Psalms 41:2
in Psalms 41The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to surrender him to the will of his foes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah will preserve him, and keep him alive, And he shall be blessed upon the earth; And deliver not thou him unto the will of his enemies.
KJV
The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
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This verse in Psalms 41
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThe Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive. His noblest life shall be immortal, and even his mortal life shall be sacredly guarded by the power of Jehovah. Jesus lived on till his hour came, nor could the devices of crafty Herod take away his life till the destined hour had struck; and even then no man took his life from him, but he laid it down of himself, to take it again.
This site's exposition
cares for the poor
on Psalms 41:1-3
Blessing is promised to the one who cares for the poor: deliverance in trouble, protection, and the LORD sustaining him on a bed of illness. Henry reads the verb as a practical concern that plans relief. The rest of the psalm tests that promise on a sickbed.
This site's exposition
refuse to surrender him
Barnes read the promise to protect, preserve and bless as a general rule of the LORD's dealings, true in the main and open to exceptions. Care for the sick looks for care in trouble. Spurgeon saw it kept in Jesus, whose life no foe could take before His hour.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And deliver him not into the hand of his enemy." The enemy is the devil. Let none think of a man his enemy, when he hears these words. Haply one thought of his neighbour, of him who had a suit with him in court, of him who would take from him his own possession, of him who would force him to sell to him his house. Think not this; but that enemy think of, of whom said the Lord, "an enemy hath done this." For He it is who suggests that for things earthly he be worshipped, for overthrow the Christian Name this enemy cannot. For he hath seen himself conquered by the fame and praises of Christ, he hath seen, whereas he slew Christ's Martyrs, that they are crowned, he triumphed over. He hath begun to be unable to persuade men that Christ is nought; and because by reviling Christ, he now with difficulty deceives, by lauding Christ, he endeavours to deceive. Before this what said he? Whom worship ye? A Jew, dead, crucified, a man of no moment, who could not even from himself drive away death. When after His Name he saw running the whole human race, saw that in the Name of the Crucified temples are thrown down, idols are broken, sacrifices abolished; and that all these things predicted in the Prophets are considered by men, by men with wonder astonished, and closing now their hearts against the reviling of Christ; he clothes himself with praise of Christ, and begins to deter from the faith in another manner. Great is the law of Christ, powerful is that law, divine, ineffable! but who fulfilleth it? In the name of our Saviour, "tread upon the lion and the dragon." By reviling openly roared the lion; by lauding craftily lurks the dragon. Let them come to the faith, who doubted; and not say, Who fulfilleth it? If on their own strength they presume, they will not fulfil it. […]
He comments on God's favors to him in different ways: he will give freedom from perils, he says, will closely guard him so that he will suffer nothing, provide him with life and make him appear as blessed by the vast number of favors in …
The Medieval Church1 voice
"The Lord preserve him." Here he shows how one merits mercy from the prayer of the saints, who pray for the merciful. And a prayer is set forth for the merciful person in a state of prosperity; second, for one in a state of adversity. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive. His noblest life shall be immortal, and even his mortal life shall be sacredly guarded by the power of Jehovah. Jesus lived on till his hour came, nor could the devices of crafty Herod take away his life till the destined hour had struck; and even then no man took his life from him, but he laid it down of himself, to take it again. Here is the portion of all those who are made like their Lord, they bless and they shall be blessed, they preserve and shall be preserved, they watch over the lives of others and they themselves shall be precious in the sight of the Lord. The miser like the hog is of no use till he is dead—then let him die; the righteous like the ox is of service during life—then let him live. And he shall be blessed upon the earth. Prosperity shall attend him. His cruse of oil shall not be dried up because he fed the poor prophet. He shall cut from his roll of cloth and find it longer at both ends. If temporal gains be not given him, spirituals shall be doubled to him. His little shall be blessed, bread and water shall be a feast to him. The liberal are and must be blessed even here; they have a present as well as a future portion. Our Lord's real blessedness of heart in the joy that was set before him is a subject worthy of earnest thought, especially as it is the picture of the blessing which all liberal saints may look for. And thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. He helped the distressed, and now he shall find a champion in his God. What would not the good man's enemies do to him if they had him at their disposal? Better be in a pit with vipers than to be at the mercy of persecutors.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive - It is worthy of remark, that benevolent persons, who consider the poor, and especially the sick poor; who search cellars, garrets, back lanes, and such abodes of misery, to find them out, (even in the places where contagion keeps its seat), very seldom fall a prey to their own benevolence. The Lord, in an especial manner, keeps them alive, and preserves them; while many, who endeavor to keep far from the contagion, are assailed by it, and fall victims to it. God loves the merciful man.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive - This is a farther statement of the same principle, and it refers to a general, not a universal rule in the divine administration, that acts of piety will be partially rewarded on the earth; or that the divine favor will be shown to those who deal kindly with others. This principle is often referred to in the Scriptures. See Psa 1:3, note; Psa 37:3-4, note; Psa 37:11, note; Psa 37:23-26, note; Psa 37:37, note; compare Mat 5:5; 1Ti 4:8. The par ticular application here is, that if any one showed kindness to him that was sick or enfeebled by disease, he might expect that God would interpose in his case under similar circumstances, and would “preserve” him, or “keep him alive.” Of course this is to be regarded as a statement made under the general principle. It is not to be interpreted as teaching that this would be universally true, or that he who did this would never die, but the meaning is, that he might look for special divine aid and favor, when he in turn should be sick. And he shall be blessed upon the earth - This is in accordance with the doctrine noticed above, and so often referred to in the Psalms and elsewhere, that the effect of religion will be to promote happiness and prosperity in this life. And thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies - Margin: “Do not thou deliver.” The margin, perhaps, expresses most correctly the sense of the original, but still it is an expression of the confident belief of the psalmist that this will not occur; a belief expressed here rather in the form of a prayer than of a direct assertion. The idea is, that he would find God to be a defender and a helper when he was attacked by his foes.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יְהוָ֤ה׀ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| יִשְׁמְרֵ֣הוּ | yishmerehu | he will keep him | H8104 → | 468 times |
| וִֽ֭יחַיֵּהוּ | vichaiyehu | and he will preserve alive him | H2421 → | 282 times |
| וְאֻשַּׁ֣ר | veushar | and he will be called blessed | H833 → | |
| בָּאָ֑רֶץ | baaretz | in the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| וְאַֽל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗הוּ | titenehu | you give him | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ | benefesh | in [the] desire of | H5315 → | 754 times |
| אֹיְבָֽיו׃ | ʾoyevav | enemies his | H341 → | 282 times |
יְהוָ֤ה׀Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
יִשְׁמְרֵ֣הוּhe will keep him
yishmerehuH8104 →468 times
וִֽ֭יחַיֵּהוּand he will preserve alive him
vichaiyehuH2421 →282 times
וְאֻשַּׁ֣רand he will be called blessed
veusharH833 →
בָּאָ֑רֶץin the land
baaretzH776 →2504 times
וְאַֽל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗הוּyou give him
titenehuH5414 →2011 times
בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁin [the] desire of
benefeshH5315 →754 times
אֹיְבָֽיו׃enemies his
ʾoyevavH341 →282 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
1 Timothy 4:8For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
it leads to
- Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- 1 Timothy 6:6
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Psalms 37:3–4
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
- Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
- Proverbs 22:4
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
- Matthew 6:33
Through
Psalms 33:19to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:19
In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
- Proverbs 10:3
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked.
- Job 5:19–22
He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
- Psalms 37:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 41; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodore of Mopsuestia, COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 41:3A and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.