What Does Psalm 119:4 Mean in the King James?
Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word translated “precepts” carries the sense of appointed charges, while “keep” pictures guarding them with a watchman’s care.
THE MEANING
You stand addressed as someone entrusted with God’s precepts, under a command to guard them with exceptional care. The verse presents instruction as an active charge that stays in view.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that God’s instruction is optional advice once heard: the verse names its careful keeping as a direct charge.
THE ROOT
פִּקֻּדֶיךָ
piqqudeikha
GROWS FROM
פקד
To attend to, appoint, or oversee.
The word translated “precepts” comes from a root used for attending to, appointing, and overseeing. It gives these directives the feel of appointed charges under care, rather than a detached list.
ALSO GROWS
paqad: To attend to, appoint, or muster.
פָּקַד
The root ties the precepts to deliberate attention and appointment.
pequddah: Charge, oversight, or office.
פְּקֻדָּה
This branch shows how the root can name an entrusted responsibility, not only a directive.
לִשְׁמֹר
lishmor
GROWS FROM
שמר
To guard, watch over, or keep.
Shamar is watchful keeping, like a guardian who stays on duty. The verse’s “diligently” intensifies this guarding, so English’s general “keep” can conceal an image of active attention.
ALSO GROWS
shomer: A keeper, guard, or watchman.
שֹׁמֵר
The person who keeps the precepts is pictured as one who watches over what has been entrusted.
mishmeret: A guard, watch, or charge.
מִשְׁמֶרֶת
This branch makes the sense of keeping as an assigned watch explicit.
THE PATTERN
Divine instruction is treated as an entrusted charge, kept with attentive care.
Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.If ye love me, keep my commandments.THE THREAD
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.The Hebrew verb behind “keep” in Psalm 119:4 is שָׁמַר (shamar), meaning to guard or watch over; the same verb appears twice behind “preserve” in Psalm 121:7. The root links guarding the precepts with God’s guarding of you.
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