The Meaning of Psalms 119:9 Explained

Psalms 119:9

KJV: BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

YLT: Beth. With what doth a young man purify his path? To observe -- according to Thy word.

Darby: BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his path? by taking heed according to thy word.

ASV: BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man  cleanse  his way?  by taking heed  [thereto] according to thy word. 

What does Psalms 119:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 119:1-16 - God's Word An Inner Power
This long and noble psalm is devoted to the praise of God's Word, which is mentioned in every verse but one, Psalms 119:122. Probably if we were to substitute Will for Word we should not be far wrong. The earnest desire of the writer was that his will should be brought into blessed and unbroken union with the divine purpose in his life.
In its structure the psalm is an elaborate acrostic. In the original, each verse in a given section begins with the same letter, so that the twenty-two sections present the complete Hebrew alphabet.
It needs to be often used to be understood and valued. Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine, and Luther have left on record high tributes to its worth. There are several key expressions, which recur again and again, such as quicken and teach me thy statutes. It is interesting, also, to construct the psalmist's biography from his confessions. He had gone astray like a lost sheep, was small and despised, had many adversaries, was like a bottle in the smoke; but he accounted God's will and service more than food or gold, and his one desire was to be taught to do that will. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 119

1  This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience
2  Aleph
9  Beth
17  Gimel
25  Daleth
33  He
41  Waw
49  Zayin
57  Heth
65  Teth
73  Yodh
81  Kaph
89  Lamedh
97  Mem
105  Nun
113  Samekh
121  Ayin
129  Pe
137  Tsadhe
145  Qoph
153  Resh
161  Sin and Shin
169  Taw

What do the individual words in Psalms 119:9 mean?

With what can cleanse a young man - his way by taking heed according to Your word
בַּמֶּ֣ה יְזַכֶּה־ נַּ֭עַר אֶת־ ؟ אָרְח֑וֹ לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ

בַּמֶּ֣ה  With  what 
Parse: Preposition-b, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
יְזַכֶּה־  can  cleanse 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָכָה  
Sense: to be clean, be pure, be clear.
נַּ֭עַר  a  young  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
؟ אָרְח֑וֹ  his  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹרַח  
Sense: way, path.
לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר  by  taking  heed 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ  according  to  Your  word 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.