The Meaning of Psalms 105:19 Explained

Psalms 105:19

KJV: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

YLT: Till the time of the coming of His word The saying of Jehovah hath tried him.

Darby: Until the time when what he said came about: the word of Jehovah tried him.

ASV: Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of Jehovah tried him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Until the time  that his word  came:  the word  of the LORD  tried  him. 

What does Psalms 105:19 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 105:16-30 - Wonders In Egypt
The psalmist retells the story of Joseph, as a link in the chain of providences which secured the fulfillment of the Covenant. It may be that it was also introduced to comfort Israel amid the afflictions of the Captivity. Another reading of the second clause of Psalms 105:18 is, "The iron entered his soul." This is what pain does for us all; it puts iron into our blood. In Psalms 105:19 we learn that God's promise, while unfulfilled and apparently contradicted by present facts, serves as a test of a man's reliance upon God. It brings into clear relief his unwavering faith. Joseph was tested and not found wanting.
In Psalms 105:23-27 carry us a step farther in the unfolding of God's purpose. The sojourn in Egypt, with its terrible hardships and the trouble that befell the tyrant, is quoted with direct reference to the action and interposition of the Almighty. The psalmist sees only one hand at work. He does not hesitate to ascribe to God even, the hatred which the Egyptians entertained toward Israel, and which, in Pharaoh's case, meant the hardening of his heart. Such is the inevitable effect when man's pride conflicts with divine tenderness and love. Let us believe that God is in all the incidents of our daily life and of human history. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:19 mean?

Until the time that came to pass his word the word of Yahweh tested him
עַד־ עֵ֥ת בֹּֽא־ דְבָר֑וֹ אִמְרַ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה צְרָפָֽתְהוּ

עַד־  Until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עֵ֥ת  the  time 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
בֹּֽא־  that  came  to  pass 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
דְבָר֑וֹ  his  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
אִמְרַ֖ת  the  word 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אִמְרָה 
Sense: utterance, speech, word.
יְהוָ֣ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְרָפָֽתְהוּ  tested  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: צָרַף  
Sense: to smelt, refine, test.