Psalm 27 13

Psalm 27:13 kjv

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 nkjv

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 niv

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 esv

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!

Psalm 27:13 nlt

Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.

Psalm 27 verses

Psalm 27 13 Meaning

Psalm 27:13 expresses King David’s profound certainty that only his steadfast belief in experiencing God’s benevolent provision and faithful care during his earthly life prevented him from succumbing to utter despair or death amidst severe trials. It is a powerful affirmation that faith in God's tangible goodness in the present realm is the sole anchor against overwhelming adversity and the collapse of spirit.

Psalm 27 13 Context

Psalm 27 stands as a powerful testament to King David's faith amidst profound distress. The psalm can be divided into two main sections: verses 1-6 exude a spirit of triumphant confidence and assurance in the Lord's protective presence, proclaiming Him as a light and stronghold against any foe. David expresses a singular desire to dwell in God's house and behold His beauty. In stark contrast, verses 7-12 shift to an earnest supplication, pleading with God for help, guidance, and protection from malicious accusers and false witnesses, lamenting potential abandonment even by close kin.

Verse 13 serves as the critical turning point and anchor, bridging these two seemingly disparate themes. It provides the foundation for the confidence expressed in the first half and the sustaining hope necessary to endure the petitions of the second half. It highlights that his fundamental belief in experiencing God's goodness in this life (the land of the living) is what has kept him from despair during previous or current persecutions, likely reflecting periods such as his flight from King Saul or Absalom’s rebellion, where his life was genuinely at stake. This verse isn't merely a statement but a testimony to a lived faith under immense pressure.

Psalm 27 13 Word analysis

• I had fainted, unless (לׄוּלֵ֧א - Lūlēʾ): This powerful conditional particle implies "if it had not been for" or "were it not that." It highlights a narrow escape from a catastrophic outcome, suggesting that without the stated condition, the psalmist's utter collapse, possibly even unto death or despair, would have been inevitable.

• I had believed (הֶאֱמַ֗נְתִּי - heʾěman-tî): Derived from the Hebrew root "אָמַן" (aman), meaning "to be firm, stable, or trustworthy." In the Hiphil stem, it signifies "to place reliance upon," thus "to believe firmly" or "to trust." This faith is not passive but an active, steadfast conviction that has been the anchor preventing his fall.

• to see (לִרְא֥וֹת - lirʾōṯ): From "רָאָה" (raʾah), "to see, perceive, or experience." This signifies more than a cognitive understanding; it implies an experiential encounter or tangible manifestation. David believed he would truly witness and experience God's goodness firsthand, not just intellectually grasp it.

• the goodness of (בְּֽטוּב - bə-ṭūḇ): From "טוּב" (ṭûḇ), meaning "goodness, well-being, prosperity, kindness, or favor." When linked to Yahweh, it refers to God’s inherent benevolent nature, His active gracious deeds, and the tangible blessings, favor, and well-being He provides.

• the LORD (יְהוָ֑ה - YHW̄H): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name. It emphasizes His unchangeable, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His covenant promises, highlighting that the "goodness" emanates from the living, personal God who actively intervenes.

• in the land of (בְּאֶ֖רֶץ - bə-ʾereṣ): Refers to the earthly domain or a physical territory.

• the living (חַיִּ֣ים - ḥayyim): This plural form for "life" is idiomatically used as "the land of the living" to denote the realm of earthly existence, in distinct contrast to Sheol (the grave or realm of the dead). It explicitly means that David's expectation of God's goodness was for this present life, here on earth, not solely for the afterlife.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "I had fainted, unless I had believed": This crucial pairing establishes a direct causal link. David unequivocally states that only his faith acted as a barrier against utter despair and physical collapse. It reveals the extremity of his trials and the vital, saving power of belief. It emphasizes that maintaining faith is an act of will, chosen even when feeling faint.
  • "to see the goodness of the LORD": This defines the specific object and nature of his faith. His belief was focused on the active demonstration and experiential manifestation of God’s benevolent character. It implies an expectation of divine intervention that produces well-being and deliverance.
  • "in the land of the living": This critical phrase anchors the psalmist's hope firmly in the present, tangible reality. It declares an expectation of God’s goodness and deliverance here and now, on earth, rather than solely as a spiritual reality after death. This perspective stands in direct opposition to despair that suggests God's help is only in eternity or unreachable.

Psalm 27 13 Bonus section

This verse highlights faith as a deliberate act of the will, not merely an emotion. David states "I had believed," emphasizing his choice to maintain conviction even when circumstances screamed despair. This powerful assertion challenged contemporary notions that might lean towards fatalism or a detached view of the divine; David expected a personal, active intervention from Yahweh. The "seeing" of God's goodness suggests not just a cognitive awareness, but a deeply personal, sensory, and verifiable encounter with God's loving provision, affirming His constant involvement in the human experience.

Psalm 27 13 Commentary

Psalm 27:13 stands as a resolute declaration of sustained faith against life-threatening despair. It is not merely a statement of hope but a retrospective testimony of how the psalmist, likely David, endured severe trials. His firm conviction was fixed not abstractly, but on the concrete and experiential "seeing" of God's goodness manifest in his current earthly life. This verse beautifully reveals that his spiritual resilience was anchored in God's benevolent character and His active intervention. The specific phrase "land of the living" underscores the present-day reality of God's care, providing solace and tangible blessings when the circumstances demanded surrender to gloom or even death. This contrasts with despair that often dictates that divine goodness is either absent or reserved for a future, distant state. Thus, David's faith actively defied immediate desperation, finding its grounding in God's demonstrable faithfulness in the here and now.

Examples:

• A parent, overwhelmed by a child's chronic illness, clings to faith, believing to see God's goodness in strength and provision daily within their home life.
• A person experiencing job loss chooses to believe that God's goodness will be evident soon through new opportunities, sustaining them through uncertainty.
• When facing injustice, a believer trusts that God's goodness will eventually bring clarity or restoration in their lifetime, refusing to become jaded.