What Does Psalm 37:21 Mean in the King James?
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
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
The verb for repaying shares its root with wholeness: the unpaid debt remains unfinished, while alignment appears as favor and giving.
THE MEANING
When a debt is left unpaid, the obligation remains unfinished; when alignment is present, favor moves outward as giving. The verse speaks to your present dealings with others, placing taking without return beside a life that shares what it has.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that alignment can be separated from how a person handles what they owe and gives to others.
THE ROOT
יְשַׁלֵּם
yeshallem
GROWS FROM
שלם
to be whole, complete, or make whole
“payeth not again” in this verse is yeshallem. The verb translated “repay” carries the sense of completing what is owed, and שָׁלוֹם (shalom) comes from this same root. An unpaid debt is an unfinished obligation; the verse sets that beside giving that lets favor move outward.
ALSO GROWS
shalom: wholeness
שָׁלוֹם
The same root links completing what is owed with the language of wholeness.
shillem: to repay or recompense
שִׁלֵּם
This verb form makes repayment an act of completing an obligation.
חוֹנֵן
ḥōnēn
GROWS FROM
חנן
to show favor or graciously give
The word translated “sheweth mercy” describes active favor, and it stands beside “giveth” as part of the same posture. What appears in English as mercy and giving is joined in the verse as favor made visible through generosity.
ALSO GROWS
chen: favor
חֵן
The related noun names the favor that the righteous person extends.
ḥannun: gracious, showing favor
חַנּוּן
This related form describes a character marked by the same active favor.
צַדִּיק
tsaddiq
GROWS FROM
צדק
alignment
“righteous” in this verse is tsaddiq. The word holds alignment, which the verse makes concrete through mercy and giving. Here alignment is not only a label for a person; it takes shape in how that person handles debt and shares what they have.
ALSO GROWS
tsedeq: alignment, rightness
צֶדֶק
The related noun names the quality embodied in the verse’s acts of favor and giving.
tzedakah: aligned conduct; charitable giving
צְדָקָה
This branch brings alignment into the realm of giving to others.
THE PATTERN
Alignment becomes visible in resources returned when owed and extended when another is in need.
But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.THE THREAD
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.The word rendered “merciful” uses the same חנן (ḥ-n-n), “show favor,” root as “sheweth mercy” in this verse. Psalm 37:26 adds lending to that posture, showing favor at work in the sharing of resources.
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