Psalm 73:25 kjv
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Psalm 73:25 nkjv
Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
Psalm 73:25 niv
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Psalm 73:25 esv
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
Psalm 73:25 nlt
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
Psalm 73 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 16:5-6 | "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup... the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places..." | God as exclusive inheritance and true satisfaction. |
| Ps 42:1-2 | "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God..." | Intense desire for God above all else. |
| Ps 63:1 | "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you..." | Wholehearted pursuit and longing for God. |
| Ps 84:2 | "My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD..." | Deep desire for God's presence. |
| Ps 119:57 | "The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words." | God as one's all-encompassing treasure. |
| Deut 6:4-5 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart..." | Centrality of exclusive love for God. |
| Josh 24:15 | "...choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | Deliberate choice of serving God alone. |
| Lam 3:24 | "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." | God as the hope and source of steadfastness. |
| Hab 3:17-18 | "Though the fig tree should not blossom... Yet I will rejoice in the LORD..." | Finding joy solely in God despite loss. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | "...whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ... I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." | All earthly things are secondary to Christ. |
| Col 3:1-2 | "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated... Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." | Heavenly focus, spiritual desires over earthly. |
| 1 Jn 2:15 | "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." | Warns against dual allegiance, worldly love. |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." | Exclusivity of true master and devotion. |
| Luke 10:42 | "but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." | Choosing spiritual nourishment over temporal concerns. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come... will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." | God's steadfast love and presence are ultimate. |
| Ps 27:4 | "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD..." | Singular pursuit of God's presence. |
| Ps 103:19 | "The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all." | God's universal sovereignty. |
| Ps 139:7-10 | "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!" | God's omnipresence, transcending all realms. |
| Isa 26:8-9 | "Yes, in the way of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and your remembrance are the desire of our soul. My soul longs for you in the night..." | Earnest yearning for God's name and presence. |
| Heb 12:2 | "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..." | Focus on Christ as the ultimate goal and satisfaction. |
| 1 Tim 6:6 | "But godliness with contentment is great gain." | Contentment is found in spiritual pursuit, not material. |
Psalm 73 verses
Psalm 73 25 Meaning
Psalm 73:25 is a powerful declaration of singular devotion and supreme satisfaction in God, irrespective of earthly or heavenly circumstances. It expresses that God alone is the object of ultimate desire and the source of complete fulfillment for the soul, making all other pursuits or possessions insignificant in comparison. This verse captures a radical shift in perspective from the Psalmist's earlier struggles with worldly envy, asserting God's all-sufficiency as the highest good.
Psalm 73 25 Context
Psalm 73 is a wisdom psalm written by Asaph, a chief musician and seer in David’s and Solomon’s time. The chapter details Asaph’s struggle with a common biblical problem: the prosperity of the wicked compared to the suffering of the righteous. For much of the psalm (vv. 1-14), Asaph candidly expresses his envy, doubt, and near spiritual stumble, questioning God's justice and the value of purity.
The pivotal moment comes in verse 17, when he "went into the sanctuary of God." It was there, in God's presence, that he gained clarity and understood the ultimate, disastrous end of the wicked and the secure, eternal future of those who hold to God. This renewed perspective shifts the entire psalm. From verse 18 onwards, Asaph expresses profound repentance for his foolishness (vv. 21-22), unwavering faith, and restored intimacy with God (vv. 23-24). Verse 25 is a sublime declaration that emerges directly from this revelation, proclaiming God as his ultimate, all-sufficient treasure in every possible dimension, both heavenly and earthly, contrasting starkly with his earlier obsession with worldly success.
Psalm 73 25 Word analysis
- Whom have I (מִי-לִי - mi-li): This is a rhetorical question that powerfully directs all attention to a singular entity. The phrase literally means "Who to me?" or "Who is for me?". It conveys an exclusive sense of possession and primary relationship, asking whom the speaker holds as truly their own, their ultimate resource or companion.
- in heaven (בַּשָּׁמַיִם - ba-shamayim): Refers to the spiritual, unseen realm, the abode of God, and the source of divine authority and ultimate truth. It signifies the highest realm of existence, emphasizing that even in the spiritual zenith, God remains the singular desire.
- but you? (כִּי אִם-אָתָּה - ki im-atta): This Hebrew construct means "unless You," functioning as a strong exclusionary particle that signifies "except for You" or "only You." It reinforces the absolute uniqueness and singularity of God, indicating that there is no other in the heavens who holds this position or significance for the speaker.
- And earth (וּבָאָרֶץ - u-va'aretz): Extends the Psalmist’s unique devotion from the celestial to the terrestrial realm, encompassing all of creation and human experience. It signifies that even in the entirety of the tangible, physical world, nothing compares to God.
- has nothing (לֹא חָפַצְתִּי - lo chapatzti): Literally "I do not desire" or "I have no delight." The Hebrew word chapatz implies a deep longing, pleasure, or strong inclination. It means the Psalmist finds no compelling attraction, joy, or satisfaction in any earthly thing independent of God.
- I desire besides you. (עִמָּךְ - immak): This translates literally as "with You" or "alongside You." It conveys that the Psalmist desires nothing apart from God's presence or in comparison to God. The core desire is for fellowship and intimate presence with God, rendering anything else on earth as superfluous or truly unsatisfying if God is absent or secondary.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Whom have I in heaven but you?": This opening rhetorical question immediately elevates God to a position of unrivaled supremacy in the heavenly, spiritual, and eternal realm. It is a profound declaration that among all divine or exalted beings (if conceived), or in any aspect of ultimate reality, God stands alone as the object of the speaker's total devotion and source of meaning. It highlights God's preeminence and singular authority over even celestial aspirations.
- "And earth has nothing I desire besides you.": This clause expands the exclusive desire for God to encompass all of earthly existence. It profoundly contrasts with the Psalmist's earlier struggles with coveting the temporary earthly prosperity of the wicked. This statement declares that no material wealth, human relationship, temporal pleasure, honor, or achievement on earth holds any lasting attraction or power to satisfy the soul when compared to God's presence and Person. It speaks of a deep spiritual contentment that transcends and devalues all temporal idols, finding its complete joy and ultimate purpose solely in Him.
Psalm 73 25 Bonus section
This verse encapsulates the core principle of knowing God as the "all-sufficient" One. It’s a challenge to both polytheistic concepts and to the modern tendency of seeking ultimate satisfaction in wealth, careers, or relationships outside of God. The strong contrast between "heaven" and "earth" implies God's comprehensive sovereignty and that true spiritual wealth transcends all created reality. Asaph's confession becomes a timeless expression of a heart fully surrendered, declaring that God Himself is the ultimate treasure and desire, making anything less an object of secondary importance, or even nothing at all. This deep contentment in God serves as a foundational response to any trials or temptations to envy worldly success.
Psalm 73 25 Commentary
Psalm 73:25 is a spiritual turning point and a declaration of unwavering commitment. After grappling with the perplexing prosperity of the wicked, Asaph finds his resolution in God's presence, leading to this profound assertion. The verse articulates a radical monotheism and an all-consuming passion for God alone. It speaks to the heart's true desire—not for possessions or accolades, but for intimate relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth. The parallel structure highlights that God's unique worth spans all realms: there is no one else to whom the soul can turn for ultimate fulfillment, neither in the highest spiritual aspirations nor amidst the tangible realities of life on earth. This verse serves as a powerful antidote to covetousness, idolatry, and worldly anxieties, proclaiming God's singular sufficiency as the supreme good and sole source of true, enduring joy.