Psalms 112:8
in Psalms 112His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he see his desire upon his adversaries.
KJV
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
⋯
This verse in Psalms 112
Commentary
10 notes on this verseHis heart is established,.... With the doctrine of grace; which is food unto it, and by which it is strengthened and nourished; it is established in the faith of Christ, both in the grace of faith, and in the doctrine of faith, even in all the doctrines of the Gospel; so that he is not as a child, tossed to and fro with every wind; his heart is established in the exercise of grace, and he is steadfast and immovable in the discharge of duty.
This site's exposition
his heart is steadfast
on Psalms 112:7-9
His heart is steadfast, and bad news does not shake it. Verse 9 is quoted word for word at 2 Corinthians 9:9, where Paul holds up this man's open hand to the churches he is collecting from. The horn lifted high in honor comes to him from God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 7 -- Second Discourse on the Fear of God · Written before 523.
proposed
"Whosoever fixeth his heart, trusteth in God, and he maketh his heart firm and feareth not." The heart which is fixed in virtues the remembrance of God maketh to be glad, and whosoever hath obtained healing of spirit in his inner man, the remembrance of …
"His heart is established, and will not shrink, until he see beyond his enemies" [Psalm 112:8]. His enemies wished to see good things here, and when invisible blessings were promised them, used to say, "Who will show us any good?" Let our heart therefore be established, and shrink not, until we see beyond our enemies. For they wish to see good things of men in the land of the dying; we trust to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
This is a part both of the character and of the comfort of good people. It is their endeavour to keep their minds stayed upon God, and so to keep them calm, and easy, and undisturbed; and God has promised them both cause to do so and grace to do so.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
His heart is established. His love to God is deep and true, his confidence in God is firm and unmoved; his courage has a firm foundation, and is supported by Omnipotence. He has become settled by experience, and confirmed by years. He is not a rolling stone, but a pillar in the house of the Lord. He shall not be afraid. He is ready to face any adversary—a holy heart gives a brave face. Until he see his desire upon his enemies. All through the conflict, even till he seizes the victory, he is devoid of fear.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Generosity, sound judgment in business, and confidence in God, form a character which preserves from fear of evil and ensures success against enemies. While a man thus truly pious is liberal, he increases in substance.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
His heart is established. His love to God is deep and true, his confidence in God is firm and unmoved; his courage has a firm foundation, and is supported by Omnipotence. He has become settled by experience, and confirmed by years. He is not a rolling stone, but a pillar in the house of the Lord. He shall not be afraid. He is ready to face any adversary—a holy heart gives a brave face. Until he see his desire upon his enemies. All through the conflict, even till he seizes the victory, he is devoid of fear. When the battle wavers, and the result seems doubtful, he nevertheless believes in God, and is a stranger to dismay. Grace makes him desire his enemies' good: though nature leads him to wish to see justice done to his cause, he does not desire for those who injure him anything by way of private revenge.
His heart is established - סמוך לבו samuch libbo, “his heart is propped up;” he is buttressed up by the strength of his Maker.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
His heart is established - Sustained; upheld. This is the same idea, though somewhat varied in form. The word means to sustain; to support; and the idea is, that there is some basis of support - some strength - which is not his own. He shall not be afraid - When he is assailed by enemies. Until he see his desire upon his enemies - This implies that he had nothing really to fear. He would certainly overcome his foes; and in the meantime he might look calmly on all their efforts to destroy him, for those efforts would be vain. So the believer now looks calmly on all his spiritual foes. He has nothing to fear, for he will overcome them all; he will certainly triumph; he will trample them all under his feet. He may well, therefore, endure these conflicts for a brief period, for the issue is certain, and the conflict will soon come to an end.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| סָמ֣וּךְ | samukh | [is] supported | H5564 → | 48 times |
| לִ֭בּוֹ | libo | heart his | H3820 → | 595 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִירָ֑א | yira' | he will be afraid | H3372 → | 315 times |
| עַ֖ד | ʾad | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִרְאֶ֣ה | yireh | he will look | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| בְצָרָֽיו׃ | vetzarav | on foes his | H6862 → | 109 times |
סָמ֣וּךְ[is] supported
samukhH5564 →48 times
לִ֭בּוֹheart his
liboH3820 →595 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִירָ֑אhe will be afraid
yira'H3372 →315 times
עַ֖דuntil
ʾadH5704 →1261 times
אֲשֶׁר־that
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
יִרְאֶ֣הhe will look
yirehH7200 →1300 times
בְצָרָֽיו׃on foes his
vetzaravH6862 →109 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 31:24Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.
it leads to
- Psalms 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
- Psalms 146:5
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
- Isaiah 35:3–4
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- Psalms 29:11
The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.
- Psalms 27:14
Through
Psalms 91:8You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:34
Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
- Psalms 37:34
Through
Hebrews 13:9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to…
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
- Ephesians 4:14
Through
Psalms 59:10My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes.
it leads to
- Psalms 54:7
For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eyes have stared down my foes.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 54:7
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 112; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 7 -- Second Discourse on the Fear of God.