Psalms 118:130
The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth understanding to little ones.
Open Psalms 118:130 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Declaratio sermonum tuorum illuminat, et intellectum dat parvulis.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ἡ δήλωσις τῶν λόγων σου φωτιεῖ, καὶ συνετιεῖ νηπίους.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 119:130
- פֵּ֖תַח דְּבָרֶ֥יךָ יָאִ֗יר מֵבִ֥ין פְּתָיִֽים
Haydock's commentary
Declaration. By God's ministers renders them intelligible, though so wonderful in themselves. Hebrew styles this "the door of opening." (Berthier)
The Scriptures are full of difficulties, and Daniel (ix. 2.) made them his study. Since the coming of Christ, the mysteries and prophecies have been more developed. But those who refuse to acknowledge him, grope at mid-day, Matthew xi. 25., and xviii. 5., and 1 Corinthians xiv. 20. (Calmet)
The first entrance into the knowledge of holy Scripture illuminates the understanding of the humble, whence they proceed to know more. (Worthington)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Pe
129. “When thy word goeth forth,” he saith, “it giveth light, and maketh His little ones to understand” ( ver. 130 ). What is the little one save the humble and weak? Be not proud therefore, presume not in thine own strength, which is nought; and thou wilt understand why a good law was given by a good God, though it cannot give life. For it was given for this end, that it might make thee a little one instead of great, that it might show that thou hadst not strength to do the law of thine own power: and that thus, wanting aid and destitute, thou mightest fly unto grace, saying, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.”…Let all be little ones, and let all the world be guilty before Thee: because “by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified” in Thy sight; “for by the Law is the knowledge of sin,” etc. …