Synonyms for God’s Word in Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is the longest of the 150 psalms in the Psalter, with 176 verses, which make it equal in length to Ruth or James or Philippians. Psalm 119 is the feast of all feasts in the Psalter as it unpacks every nuance imaginable about the nature of the Word of God.

There are a number of synonyms for God’s Word in this chapter. In fact, only 6 verses in the psalm do not have a word for the “Bible” (vs. 84, 90-91, 121-122, 149); that is a mere 3% of the psalm! 97% of the verses in this psalm are about the Word of God in our lives.

The synonyms lists are as follows:

• “Ways” – This is the Hebrew word dabar and can be found in 32 verses: vs. 3, 5, 9, 15-17, 25-26, 28, 30, 33, 37, 42-43, 49, 57, 59, 65, 74, 81, 89, 101, 105, 107, 114, 130, 132, 139, 147, 160-161, 169. It is the most general of the 8 titles and refers simply to anything that comes from God’s mouth. Anything that comes from His holy, perfect mouth is His “way” for mankind.

• “Testimonies” – This is the Hebrew word edot and can be found in 23 verses: vs. 2, 14, 22, 24, 31, 36, 46, 59, 79, 88, 95, 99, 111, 119, 125, 129, 138, 144, 146, 152, 157, 167-168. It is a word often used synonymously with the 10 Commandments. It is a word meaning “to bear witness. For example, Israel was told to place the Law next to the Ark so it would be a witness against them (Deuteronomy 31:26). His testimony is equal to His will for each individual of all mankind.

• “Statutes” – This is the Hebrew word huqqim and can be found in 22 verses: vs. 5, 8, 12, 16, 23, 26, 33, 48, 54, 64, 68, 71, 80, 83, 112, 117-118, 124, 135, 145, 155, 171. It’s base meaning is “to inscribe, to cut.” It seems to speak of the permanence of Scripture as it is engraved on our hearts (Isaiah 30:8). His statute is something that He permanently holds all of mankind to.

• “Word” – This is the Hebrew word imrah and can be found in 43 verses: vs. 9, 11, 16-17, 25, 28, 38, 41-43, 49-50, 57-58, 65, 67, 74, 76, 81-82, 89, 101, 103, 105, 107, 114, 116, 123, 130, 133, 139-140, 147-148, 154, 158, 160-162, 169-170, 172. It’s root word means “to promise.” It really refers to anything that God vows to do, how He judges, how He rewards, etc. for mankind.

• “Rules” – This is the Hebrew word mishpatim and can be found in 24 verses: vs. 7, 13, 20, 29-30, 39, 43, 52, 62, 75, 84, 91, 102, 106, 108, 120-121, 132, 137, 149, 156, 160, 164, 175. It means “what the Divine Judge has ruled to be right” or “ordinances” It refers to any divine legal issues. It looks at the judicial side of God’s Word; it sees truth as something that is legally binding upon mankind.

• “Commandments” – This is the Hebrew word mitsvot and can be found in 24 verses: vs. 6, 10, 19, 21, 32, 35, 47-48, 60, 66, 73, 86, 96, 98, 115, 127, 131, 143, 151, 158, 166, 172-173, 176. Its root refers to teaching. The title means “what God has taught us to observe.” A commandment refers to truth as something taught to mankind.

• “Precepts” – This is the Hebrew word piqqudim and can be found in 21 verses: vs. 4, 15, 27, 40, 45, 56, 63, 69, 78, 87, 93-94, 100, 104, 110, 128, 134, 141, 159, 168, 173. It means “what God has appointed to be done, like a covenant.” It is synonymous with covenants. A precept is that aspect of truth that refers to anything God has covenanted with mankind over.

• “Law” – This is the Hebrew word torah and can be found in 25 verses: vs. 1, 18, 29, 34, 44, 51, 53, 55, 61, 70, 72, 77, 85, 92, 97, 109, 113, 126, 136, 142, 150, 153, 163, 165, 174. This is the most common title for God’s Word in the O.T. It’s root meaning is “instruction.” It refers to the totality of everything God teaches mankind.

Psalm 119 is an exhaustive look at the Word of God and an exposition of what all these titles refer to and mean. And in the coming weeks, on this blog, we will highlight sections of this Word-based psalm.