Psalms 119:170 · Bible study
Psalms 119:170 Commentary: Praying for Deliverance According to God's Word
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine Psalm 119:170: the psalmist's plea for deliverance based on God's promise.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A humble plea for deliverance based on God’s promise, not on human merit.
- Key words: supplication (techinnah, plea for favour), deliver (natsal, to snatch away, rescue), according to your word (ke’imratekha, based on God’s spoken promise).
- Main debate: Whether the deliverance is primarily physical (outward rescue) or also spiritual (salvation from sin), and whether the plea assumes God is bound to answer when conditions are met.
- Theological theme: Prayer as appeal to God’s covenant faithfulness; the word of God as both the content of revelation and the basis for hope.
- Best use: As a model for praying God’s promises back to Him in times of distress, combining humility and confidence.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
May my plea come before You; rescue me according to Your promise.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.
KJV King James Version 1769
Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
My supplication cometh in before Thee, According to Thy saying deliver Thou me.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy *word.
Translations in other languages (9 available)
Venga mi oración delante de ti: líbrame conforme á tu dicho.
Venha minha súplica diante de ti; livra-me conforme tua promessa.
Que ma supplication arrive jusqu’ à toi!
Laß mein Flehen vor dich kommen; errette mich nach deinem Wort.
Laat mijn smeken voor Uw aanschijn komen, red mij naar Uw toezegging.
Giunga la mia supplicazione in tua presenza; liberami secondo la tua parola.
Niech przyjdzie prośba moja przed twarz twoję, a według obietnicy twojej wyrwij mię.
願我的懇求 達 到你面前，照你的話 搭救我。
Let my prayer come before you; take me out of trouble, as you have said.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 119:170
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse is a petition for deliverance anchored in God’s promise. Barnes notes that 'supplication' (techinnah) properly means favour or mercy, a humble request, not a demand. The plea is for rescue from enemies, sin, and danger, grounded in God’s word of promise. Gill adds that the deliverance includes not only outward troubles but also the 'stumbling block of sin,' pointing to a spiritual dimension. Matthew Henry emphasises the humility: the psalmist comes as a beggar, relying on God’s grace. Cambridge connects verse 170 to the preceding cry in verse 169, noting that 'supplication' refers to the substance of the prayer while 'cry' denotes its passionate expression. Keil and Delitzsch see the two petitions, 'give me understanding' (v.169) and 'deliver me', as inseparable for one persecuted for his faith. All commentators highlight the phrase 'according to your word' as the basis of confidence: God’s own promises, not human merit, are the ground for expecting an answer.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The psalmist prays for deliverance based on God’s promise, and the verse teaches that prayer must be both humble and anchored in God’s revealed word.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of deliverance | The psalmist asks for rescue from trouble, and the deliverance includes both physical and spiritual dimensions. | Some commentators (e.g., Kimchi, as cited by Gill) focus on deliverance from sin's stumbling block, while others (e.g., Barnes) include deliverance from enemies and dangers. Both readings find support in the text. |
| Basis for prayer | The phrase 'according to your word' grounds the plea in God's promises, not human merit. | Some traditions emphasize that God's sovereignty determines the timing and manner; others stress that God has obligated Himself to respond when we pray according to His will. The verse itself does not resolve how this works in practice. |
| Role of human effort | Deliverance comes from God alone, not from human effort. | Verses 166-168 show the psalmist's obedience, raising the question of whether such obedience is a condition for answered prayer. Some see it as evidence of genuine faith; others as a plea for mercy despite human failure. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, each of its twenty-two stanzas assigned to a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 170 belongs to the Tav stanza, the final letter, suggesting a climactic cry for rescue. The psalmist addresses God as the covenant Lord, pleading for deliverance 'according to your word', a phrase that echoes the Torah promises and the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
The word 'supplication' (techinnah) appears often in contexts of urgent need. It derives from a root meaning 'favour' or 'mercy,' so the psalmist is not making a demand but asking for grace. In ancient Israel, prayer was frequently voiced aloud, accompanied by the lifting of hands toward the sanctuary (Psalm 28:2). The verb 'come' (taVo) is in the Hiphil imperfect jussive, conveying a wish: 'Let it come.' This softens the request into a submission to God’s will.
The surrounding verses (119:166-168) affirm the psalmist's obedience and love for God’s commands. Yet verse 170 does not appeal to that obedience as merit; it appeals to God’s word. The historical setting may be the post-exilic period, when faithful Jews faced opposition from hostile neighbours, and the law was cherished as a source of identity and hope. Keil and Delitzsch describe the poet as 'persecuted for the sake of his faith,' in need both of inward strength and outward relief. The acrostic structure served as a memory aid for meditation on the law, allowing worshippers to recite this prayer in times of personal or national crisis.
Textual Notes
The Hebrew text of Psalm 119:170 is well preserved across manuscripts. The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants. The Masoretic reading is stable, and the verse appears consistently in the Septuagint and other ancient versions.
Reception History
Psalm 119 has been treasured in both Jewish and Christian tradition as a meditation on God’s word. Verse 170 specifically has been read as a prayer for rescue grounded in covenant promises. Early church fathers saw in it a cry for salvation through Christ, the living Word. In the medieval period, it was used in monastic prayer for deliverance from sin and temptation. The Reformers, such as Calvin and Luther, emphasised that prayer must be according to God’s word, not human whim. In modern evangelical piety, it is often cited as a model for claiming biblical promises in prayer, though with caution not to presume upon God. Across traditions, the verse unites believers in the conviction that God hears the humble cry and acts according to His faithful word.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Humility of Prayer: 'Let my supplication come before you.' The term techinnah means a plea for favour, not a demand. Approach God as a beggar at a door, not as a claimant in court.
- The Ground of Hope: 'Deliver me according to your word.' God’s promises, not human worth, are the foundation for asking. Plead what He has pledged.
- The Scope of Rescue: 'Deliver me.' As Gill notes, this covers both outward troubles and inner sin. The deliverance is comprehensive, physical and spiritual.
Five-Point Outline
- Enter God’s presence with a humble plea, recognising your unworthiness.
- Name your specific need for rescue, whether from enemies, circumstances, or sin.
- Anchor your prayer in God’s revealed word; recall a promise that applies to your situation.
- Trust God’s timing and sovereignty, knowing that 'according to your word' implies He knows how and when to fulfil it.
- Persist in prayer and move to praise (as v.171 does), confident that God’s teaching and deliverance will come.
Illustration Hooks
- A child reminds a parent of a promised trip to the park, asking with hope but not demanding. The child trusts the parent will keep the word at the right time.
- A person in debt holds onto a written promise from a creditor to cancel the balance. They present the document as the basis for release, not their own record of repayment.
- A traveler lost in the wilderness follows the map even when the terrain seems wrong. The map (the word) is more reliable than immediate feelings.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “How can I know God will keep His promises to deliver me?”
- “What if deliverance doesn’t come when I think it should?”
- “Does ‘according to your word’ mean I can demand a specific outcome from God?”
Leading a Discussion
This verse invites us to bring our deepest needs before God, not with demands but with an appeal to His faithful promises. In your group, discuss times when you have prayed for a specific outcome based on Scripture. How do you balance persistence with surrender to God’s will?
Discussion Questions
- What does the word 'supplication' (techinnah) reveal about the psalmist’s attitude in prayer?
- Why does the psalmist add 'according to your word'? What does that phrase accomplish in the plea?
- How do verses 169 and 170 together show a desire for understanding and for deliverance?
- In what ways is deliverance 'according to your word' different from deliverance on our own terms?
- How does this verse encourage you when you are waiting for God to act in a difficult situation?
- What promises from Scripture can you plead in your own life right now?
- How can this prayer shape the way you approach God in times of need?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 32:9 | Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, ‘Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,’ |
| Genesis 32:12 | You said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which can’t be counted because there are so many.’” |
| II Samuel 7:25 | “Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken. |
| Psalms 28:2 | Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. |
| Psalms 31:2 | Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me. |
| Psalms 89:20 | I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, |
| Psalms 89:25 | I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. |
| Psalms 119:41 | Let your loving kindness also come to me, Yahweh, your salvation, according to your word. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the word translated "supplication" originally means favor or mercy, then the prayer that asks for it. David's plea for deliverance rests not on his own urgency but on God's promises: "according to thy word" means according to what God has pledged.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin pushes back against the common assumption that Psalm 119 is a jumble of unrelated thoughts. He insists the psalm has a coherent twofold aim: urging believers toward godly living and laying out the true pattern of worship by centering on God's law. The variations in topic do not mean it lacks connection.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary draws a careful distinction between the outward, urgent cry for help and the inward substance of the prayer as a plea for favor. Both petitions ask for deeper understanding and the outward freedom needed to use it, with the psalmist grounding his entire appeal in God's word of promise.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note emphasizes that the plea for deliverance rests entirely on God's own promise, not on any claim the petitioner can make. The supplication gains its force from the covenant faithfulness of God, who has pledged to answer those who call on Him according to His word.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the word translated here as supplication is a humble, submissive petition for grace, distinct from the cry mentioned in the previous verse. He also highlights the rabbinic interpretation that this deliverance refers not to physical distress but to the soul's rescue from the stumbling block of sin.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch stress that the poet's confession of going astray is not apostasy but the cry of a sheep in mortal danger who still knows his true home is with God. The petitions for understanding and deliverance go together because outward persecution and inner need for faith-strengthening are intertwined.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the psalmist distinguishing his prayer as both a cry (fervent) and a supplication (humble). He notes that our prayers would never reach God unless Christ presents them for us. The two petitions are for understanding to navigate trouble and for deliverance from it, both grounded in God's word.