Psalms 73:1

BOOK III

1

Psalms 73–89

1

A psalm of Asaph.

1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Psalms 73:1 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
The Message Bible (MSG)
1 No doubt about it! God is good - good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
American Standard Version (ASV)
1 Surely God is good to Israel, [Even] to such as are pure in heart.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
1 God is truly good to Israel, to those whose lives are pure.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
1 God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
1 God is truly good to Israel. He is good to those who have pure hearts.

Psalms 73:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:1

Truly God is good to Israel
To Israel, literally understood; in choosing them to be his people above all people on earth; in bringing them into a good land; in favouring them with many external privileges, civil and religious; in giving them his word, statutes, and ordinances, as he did not to other nations: or, spiritually understood, the Israel whom God has chosen, redeemed, and called by his special grace; verily of a truth, God is good to these; there is abundant proof and evidence of it; (See Gill on Psalms 34:8),

or "only" God is good to such; though he is good to all in a providential way, yet only to his chosen and redeemed ones in a way of special favour; the goodness others share is but a shadow of goodness, in comparison of what they do and shall partake of; they are blessed with blessings indeed, and are only blessed; so this particle is rendered in ( Psalms 62:2 Psalms 62:4 Psalms 62:5 ) , or "but", or "notwithstanding" F2, God is good that is, though he suffers the wicked to prosper, and his own people much afflicted, yet he is good to them; he supports them under their afflictions, and makes all to work for their good; gives them grace here, and glory hereafter;

even to such as are of a clean heart;
this character excludes the carnal Israelites, who were pure in their own eyes, but not cleansed from their filthiness, and describes the true Israel of God, and explains who are meant by them, such as are pure in heart, inwardly Jews, Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile; this is not natural to men, their hearts are by nature unclean, nor is it in their power to make them clean: this is God's work, he only can create a clean heart, and renew a right spirit; which is done by the sanctifying influences of his grace, and by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, and thus purifying their heart's by faith; yet so as not to be free from all impurity of spirit, but as to have a conscience purged from the guilt of sin, and to have the heart sincere and upright towards God.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Poal) (tw asaf) Sept. "Asaph ipsi", Pagninus, Montanus; "Asapho", Gejerus; so Ainsworth.
F2 (Ka) "attamen", Tigurine version, Piscator, Gussetius, Michaelis.

Psalms 73:1 In-Context

1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Psalms 24:4; Matthew 5:8
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