What Does Psalms 119:116 Mean?

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live (סָמְכֵנִי כְאִמְרָתְךָ וְאֶחְיֶה, sомkheni khe'imratкha ve'echyeh)—the verb samakh means support, sustain, uphold, like a pillar supporting a building. Without divine support, the psalmist will collapse. The plea is grounded according unto thy word—not arbitrary favor but covenant faithfulness to God's promises. That I may live shows the stakes: spiritual survival depends on God's upholding power.

And let me not be ashamed of my hope (וְאַל־תְּבִישֵׁנִי מִשִּׂבְרִי, ve'al-tevisheni misivri)—the verb bosh means to be put to shame, disappointed, confounded. Paul echoes this: Hope maketh not ashamed (Rom 5:5). The psalmist's confidence rests on God's proven reliability—those who hope in His word will never be ultimately disappointed, though they may suffer temporarily. This is the anchor of Christian assurance.