What Does Psalm 132:9 Mean in the King James?
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
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
Alignment is worn by the priests, while faithful love itself finds a voice in joy.
THE MEANING
Service is clothed in alignment, and faithful love rings out as joy. The verse holds together what is worn and what is heard, so alignment and joy appear as one living response in you now.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that righteousness is only a private standing: here it is pictured as something worn in service, while faithful love sounds aloud.
THE ROOT
צֶדֶק
tsedeq
GROWS FROM
צדק
Alignment; what is right in relation.
“righteousness” in this verse is tsedeq. The priests are clothed in alignment, something lived and carried in their service. This root also names the aligned person and the practice of right dealing, joining identity, conduct, and service in one seed.
ALSO GROWS
tsaddiq: An aligned or righteous person
צַדִּיק
The same root names the person in alignment, not only the quality the priests wear.
tsedaqah: Righteousness, justice, or right action
צְדָקָה
This form shows alignment expressed as a lived order.
חֲסִידֶיךָ
chasidekha
GROWS FROM
חסד
Faithful love; loyal kindness.
The word rendered “saints” here is chasidekha, from the root chesed: faithful love. The verse presents these people through the love they embody, and that love takes voice in their ringing joy.
ALSO GROWS
chesed: Faithful love
חֶסֶד
This is the love at the root of the word used for the people who shout.
chasid: A faithful or loyal one
חָסִיד
This person-form shows the people as those marked by faithful love.
יְרַנֵּנוּ
yerannenu
GROWS FROM
רנן
To ring out, cry aloud, or sing with joy.
“shout for joy” in this verse is yerannenu. The Hebrew verb carries the sound of a ringing or singing cry. Joy here is not merely an inner feeling; it becomes audible as faithful love overflows.
ALSO GROWS
ranan: To sing or shout joyfully
רָנַן
This verb form shows joy breaking into sound.
rinnah: A ringing cry or song of joy
רִנָּה
The related noun names the joyful sound that the verse’s verb gives voice to.
THE PATTERN
God’s people are pictured as clothed in righteousness, and their belonging becomes audible as joy.
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.THE THREAD
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.Isaiah uses the same root צדק (tsedeq) in “righteousness,” in the phrase “robe of righteousness.” The shared root opens Psalm 132’s image of priests clothed in alignment into a personal image of righteousness worn like a garment, with joy already sounding.
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