Psalms 37:34
in Psalms 37Wait 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
KJV
Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
⋯
This verse in Psalms 37
Commentary
4 notes on this verse(Verse 34.) Therefore, wait either for a helper or for the Lord as a reward: And keep His ways; that is, to wait and to keep the commandments of the one whom you think you need to wait for. Even if you are worn out, even if you are troubled, even if you lose strength due to sickness, still wait for the Lord, and your hope will not be in vain. The Lord will come and exalt you, that you may possess the land as an inheritance.
This site's exposition
Wait for the LORD
on Psalms 37:34-40
The waiting is joined to keeping His way, and the land comes to the man who does both. The ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted tree is gone by the next verse, searched for and not found. Salvation comes from the LORD, a stronghold in time of trouble.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Wait on the Lord,.... In the way of his appointments and ordinances; where may be learned the design of his providences, and of the prosperity of the wicked, and their end, Psa 73:16; and in a providential way, for the performance of his promises, in which he never fails; and patiently bear whatever he is pleased to lay upon them; waiting for a deliverance out of every affliction, which will be in his own time.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Wait on the Lord. We have here the eighth precept, and it is a lofty eminence to attain to. Tarry the Lord's leisure. Wait in obedience as a servant, in hope as an heir, in expectation as a believer. This little word "wait" is easy to say, but hard to carry out, yet faith must do it. And keep his way. Continue in the narrow path; let no haste for riches or ease cause unholy action. Let your motto be, "On, on, on." Never flag, or dream of turning aside.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| קַוֵּ֤ה | kaveh | wait | H6960 → | 49 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| יְהוָ֨ה׀ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וּשְׁמֹ֬ר | ushemor | and keep | H8104 → | 468 times |
| דַּרְכּ֗וֹ | darko | way his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ | viromikha | and he will exalt you | H7311 → | 190 times |
| לָרֶ֣שֶׁת | lareshet | to possess | H3423 → | 231 times |
| אָ֑רֶץ | ʾaretz | [the] land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת | behikaret | when are cut off | H3772 → | 288 times |
| רְשָׁעִ֣ים | reshaim | wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| תִּרְאֶֽה׃ | tireh | you will see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
קַוֵּ֤הwait
kavehH6960 →49 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
יְהוָ֨ה׀Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
וּשְׁמֹ֬רand keep
ushemorH8104 →468 times
דַּרְכּ֗וֹway his
darkoH1870 →707 times
וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָand he will exalt you
viromikhaH7311 →190 times
לָרֶ֣שֶׁתto possess
lareshetH3423 →231 times
אָ֑רֶץ[the] land
ʾaretzH776 →2504 times
בְּהִכָּרֵ֖תwhen are cut off
behikaretH3772 →288 times
רְשָׁעִ֣יםwicked [people]
reshaimH7563 →263 times
תִּרְאֶֽה׃you will see
tirehH7200 →1300 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 27:14Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
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.
- Psalms 31:24
Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.
- Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
- Isaiah 40:31
Through
Proverbs 20:22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
it leads to
- Romans 12:17–19
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Proverbs 24:29
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
- Proverbs 17:13
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
- 1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- Romans 12:17–19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Alexander Maclaren, The Psalms, Expositor's Bible; Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2 and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).