What Does Psalm 63:5 Mean in the King James?
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
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 living soul is filled as by rich food, and that fullness becomes the joyful sound of praise.
THE MEANING
Your living soul is pictured filled as by the richest food, with that fullness reaching your mouth as joyful praise. Nourishment and praise form one movement.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that spiritual fullness must be abstract or disembodied: the verse portrays satisfaction through rich food and lets the mouth join that fullness in joy.
THE ROOT
תִּשְׂבַּע
tisbaʿ
GROWS FROM
שבע
s-b-ʿ
To be sated, filled to satisfaction.
“satisfied” in this verse is tisbaʿ. The root names fullness that reaches satiety. Beside the language of marrow and fatness, it makes the soul’s satisfaction as tangible as rich food.
ALSO GROWS
sabeaʿ: Full, sated
שָׂבֵעַ
It shows that the verse describes a state of being filled, not a passing taste of pleasure.
sobaʿ: Fullness, satiety
שֹׂבַע
This noun makes the verse’s image of complete nourishment explicit.
נַפְשִׁי
nafshi
GROWS FROM
נפשׁ
n-p-sh
The living self or person, including life and appetite.
“my soul” in this verse is nafshi. The word translated “soul” names the living self. A related verb can mean to be refreshed, keeping this image of satisfaction close to a life that can be nourished and restored.
ALSO GROWS
nephesh: Living soul, person, or life
נֶפֶשׁ
It holds together the person’s living self rather than isolating an immaterial part.
naphash: To be refreshed or take rest
נָפַשׁ
This related verb echoes the renewal implicit in a living self being satisfied.
יְהַלֶּל
yehallel
GROWS FROM
הלל
h-l-l
To praise, celebrate, or commend.
The root names voiced praise. With joyful lips beside it, the verse shows fullness finding expression in speech.
ALSO GROWS
hillel: Praised or celebrated
הִלֵּל
It keeps the focus on praise as an expressed response.
hallelu-yah: Praise Yah
הַלְלוּיָהּ
This familiar praise-word carries the same root into a direct exclamation.
THE PATTERN
God’s provision fills the living self, and that fullness becomes joy, praise, and life.
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.THE THREAD
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.Psalm 107:9 repeats the שׂבע (sabaʿ, be sated) word family and נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, living soul). It makes explicit what Psalm 63 pictures: the hungry living self is filled with goodness.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us