John Gill Commentary Psalms 119:160

John Gill Commentary

Psalms 119:160

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Psalms 119:160

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances [endureth] for ever. SHIN." — Psalms 119:160 (ASV)

Your word [is] true [from] the beginning
Every word of promise God made from the beginning of the world, and in any period of time; as to Adam, to Abraham, to the Israelites, or to any other person or persons; was true in itself, and faithfully performed, not one ever failed; particularly the promise concerning the Messiah, made to Adam in Eden; and which has been spoken of by all the prophets which have been since the world began, (Genesis 3:15) (Luke 1:70) . Or it may be rendered, as the Targum,

``the beginning of your word is truth F8 :'' which a man finds to be so as soon as ever he enters upon the reading of it.

Some refer this to the first chapter of Genesis; others to the first part of the decalogue, concerning the unity of God and his worship; so Aben Ezra, and R. Jeshua, as cited by him, and Jarchi; the same is mentioned by Kimchi as one of the senses, though the first he gives is agreeable to our version: but there is no need to restrain the sense to those particulars, or to the first part of the Scriptures, since the whole is truth; and the meaning may be, "the sum of your word is truth" F9 : so the word here used is sometimes taken for the sum of anything, (Numbers 26:2) (31:26) ; all that is contained in the word of God is truth; its promises, precepts and doctrines, histories, prophecies and proverbs, all the sayings of it are faithful and true;

and everyone of your righteous judgments [endures] for ever ;
every precept of the word, and doctrine of it; see (Psalms 119:152) (Psalms 19:8Psalms 19:9) .


FOOTNOTES:

  • F8: (tma Kyrbd var) "principium verbi tui veritas", Pagninus, Musculus; "vel verborum tuorum", V. L.
  • F9: "Summa verbi tui est veritas", Cocceius, Schmidt.