Psalm 16:9 kjv
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psalm 16:9 nkjv
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
Psalm 16:9 niv
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
Psalm 16:9 esv
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psalm 16:9 nlt
No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
Psalm 16 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 2:25-28 | "For David says concerning Him: 'I saw the Lord always before me... because you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow your Holy One to see corruption...'" | Peter quotes Ps 16:8-10 as fulfillment in Christ's resurrection. |
| Acts 13:35-37 | "Therefore He also says in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see corruption.’ For David, after he had served his own generation by the counsel of God, fell asleep and was laid among his fathers and saw corruption; but He whom God raised did not see corruption." | Paul confirms Ps 16 as prophecy fulfilled in Jesus, contrasting David's death with Christ's. |
| Ps 16:11 | "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." | Expands on the path of life, fullness of joy, and eternal pleasures found in God's presence. |
| Ps 30:11-12 | "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing... that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent." | Joy and praise replacing sorrow, connecting "glory" with vocal praise. |
| Ps 43:4 | "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God." | God as the source of exceeding joy. |
| Ps 73:26 | "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." | Confidence in God despite physical failure, hope beyond death. |
| Job 19:26-27 | "And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; whom I myself will see... my eyes will behold, and not another." | Hope of bodily resurrection and seeing God. |
| Prov 1:33 | "But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster." | Security comes from listening to wisdom/God's instruction. |
| Isa 26:19 | "Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead." | Explicit prophetic hope of bodily resurrection for God's people. |
| Rom 8:11 | "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." | The Spirit's role in the resurrection of believers' bodies. |
| 1 Cor 15:42-44 | "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." | Discussion of the resurrected body being imperishable and glorified. |
| Phil 1:20 | "as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." | Paul's bodily glorification of Christ in life or death. |
| 2 Cor 5:8 | "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." | The hope beyond earthly dwelling in the body. |
| Deut 33:28 | "So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived in a land of grain and wine, and his heavens dropped down dew." | The theme of dwelling securely under God's provision. |
| Lev 25:18-19 | "You shall observe my statutes... and you shall dwell in the land securely." | Obedience to God leads to secure dwelling. |
| Ps 4:8 | "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." | Trusting God for secure sleep, related to "rest secure." |
| Ps 34:19 | "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." | God's deliverance brings security from troubles. |
| Rom 15:13 | "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." | Connecting joy and peace to hope, similar to the Ps 16 mindset. |
| Heb 4:9 | "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." | The spiritual rest and security promised to believers. |
| 1 Pet 1:8 | "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." | Similar themes of joy and "glory" (related to the spirit/tongue) experienced through faith. |
Psalm 16 verses
Psalm 16 9 Meaning
Psalm 16:9 expresses a profound and settled confidence in the LORD, leading to an overflow of joy and security. Because the psalmist (David, a type of Christ) has placed the LORD continually before him and trusts in God’s guidance and unfailing presence (Ps 16:7-8), his innermost being experiences gladness and finds vocal expression in praise. This joy extends to his physical being, which rests securely, holding a hopeful assurance of a future that transcends even death, prophetically pointing to resurrection.
Psalm 16 9 Context
Psalm 16 is titled a "Miktam of David." The word "Miktam" is of uncertain meaning, possibly related to "golden" or "inscription," suggesting it is a precious or significant psalm. It is a psalm of confident trust and devotion to God.The verses leading up to Psalm 16:9 establish the psalmist's foundational commitment: he takes refuge in the LORD (v.1), declares the LORD his sole good and delight, rejecting other gods (v.2-4), acknowledges God as his chosen portion and inheritance (v.5), and praises God for His counsel and guidance (v.6-8), even in the night. Because of this unwavering devotion and divine relationship, the psalmist expresses overflowing joy and profound security in verse 9, laying the groundwork for the ultimate hope of resurrection presented in verse 10. The psalmist contrasts the desolate end of idolaters (v.4) with the blessed end of those who trust in the LORD. Historically, the setting for David might be a time of great peril or profound blessing, leading to such a deep articulation of trust and resulting joy. Its ultimate fulfillment, however, is Messianic, with David speaking prophetically of Christ.
Psalm 16 9 Word analysis
- Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): This connective adverb establishes a direct consequence. It links the joyful outcome in verse 9 to the steadfast faith, constant presence of God (Ps 16:8, "I have set the LORD always before me"), and divine counsel (Ps 16:7) expressed in the preceding verses. It signals that the psalmist’s exuberant response is not random but logically follows from his secure relationship with God.
- my heart (לִבִּי, libbi): The Hebrew word lev (לֵב) refers to the innermost self, encompassing intellect, will, emotions, and moral consciousness. It is the core of one's being. When the heart is glad, it signifies a deep, fundamental joy, not merely a superficial happiness. This highlights the holistic nature of the joy the psalmist experiences.
- is glad (שָׂמַח, samach): This verb denotes deep, heartfelt joy, often expressed in festive celebrations. It signifies a profound delight and rejoicing. The "heart" being glad indicates an inner state of rejoicing that flows from a spiritual source—the divine relationship.
- and my tongue (כְּבוֹדִי, kevodi): The Hebrew word kavod (כָּבוֹד) typically means "glory," "honor," or "majesty." However, in this specific context, particularly as understood through the ancient Greek Septuagint translation (which renders it as "tongue," γλῶσσα, glōssa) and its quotation by Peter in Acts 2:26 ("my tongue rejoices"), it is interpreted as a metonymy for the "tongue" or "soul"—that which speaks forth praise and worship. It implies that the internal joy is so abundant it cannot be contained and finds an outward expression of vocal praise, giving glory to God. This indicates a deep-seated spiritual exuberance that finds vocal expression.
- rejoices (וַיָּגֶל, vayagel): This verb signifies joyful exultation or jubilation, an active expression of gladness, often implying a shouting or crying out of joy. When paired with "tongue," it clearly indicates audible praise.
- my body (בְּשָׂרִי, besari): The Hebrew word basar (בָּשָׂר) refers to the physical body or flesh. This emphasizes that the security and hope extend to the psalmist's physical existence. It's not just a spiritual or emotional hope, but one that encompasses his entire being. In the context of the next verse (Ps 16:10), this term gains immense significance, referring to the physical body even in death, carrying the implication of its ultimate preservation from corruption or its future restoration.
- will rest secure (יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח, yishkon lavetach):
- will rest (יִשְׁכֹּן, yishkon): From the verb shakan (שָׁכַן), meaning "to dwell," "reside," or "settle down." It often implies a secure, peaceful, and permanent dwelling. This verb is also used for the dwelling of God's presence (the Shekinah glory).
- secure (לָבֶטַח, lavetach): Means "in security," "safely," "confidently." This adverb strongly emphasizes the state of safety, trust, and peace, free from fear or threat.
Psalm 16 9 Bonus section
The three parts of the psalmist's being—heart, tongue/glory, and body—receiving gladness, rejoicing, and security, highlight the holistic redemption and blessing found in the Lord. This resonates with the Christian understanding of salvation encompassing spirit, soul, and body (1 Thess 5:23). The deep trust described in this verse serves as the foundation for the revolutionary Messianic prophecy of Christ's resurrection, turning what could be interpreted as a mere human wish for longevity into a divinely inspired foretelling of triumph over death. The interpretive clarity provided by the New Testament (Acts 2 & 13) elevates this psalm from a personal confession to a crucial testimony to Christ's bodily resurrection. The psalmist's joy is not based on circumstantial comfort, but on the certainty of God's presence and power to sustain life and overcome death, which is a key tenet of Christian eschatology.
Psalm 16 9 Commentary
Psalm 16:9 succinctly encapsulates the culmination of a life dedicated to God, portraying a seamless flow from inner spiritual commitment to outward joyful expression and complete physical assurance. The causal link established by "therefore" demonstrates that joy and security are direct results of maintaining God as one's highest good, constant companion, and trustworthy guide. The progression from "heart" to "tongue" to "body" indicates a holistic blessedness. The gladness of the heart (the emotional and intellectual core) overflows into vocal praise ("tongue rejoices"), demonstrating that authentic faith leads to worship. Most profoundly, the phrase "my body also will rest secure" moves beyond a mere desire for earthly safety to a deeper confidence. In light of the immediate context of Psalm 16:10, where the "Holy One" will not see corruption, this "secure resting" for the body prefigures a triumph over death itself—a prophetic declaration of resurrection. It speaks not of perpetual earthly life, but of a guaranteed future for the physical self that overcomes the decay of the grave. This verse, therefore, is a powerful expression of hope in God's faithfulness, guaranteeing life, joy, and security even in the face of mortality, fully realized in Jesus Christ.