Psalm 73 1

Psalm 73:1 kjv

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

Psalm 73:1 nkjv

A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.

Psalm 73:1 niv

A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Psalm 73:1 esv

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Psalm 73:1 nlt

Truly God is good to Israel,
to those whose hearts are pure.

Psalm 73 verses

Psalm 73 1 Meaning

Psalm 73:1 declares a profound and essential truth about God's character and His relationship with His people. It states that "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart." This verse, whether taken as an initial confession or a hard-won conclusion by the psalmist Asaph, asserts God's inherent goodness. However, it immediately qualifies the recipients of this goodness, narrowing "Israel" to those characterized by a "pure heart," signifying genuine devotion and internal integrity rather than mere outward identity. It is a foundational affirmation that sets the stage for or concludes the psalmist's personal struggle with the apparent prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73 1 Context

Psalm 73 is a wisdom psalm from the collection attributed to Asaph, a Levitical choirmaster. The verse "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart" serves as either an initial thesis statement that the psalmist struggles to affirm in the face of confusing reality, or as the concluding conviction reached after a profound period of doubt and spiritual turmoil. The primary crisis faced by Asaph in the following verses (Ps 73:2-15) is the apparent prosperity and lack of trouble for the wicked, contrasted with his own suffering despite his efforts to maintain integrity. This challenges the common ancient belief that God always blesses the righteous outwardly and punishes the wicked. Asaph's journey involves questioning God's justice, almost stumbling in his faith, until he enters the sanctuary of God (Ps 73:17) and gains an eternal perspective, understanding the ultimate fate of the wicked. This verse thus prefaces or frames the internal conflict, asserting the unchanging truth of God's goodness even when circumstances seem to contradict it, especially for those truly dedicated to Him in spirit.

Psalm 73 1 Word analysis

• Truly (Hebrew: אךְ - ʾaḵ): This particle acts as a strong affirmation or emphasis, meaning "surely," "indeed," "only," or "nevertheless." Its placement is critical. Here, it emphasizes the psalmist's unshakeable conviction about God's goodness, often implying that this truth is maintained despite a significant preceding challenge (as detailed in the rest of the psalm), or as a resolute statement against a backdrop of conflicting observations. It underlines the certain and settled nature of this truth.
• God (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים - ʾElohim): The generic name for God, emphasizing His power, majesty, and universal sovereignty. In a psalm reflecting on divine justice and providence, Elohim reinforces God's position as the ultimate authority and judge.
• is good (Hebrew: טוֹב - ṭôḇ): Signifies God's inherent moral excellence, beneficence, and gracious nature. It encompasses not just pleasantness, but a complete moral integrity and faithfulness to His character and covenant. God's goodness is not contingent on circumstances or human deserving but is foundational to His very being.
• to Israel (Hebrew: לְיִשְׂרָאֵל - ləyiśrāʾēl): Refers to God's chosen covenant people. Historically, the nation descended from Jacob. However, in this context, and further clarified by the succeeding phrase, "Israel" is understood in its deeper spiritual sense. It points to those within the covenant community who genuinely belong to God.
• to those who are pure (Hebrew: לְבָרֵי - ləḇārê - from בָּרָה - bārah): Barah means "to cleanse," "to purify," "to choose." Barei refers to those who are morally or spiritually clean and uncorrupted. This isn't external ritual purity but internal moral integrity.
• in heart (Hebrew: לֵבָב - lēḇāḇ): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" is not merely the organ of emotion but the center of one's entire inner being—intellect, will, conscience, and moral character. A "pure heart" therefore signifies unblemished integrity, sincere devotion, single-mindedness toward God, and an inner consistency of thought and action aligned with divine truth.
• "Truly God is good": This phrase asserts God's fundamental attribute. Despite any perceived injustices or unanswered questions about the state of the world (especially the prosperity of the wicked), the psalmist starts (or concludes) with this unshakeable theological premise. It's a bedrock truth, foundational to understanding all other divine actions and human experiences.
• "to Israel, to those who are pure in heart": This is a crucial clarification. It distinguishes the true recipients of God's manifest goodness within the covenant people. It moves beyond a national or ethnic identity to a spiritual and moral condition. It implies that not all who bear the name "Israel" truly embody the spiritual purity that allows them to experience God's goodness in its fullest and most lasting sense, particularly in light of eternity, as the psalm goes on to explain. This foreshadows the New Testament concept of true Israel.

Psalm 73 1 Bonus section

The precise meaning of the Hebrew אךְ (ʾaḵ) as "truly," "surely," or "nevertheless" significantly shapes the reading of Psalm 73. If understood as "Truly" (a declarative affirmation), it presents a faith statement that Asaph immediately wrestles with, suggesting a conflict between his intellectual belief and experiential reality. If translated as "Nevertheless" (a concessive particle), it implies he has already endured some internal turmoil and has come back to this foundational truth. Both interpretations ultimately underscore the psalmist's profound journey to arrive at or steadfastly hold onto God's truth despite overwhelming personal doubt and challenging observations of the world. This particle serves as a linguistic pointer to the intense spiritual tension that the rest of the psalm resolves. The "pure in heart" aspect directly relates to the concept of true worship and relationship with God—those whose internal motives and attitudes are aligned with His will, not just those who perform external rituals.

Psalm 73 1 Commentary

Psalm 73:1 delivers a profound theological assertion at its outset. Asaph, the psalmist, states unequivocally that God's nature is fundamentally good, and this goodness is particularly directed towards His covenant people, Israel. Crucially, the verse immediately qualifies "Israel" as "those who are pure in heart." This highlights that God's goodness, while universally present, is specifically experienced and understood by those whose inner character is marked by integrity, sincerity, and undivided devotion to Him. It's not about outward conformity or ethnic identity alone, but a profound inner state of righteousness.

The significance of this declaration is amplified by the ensuing psalm, which details Asaph's severe spiritual crisis. He had almost stumbled in his faith because he observed the wicked flourishing and living seemingly carefree lives, while he, attempting to live righteously, suffered. This opening verse then serves as either: 1) The resolute truth he returns to after navigating his spiritual struggle in God's sanctuary (Ps 73:17), understanding that worldly prosperity is fleeting, and true goodness lies in an eternal relationship with God for those with pure hearts. Or 2) A statement of fundamental faith that is immediately assaulted by his observations, and which he struggles to hold onto until he gains divine perspective.

Regardless of its exact interpretive function regarding the psalmist's journey, the verse ultimately teaches that God's goodness is real, unwavering, and discriminates by heart condition, not external appearance. True well-being and favor from God are not found in temporal riches or freedom from tribulation but in an intimate, pure relationship with Him, which endures eternally.