Psalms 147:11
in Psalms 147The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness.
KJV
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
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This verse in Psalms 147
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThe Lord is well pleased with those who fear him. One fear casts out many fears. Is it not better to fear one, that you may not fear many, than to fear many, that you may not fear one? And with those who hope in his mercy. They hope not in their own works, but in the mercy of the judge. Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good; for in those who hope in his mercy is salvation alone. To whom is glory forever and ever. Amen.
This site's exposition
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving
on Psalms 147:7-11
The call to sing opens onto plain weather: clouds, rain for the earth, grass on the hills. Food follows for the animals and the young ravens. The horse's strength and the man's legs are passed over, and the LORD's pleasure rests on those who fear Him and hope in His loving devotion.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
on Psalms 147:10-11
In times when great things are doing, and there are great expectations of the success of them, it concerns us to know (since the issue proceeds from the Lord) whom, and what, God will delight to honour and crown with victory. It is not the strength of armies, but the strength of grace, that God is pleased to own.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy. While the bodily powers give no content to God, spiritual qualities are his delight. He cares most for those emotions which centre in himself: the fear which he approves is fear of him, and the hope which he accepts is hope in his mercy. It is a striking thought that God should not only be at peace with some kinds of men, but even find a solace and a joy in their company. Oh!
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
He does not desire the might of the horse [i.e.,] the Holy One, blessed be He.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רוֹצֶ֣ה | rotzeh | [is] taking pleasure in | H7521 → | 56 times |
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְרֵאָ֑יו | yereav | [those] fearing him | H3373 → | 64 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים | hamyachalim | those [who] hope | H3176 → | 41 times |
| לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃ | lechasdo | for covenant loyalty his | H2617 → | 247 times |
רוֹצֶ֣ה[is] taking pleasure in
rotzehH7521 →56 times
יְ֭הוָהYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יְרֵאָ֑יו[those] fearing him
yereavH3373 →64 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥יםthose [who] hope
hamyachalimH3176 →41 times
לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃for covenant loyalty his
lechasdoH2617 →247 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
Zephaniah 3:17The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
it leads to
- Jeremiah 32:41
Yes, I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 149:4
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.
- Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
- Isaiah 62:4–5
No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will…
- Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.”
- Jeremiah 32:41
Through
Isaiah 62:4No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will…
it leads to
- Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hosea 2:19–20
So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.
- Zephaniah 3:17
Through
Psalms 33:18Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- 1 Peter 3:12
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 7; Jerome, Homily 56, on Psalm 146 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.