Psalm 119:9

Psalm 119:9

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

a. NLT How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

b. NIV: How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: With what doth a young man purify his path? To observe -- according to Thy word.

d. Amplified Bible: How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].

e. Septuagint: Wherewith shall a young man direct his way? by keeping thy words.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: How can a youngster purify his path? By observing Your word.

1. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way...”

a. [5288 * na’ar][Strong: a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age):--babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).]

b. cleanse [2135 * zakah][Strong: to be translucent; figuratively, to be innocent:--be (make) clean, cleanse, be clear, count pure.]

1). As we shall see this cleansing is not referring to physical cleansing but moral and spiritual. Another use of this Hebrew word is found in Isaiah.

a). Isaiah 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

c. his way [734 * ‘orach][Strong: a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also a caravan:--manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-)way.]

1). A few interesting citations of the use of this Hebrew word are here.

a). Proverbs 3:5, 6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

b). Proverbs 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

2. “…by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

a. taking heed [8104 * shamar][Strong:  a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).]

1). This Hebrew word is so enlightening on its uses in the Scripture. It is used hundreds of times in various uses. It is used to describe Adam’s responsibility after he was placed in the garden. In this passage it is translated “keep”, in the sense of attending, guarding and protecting the garden.

a). Genesis 2:15-17  And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

2). It is translated “observe” in the following.

a). Leviticus 19:37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.

b). Deuteronomy 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

c). Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

3). It is translated “beware” in the following.

a). Deuteronomy 6:12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

b). Deuteronomy 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

c). Above in Deuteronomy 8:11 it is translated ‘beware” and also “keeping”.

4). In this next verse the same Hebrew word is translated “keep” and “watchman”.

a). Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

b. word [1697 * dabar][Strong: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, + eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt, + iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, + please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that, X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings, what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.]

c. As I previously said, the “cleansing” in this verse is referring to moral or spiritual. It is referring to a believers walk, his actions. Through obedience to the Scriptures the believer can cleanse his way, his walk, his actions. All is accomplished only through the grace of God, but we must respond in obedience to the grace which is more than enough to provide what we need to obey. The Old Testament priesthood is a type and foreshadow of not only the High Priesthood of Christ, but also of our priesthood relationship in the New Covenant. For example, under the Old Covenant the priests were required to wash themselves before they went into the tabernacle to accomplish their service unto the Lord.

1). Exodus 30:17-21 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

2). Likewise, we are admonished to do the same.

a). Hebrews 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

3). The washing of our bodies is our responsibility of allowing the daily study of the word to cleanse us as we respond in obedience to the word.

a). Ephesians 5:24-27  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.