Psalms 119:120
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
Study Note
Study Note
The confession 'my flesh trembles for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments' stands as one of the Psalter's most visceral expressions of reverential dread. In Psalm 119, surrounded by declarations of love for God's law and delight in his word, this sudden eruption of physical terror at the prospect of divine judgment adds a crucial dimension: covenant love and covenant fear are not opposites. The Hebrew 'samar' (to bristle, tremble) describes a physical reaction — not intellectual acknowledgment but bodily awe before the holiness of the Judge. Hebrews 12:28-29 ('our God is a consuming fire') and Philippians 2:12 ('work out your salvation with fear and trembling') capture the same tension between grace and reverent fear.
Other Translations
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. ע AYIN.
Trembled from Thy fear hath my flesh, And from Thy judgments I have been afraid!
My flesh is moved for fear of you; I give honour to your decisions.
Cross References
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put …
Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that …
And the men of Beth–shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall …
And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the …
And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to …
The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house …
Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the …
Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, …