What Does Psalm 107:42 Mean in the King James?
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Once the upright see what the LORD has done, crooked injustice loses the power to speak as though it were final.
THE MEANING
When the LORD’s work of lifting the lowly comes into view for you, you recognize it and rejoice. The crookedness that seems able to define what is true is made to close its mouth; it does not have the final word.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that injustice gets the final word simply because it can speak with force: here, wrongness itself is silenced.
THE ROOT
עַוְלָה
ʿavlāh
GROWS FROM
עול
To act unjustly; wrongness or injustice.
The word translated “iniquity” is עַוְלָה (ʿavlāh, injustice or wrong), from עול (ʿ-w-l, to act unjustly). The verse gives that wrong a mouth, then says it closes: injustice is present, but it does not get the last word.
ALSO GROWS
ʿāwel: Wrongdoing; injustice.
עָוֶל
This related form keeps the focus on injustice as something that can be exposed and judged.
ʿāwēl: One who acts unjustly.
עָוֵל
The same root can name both injustice and the one who embodies it, linking the wrong to its source.
יְשָׁרִים
yesharim
GROWS FROM
ישר
Straight, level; upright.
Here, “righteous” carries the concrete image of the upright ones, from ישר (y-sh-r, straight or upright). Their clear sight and joy stand beside the silencing of עַוְלָה (ʿavlāh, injustice), as though what is crooked can no longer pass itself off as straight.
ALSO GROWS
yōsher: Straightness; integrity.
יֹשֶׁר
It shows the root describing a quality of alignment, not only a label for a person.
meysharim: Equity; what is level or right.
מֵישָׁרִים
This branch makes the root’s image of straightness visible in fair judgment.
THE PATTERN
When God’s good work becomes visible, those who recognize it rejoice and opposition loses its voice.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:THE THREAD
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.Psalm 97:11 pairs the same root י־ש־ר (y-sh-r, straight or upright) in “upright in heart” with שִׂמְחָה (simḥah, gladness), from שׂ־מ־ח (ś-m-ḥ, to be glad or rejoice), the root behind “rejoice” here. Together, the verses link uprightness with joy.
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