Psalm 16 2

Psalm 16:2 kjv

O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

Psalm 16:2 nkjv

O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You."

Psalm 16:2 niv

I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

Psalm 16:2 esv

I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

Psalm 16:2 nlt

I said to the LORD, "You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you."

Psalm 16 verses

Psalm 16 2 Meaning

Psalm 16:2 expresses the psalmist's profound confession to the Lord: "I say to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'" This verse encapsulates the psalmist's unwavering declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and his own complete dependence upon Him. It asserts that all true and lasting good—spiritual, moral, or even experiential well-being—originates solely from God, implying that any good perceived outside of Him is ultimately insufficient or nonexistent.

Psalm 16 2 Context

Psalm 16 is titled a "Michtam of David," possibly denoting a golden psalm or an inscription, suggesting its precious nature. The chapter overall expresses David's confidence, delight, and hope in the Lord, affirming Him as his sole portion, refuge, and guide. He declares loyalty to God, distancing himself from those who pursue other gods. The psalmist expresses joy in the Lord's presence and hope in God's path of life, even looking beyond death to resurrection and eternal delights at God's right hand. Verse 2 specifically lays the foundational theological premise for David's confidence: his recognition of God's absolute goodness and his own utter reliance upon Him. This statement directly contrasts with the polytheistic environment of ancient Israel, where neighboring cultures sought good fortune and sustenance from a pantheon of gods.

Psalm 16 2 Word analysis

• I say: Implies a conscious, deliberate, and vocal declaration of faith and conviction. It's an internal belief expressed outwardly.
• to the LORD: The Hebrew here is "YHWH" (often vocalized as Yahweh), the covenant name of God, emphasizing His unique personal and redemptive relationship with His people.
• You: Direct address, deeply personal and relational.
• are: The verb of being, indicating an intrinsic quality or state. God is not merely called Lord, He is Lord.
• my Lord: Hebrew Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my great Lord' or 'my Sovereign Master'. This title denotes God's absolute ownership, authority, and David's willing submission and devotion. It highlights a relationship of master and servant, but one imbued with deep trust and affection.
• apart from You: Hebrew bal 'aleka (בַּל־עָלֶיךָ) – literally "not over you" or "not above you." The common and scholarly interpretation means "apart from you" or "without you." It signifies that the source of any good is exclusively with God; it doesn't extend beyond Him, nor does it originate elsewhere.
• I have: Implies possession or existence for the speaker.
• no: A strong negation, emphasizing absolute lack.
• good: Hebrew tov (טוֹב). This term is rich in biblical meaning, encompassing not just moral rectitude, but also that which is beneficial, pleasant, delightful, excellent, prosperous, and contributes to well-being and flourishing. It represents complete welfare.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I say to the LORD, You are my Lord": This phrase establishes the psalmist's personal relationship and submission to the one true God, YHWH. It's a dual affirmation: first of YHWH as the supreme Deity, and second, of His specific, personal lordship over David's life, expressed by Adonai. This declaration directly counters the worship of false gods prevalent in surrounding cultures, asserting that David serves only the one true God, the ultimate Sovereign. It also challenges humanistic self-sufficiency, placing divine authority first.
• "I have no good apart from you": This statement serves as a profound theological anchor. It means that genuine flourishing, true prosperity, real happiness, moral excellence, and ultimate satisfaction are not to be found in earthly possessions, human strength, pagan deities, or self-reliance, but exclusively in God Himself. It’s a polemic against the idea that material wealth, military power, or religious rituals offered to other gods could bring about a "good life." This truth underlies all true righteousness and spiritual life; without God, human attempts at goodness are futile and contaminated, lacking ultimate purpose or benefit (e.g., Isa 64:6).

Psalm 16 2 Bonus section

The profound implications of Psalm 16:2 lay the groundwork for understanding the concept of "goodness" as primarily a divine attribute. When we confess we have "no good apart from You," it is not merely about receiving good things from God, but about the very definition of good being tied to His nature and will. God Himself is the ultimate Good (Matt 19:17). Therefore, "having no good apart from God" also means having no genuine connection to the source and standard of morality, virtue, and eternal blessedness outside of Him. This deepens the verse from merely expressing dependence for physical needs to recognizing an ontological dependence for meaning, morality, and true existence itself. This truth is foundational to spiritual life, ensuring that worship is directed solely to God and trust placed only in Him.

Psalm 16 2 Commentary

Psalm 16:2 is a bedrock confession of absolute dependence upon God and recognition of His unique sovereignty. By declaring, "You are my Lord," David identifies Yahweh, the covenant God, as his supreme Master and King, not merely in a generic sense but in an intimate, personal way, expressed through the title Adonai. This declaration of surrender implies that all his life's pursuits, hopes, and ultimate destiny are submitted to divine will. The latter half, "I have no good apart from you," then articulates the profound theological implication of this submission: every true blessing, every moral quality, every spiritual delight, and every aspect of genuine flourishing—the tov—originates solely from God's character and provision. It's an active repudiation of self-sufficiency and the futile search for "good" in idols or human endeavors. This truth compels humility, devotion, and a continual reliance on God as the wellspring of life. For the Christian, this verse resonates with Christ's perfect dependence on the Father and the believer's inability to bear fruit apart from Him (John 15:5).

For practical usage, this means:

• Acknowledging God as the source of all real success and blessings in life, rather than attributing them to one's own efforts or luck.
• Seeking God's will and presence in all decisions, trusting that true "good" for us is found in Him.
• Recognizing that attempts to achieve happiness or fulfillment outside of a relationship with God are ultimately vain.