Psalms 119:85

My Notes

What Does Psalms 119:85 Mean?

"The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law." The PROUD dig PITS — concealed traps, hidden dangers, underground snares — for the psalmist. And the pits are 'not after thy law' — they violate God's instructions. The attack is CONCEALED (pits are hidden) and ILLEGAL (they violate the law). The proud don't attack openly. They DIG — covertly preparing destruction underground, where it can't be seen until you fall.

The phrase "the proud have digged pits for me" (karu li zedim shichot — the arrogant/presumptuous dug for me pits) makes the PROUD (zedim — the arrogant, presumptuous, willful sinners) the DIGGERS: the arrogance leads to active PLOTTING. The proud don't just think highly of themselves. They DIG TRAPS for others. The pride is ACTIVE — it produces concealed schemes, hidden dangers, underground attacks. The arrogance manufactures harm.

The phrase "which are not after thy law" (asher lo khetoratekha — which are not according to your Torah) adds LEGAL judgment to the accusation: the pits VIOLATE the law. The trapping of the innocent is AGAINST God's instruction. The psalmist doesn't just call the pits MEAN. He calls them ILLEGAL — a violation of Torah. The theological framework judges the behavior. The law condemns the pit.

The PIT as a weapon is CONCEALMENT: you can't see a pit until you're IN it. The danger is HIDDEN. The attack is INVISIBLE until it succeeds. The proud don't confront you face-to-face. They prepare destruction UNDERGROUND — invisible, patient, waiting for you to walk over the wrong piece of ground.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What concealed pits has the proud prepared for you?
• 2.What does pit-digging (hidden, patient, underground) teach about how pride manifests as secret plotting?
• 3.How does calling the pits 'not after thy law' use theological framework to name injustice?
• 4.What appeal to God (above) is the right response to attacks from below (concealed pits)?

Devotional

The PROUD don't attack openly. They DIG. Underground. In secret. Preparing PITS — hidden traps, concealed dangers, covered holes designed to catch you when you walk unsuspecting over them. The arrogance doesn't just puff up. It plots DOWN — digging, concealing, preparing destruction below the surface.

The pits are 'NOT AFTER THY LAW' — they violate God's instructions. The psalmist uses LEGAL language: the attack isn't just immoral. It's ILLEGAL by Torah-standards. The law CONDEMNS the pit-digging. The proud who dig are BREAKING the law. The theological framework provides the vocabulary for naming the injustice.

The CONCEALMENT is the cruelty: you can't see a pit until you're falling. The attack is INVISIBLE until it succeeds. The proud invest TIME in the digging — the preparation is patient, underground, out of sight. The pit requires PLANNING. The concealment requires EFFORT. The attack isn't impulsive. It's CRAFTED — designed, prepared, hidden with deliberate care.

The psalmist's response isn't to DIG BACK but to APPEAL to God: the answer to concealed pits isn't counter-pits. It's PRAYER. The one who falls into pits doesn't retaliate with shovels. He appeals to the ONE who sees underground — the God whose law the pits violate. The appeal goes ABOVE because the attack comes from BELOW.

What concealed pits has the proud dug for you — and are you responding with counter-digging or with prayer?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture