Psalms 19:8

“The precepts of YHWH are upright, making glad the heart; the commandment of YHWH is clean, giving light to the eyes.”

Psalms 19:8 · direct translation from the Hebrew
Study it in the app

YHWH's instruction revives, gladdens the heart, and is sweeter than honeyThe Word of God

With the Hebrew beneath

8

Psalms 19:8, word by word

The preceptsפִּקּוּדֵיpikude

precepts

Precepts: what God has charged people to keep. It is used only in the plural and almost only in the Psalms.

Where else “pikude” appears
of YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
are uprightיְשָׁרִיםyesharim

upright

Acting well before YHWH, without bending.

Where else “yesharim” appears
making gladמְשַׂמְּחֵיmesamche

gladden

To make someone feel glad and cheered.

Where else “mesamche” appears
the heartלֵבlev

heart

The deepest part of a person: where they think, feel and decide.

Where else “lev” appears
the commandmentמִצְוַתmitsvat

commandment

An order of God that must be kept.

Where else “mitsvat” appears
is cleanבָּרָהbara

pure, clean

Clean, pure; also clear, bright.

Where else “bara” appears
giving light toמְאִירַתmeirat

give light

To fill with light and drive away darkness; also to light a lamp.

Where else “meirat” appears
the eyesעֵינָיִםenayim

eye

The organ with which one sees; so "lift the eyes" means to look.

Where else “enayim” appears

The context

7The instruction of YHWH is blameless, bringing back the soul; the testimony of YHWH is faithful, making wise the naive.

8 · This verse (above)

9The fear of YHWH is pure, enduring forever; the rules of YHWH are truth; they are righteous altogether.

Read all of Psalms 19

How to use it