Psalms 27:13
in Psalms 27Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living.
KJV
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
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This verse in Psalms 27
Commentary
5 notes on this verseFaintness of heart is a common infirmity; even he who slew Goliath was subject to its attacks. Faith puts its bottle of cordial to the lip of the soul, and so prevents fainting. Hope is heaven's balm for present sorrow. In this land of the dying, it is our blessedness to be looking and longing for our fair portion in the land of the living, whence the goodness of God has banished the wickedness of man, and where holy spirits charm with their society those persecuted saints who were vilified and despised among men.
This site's exposition
see the goodness of the LORD
on Psalms 27:13-14
The goodness David expects to see is in the land of the living, this present life. Verse 14 says wait for the LORD twice, with be strong and courageous set between. God gave Joshua the same charge at Joshua 1:6 and 1:9.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The living - David was thus earnestly desirous of this mercy in this life, not because he placed his portion in these things; but because the truth and glory of God, were highly concerned in making good the promise of the kingdom to him.
(2.) In the land of Canaan, and in Jerusalem where the lively oracles were. In comparison with the heathen, that were dead in sin, the land of Israel might fitly be called the land of the living; there God was known, and there David hoped to see his goodness; see 2 Sam. xv. It is that alone that may truly be called the land of the living, where there is no more death.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The strong emotion is indicated by the incomplete sentence, for which the English Version supplies a proper clause; or, omitting that, and rendering, "yet I believed," &c., the contrast of his faith and his danger is expressed. to see--is to experience (Ps 22:17).
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Had I not believed in seeing, etc. If I had not believed in the Holy One, blessed be He, those false witnesses would have already risen against me and destroyed me. [The word] לולא is punctuated for the homily which our Sages expounded (Ber.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
to the desires of my adversaries To the desire of my enemies, to have their desire fulfilled through me.
Hope for the Lord and if your prayer is not accepted, reinforce your hope.
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. 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ | lule' | if not | H3884 → | 14 times |
| הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי | heemanti | I had believed | H539 → | 106 times |
| לִרְא֥וֹת | lirot | to look | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| בְּֽטוּב־ | betuv- | on [the] goodness of | H2898 → | 32 times |
| יְהוָ֗ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בְּאֶ֣רֶץ | beeretz | in [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| חַיִּֽים׃ | chaiyim | living [people] | H2416 → | 498 times |
לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄif not
lule'H3884 →14 times
הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּיI had believed
heemantiH539 →106 times
לִרְא֥וֹתto look
lirotH7200 →1300 times
בְּֽטוּב־on [the] goodness of
betuv-H2898 →32 times
יְהוָ֗הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
בְּאֶ֣רֶץin [the] land of
beeretzH776 →2504 times
חַיִּֽים׃living [people]
chaiyimH2416 →498 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 31:19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- Isaiah 64:4
From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
- Lamentations 3:23–25
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
- 1 Peter 1:4–5
and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
- Colossians 3:2–4
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Through
Psalms 56:3When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:4
I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
- Psalms 34:4
Through
2 Corinthians 4:16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
it leads to
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- Isaiah 40:31
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.