Psalms 119:31I cling to your statutes, Yahweh. Don't let me be disappointed.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~1000 BC. A believer grips God's word like a drowning person clutches a rope, praying desperately not to be let down. Location: likely Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: desperate but determined, clinging to the last thread of hope
The original word
dabaq (דָּבַק) — to cling, stick, adhere permanently, like glue bonding
Why it matters
This is verse 31 of 176 verses in Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 119:31
The psalmist uses 'cling' - the same word used for marriage in Genesis 2:24
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about never feeling disappointed. But the psalmist is asking God not to let him down - he's already feeling the fear of disappointment.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 119:31
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 119:31 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 119:31 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 worship, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include clinging, trust, hope. Notable phrases: I cling to your statutes; Don't let me be disappointed. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Psalms 119:31 mean to you, today?
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