Psalm 62:1 kjv
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
Psalm 62:1 nkjv
To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.
Psalm 62:1 niv
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
Psalm 62:1 esv
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
Psalm 62:1 nlt
I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
Psalm 62 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 37:7 | Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him... | Waiting patiently on God's timing and work |
| Ps 130:5 | I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. | Active, hopeful waiting for divine help |
| Is 30:15 | In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. | Strength found in quiet reliance on God |
| Lam 3:26 | It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. | Goodness of quiet expectation for salvation |
| Ps 3:8 | Salvation belongeth unto the Lord... | God as the ultimate source of salvation |
| Ps 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? | God is the source of safety and deliverance |
| Is 12:2 | Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid... | Trusting God, removing fear through salvation |
| Lk 2:30 | For mine eyes have seen thy salvation... | Christ as the fulfillment of God's salvation |
| Heb 5:9 | ...he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him: | Jesus as the bringer of eternal salvation |
| Ps 18:2 | The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer... | God as stable refuge and rescuer |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God's immediate presence as strength and help |
| Deut 32:4 | He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment... | God's steadfast, righteous nature |
| Mat 7:24 | ...like a wise man, which built his house upon a rock... | Building life on solid foundation in Christ |
| Ps 4:8 | I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. | Finding peace and security solely in God |
| Ps 46:10 | Be still, and know that I am God... | Commanding stillness to acknowledge God's power |
| Heb 4:10-11 | ...he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. | Finding spiritual rest from human effort |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. | Complete trust over self-reliance |
| Jer 17:7 | Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. | Blessing for those who make God their hope |
| John 15:5 | ...for without me ye can do nothing. | Emphasizing utter dependence on Christ |
| Ps 118:8 | It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. | Contrasting trust in God with trust in humanity |
| Jer 17:5 | Cursed be the man that trusteth in man... | Warning against human-centered reliance |
Psalm 62 verses
Psalm 62 1 Meaning
Psalm 62:1 declares an absolute and exclusive trust in God as the singular source of one's salvation and stability. It conveys a deep inner conviction where the soul consciously chooses to quiet itself and rest its entire being upon the Lord, anticipating deliverance solely from Him amidst any trial or adversary. It is a profound statement of silent, unwavering dependence.
Psalm 62 1 Context
Psalm 62 is "A Psalm of David," likely composed during a period of intense distress or betrayal, possibly during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15-18) or Saul's relentless pursuit (1 Sam 18-24). David faces formidable human adversaries who seek to cast him down, slander him, and take his life. The psalm contrasts the instability and fleeting nature of human power, riches, and deceit with the unwavering constancy and sole sufficiency of God. Amidst this turmoil, David expresses his profound confidence and quiet trust in God alone. This first verse establishes the fundamental posture of the psalmist's soul – total dependence on God, who is his unique source of help and deliverance. The surrounding verses reiterate this theme, contrasting his exclusive reliance on God with the futility of human scheming and worldly gain.
Psalm 62 1 Word analysis
Truly (אַךְ, ʾak): This emphatic particle means "only," "surely," or "nevertheless." Its primary function here is to express exclusivity and certainty. It emphasizes that God is the sole object of the psalmist's trust, making no allowance for any other source of help or hope. It sets a definitive boundary, a theological polemic against relying on anything else – human strength, political alliance, wealth, or idols.
my soul (נַפְשִׁי, nafshi): This refers to the innermost being of the psalmist – his whole person, life, self, emotions, and will. It signifies a profound, holistic commitment and surrender, not merely a superficial or intellectual assent. It means that the totality of David's being is engaged in this act of reliance.
waits upon (דּוּמִיָּה, dumiyyah): This key Hebrew word literally means "silence," "quietness," or "rest." While translated "waits upon" in KJV and others, the deeper nuance implies a proactive and deliberate act of quieting the soul, ceasing from anxiety and striving, and resting in confident expectation before God. It's not passive inactivity, but an active, trustful stillness, patiently enduring while looking to God alone. It speaks of a deep inner peace found in surrender to God's timing and power, without complaint or agitated questioning.
God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The generic but powerful name for God, emphasizing His divine nature, ultimate authority, and absolute power as Creator and Sovereign over all things. The focus here is on God's omnipotence and faithfulness as the proper object of silent trust.
from him (מִמֶּנּוּ, mimennu): This prepositional phrase reinforces the singular source. It declares that salvation does not originate from human effort, earthly powers, or fortunate circumstances, but solely and directly from God.
cometh: An implied verb in the Hebrew, expressing a continuous action or established reality. It indicates that salvation is constantly flowing from God as its source.
my salvation (יְשׁוּעָתִי, yeshuʿati): This comprehensive term encompasses deliverance, safety, help, victory, and well-being. It signifies rescue from all dangers, both immediate physical threats and spiritual perils. It speaks of holistic redemption and security that only God can provide.
Words-group analysis: "Truly my soul waits upon God": This phrase expresses an exclusive and holistic reliance. "Truly" emphasizes exclusivity (God and no other), "my soul" signifies the entire inner being (wholehearted trust), and "waits upon" (silent stillness) portrays an active, quiet posture of patient endurance and expectation. It contrasts sharply with the frantic scrambling or human striving often seen in times of distress. It is a profound declaration of inner tranquility derived from complete surrender.
Words-group analysis: "from him cometh my salvation": This phrase defines the source and nature of the deliverance. "From him" establishes God as the sole originator of help, denying any other ultimate provider. "Cometh" suggests an assured, active, and constant flow, not a one-time event. "My salvation" identifies God as the specific deliverer, bringing complete and personal deliverance from all adversity.
Psalm 62 1 Bonus section
The deep trust articulated in Ps 62:1 challenges the prevailing tendency in humanity to lean on visible, tangible, and immediate solutions. It directly opposes self-sufficiency, reliance on material wealth (mentioned later in the psalm), or the strength of alliances. This verse emphasizes an internal discipline: actively choosing stillness and trust, rather than succumbing to fear or the impulse to take matters into one's own hands. It presents a vital aspect of worship – acknowledging God as utterly sufficient and capable.
Psalm 62 1 Commentary
Psalm 62:1 lays the foundational premise for the entire psalm: complete and exclusive reliance on God alone. It is a deeply personal affirmation of faith amidst severe personal or national trials. David consciously directs his entire inner self—his will, emotions, and thoughts—to "wait silently" on God, recognizing that all true deliverance originates from Him and from no other source. This "silent waiting" is not passivity but an active quieting of the spirit, acknowledging God's sovereignty and patiently enduring while trusting in His faithfulness. It counters the worldly temptation to seek help in fleeting human power, riches, or self-reliance, offering God as the singular and unshakable "Rock" in times of great uncertainty. The verse provides a pattern for finding stability and peace when everything around us feels chaotic, by deliberately choosing to place our full dependence and expectation on God's character and power.