The Meaning of Psalms 102:14 Explained

Psalms 102:14

KJV: For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

YLT: For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.

Darby: For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour her dust.

ASV: For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity upon her dust.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thy servants  take pleasure  in her stones,  and favour  the dust  thereof. 

What does Psalms 102:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 102:12-28 - The Time To Have Mercy Upon Zion
We must remember that the Holy Spirit appropriates the closing words of this psalm as addressed to our Lord. See Hebrews 1:10-12. This gives new point to these petitions. The psalmist's sorrows, described in the previous paragraph, had their source in the desolations of Zion rather than in personal afflictions; and when the soul feels such oppression, it is a sign that deliverance is near. Finney, the great evangelist, tells of a woman who came to her pastor under such concern for the perishing that she could neither eat nor sleep. She entreated him to appoint an inquirers' meeting, and though there had been no signs of a revival, it suddenly broke out. When Christians take pity on the stones and dust of the Church, the time has come for God to arise to her help.
Behold the unchanging Christ! Creation may wax old, the heavens and earth may be laid aside as an outworn garment, the old order may give place to new; but beneath all the changed Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. How delightful are those immortal words, But thou, O Lord, shalt endure, and if He endures, His servants shall continue also, and their children after them. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 102

1  The prophet in his prayer makes a grievous complaint
12  He takes comfort in the eternity, and mercy of God
18  The mercies of God are to be recorded
23  He sustains his weakness by the unchangeableness of God

What do the individual words in Psalms 102:14 mean?

for take pleasure in Your servants - her stones and her dust show favor to
כִּֽי־ רָצ֣וּ עֲ֭בָדֶיךָ אֶת־ אֲבָנֶ֑יהָ וְֽאֶת־ עֲפָרָ֥הּ יְחֹנֵֽנוּ

רָצ֣וּ  take  pleasure  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָצָא 
Sense: to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably.
עֲ֭בָדֶיךָ  Your  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲבָנֶ֑יהָ  her  stones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
עֲפָרָ֥הּ  her  dust 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: עָפָר  
Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.
יְחֹנֵֽנוּ  show  favor  to 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.