves and in their harmony. The poetic measure of Psalms 19:7-9 is very regular. Each verse is of two lines, each line having five words, making ten words in each verse, the number of commandments in the decalogue.