Psalms 119:116Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~500 BC. A believer clinging to God's promises while facing ridicule in Jerusalem, Israel...
The emotion here: desperately clinging to hope while feeling fragile
The original word
samak (סְמָכֵנִי) — to lean on, support like a crutch, complete dependence
Why it matters
The word 'uphold' is the same used for priests supporting the temple sacrifices
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 119:116
The psalmist isn't asking for strength to be strong — he's asking to be carried like an invalid
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about being confident in your faith. Actually, it's about admitting you're too weak to stand on your own and need God to physically hold you up.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 119:116
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 119:116 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 119:116 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include dependence, hope, vulnerability. Notable phrases: uphold me; that I may live; not be ashamed. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Psalms 119:116 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
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