It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just about finding good in suffering, but about recognizing that affliction itself was a necessary tool, a divinely appointed teacher, for the psalmist to truly grasp and internalize God's commands.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is structured in acrostic sections, and the verses around this one deal with the writer's struggle against oppressors and his reliance on God's law. He acknowledges that before his troubles, he was prone to wander, but now he recognizes the value of suffering as a means to learn God's statutes more deeply. The surrounding verses emphasize his preference for God's word over worldly riches and his trust in God despite the wickedness of others.
Ever feel like life's hard knocks are just... hard? This verse flips that perspective. It suggests our struggles aren't random setbacks, but purposeful lessons.
The psalmist here declares, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." This isn't about finding joy in suffering, but about recognizing the positive outcome God can bring through it.
We often chase after wealth and comfort. But what if God's Word, even learned through tough times, is infinitely more valuable?
Following the reflection on affliction, the psalmist contrasts the value of God's statutes with material wealth. He asserts that learning God's Word is more precious than riches.
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Understand the original words
anah · Hebrew Verb
To be humbled, oppressed, or brought low by suffering or hardship. In Scripture, affliction is often permitted by God to test faith, refine character, and draw the believer closer to Himself.
choq · Hebrew Noun
Divine decrees, ordinances, or requirements revealed by God for His people to follow; they represent the authoritative framework of His covenant relationship.
This passage echoes the Psalmist's sentiment, directly stating that the person disciplined by God is fortunate, as they learn from His correction and don't perish.
Proverbs 3:11-12These verses parallel the idea that God's discipline isn't a punishment to be feared, but a loving correction that leads to wisdom and righteousness, much like learning statutes.
Hebrews 12:7-11This New Testament passage explicitly connects suffering and discipline with spiritual growth and learning righteousness, framing it as evidence of God's fatherly love and training.
Jeremiah 31:18The prophet Jeremiah expresses a similar sentiment, confessing his need for God's correction to turn him back to Him, highlighting how chastisement can be a tool for repentance and learning.
clarkePsalms 119:71: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
It is good for me that I have been afflicted - See on Psalm 119:67 (note).
ellicottPsalms 119:71: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
(71) It is good . . . —See Psalm 119:67 . Probably the result of discipline on the nation is intended, though the “sweet uses of adversity” were long ago a truism of moralists. See Æsch., Agam., 172: “Who guideth mortals to wisdom, maketh them grasp lore Firmly through their pain.”
The verse isn't just about finding good in suffering, but about recognizing that affliction itself was a necessary tool, a divinely appointed teacher, for the psalmist to truly grasp and internalize God's commands.
This psalm is structured in acrostic sections, and the verses around this one deal with the writer's struggle against oppressors and his reliance on God's law. He acknowledges that before his troubles, he was prone to wander, but now he recognizes the value of suffering as a means to learn God's statutes more deeply. The surrounding verses emphasize his preference for God's word over worldly riches and his trust in God despite the wickedness of others.
This psalm is structured in acrostic sections, and the verses around this one deal with the writer's struggle against oppressors and his reliance on God's law. He acknowledges that before his troubles, he was prone to wander, but now he recognizes the value of suffering as a means to learn God's statutes more deeply. The surrounding verses emphasize his preference for God's word over worldly riches and his trust in God despite the wickedness of others.
"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." — The verse isn't just about finding good in suffering, but about recognizing that affliction itself was a necessary tool, a divinely appointed teacher, for the psalmist to truly grasp and internaliz…
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Last reviewed October 2026