The Meaning of Psalms 19:8 Explained

Psalms 19:8

KJV: The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

YLT: The precepts of Jehovah are upright, Rejoicing the heart, The command of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes,

Darby: The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes;

ASV: The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The statutes  of the LORD  [are] right,  rejoicing  the heart:  the commandment  of the LORD  [is] pure,  enlightening  the eyes. 

What does Psalms 19:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Furthermore, it brings joy and wisdom to people because it is correct and enlightening. The terms "testimony" ( Psalm 19:7; "statutes, NIV), "precepts," "commandment" ("commands," NIV), and "judgments" ( Psalm 19:9; "ordinances," NIV) all refer to various parts of the God"s law. [1]

Context Summary

Psalms 19:1-14 - The Works And The Word Of God
This is the "Psalm of the Two Books"-Nature and Scripture. If Psalms 8:1-9 were written at night, Psalms 19:1-14 was surely written by day. In Psalms 19:1, God is called El, "strong;" in Psalms 19:7-9; Psalms 19:14, the Hebrew Jehovah is translated "Lord," as if His glory as Creator is the stepping-stone to loftier conceptions of the Redeemer.
Nature's silence! No speech nor language! Psalms 19:3. What a picture of the sacred stillness of dawn! Yet the witness-bearing is universal. Line, Psalms 19:4, is "compass" or "territory," but some translate it "chord." Nature's harp is strung to the glory of God. Jesus is our Sun, Malachi 4:2.
Six synonyms for Scripture, and twelve qualities ascribed to it, Psalms 19:7-9. How truly might our Lord have appropriated Psalms 19:10! Let us end with confession and prayer. Errors, Psalms 19:12; see Leviticus 4:2, r.v., margin, Psalms 19:13. Dominion, Psalms 19:13; Romans 6:14. For the seventh time Jehovah, Psalms 19:14, with two loving epithets! Can we all say my, claiming all of God? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 19

1  The creatures show God's glory
7  The excellence of the divine law
12  David prays for grace

What do the individual words in Psalms 19:8 mean?

The statutes of Yahweh [are] right rejoicing the heart the commandment [is] pure enlightening the eyes
פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־ לֵ֑ב מִצְוַ֥ת בָּ֝רָ֗ה מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם

פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י  The  statutes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: פִּקּוּדִים  
Sense: precept, statute.
יְהוָ֣ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יְ֭שָׁרִים  [are]  right 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.
מְשַׂמְּחֵי־  rejoicing 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
לֵ֑ב  the  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
מִצְוַ֥ת  the  commandment 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
בָּ֝רָ֗ה  [is]  pure 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: בַּר  
Sense: pure, clear, sincere.
מְאִירַ֥ת  enlightening 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
עֵינָֽיִם  the  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.