Psalm 62 5

Psalm 62:5 kjv

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalm 62:5 nkjv

My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.

Psalm 62:5 niv

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 62:5 esv

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Psalm 62:5 nlt

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.

Psalm 62 verses

Psalm 62 5 Meaning

Psalm 62:5 is an internal admonition from the psalmist to his own soul, commanding it to cultivate a posture of silent, patient, and exclusive expectation of God. It firmly states that the foundation and source of the psalmist's hope, assurance, and confident expectation rests entirely and solely upon God. It signifies a profound cessation of restless human striving and an embrace of tranquil trust in divine providence amidst all circumstances.

Psalm 62 5 Context

Psalm 62 is a psalm of David, written likely during a period of intense trial and opposition from deceitful and ambitious enemies seeking his downfall. The preceding verses (Psa 62:1-4) vividly describe David's singular reliance on God as his "rock," "salvation," and "fortress," a bulwark against those who plot his demise. He states unequivocally that he "will not be greatly shaken." Verse 5 marks an internal turning point where David moves from declaring his external trust in God to admonishing his own inner being ("my soul") to conform to this deep-seated faith. He instructs his soul to silence its natural fears and anxieties and to continue placing exclusive hope in God, anticipating that deliverance or blessing must come from Him. The verses following (Psa 62:6-8) reiterate this steadfast trust and extend the call to all people, encouraging them to pour out their hearts to God. The Psalm transitions from personal affirmation of faith to an internal directive, culminating in a general call to trust the Sovereign God.

Psalm 62 5 Word analysis

• כִּי (ki): "For." This conjunction connects the internal command of verse 5 to the earlier declarations of absolute trust in Psa 62:1-4. It serves as a foundational reason, reinforcing why the soul should wait on God alone: because all truth and reality dictate God is the sole source of aid.
• אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): "God." This majestic plural noun refers to the singular, supreme God of Israel, the Creator and Sovereign. Its use here reinforces God's unique authority and power, making Him the only worthy object of such exclusive and absolute reliance.
• לְבַדּוֹ (levaddo): "Alone" or "only." This emphatic adverb underscores exclusivity. It is a powerful rejection of any reliance on human strength, political alliances, or self-effort. True hope originates solely from God; no other entity or means is sufficient.
• דוּמִיָּה (dumiyah): "Silence," "quietness," "stillness," "rest." This word denotes an inward stillness, a cessation of agitated thought, complaining, or fretful activity. It is not passive resignation but an active quietness of spirit, indicating inner composure, attentive listening, and peaceful waiting for God's intervention, trusting Him without noisy anxiety or impatient striving.
• נַפְשִׁי (nafshi): "O my soul." The psalmist's direct address to his own inner self (his "nefesh," encompassing his mind, will, emotions, and entire being). This internal command suggests a spiritual battle, a deliberate act of choosing trust over natural inclinations toward anxiety, self-pity, or frantic problem-solving. It's a call to inner alignment with spiritual truth.
• קוֹלִי (qov): (This appears to be a transcription error; the word is related to קָוָה (qavah), meaning "wait," "look eagerly," "hope" or תּוֹחַלְתִּי (toḥal'tî), meaning "my hope." Assuming the reference is to קָוָה (qavah) for "wait" in previous context analysis): The verb קָוָה (qavah) implies an active, tenacious, and patient waiting, like a strong cord that is taut but enduring. It signifies a hopeful, persistent expectation, not merely passive waiting. It is a spiritual discipline of leaning fully on God.
• תּוֹחַלְתִּי (toḥal'tî): "My hope." Derived from yaḥal (to wait, hope), this noun explicitly denotes the psalmist's confident expectation and assurance. It is the object of the soul's waiting and is specifically sourced from God. This "hope" is a theological virtue, an assured expectation of future good promised and provided by God.
• מִמֶּנּוּ (mimmennū): "From Him." This preposition highlights God as the singular origin, source, and sustainer of the psalmist's hope. Hope is not self-generated optimism or derived from external circumstances, but an inflow, a gift that proceeds from God Himself, stemming from His nature and His promises.

Words-group analysis:

• "For God alone": (כִּי־לֵאלֹהִים לְבַדּוֹ - Ki-L'Elohim Levaddo) – This phrase establishes the absolute singularity of the object of faith. It's a declaration against idolatry, human pride, or reliance on anything apart from the divine. It implies God's unique sufficiency and supreme authority, highlighting Him as the one and only worthy and capable source of help and hope.
• "O my soul, wait in silence": (נַפְשִׁי דוּמִיָּה קַוִּי - Nafshi Dumiyah Qavvi) – This is a direct internal command, instructing the entirety of the inner person (soul) to adopt a posture of "silent waiting." The "silence" is not a lack of words but a quietness of mind, a ceasing of inner turmoil and anxious striving. Coupled with "wait" (qavah), which implies patient endurance and hopeful anticipation, it calls for a deep trust that allows God to act without human interference, recognizing His perfect timing and wisdom. It's a proactive surrendering of control to divine sovereignty.
• "for my hope is from Him": (כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תּוֹחַלְתִּי - Ki Mimmenu Toḥal'tî) – This concluding clause provides the ultimate reason and solid ground for the internal command. The unwavering conviction that hope does not originate from personal ability, favorable circumstances, or external forces, but exclusively from God, provides the stability and rationale for silent waiting. It shifts the entire foundation of expectation from the self or the world to the divine source.

Psalm 62 5 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: The phrase "For God alone" (L'Elohim Levaddo) stands as a potent polemic against polytheistic or syncretistic practices common in ancient Near Eastern religions. While other nations relied on multiple deities, patron gods, or human powerful figures, the psalmist emphatically states exclusive dependence on Yahweh, the one true God, as the sole source of help and hope. It implicitly challenges the efficacy of idols, divination, or trust in powerful kings or armies that characterized surrounding cultures.
• Active Expectation: The Hebrew word qavah ("wait") implies more than just patience. It suggests "binding oneself to" or "twisting together," denoting a strong, intimate attachment and active looking forward with an unwavering posture. This isn't listlessness but focused, determined expectation, like a bowstring tautly held, ready for release.
• Inner Discipline: The verse highlights a crucial aspect of spiritual growth: the discipline of addressing and guiding one's own soul. It shows that faith is not merely a cognitive assent but requires an ongoing, deliberate orientation of one's entire inner being towards God. It suggests an ongoing battle against the natural tendency for the heart to seek solace or solution elsewhere.

Psalm 62 5 Commentary

Psalm 62:5 is a foundational call to radical dependence upon God. David, facing severe threats, commands his own "soul"—his entire inner being—to abandon its natural tendencies toward fear, anxiety, or frenzied self-help and instead adopt a quiet, tenacious wait for God. The core message is that all true, lasting hope must derive solely from Him. This "waiting in silence" (Hebrew dumiyah) is not passive inaction, but an active discipline of inner stillness, resisting restless striving and complaints, and attentively trusting that God, being the source of hope, will surely act in His time and way. It signifies a profound shift from relying on personal strength or external aid to confident surrender to divine sovereignty. It teaches that our strength comes not from agitation, but from a quiet confidence that God alone holds our future and will fulfill our true hopes according to His character and promises.

Examples for practical usage:

• When faced with an overwhelming challenge, rather than immediately strategizing or panicking, deliberately quiet your mind and heart, praying: "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my hope is from Him."
• In times of delayed answers to prayer, remind yourself that the quiet waiting cultivates dependence and strengthens your hope, understanding that God's timing is perfect.
• Consciously choosing not to complain or fret when circumstances are unfavorable, but instead to inwardly focus on God as the exclusive source of future good.