Psalm 62 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
Psalms Chapter 62 (Old Testament)
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 62:5
Verse: לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ, יְהוָה, קִוִּיתִי
Transliteration: Lekha levadkha, Adonai, kivi
English: “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.”
Focus Word: קָוָה (Kavah)
- Root: ק-ו-ה (Qof-Vav-Heh)
- Meaning: “To wait,” “to hope,” “to expect.”
- Deeper Insight: Kavah represents patient, confident waiting on God, showing trust and surrender.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| דּוּמִיָּה — dumiyyah | Verse 1 — “Truly my soul silently waits…” | “Silence,” stillness. | Dumiyyah (“silence”) expresses restful trust (“silence/stillness”). It reflects calm surrender before God. The term forms the Psalm’s central theme. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| יְשׁוּעָה — yeshuah | Verse 1 — “…from Him comes my salvation.” | “Salvation,” deliverance. | Yeshuah (“salvation”) highlights God’s saving power (“salvation”). It anchors hope in divine intervention. The word sets the tone of quiet confidence. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| צוּר — tzur | Verse 2 — “He is my rock…” | “Rock,” strong support. | Tzur (“rock”) symbolizes immovable stability (“rock”). It contrasts divine reliability with human treachery. The term reinforces security imagery. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| מִשְׂגַּב — misgav | Verse 2 — “…and my fortress.” | “Fortress,” high place. | Misgav (“fortress”) denotes elevated protection (“fortress”). It highlights God’s defensive power. The word deepens the Psalm’s imagery of safety. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| נָטָה — natah | Verse 3 — “…you shall be slain, all of you…” | “To incline,” push down. | Natah (“to push/bend”) expresses weakening force (“push tottering”). It conveys instability of the wicked. The term sets up divine judgment. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| עָצָה — atzah | Verse 4 — “They consult to cast him down…” | “To plan,” counsel. | Atzah (“to plan”) describes malicious intent (“plot/plan”). It reveals premeditated hostility. The phrase underscores wicked conspiracy. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| רָצוֹן — ratzon | Verse 4 — “…they delight in lies.” | “Delight,” favor, pleasure. | Ratzon (“delight”) expresses enjoyment of falsehood (“delight”). It highlights moral inversion. The word intensifies the Psalm’s ethical critique. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| כָּזָב — kazav | Verse 4 — “They bless with their mouth…” | “Lie,” falsehood. | Kazav (“lie/deceit”) exposes hypocrisy (“lie”). It reflects duplicity in speech. The term strengthens the contrast between appearance and reality. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שָׁפַךְ — shafach | Verse 8 — “Pour out your heart before Him…” | “To pour,” spill. | Shafach (“to pour out”) describes full emotional disclosure (“pour”). It conveys trust expressed in vulnerability. The term centers relational intimacy with God. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| כָּבֵד — kaved | Verse 9 — “…men of low degree are a vapor…” | “Heavy,” weighty. | Kaved (“weighty”) is used ironically to depict emptiness (“weight/vapor”). It contrasts human frailty with divine strength. The word underscores transience of human power. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 62 |
|---|---|---|
| John Calvin (University of Paris / Orléans, 1509–1564) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Calvin observes that God is the immovable refuge for the believer, offering safety beyond human strength. |
| Matthew Henry (Christ Church, Oxford, 1662–1714) | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Notes that reliance on God provides rest for the soul and security in the face of worldly turmoil. |
| Richard Sibbes (Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1577–1635) | The Bruised Reed | Emphasizes that the Psalm encourages patience and hope in God’s justice. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Observes that wealth and human power cannot substitute for God’s protection. |
| Thomas Manton (Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Exposition of the Psalms | Notes that God alone is the foundation on which the believer’s faith and hope securely rest. |
More On This Psalm: Commentary From Biblical Scholars
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice notes that the psalm encourages full confidence in God as the only source of true safety and hope. |
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | The psalm, Smith observes, highlights the soul’s rest in God and the unreliability of human help. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751, Family Expositor) | Doddridge interprets the psalm as showing that God alone provides strength and refuge amidst life’s trials. |
| John Lightfoot (University of Cambridge, 1602–1675, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae) | Lightfoot emphasizes that the psalm teaches reliance on God’s steadfastness, contrasting it with fleeting human support. |
| Charles Hodge (Princeton University, 1797–1878, Commentary on the Psalms) | Hodge points out that the psalm reassures believers that God’s protection is constant while human assistance is limited. |
Prayer: Thank you Father that my hope and trust are in You for as the song goes, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness found in Him. Thank you, King of glory for being glorious and gracious to me. Thank you, Father for sending Your Son, The Lord Jesus Christ to die for my sins. Be with me and guide me, Lord by Your grace, to live for You, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
