Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.
Parallel Translations
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Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.
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Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
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Seven times a day do I praise Thee, because of Thy righteous ordinances.
Cross-references (5)
Passages linked to Psalms 119:164 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Psalms 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances.
- Psalms 55:17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
- Psalms 97:8 Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, Yahweh.
- Psalms 48:11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
- Revelation 19:2 for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 164. Seven times a day have I praised thee.…
164. Seven times a day have I praised thee. By the adverb seven times, the Prophet means that he was continually or very often engaged in celebrating the praises of God; just as it is said in Proverbs 24:16, “A just man falleth seven times,” when he often falls into divers temptations. Among many other texts of Scripture which might be quoted to show that the number seven is often used for many, or an indefinite number, we may refer only to Genesis 4:15 and Leviticus 24:18. Some of the Jewish Rabbies, however, affirm that David is here to be understood literally, observing, that the devout Hebrews were accustomed to praise God twice in the morning before reading the ten commandments, and once after; twice in the evening before reading the same portion of inspiration, and twice after; which makes up the number of seven times a day.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain That is, often and sundry times.
That is, often and sundry times.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise…
Psa 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee] Septies, id est, saepissime, very oft in the day; whensoever God setteth me up an altar I am ready with my sacrifice. Mahometans pray constantly five times a day; those of Morocco six times. Papists foolishly and superstitiously allege this text for their seven Canonical hours, as they call them. The Jews pronounce a hundred benedictions every day (Leo Modena).
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Seven times; many times; that definite number being oft…
Seven times; many times; that definite number being oft taken indefinitely, as Lev 26:28, and elsewhere.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain David, in this psalm, is full of complaints, yet…
David, in this psalm, is full of complaints, yet those did neither jostle out his praises nor put him out of tune for them; whatever condition a child of God is in he does not want matter for praise and therefore should not want a heart. See here, 1. How often David praised God - Seven times a day, that is, very frequently, not only every day, but often every day. Many think that once a week will serve, or once or twice a day, but David would praise God seven times a day at least. Praising God is a duty which we should very much abound in. We must praise God at every meal, praise him upon all occasions, in every thing give thanks. We should praise God seven times a day, for the subject can never be exhausted and our affections should never be tired. See Psa 119:62. 2. What he praised God for - because of thy righteous judgments. We must praise God for his precepts, which are all just and good, for his promises and threatenings and the performance of both in his providence. We are to praise God even for our afflictions, if through grace we get good by them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain TAU.--The Twenty-second and last Part.
TAU.--The Twenty-second and last Part.
TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord,.... Not "my praise", as the Syriac version; but "my prayer", put up in great distress, and with great vehemence and importunity; see Psa 119:145; and when it is desired it might "come near before" the Lord, it does not so much suppose distance of place between the petitioner and the petitioned as earth is from heaven, as Aben Ezra observes, as distance of state and condition; the petitioner being a creature, and a sinful creature, and whose sins had separated between God and him: and now the only way of access is by Christ; prayer can only pass to God through him, who is the only Mediator between God and man; by whom persons and services are brought near unto, him with acceptance. The sum of this request is, that his prayer might not be rejected and shut out; but that it might be admitted, might come up before God, and into his ears, and be regarded by him, and accepted with him;
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give me understanding according to thy word; meaning not natural, but spiritual understanding; not that he was without any, as natural men are, whose understandings are darkened; for he had a large share of understanding of spiritual things; but he wanted more, he desired to know more of himself, of his wants and weaknesses; to know more of God in Christ, and of Christ, his person, offices, and grace; to know more of the doctrines of the word, and of the duties of religion; and particularly that he might have a better understanding of the business of prayer, and might know both what to pray for, and how to pray as he ought; all which is a gift from God: and he desires in all to be directed "according to the word" of God, the means of enlightening the understanding, and of increasing spiritual knowledge; or else he means the promise of God, that he would give him more knowledge and understanding; that he might be taught of God, and follow on to know him, and increase in every branch of spiritual knowledge.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Seven times - Many times; a certain number being…
Seven times - Many times; a certain number being put for an uncertain.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 164. Seven times a day do I praise…
Verse 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee] We have often seen that seven was a number expressing perfection, completion, c., among the Hebrews and that it is often used to signify many, or an indefinite number, see Pr 24:16; Le 26:28. And here it may mean no more than that his soul was filled with the spirit of gratitude and praise, and that he very frequently expressed his joyous and grateful feelings in this way. But Rabbi Solomon says this is to be understood literally, for they praised God twice in the morning before reading the decalogue, and once after; twice in the evening before the same reading, and twice after; making in the whole seven times. The Roman Church has prescribed a similar service.
In a manuscript Saxon Homily, Domin. 3, in Quadrag, A.D. 971, I find the following singular directions: -
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[Anglo-Saxon]
1. [Anglo-Saxon]
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Every Christian man is commanded that he always his body seven times bless with the sign of Christ's cross.
1. First, at day-break.
2. Second time at undern tide, (nine o'clock in the morning.)
3. The third time at midday.
4. The fourth time at noon-tide. (3 o'clock P.M.)
5. The fifth time in the evening.
6. The sixth time at night ere he go to rest.
7. The seventh time at midnight. A good man would do so if he awoke.
It seems that the sign of the cross was thought sufficient, even without prayer.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Seven times a day - The word seven may…
Seven times a day - The word seven may be used here, as it is often in the Scriptures, indefinitely to denote many, or often. There is, however, nothing which makes it necessary to understand it in this sense. The number of times in which it is proper and profitable to engage in secret or public devotion is nowhere specified in the Scriptures, but it is left, under a general direction, to be determined by each one as he shall find it desirable and convenient; as his feelings or his circumstances shall suggest. On another occasion Psa 55:17 David mentions that he prayed “evening, and morning, and at noon;” at other times, perhaps, he might have found it in accordance with his feelings, or with his circumstances, to engage in devotion seven times in a day. There are circumstances in the lives of all good men when they are prompted to do this: times of trouble, of sickness, of bereavement, of danger, or of religious interest. There are states of mind which prompt to this, and when secret devotion becomes frequent, and almost constant; when nothing will satisfy the mind but prayer. No one would be injured by making it a rule, unless unavoidably prevented, to engage seven times each day in secret prayer, though, at the same time, no one could maintain that this is required as a rule by the Scriptures. The times, the circumstances, the manner, the place of secret devotion are wisely and properly left to each individual to be determined by himself. Religion is essentially voluntary, and the times of secret devotion must be voluntary, and therefore a man can easily determine, by his own secret devotions, whether he has any special interest at any particular time in religion, or whether he has any religion at all.
Do I praise thee - Do I engage in devotion.
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Because of thy righteous judgments - Thy law, considered as righteous. I love that law, as such, and I praise thee for it.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 164. Seven times a day] Not merely morning noon…
164. Seven times a day] Not merely morning noon and night (Psa_55:17), but constantly and repeatedly. Cp. Pro_24:16; &c.
righteous judgments] Cp. Psa_119:7, &c.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (164) Seven times.—Some commentators think the number is used…
(164) Seven times.—Some commentators think the number is used here only in a general way for “often,” “repeatedly;” but the number seven evidently had some sacred association for the Hebrews. (Comp. Lev_26:18; Pro_24:16; Mat_18:21, &c) No doubt the seven canonical hours were partly derived from this verse. Elsewhere we find three times as the stated occasions of prayer (Psa_55:17).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Seven times a day do I praise thee; i.e.…
Seven times a day do I praise thee; i.e. repeatedly, an indefinite number of times. (comp. Psa_12:6 Psa_79:11 Pro_24:16) Because of thy righteous judgments (comp. vers. 137, 160).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise…
Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. He laboured perfectly to praise his perfect God, and therefore fulfilled the perfect number of songs. Seven may also intend frequency. Frequently he lifted up his heart in thanksgiving to God for his divine teachings in the word, and for his divine actions m providence. With his voice he extolled the righteousness of the Judge of all the earth. As often as ever he thought of God's ways a song leaped to his lips. At the sight of the oppressive princes, and at the hearing of the abounding falsehood around him, he felt all the more bound to adore and magnify God, who in all things is truth and righteousness. When others rob us of our praise it should be a caution to us not to fall into the same conduct towards our God, who is so much more worthy of honour. If we praise God when we are persecuted our music will be all the sweeter to him because of our constancy in suffering. If we keep clear of all lying, our song will be the more acceptable because it comes out of pure lips. If we never flatter men we shall be the better condition for honouring the Lord. Do we praise God seven times a day? Do we praise him once in seven days?
Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee. Affections of the soul cannot long be kept secret; if they be strong they will break forth in actions. The love of God is like a fire in the heart of man, which breaks forth, and manifests itself in the obedience of his commandments, and praising him for Ins benefits; and this is it which David now protests, that the love of God was not idle in his heart, but made him fervent and earnest m praising God, so that" seven times a day" he did praise God. For by this number the carefulness of holy devotion is expressed, and the fervency of his love. In praising God he could not be satisfied, saith Basil. William Cowper.
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Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee. "As every grace, " says Sibbes, "increaseth by exercise of itself, so doth the grace of prayer. By prayer we learn to pray." And thus it was with the Psalmist; he often times anticipated the dawning of the morning for his exercise of prayer; and at midnight frequently arose to pour out his soul in prayer; now he adds that "seven times in a day, "or as we might express it, "at every touch and turn, "he finds opportunity for and delight in praise. Oh for David's spirit and David's practice! Barton Bouchier.
Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee. A Christian ought to give himself up eminently to this diary without limits. Walter Marshall.
Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee. Not as if he had seven set hours for this duty every day, as the Papists would have it, to countenance their seven canonical hours, but rather a definite number is put for an indefinite, and so amounts to this, he did very often in a day praise God; his holy heart taking the hint of every providence to carry him to heaven on this errand of prayer and praise. William Gurrnall.
Ver. 164. Seven times a day. Some of the Jewish Rabbis affirm that David is here to be understood literally, observing, that the devout Hebrews Were accustomed to praise God twice in the morning, before reading the ten commandments, and once after; twice in the evening before reading the same portion of inspiration, and twice after; which makes up the number of seven times a day. James Anderson's note to Calvin in loc.
Ver. 164. Praise rendered. Frequently, statedly, heartily, intelligently.
Ver. 164. Perpetual praise.
1. True praise is ever warranted.
2. True praise is ever welcome.
3. True praise is never weary. C.A.D.
Ver. 164.
1. Some never praise thee; but, "seven times a day, "etc.; for I delight to do so. "Thy righteous judgments" are a terror to them, a joy to me.
2. Some feebly and coldly praise thee, while, "seven times, "etc. My warm devotion must frequently express itself in praise.
3. Some are content with occasionally praising thee, but, "seven times, "etc. They think it enough to begin and end the day with praise, while all the day long I am in the spirit of praise.
4. Some soon cease to praise thee, but, "seven times, "etc. Not seven times only, but "unto seventy times seven." Even without ceasing, will I praise thee.
W.H.J.P.
Psalms 119:165*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Seven times a day do I praise Thee.
Psa_119:164
Seven times a day do I praise Thee.
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David, the model of praise
David was a model of praise--
I. For temporal blessings. We do not praise God, as much as we ought, for our temporal blessings.
II. For spiritual blessings. This is what he means in one place, when he says that Gods statutes are more to be desired than gold, etc. (Psa_19:10). This is what he means again, when he says, Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, etc.
III. Of growing praise. When he had learned to praise God for His mercies, he went on praising Him more and more. When he first began to praise God, he only speaks of doing it once a day (Psa_59:16). Then it seemed as if he thought that once a day was not often enough to praise God; and so (Psa_141:2). Then he speaks of (Psa_57:17). That was three times a day. And then, here, in the text, he says: Seven times a day will I praise Thee. This shows how the spirit of praise was growing in David.
IV. Of universal praise. He says in one place, All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth (Psa_25:10). He meant to say that whatever God does to His people He does in mercy and in love, and therefore we ought to praise Him for it. And so we see that David had learned to thank God for everything; and in this way he became the model of universal praise (Psa_119:39; Psa_119:62; Psa_119:71; Psa_34:19). He had learned to thank and praise God for everything that He did for him. And we should try to follow the model that David has set us in this respect. (R. Newton, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.