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Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
10With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.
11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, LORD. Teach me your statutes.
13With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.
Notice
The phrase “against you” makes the purpose of hiding God’s word in the heart personal: the psalmist wants his conduct to honor the God he addresses.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What might hiding God’s word in your heart involve beyond being able to recite it?
Write on thisWhat changes in your understanding of sin when you read the words “against you”?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Joshua 1:8This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written …Joshua links meditation on God’s law with doing what it says; the psalm links storing God’s word with avoiding sin.
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in …Both passages describe God’s word taking up residence within a person, with Colossians extending that word into shared teaching and song.
Psalm 37:31The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.Both psalms place God’s instruction in the heart and connect its presence there with conduct that does not stray.
2 Timothy 3:16Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,Both texts connect Scripture with right conduct: the psalm seeks freedom from sin, while Timothy names correction and instruction in righteousness.
Psalm 40:8I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”Both psalms speak to God about keeping his instruction within the heart, linking that inward place with obedience.
Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name, LORD, God of Armies.Jeremiah pictures receiving God’s words as eating them; the psalm pictures storing them in the heart.
Psalm 1:2but his delight is in the LORD’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.Psalm 1 describes meditation on God’s law day and night; Psalm 119 describes keeping God’s word in the heart.
Job 22:22Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.Both passages use the heart as the place where God’s words are stored.
John 15:7If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.Jesus speaks of his words remaining in his disciples; the psalmist speaks of God’s word hidden in his heart.
Proverbs 2:10–11For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.Both texts describe instruction reaching the heart: God’s word is hidden there, and wisdom enters there.
Psalm 119:97How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.Within the same psalm, hiding God’s word in the heart accompanies love for his law and meditation throughout the day.
Isaiah 51:7“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Don’t fear the reproach of men, and don’t be dismayed at their insults.Both passages describe God’s instruction within the heart, with Isaiah addressing people whose hearts contain God’s law.
Where this verse fits
Temptation. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Keeping God’s word in your heart has a purpose: faithfulness to God. The psalmist treasures what God says because sin is an offense against him.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).