What Does Psalm 4:3 Mean in the King James?
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
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 person called “godly” is a chasid, one bound to faithful love, and the LORD marks this person as his own.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks to you as someone whose belonging can be named: the LORD marks the person of faithful love as his own. When you call, he hears. Being set apart and being heard belong together here.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that being set apart means being cut off: the verse joins belonging to the LORD with being heard when you call.
THE ROOT
הִפְלָה
hiphlah
GROWS FROM
פלא
To be extraordinary or wondrous; in this verb form, to distinguish or set apart.
The verb translated “set apart” comes from a root also used for what is wondrous or extraordinary. The verse presents the LORD’s distinction as a personal marking: the chasid is set apart “for himself.”
ALSO GROWS
niphla'ot: Wonders, marvelous acts
נִפְלָאוֹת
This root also describes what is wondrous, giving “set apart” a sense of being marked as distinct.
ve-hiphlēti: I will distinguish, set apart
וְהִפְלֵיתִי
The same verb appears in Exodus 8:22, where the LORD distinguishes Goshen from the surrounding land.
חָסִיד
chasid
GROWS FROM
חסד
Faithful love, loyalty, and kindness.
The word rendered “godly” is chasid, from the same word family as chesed, faithful love. The verse describes the person marked out as the LORD’s own through this language of faithful relationship.
ALSO GROWS
chesed: Faithful love
חֶסֶד
This is the root-family word behind “godly,” linking the person to faithful love.
chasidkha: Your faithful one
חֲסִידְךָ
This related form, rendered “thine Holy One” in Psalm 16:10, shows the same person-word used in a direct relationship of belonging.
יִשְׁמַע
yishma
GROWS FROM
שמע
To hear, listen, or heed.
“hear” in this verse is yishma. The verb is shama, a hearing that can include heeding or responding. Set beside “for himself,” it makes the LORD’s hearing part of the verse’s language of belonging.
ALSO GROWS
shema: Hear and respond
שְׁמַע
The familiar imperative shows how hearing can carry the sense of an answer, not just receiving sound.
shemuah: A report, something heard
שְׁמוּעָה
This related noun shows the root’s basic movement of receiving what is heard.
THE PATTERN
The LORD marks people as his own and meets their cries with attention.
And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:THE THREAD
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.This verse uses the same פלא root as “set apart” and places it beside חֶסֶד (chesed), faithful love. Psalm 4:3 names the person of faithful love as the LORD’s own; Psalm 17:7 asks the LORD to make that faithful love wondrously distinct.
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