Psalm 19:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The Context of Psalm 19:14
Psalm 19 moves from God's revelation in creation and Scripture to the response it should produce. This closing verse is a prayer that the worshiper's words and thoughts would please God.
What Does Psalm 19:14 Mean?
Psalm 19:14 closes the psalm with a beloved prayer: that the words we speak and the thoughts we ponder would be pleasing to God, our strength and redeemer. After contemplating God's revelation in the skies and in His word, David turns inward, asking that his whole life respond rightly to such a God.
The prayer reaches both the outward and the inward person. "The words of my mouth" covers everything we say: our speech, our conversations, the things that pass our lips. "The meditation of my heart" reaches deeper, to the private thoughts and inner musings that no one else hears. David longs for both to be "acceptable" to God, a word used of an offering that pleases the One who receives it. He desires that his very thoughts and words be a fitting gift laid before God. The prayer ends by naming God as "my strength, and my redeemer." The word for strength here is rooted in the idea of a rock, and redeemer refers to one who buys back, rescues, and restores. David grounds his prayer in who God is: the firm foundation who holds him and the kinsman who rescues him. This verse makes a fitting close to a psalm about God's word, for it asks that God's word would so shape us that even our hidden thoughts become pleasing to Him.
Psalm 19:14 in the Original Language
The word go'el, "redeemer," refers to a kinsman who buys back, rescues, or restores a relative, picturing God as the near one who redeems and delivers His people.
Bible Verses Related to Psalm 19:14
How to Apply Psalm 19:14 Today
Make this your daily prayer, asking God to refine not only your speech but the hidden thoughts of your heart, so that both your words and your inner life become pleasing offerings to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalm 19:14
What is the meaning of Psalm 19:14?
It is a prayer that both our spoken words and our private inner thoughts would be acceptable and pleasing to God, treating our speech and meditation as offerings laid before Him.
Why does Psalm 19:14 call God strength and redeemer?
The word for strength is rooted in the idea of a rock, and redeemer means a kinsman who buys back and rescues, so David grounds his prayer in God as his firm foundation and rescuer.