Psalm 34:10 kjv
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Psalm 34:10 nkjv
The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
Psalm 34:10 niv
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:10 esv
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:10 nlt
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.
Psalm 34 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | God's comprehensive provision for the trusting. |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. | Prioritizing God leads to His provision. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | God's promise to meet believers' needs. |
| Ps 37:25 | I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. | God's enduring faithfulness to His righteous. |
| Ps 84:11 | For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. | God provides everything good for the righteous. |
| Prov 10:3 | The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish... | God sustains the righteous. |
| Luke 12:22-31 | "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life... For all these things the nations of the world seek... But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." | Emphasis on not worrying about earthly needs; seek God's kingdom. |
| Isa 40:31 | But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength... | Waiting on God brings renewed strength and sustenance. |
| Jn 6:35 | And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." | Christ as the ultimate source of spiritual satisfaction. |
| Deut 8:3 | "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna... that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD." | True provision is beyond physical food, it's spiritual. |
| Matt 5:6 | Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. | Spiritual hunger for righteousness is deeply satisfied. |
| Rom 8:32 | He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? | God's ultimate gift (Jesus) guarantees lesser gifts (needs). |
| Heb 13:5 | "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" | God's presence guarantees sufficiency and contentment. |
| 1 Kgs 17:4-16 | Elijah being fed by ravens and the widow's unfailing jar of flour and oil. | God provides miraculously even in severe famine. |
| Ps 107:9 | For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. | God satisfies deep spiritual and emotional needs. |
| Jer 29:13 | And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. | The promise to those who earnestly seek God. |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. | God provides abundantly for both needs and good works. |
| Exo 16:35 | And the children of Israel ate manna forty years... | God's sustained provision for Israel in the wilderness. |
| Ps 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... | God's provision even amidst adversity. |
| Ps 37:3 | Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. | Trust and active obedience linked to divine sustenance. |
Psalm 34 verses
Psalm 34 10 Meaning
Psalm 34:10 presents a stark contrast between those who rely on their own strength and those who depend on the Lord. It states that even the mighty, represented by young lions, can suffer scarcity and hunger. However, those who diligently seek the Lord, committing themselves to Him, will not lack any truly good thing, signifying God's faithful provision for His devoted people.
Psalm 34 10 Context
Psalm 34 is an acrostic psalm attributed to David, traditionally understood to have been composed after his escape from Abimelech (King Achish of Gath) as recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-15, where David feigned madness. This historical context provides a powerful backdrop: David, a man fleeing for his life and at his lowest point, praises the Lord for His deliverance and declares the blessedness of those who trust in Him. The psalm’s overarching theme is the goodness of God and His attentive care for those who fear Him and seek Him. Verse 10 fits directly into this theme, contrasting the natural world's struggle for survival (represented by young lions) with the supernatural, unwavering provision God grants to His faithful, serving as an encouraging statement derived from David's own experience of God's provision and rescue from great danger.
Psalm 34 10 Word analysis
- The young lions (כְּפִירִים - kəp̄îrîm): This term refers to powerful, strong, and fierce predatory beasts. They represent strength, self-sufficiency, and worldly might. The mention of "young" lions specifically emphasizes their vitality and capacity for hunting. Their inclusion highlights that even the strongest earthly creatures are subject to natural limitations and lack.
- The young lions lack (חָסְרוּ - ḥāssərū): "Lack" denotes absence, failure, or deficiency. It implies that despite their natural power and predatory nature, even young lions can fail to secure food, showing that earthly power cannot guarantee sustenance or security. This stands as an implicit polemic against reliance on human or natural strength.
- and suffer hunger (רָעֵבּוּ - rā‘ēḇū): This explicitly states their experience of privation. It underscores the severity of their lack and the common reality of scarcity even for the most formidable.
- but those who seek the LORD (דֹּרְשֵׁי יְהוָה - dor'shei YHWH):
- seek (דֹּרְשֵׁי - dor'shei): This is a participle, indicating an ongoing action. It signifies a diligent, earnest, and continuous pursuit; a spiritual lifestyle of actively desiring, inquiring of, and resorting to God. It is more than a casual glance; it implies devotion and dependency. This active "seeking" involves prayer, obedience to His commands, studying His Word, and trusting in His will.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, immutable, and self-existent nature. It points to the one true God who enters into relationship with His people and keeps His promises. Seeking YHWH implies seeking the Creator and Sustainer of all, rather than idols or self-sufficiency.
- shall not lack (לֹא יֶחְסְרוּ - lo’ yeḥsərū): This is a strong negative statement, directly contrasting the experience of the young lions. It signifies an assured promise of abundant supply and sufficiency. This negation assures ultimate provision.
- any good thing (כָל־טוֹב - kōl-ṭôḇ):
- any (כָל - kōl): This is a comprehensive term meaning "all," "every," or "whole." It emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of God's provision.
- good thing (טוֹב - ṭôḇ): This refers to what is truly beneficial, morally right, desirable, and perfect in God's eyes. It does not promise all that one desires but all that is genuinely good for one’s spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being according to God's sovereign and benevolent will. This is a profound statement about divine providence. It's not limited to material prosperity but includes spiritual peace, wisdom, guidance, and indeed, God Himself as the ultimate good.
Psalm 34 10 Bonus section
- The nature of "seeking the LORD" is crucial. It's not a transactional act to gain benefits, but a relational, lifelong orientation of heart and life towards God, rooted in trust and obedience.
- This verse counters common pagan beliefs of the time that depicted various deities as temperamental, demanding specific appeasements for provision, or only bestowing blessings based on human strength or ritualistic performance. Instead, David declares the dependable provision of the One True God (YHWH) to those who genuinely pursue Him in an ongoing relationship.
- The ultimate "good thing" that God does not withhold from those who seek Him is often understood in Christian theology to be God Himself, and life in Christ. All other provisions flow from this central relationship.
- This psalm, and especially this verse, is a source of immense comfort and a call to trust. It does not promise earthly riches or freedom from all difficulty, but assures a comprehensive, God-defined sufficiency that surpasses any lack experienced by the self-reliant.
Psalm 34 10 Commentary
Psalm 34:10 beautifully illustrates God's faithful providence for His committed followers through a striking juxtaposition. It uses the "young lions"—symbols of natural strength, ferocity, and self-reliance—to demonstrate that even the most formidable creatures are subject to want and hunger. This highlights the inherent limitation and instability of relying on worldly power, resources, or personal abilities for sustenance. In stark contrast, those who actively "seek the LORD"—a posture of humble dependence, consistent devotion, and intentional pursuit of His will—are promised that they "shall not lack any good thing." This promise is comprehensive; "any good thing" means all that is truly beneficial, needful, and morally excellent in God’s perfect plan, not necessarily every earthly desire. It signifies divine sufficiency and abundance, assuring that God will provide everything necessary for their ultimate welfare, whether it be spiritual sustenance, physical needs, wisdom, or protection. This verse fosters trust, encourages diligent pursuit of God, and underscores that true security and provision are found only in Him, transcending the unreliable systems of the world. It reminds believers that anxieties over life's necessities are needless when one trusts in the All-sufficient Lord.