Psalms 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

BSB

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

KJV

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

ASV

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.

BBE

<NUN> Your word is a light for my feet, ever shining on my way.

Original Hebrew

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The early church

"Your word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths" [Psalm 119:105]. The word "lantern" appears in the word "light;" "my feet" are also repeated in "my paths." What then means "Your Word"? [John 1:1] Is it He who was in the beginning God with God, that is, the Word by whom all things were made? It is not thus. For that Word is a light, but is not a lantern. For a lantern is a creature, not a creator; and it is lighted by participation of an unchangeable light....For no creature, howsoever rational and intellectual, is lighted by itself, but is lighted by participation of eternal Truth: although sometimes day is spoken of, not meaning the Lord, but that "day which the Lord has made," and on account of which it is said, "Come unto Him, and be lightened." On account of which participation, inasmuch as the Mediator Himself became Man, He is styled lantern in the Apocalypse. [Revelation 21:23] But this sense is a solitary one; for it cannot be divinely spoken of any of the saints, nor in any wise lawfully said of any, "The Word was made flesh," [John 1:14] save of the "one Mediator between God and men." [1 Timothy 2:5] Since therefore the only-begotten Word, coequal with the Father, is styled a light; and man when enlightened by the Word is also called a light, who is styled also a lantern, as John, as the Apostles; and since no man of these is the Word, and that Word by whom they were enlightened is not a lantern; what is this word, which is thus called a light and a lantern at the same time, save we understand the word which was sent unto the Prophets, or which was preached through the Apostles; not Christ the Word, but the word of Christ, of which it is written, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"? [Romans 10:17] For the Apostle Peter also, comparing the prophetical word to a lantern, says, "whereunto ye do well that you take heed, as unto a lantern, that shines in a dark place." [2 Peter 1:19] What, therefore, he here says, "Your word" is the word which is contained in all the holy Scriptures.
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Expositions on the Psalms

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 105–112

The word of God directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit, as a light to direct us in the choice of our way, and the steps we take in that way. The keeping of God's commands here meant, was that of a sinner under a dispensation of mercy, of a believer having part in the covenant of grace. The psalmist is often afflicted; but with longing desires to become more holy, offers up daily prayers for quickening grace. We cannot offer any thing to God, that he will accept but what he is pleased to teach us to do. To have our soul or life continually in our hands, implies constant danger of life; yet he did not forget God's promises nor his precepts. Numberless are the snares laid by the wicked; and happy is that servant of God, whom they have not caused to err from his Master's precepts. Heavenly treasures are a heritage for ever; all the saints accept them as such, therefore they can be content with little of this world. We must look for comfort only in the way of duty, and that duty must be done. A good man, by the grace of God, brings his heart to his work, then it is done well.

Read Matthew Henry on Psalm 119 →

Cross-references

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Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.