Psalm 18:24 kjv
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
Psalm 18:24 nkjv
Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
Psalm 18:24 niv
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
Psalm 18:24 esv
So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
Psalm 18:24 nlt
The LORD rewarded me for doing right.
He has seen my innocence.
Psalm 18 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 7:8 | "The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me." | God judges fairly based on righteousness. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?... He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." | Purity of hands and heart required for God's presence. |
| Ps 26:6 | "I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O LORD." | Ritual purification symbolizing ethical purity. |
| Ps 37:23 | "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way." | God directs and blesses the righteous walk. |
| Ps 84:11 | "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." | God's blessing on uprightness. |
| Prov 24:12 | "If you say, 'See, we did not know this,' Does not He who weighs the hearts discern it?" | God sees the true intentions of the heart. |
| Jer 17:10 | "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the result of his deeds." | God's perfect knowledge and just recompense. |
| Rom 2:6 | "who will repay each person according to his deeds:" | God's righteous judgment for all. |
| Job 17:9 | "Yet the righteous holds to his way, And he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger." | Perseverance and strength in the upright. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight." | Call to inner and outer cleansing. |
| Matt 5:8 | "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." | New Testament emphasis on inner purity. |
| Titus 1:15 | "To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure." | The perspective of the pure. |
| 1 Jn 3:3 | "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." | Believers purify themselves reflecting God's nature. |
| 2 Sam 22:21 | "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me." | Parallel passage in 2 Samuel. |
| 1 Kgs 8:32 | "and render to the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justify the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness." | Solomon's prayer reflects divine justice. |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousand generations..." | God's faithfulness to His covenant. |
| Ps 17:3 | "You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have sifted me and find nothing; My intent is not that my mouth would offend." | God's scrutiny of David's heart. |
| Ps 101:2 | "I will give heed to the blameless way... I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart." | David's commitment to blameless conduct. |
| 1 Pet 3:12 | "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayer..." | God's favor towards the righteous. |
| Rev 20:12 | "and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds." | Final judgment according to deeds. |
Psalm 18 verses
Psalm 18 24 Meaning
Psalm 18:24 declares David's firm belief that God justly rewarded him because of his righteous conduct and the purity of his actions, as perceived by God Himself. It emphasizes God's covenant faithfulness to those who walk in integrity before Him. David attributes his divine deliverance and vindication not to his own might, but to God's accurate judgment of his heart and deeds in a specific period of his life, especially concerning his integrity towards Saul and other enemies.
Psalm 18 24 Context
Psalm 18 is a magnificent psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance, attributed to David following his victories over all his enemies, most notably King Saul, as specified in the superscription (Ps 18:0). The psalm describes a series of divine interventions where God acted powerfully on David's behalf. Verses 20-23 form a core segment where David articulates the basis for God's gracious actions: his own blamelessness and integrity before God during the specific conflicts described. This personal declaration of righteousness is not a claim of absolute sinlessness—a concept generally absent in the Old Testament understanding of a righteous person—but rather a declaration of his innocent standing in contrast to his persecutors and his commitment to walking in God's ways during those trials. Verse 24 is the culminating statement, explicitly connecting God's recompense directly to David's self-professed righteousness and the purity of his deeds as judged by God. It affirms the covenant principle that God blesses and delivers those who faithfully serve Him. Historically, this psalm serves as David's reflection on God's mighty acts throughout his turbulent rise to kingship.
Psalm 18 24 Word analysis
- Therefore: Hebrew: ‘al-kēn (עַל־כֵּ֭ן). This conjunction logically connects verse 24 to David's previous affirmations of his righteous conduct in verses 20-23. It signifies a conclusion drawn from the preceding statements.
- the LORD: Hebrew: Yahweh (יְהוָ֣ה). The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with His people and His faithfulness to His promises. David’s reliance is on the sovereign, covenant-keeping God.
- has recompensed: Hebrew: shuv (שָׁוַ֫ב). Lit. "returned," "restored," "repaid." This verb signifies a just reciprocity or retribution. God has given back to David what was due to him based on his conduct, here understood as positive deliverance and blessing. It implies a just dealing where actions invite corresponding divine responses.
- me: Refers to David.
- according to: Hebrew: kə- (כִּי). A comparative particle indicating congruence or agreement. The recompense is directly aligned with the measure or nature of David's righteousness and cleanness.
- my righteousness: Hebrew: tzedeq (צֶ֥דֶק). This word denotes integrity, moral uprightness, adherence to God's standards and covenant. It’s not simply moral goodness but also right relationship with God and faithfulness to His commands. In the context of ancient Israel, it often encompassed ethical conduct within the community as well as ritual purity before God. David is stating his overall direction and fidelity to God.
- According to the cleanness: Hebrew: bōr (בֹּ֣ר). This signifies purity, clarity, freedom from defilement or blemish. When paired with "hands," it speaks of moral and ethical purity in one's actions, free from guilt or stain.
- of my hands: Hands symbolize action, deeds, and conduct. "Cleanness of hands" is a metaphorical expression for blameless conduct, freedom from unjust or violent acts, and innocent behavior (cf. Ps 24:4; Job 9:30). It underscores that David’s claims are substantiated by his tangible behavior.
- in His eyes: Hebrew: lĕ‘ēnāw (לְעֵינָֽיו). This crucial phrase indicates that the assessment of David's righteousness and cleanness is from God's perfect, all-knowing perspective, not from human judgment or superficial appearance. It implies God's perfect discernment and acknowledgment of David's genuine internal state and external actions, validating the authenticity of his declaration. God's gaze sees beyond external pretense to the true condition of the heart and mind.
Psalm 18 24 Bonus section
The affirmation of "righteousness" in Psalm 18:24 must be understood within the Old Testament framework, where a "righteous" person was not sinless but rather one who pursued faithfulness to God, observed His commands, and was in right standing in the covenant. David, despite his grave failings (e.g., Bathsheba, census), demonstrated a pattern of repentance, a heart continually turning towards God, and generally sought to obey divine instructions, distinguishing him from those who opposed God’s will or His anointed king. The recompense David receives here is therefore seen as a direct consequence of his fidelity in specific trying circumstances, a testimony to God's faithfulness to His covenant principles. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God not only observes but also responds to the genuine moral and spiritual disposition of His servants. It also highlights the sovereignty of God's judgment, as His assessment of "righteousness" and "cleanness" is the ultimate standard.
Psalm 18 24 Commentary
Psalm 18:24 encapsulates a fundamental principle of covenant theology: God deals justly with His people according to their faithfulness and integrity. David, having just experienced monumental deliverance, attributes this salvation directly to God's response to his perceived uprightness. This is not a claim of perfection, but rather of integrity in a specific historical context where he consistently honored God’s ways and showed grace to his enemies, like Saul. His "righteousness" (tzedeq) speaks to his moral and spiritual alignment with God’s covenant, while "cleanness of hands" (bōr) signifies blameless actions and a life free from guilt, particularly concerning the accusations and attacks leveled against him. The phrase "in His eyes" is pivotal, underscoring that God's perfect omniscience verifies David’s sincerity. This verse teaches that divine justice operates with precision, recognizing and rewarding genuine piety and ethical conduct. For David, God’s vindication was a powerful confirmation that his path had been true, as affirmed by the very God he served.