Psalm 37 34

Psalm 37:34 kjv

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Psalm 37:34 nkjv

Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

Psalm 37:34 niv

Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

Psalm 37:34 esv

Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

Psalm 37:34 nlt

Put your hope in the LORD.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.

Psalm 37 verses

Psalm 37 34 Meaning

Psalm 37:34 urges the believer to steadfastly await the LORD's timing and faithfully adhere to His moral and spiritual path. In response to this obedient endurance, God promises to elevate the righteous person, granting them enduring possession of the promised land—a symbol of secure blessing and well-being. This exaltation is further contextualized by the inevitable destruction of the wicked, which the faithful will personally witness, affirming divine justice.

Psalm 37 34 Context

Psalm 37 is a didactic wisdom psalm, traditionally attributed to King David. It is an alphabetic acrostic (though somewhat imperfect) and primarily addresses the perplexing issue of theodicy: why the wicked often prosper while the righteous suffer. Throughout the chapter, David urges believers not to fret or envy the temporary success of evildoers but instead to trust in God's ultimate justice and unfailing care for His faithful ones. The psalm is rich in wisdom literature's common themes, offering guidance for living a life of integrity amidst temptation and apparent injustice. Verse 34 reinforces the core message: active waiting, faithful obedience, and unwavering confidence in God's certain vindication of the righteous and destruction of the wicked, ultimately securing blessing and possession for His people. Historically, the promise of "inheriting the land" would have deeply resonated with the Israelites, recalling God's covenant promise of the physical land of Canaan.

Psalm 37 34 Word analysis

• Wait (קַוֵּה, qawweh): This is from the root קוה (qavah), meaning "to wait, hope, expect." It signifies more than passive waiting; it implies an active, patient endurance, a binding of oneself to God with eager expectation and trust. It's an internal posture of hope and confident anticipation for God's action, refusing to take matters into one's own hands or despair at delay.
• on the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the personal, holy, and faithful God who keeps His promises. Waiting "on the LORD" emphasizes a direct, reliant, and intimate relationship with the divine rather than trusting in human schemes or resources.
• and keep (וּשְׁמֹר, u-shemor): From שׁמר (shamar), meaning "to guard, observe, preserve, obey." This implies an active and diligent safeguarding of God's precepts and moral standards. It's not a static compliance but a dynamic, watchful adherence to His principles.
• his way (דַּרְכּוֹ, darko): Refers to God's path, manner of life, commandments, and moral direction. It encompasses His character and His revealed will for how humanity should live. Keeping His way means aligning one's actions, thoughts, and intentions with divine truth and righteousness.
• and he shall exalt (וַיְרוֹמְמֵךָ, vayromemeka): From רוּם (rum), meaning "to be high, lifted up, exalted." This denotes a divine act of elevation, raising someone in status, honor, security, or prosperity. God Himself is the agent of this promotion, not human effort.
• thee to inherit (לָרֶשֶׁת, lareshet): From ירשׁ (yarash), meaning "to inherit, take possession of, dispossess, occupy." It speaks of receiving a vested right or an enduring possession, often previously belonging to another. It emphasizes security and rightful ownership bestowed by God.
• the land (אָרֶץ, aretz): While literally meaning "earth," in this context, "the land" specifically refers to the land of Israel (Canaan) promised by God to Abraham and his descendants as a place of rest, blessing, and flourishing. It is the earthly inheritance that serves as a tangible symbol of God's faithfulness and favor, often expanding in New Testament theology to spiritual or new creation inheritance.
• when the wicked (בְּהִכָּרֵת רְשָׁעִים, behikkarêt resha’im): wicked (רְשָׁעִים, resha’im): Plural of רָשָׁע (rasha), meaning "guilty, unrighteous, criminal." This term describes those whose lives are characterized by disregard for God's law and by active wrongdoing. are cut off (בְּהִכָּרֵת, behikkarêt): From כּרת (karat), meaning "to cut, cut off, destroy, exterminate." This refers to God's definitive judgment, resulting in the termination or removal of the wicked from their position of influence or existence, often in a swift and conclusive manner.
• thou shalt see it (תִּרְאֶה, tir’eh): From רָאָה (ra’ah), meaning "to see, perceive, understand." The righteous will personally witness the divine vindication—the overthrow of evil—confirming God's justice. This witnessing brings reassurance and solidifies trust in His governance.

Words-Group analysis:

• "Wait on the LORD, and keep his way": This phrase emphasizes the core tenets of righteous living in a fallen world: patient trust coupled with active obedience. It is not a passive resignation but an engaged reliance on God, lived out through diligent adherence to His revealed will. The 'waiting' (qawweh) is deeply connected to 'hoping' and 'expecting', suggesting an active anticipation rather than idle repose. This pairing is crucial: true faith is not merely intellectual assent but includes practical conformity to God's character.
• "and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land": This is God's assured response to the previous commands. The "exaltation" (rum) is a divine action, elevating the righteous in status, security, and well-being. "Inheriting the land" (yahreh et ha’aretz) carries significant covenantal weight, pointing to the fulfillment of God's promises of blessing, stability, and enduring presence. It implies security and enduring legacy, transcending mere earthly prosperity. This "land" can be interpreted both literally (Israel) and spiritually (God's eternal kingdom/blessings).
• "when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it": This clause provides context and contrast. The promise for the righteous is intrinsically linked to the fate of the wicked. The "cutting off" (karat) of the wicked signifies their absolute demise and separation from God's blessings and sphere of influence. The righteous "seeing" this is not about malicious pleasure but about the vindication of God's justice. It reinforces the certainty of God's righteous judgment, encouraging patience by demonstrating that divine justice is not merely hypothetical but demonstrable reality.

Psalm 37 34 Bonus section

The promise of "inheriting the land" in this psalm can be seen through progressive revelation. While originally pointing to the literal land of Canaan and its blessings, the New Testament often expands this concept to include the earth as God's renewed creation (Matt 5:5 – the meek shall inherit the earth) and even the spiritual inheritance of eternal life and fellowship with God (1 Pet 1:4). This shows the eschatological fulfillment of God's promises extends beyond the earthly temporal, embracing the ultimate rest and blessing in His eternal kingdom. The entire Psalm acts as a "theology of waiting," teaching that God's ways are higher than man's and that true peace and security come from aligning with His perfect justice rather than human striving or envying. It subtly counters prevailing polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding nations by presenting a single, just, and sovereign God who actively governs the affairs of men and brings ultimate distinction between righteousness and wickedness, unlike the capricious or morally indifferent deities.

Psalm 37 34 Commentary

Psalm 37:34 presents a profound and practical call to faithful living rooted in divine promises. It transcends a mere wish or hope, offering concrete assurances tied to specific human responses. The command to "wait on the LORD" is paramount; it speaks to the challenge of enduring in a world where immediate rewards often go to the unrighteous. This waiting is an active spiritual discipline—a deliberate trusting, hoping, and binding of one's future to God, resisting the urge to seek justice or prosperity through carnal means or fret over the wicked's transient success. It requires profound self-restraint and confidence in God's perfect timing. Coupled with this patience is the imperative to "keep His way," which denotes consistent and active obedience to God's moral and ethical standards. This emphasizes that genuine faith is evidenced by a transformed life that aligns with divine wisdom and righteousness.

The resulting promise is threefold: divine "exaltation," the "inheritance of the land," and the witnessing of the "wicked cut off." God promises to elevate those who faithfully endure and obey, bestowing upon them a secure position and lasting blessing. This "inheritance of the land," a pivotal theme in Old Testament covenant theology, symbolizes not just a physical dwelling but comprehensive well-being, peace, and spiritual flourishing. It speaks to a secure legacy and establishment, reflecting God's faithfulness to His promises. The final part, "when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it," underscores God's absolute justice. The downfall of the wicked is a certain future event that the righteous will personally witness, not necessarily in vengeance, but as a clear demonstration of divine righteousness and the fulfillment of God's word. This assurance reinforces the believer's call to patience and faithful living, affirming that God ultimately differentiates between the righteous and the wicked, bringing vindication to the former and destruction to the latter in His appointed time. The practical application is to choose God's way over the fleeting gains of the world, knowing that His timing is perfect, and His justice is absolute.