Psalm Chapter 63 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 63:1
Verse: אֱלֹהִים, אֱלֹהַי, בְּקִרְבְּךָ אֶרְעָב
Transliteration: Elohim, Elohai, b’kirkhka erav
English: “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You.”
Focus Word: צָמֵא (Tzame)
- Root: צ-מ-א (Tsade-Mem-Ayin)
- Meaning: “Thirst,” “long for,” “crave.”
- Deeper Insight: Tzame signifies deep, inner longing for God, reflecting spiritual desire for His presence.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| שָׁחַר — shachar | Verse 1 — “Early will I seek You…” | “To seek early,” dawn. | Shachar (“seek early”) expresses eager pursuit of God (“early seek”). It reveals longing that begins the day. The word intensifies devotional urgency. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| צָמֵא — tzame | Verse 1 — “…my soul thirsts for You.” | “To thirst,” crave. | Tzame (“to thirst”) conveys deep spiritual longing (“thirst”). It expresses desperate desire for God’s presence. The term shapes the Psalm’s emotional tone. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| כָּמַהּ — kamah | Verse 1 — “…my flesh longs for You…” | “To long,” faint. | Kamah (“to long”) expresses yearning desire (“longs”). It includes physical dimension of spiritual need. The word emphasizes intensity of devotion. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| חֲסֶד — chesed | Verse 3 — “Your lovingkindness is better than life.” | “Covenant love,” steadfast mercy. | Chesed (“covenant love”) denotes God’s loyal commitment (“lovingkindness”). It surpasses earthly existence. The term provides theological centerpiece of the Psalm. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| בָּרַךְ — barakh | Verse 4 — “Thus will I bless You…” | “To bless,” praise. | Barakh (“to bless”) expresses worshipful gratitude (“bless/praise”). It reflects recognition of God’s goodness. The word aligns devotion with covenant faithfulness. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שָׂבַע — sava | Verse 5 — “My soul shall be satisfied…” | “To be filled,” satisfied. | Sava (“to be satisfied”) depicts fullness from God alone (“satisfied”). It counters spiritual hunger of verse 1. The term underscores abundance found in Him. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| זִכַּרְתִּיךָ — zikkartikha | Verse 6 — “I remember You on my bed…” | “To remember,” recall. | Zikkartikha (“to remember”) conveys conscious meditation (“remember”). It reflects nighttime devotion. The word shows continual awareness of God. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עָזַר — azar | Verse 7 — “…You have been my help.” | “To help,” assist. | Azar (“to help”) emphasizes divine intervention (“help”). It acknowledges past deliverance as foundation for trust. The term deepens gratitude. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| דָּבְקָה — davkah | Verse 8 — “My soul follows hard after You…” | “To cling,” adhere. | Davkah (“to cling”) reflects passionate pursuit (“cling/follow hard”). It depicts intimate attachment to God. The word strengthens imagery of devotion. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| תָּמַךְ — tamakh | Verse 8 — “…Your right hand upholds me.” | “To uphold,” support. | Tamakh (“to uphold”) conveys sustaining strength (“uphold”). It reveals divine stability supporting human weakness. The word concludes the Psalm with reassurance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 63 |
|---|---|---|
| John Lightfoot (Jesus College, Cambridge, 1602–1675) | Commentarius Hebraicus in Psalmos | Observes that the Psalm conveys a deep longing for God’s presence as sustenance for the soul. |
| Matthew Poole (University of Oxford, 1624–1679) | Synopsis Criticorum | Highlights the spiritual satisfaction found in God, even in times of distress. |
| Richard Baxter (University of Cambridge, 1615–1691) | Paraphrase and Notes on the Psalms | Notes the Psalm teaches persistent devotion and delight in God as central to spiritual vitality. |
| Matthew Henry (Christ Church, Oxford, 1662–1714) | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Observes that God’s lovingkindness is both the source of joy and motivation for praise. |
| Thomas Manton (Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Exposition of the Psalms | Notes that the Psalm models intense spiritual focus and trust during hardships. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| John Calvin – Commentary on the Psalms | Calvin reads the psalm as David’s thirst for God in the desert. Physical want awakens deeper spiritual longing. Joy is found in God’s steadfast love. |
| Matthew Henry – Exposition on the Psalms | Henry interprets the psalm as expressing holy desire for communion with God. The wilderness reveals the soul’s need for divine presence. Confidence fills the closing verses. |
| Albert Barnes – Notes on the Psalms | Barnes sees the psalm as the longing of a soul separated from sanctuary worship. God’s love is better than life. Praise flows from confidence in His help. |
| John Morison – Practical Exposition of the Psalms | Morison views the psalm as the believer’s yearning for God amid hardship. Meditation in the night strengthens trust. God’s right hand sustains. |
| William Walford – Commentary on the Psalms | Walford interprets the psalm as placing God above all earthly comforts. Desire for divine fellowship dominates. God’s support brings rejoicing. |
| Andrew A. Bonar – Christ and His Church in the Psalms | Bonar sees the psalm as portraying the Church’s longing for God in spiritual drought. The wilderness becomes a place of worship. Joy emerges through divine love. |
| Joseph Parker – People’s Bible Notes | Parker views the psalm as the soul’s passionate search for God. Meditation creates spiritual strength. God’s upholding hand brings peace. |
| Thomas Dale – Exposition of the Psalms | Dale interprets the psalm as revealing the psalmist’s longing for God above life itself. God satisfies the thirsty soul. Praise is continual. |
| Horatius Bonar – Psalm Meditations | Bonar sees the psalm as faith seeking God earnestly. The wilderness heightens devotion. Divine love becomes the believer’s feast. |
| Christopher Wordsworth – Commentary on the Psalms | Wordsworth interprets the psalm as the Church longing for divine presence in barren times. God’s right hand sustains the faithful. Praise continues forever. |
