Psalm 85 11

Psalm 85:11 kjv

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Psalm 85:11 nkjv

Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Psalm 85:11 niv

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

Psalm 85:11 esv

Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.

Psalm 85:11 nlt

Truth springs up from the earth,
and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

Psalm 85 verses

Psalm 85 11 Meaning

Psalm 85:11 presents a profound picture of divine-human interaction and the promised restoration. It speaks of a time when the character of God – truth and righteousness – will visibly manifest and establish itself on earth. "Truth" is depicted as emerging abundantly from the very ground, while "Righteousness" is personified as actively looking down with favor and approval from heaven. This verse prophesies a period of harmony between the divine ideal and earthly reality, where God's faithfulness and moral standards will become evident and impactful within the world. It anticipates a spiritual flourishing resulting from God's gracious intervention.

Psalm 85 11 Context

Psalm 85 is a prayer of a nation experiencing hardship, likely a post-exilic community returning to their land but facing difficult circumstances and disappointment. The psalm opens with a recollection of God's past favor (Psa 85:1-3) and a heartfelt plea for restoration and renewal of His anger (Psa 85:4-7). The turning point comes with an expressed hope to hear what God will speak, expecting "peace" (Psa 85:8). The subsequent verses (Psa 85:9-13) shift to prophetic utterance, painting a glorious future vision where God's "salvation is near to those who fear Him" (Psa 85:9), and "steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other" (Psa 85:10).

Verse 11 directly follows this declaration of cosmic harmony. It continues to describe the spiritual transformation and material blessings that will characterize this restored era. It reflects a deep yearning for a physical and spiritual renewal of the land and its people, driven by God's character and covenant promises. Historically, this could resonate with the experience of returning exiles hoping for a manifestation of God's faithfulness after the desolation of Babylon, yearning for a time when divine justice would be visibly evident and would truly shape their society, not just remain an abstract principle. It also stands as a gentle polemic against pagan beliefs which often tied divine favor to ritual alone, emphasizing instead Yahweh's inherent righteousness and truth that directly impacts the earthly realm.

Psalm 85 11 Word analysis

• Truth (אֱמֶת, ’emeth):

  • Meaning: Firmness, reliability, faithfulness, constancy, loyalty, fidelity. It speaks of reality, integrity, and what is dependable.
  • Significance: In biblical terms, ’emeth is not just adherence to facts but encompasses moral integrity and faithfulness, often used as an attribute of God (Deu 32:4). Here, it personifies God's unwavering faithfulness and reliability manifesting concretely on earth.
  • From your system's database: This "truth" is deeply linked to God's covenant loyalty (חסד, hesed) and His consistent nature.

• will spring out (תִצְמַח, titsmach):

  • Meaning: To sprout, grow, shoot forth, germinate, cause to grow.
  • Significance: Implies natural, vibrant growth. It evokes images of new life and abundance, like a seed germinating from the soil. It suggests an organic, undeniable manifestation, perhaps implying an unexpected or supernatural vitality given to the earth for this purpose. It reflects God's active power in making things happen.

• of the earth (מֵאֶרֶץ, me’aretz):

  • Meaning: From the ground, the land, the inhabited world.
  • Significance: "Earth" (eretz) here denotes not just the physical ground but also the realm of human experience, the land of Israel, and humanity. It means that God's truth will not remain abstract or remote but will be firmly rooted and clearly visible on the ground, affecting daily life and the visible world.

• and righteousness (וְצֶדֶק, v’tzedeq):

  • Meaning: Justice, conformity to an ethical or moral standard, rectitude, what is right, equity. It describes divine judgment and salvation as a consistent act according to God's character.
  • Significance: Tzedeq is a foundational attribute of God's character (Psa 11:7). It represents God's active conformity to His own perfect standards and His acts of deliverance based on those standards. It is inseparable from His holiness and is often associated with salvation and restoration in a societal sense.

• will look down (נִשְׁקָפָה, nishqafah):

  • Meaning: To look forth, look down, lean out, peer forth, observe from a height.
  • Significance: This is an active verb, indicating watchful observation or benevolent oversight. It suggests righteousness is not merely present but actively attentive, perhaps approving, presiding, or even intervening from above. It implies divine presence and supervision.

• from heaven (מִשָּׁמָיִם, mishshamayim):

  • Meaning: From the sky, from the heavens (God’s dwelling place).
  • Significance: "Heaven" (shamayim) is God’s abode, the source of all divine initiative, blessing, and authority. The contrast between earth and heaven highlights the divine origin and authoritative nature of this righteousness. It confirms that the transformation on earth is divinely ordained and orchestrated, not humanly initiated.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Truth will spring out of the earth": This phrase highlights the organic and undeniable emergence of God's faithfulness and moral reality within the human sphere. It implies a vibrant, growing presence that will reshape earthly existence. This is not simply a philosophical concept but a living force.
  • "and righteousness will look down from heaven": This phrase emphasizes the divine origin and active, watchful oversight of God's just and perfect standard. It shows that God's moral order is not just sent to earth but presides over it, ensuring its manifestation and ultimate triumph. There's a sense of divine approbation and guidance.
  • The complete parallelism and interplay: The two clauses form a beautiful poetic parallelism. "Truth" (related to God's faithfulness) originates from the earth, implying that when earth responds to God's ways, His truth becomes evident within it. "Righteousness" (God's justice and rightness) descends or oversees from heaven, providing the divine standard and sanction. Together, they depict a perfect reconciliation between the divine and the human, the celestial and the terrestrial, culminating in a world governed by God’s character. This points to a holistic restoration.

Psalm 85 11 Bonus section

The poetic personification of "Truth" and "Righteousness" is significant. These abstract divine qualities are presented as active agents, capable of growth ("springing") and observation ("looking down"). This highlights their dynamic and vital roles in God's plan for humanity and creation. The movement described—truth ascending from earth and righteousness descending from heaven—illustrates a harmonious meeting point between God's will and earthly reality, often referred to in biblical theology as the "meeting place" or the convergence of divine and human action for ultimate good. This "truth" can also refer to God's very Word, taking root and bearing fruit on the earth.

Psalm 85 11 Commentary

Psalm 85:11 functions as a poetic prophecy, revealing the eventual reconciliation of heaven and earth through the pervasive presence of God's core attributes. The imagery of truth "springing out of the earth" signifies that God's reliable nature and promises will become manifestly real and evident in the human realm, growing organically like vegetation. It speaks to a time when fidelity and integrity will naturally abound in society, rather than being scarce. Simultaneously, "righteousness looking down from heaven" portrays God's perfect justice and moral order as actively engaged with and presiding over the earthly domain. This is not a passive observation but an active superintendence, perhaps even a benign, affirming gaze upon a world aligning itself with divine standards.

This verse anticipates the arrival of a redeemed state, often associated with the Messianic kingdom, where God's nature is fully established on earth. The New Testament sees a profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who embodies both "truth" (John 14:6) and "righteousness" (2 Cor 5:21). His incarnation represents God's righteousness looking down from heaven and ultimately taking root in the earth, leading to salvation and the ultimate spiritual growth and harvest (Isa 61:11). The ultimate culmination points to the New Heavens and New Earth where perfect truth and righteousness dwell (Rev 21:1).