Psalm 41 11

Psalm 41:11 kjv

By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

Psalm 41:11 nkjv

By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me.

Psalm 41:11 niv

I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.

Psalm 41:11 esv

By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.

Psalm 41:11 nlt

I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 41 verses

Psalm 41 11 Meaning

Psalm 41:11 is a declaration of unwavering faith and experiential knowledge by the psalmist. It expresses certainty in God's favorable disposition toward him, affirmed by the crucial reality that his enemies, despite their schemes and desires, will not be granted the satisfaction of triumphing over him. This non-triumph is understood as the irrefutable evidence of God's delight and vindication of the psalmist.

Psalm 41 11 Context

Psalm 41 is a personal lament by King David, expressing distress over severe illness, combined with the bitter anguish of betrayal by a close confidant, alongside the scorn and malicious intent of his enemies. Throughout the psalm, David cries out for God's mercy and healing, particularly against the backdrop of his adversaries wishing for his demise and interpreting his suffering as a sign of divine disfavor due to sin. Verse 11 marks a pivot, expressing a profound trust and confident expectation that God will indeed deliver him. It affirms that God’s non-allowance of his enemies’ triumph is the very tangible proof of God’s delight and steadfast favor, regardless of his current suffering. This perspective counters the contemporary belief that outward misfortune inherently signifies divine rejection.

Psalm 41 11 Word analysis

• By this I know (בְּזֹ֣את יָדַ֣עְתִּי – bəzō’t yāḏa‘tî):

  • בְּזֹ֣את (bəzō’t): "By this" or "in this." It points to the following condition as the means by which knowledge is gained. It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting experiential certainty rather than mere theoretical belief.
  • יָדַ֣עְתִּי (yāḏa‘tî): "I know" (perfect tense). This is not a guess or hope, but a firm conviction based on past experience or divine revelation. It speaks of a deep, personal acquaintance and certainty, an established truth in the psalmist's understanding. It implies that this knowledge is a fundamental component of his spiritual life.

• that you are pleased with me (כִּי־חָפַ֥צְתָּ בִּֽי – kî-ḥāfaṣtā bî):

  • כִּי (kî): "that" or "because," introduces the content of the psalmist's knowledge or the reason for it.
  • חָפַ֥צְתָּ (ḥāfaṣtā): From the verb חָפֵץ (ḥafeṣ), meaning "to desire, to take pleasure in, to delight in, to be pleased with." This verb denotes God’s voluntary, loving choice and positive disposition toward an object or person. It signifies God's active, benevolent will and favor. When God "delights" in someone, it speaks to an intimate covenant relationship and personal affection.
  • בִּֽי (bî): "in me." Reinforces the personal nature of God’s delight directed specifically at the psalmist.

• my enemy does not triumph over me (לֹא־יָרִ֥יעַ אֹיְבִֽי עָלָֽי – lō’-yārîa‘ ’ōyəḇî ‘ālāy):

  • לֹא־יָרִ֥יעַ (lō’-yārîa‘): "does not triumph/shout of victory." From רוּעַ (rûa‘), which often means "to shout for joy, to make a joyful noise," or specifically "to raise a battle cry" or "a shout of triumph over a fallen foe." Its negative use here signifies that the enemy will not have the occasion or ability to utter a conquering shout of victory or mock with shouts of derision. This means ultimate, humiliating defeat is averted for the psalmist, and no cause for celebratory exultation exists for the adversaries.
  • אֹיְבִֽי (’ōyəḇî): "my enemy." A specific, personal adversary or adversaries. The psalmist likely refers to those who not only seek his downfall but gloat in his suffering.
  • עָלָֽי (‘ālāy): "over me." Signifies superiority, domination, or a position of victory over another.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "By this I know that You are pleased with me": This phrase establishes the psalmist’s profound certainty in God's benevolent attitude towards him. The "knowing" is not based on presumption but on the observable reality that follows. It links God's internal disposition (pleasure) with an external manifestation.
  • "because my enemy does not triumph over me": This serves as the concrete, tangible evidence and criterion for the psalmist's assurance of God's pleasure. The prevention of the enemy’s victory shout is the decisive indicator. It's a statement of vindication, signifying God's active protection and alignment with the psalmist against his adversaries. The "shout of triumph" would represent the complete humiliation and utter defeat of the psalmist, and the absence of it signifies God's sovereign hand preventing such an outcome.

Psalm 41 11 Bonus section

The concept of "knowing" God’s pleasure by an outward sign (the non-triumph of the enemy) is significant. It moves beyond a purely subjective feeling to an observable divine action. This serves as a vital comfort and a polemic against the "theology of prosperity" which often implies that any suffering is a mark of God's displeasure. David's experience, in fact, implies the opposite: God can be delighted in His servant even while that servant endures severe hardship, and His pleasure is eventually manifested in His delivering act. This also carries Messianic undertones: Jesus, the perfect righteous sufferer, endured immense opposition and the "triumph" of His enemies at the cross. Yet, the ultimate "shout of triumph" of His enemies was averted and utterly overcome by His resurrection, which unequivocally proved the Father's absolute delight in Him, even through suffering unto death. This final defeat of His spiritual and human adversaries confirmed God's pleasure and brought eternal vindication, ensuring His enemies would not finally gloat over Him.

Psalm 41 11 Commentary

Psalm 41:11 encapsulates a deep theological truth: God’s ultimate disposition of favor towards the righteous is demonstrated through His active intervention against their adversaries. Even amidst suffering, betrayal, or illness, the psalmist expresses a certainty that God’s pleasure (חָפֵץ, ḥafeṣ – denoting a loving, intentional delight) is upon him. The critical evidence for this knowledge is the assurance that his enemy will not "shout in triumph" (רוּעַ, rûa‘) over him. This triumph implies not just a physical victory, but also the deep satisfaction of publicly disgracing and dominating the psalmist, often seen as divine judgment in ancient thought.

The verse challenges the prevalent ancient Near Eastern view, shared even by Job's friends, that misfortune and suffering inherently signified divine displeasure or punishment for sin. David, in contrast, asserts that despite his physical affliction and betrayal, God's underlying pleasure and covenantal favor remain. This pleasure is not invalidated by temporary distress but ultimately confirmed by the eventual prevention of the enemy's decisive, shaming victory. God’s protective hand, restraining the full jubilance of the foes, acts as a visible sign of His delight. This divine intervention assures ultimate vindication, affirming that even when righteous individuals face dire straits, God’s favor is immutable and will culminate in their deliverance and the frustration of evil intentions. It is a promise of God’s faithful presence, ensuring that the righteous will not be put to final shame.

Practical Usage:

• In times of trial or persecution, recognize that God’s permitting adversity does not equate to His displeasure, but His ultimate promise is that adversaries will not have the final, triumphal say.
• Seek God's intervention, trusting that the frustrating of the plans of those who oppose righteousness is a clear indicator of God’s favor upon His people.
• Even when external circumstances seem dire, cultivate internal confidence in God's delight over you, as evidenced by His ultimate protection from the "shout of triumph" of your foes, spiritual or otherwise.