The Meaning of Psalms 140:13 Explained

Psalms 140:13

KJV: Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

YLT: Only -- the righteous give thanks to Thy name, The upright do dwell with Thy presence!

Darby: Yea, the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

ASV: Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Surely the righteous  shall give thanks  unto thy name:  the upright  shall dwell  in thy presence. 

What does Psalms 140:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 140:1-13 - Confidence In God's Protection
Here is a picture of a man who is beset by foes. Around are slander and hatred; at his feet stratagems and traps. There is no help save in Him who alone can cover the head in the day of battle. Similar experiences befall God's people still. Some are hunted by earthly enemies; others are stung by the fiery darts of the wicked. In Psalms 140:1-5 life is like a path through a forest, where adders hide and where gins are laid. At any moment the foe may break from his ambush. In Psalms 140:6-7 faith discovers God, at such a time, as strength, salvation, and protection.
There follows, in Psalms 140:8-12, a terrible outburst. Instead of the let of the imperative, many read the shall of prediction. We belong to the kingdom of Christ, the teachings of which are given in Matthew 5:1-48. The only coals of fire that we can deal with are those of love and mercy, which we heap on the heads of our enemies. The least in the kingdom of love stands on a higher plane than the greatest in the kingdom of law. But let the wicked remember Romans 2:5. The psalm ends in a gladder strain, Psalms 140:13. There is an inner sanctuary where we shall be safe! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 140

1  David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg
8  He prays against them
12  He comforts himself by confidence in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 140:13 mean?

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name shall dwell the upright - in Your presence
אַ֣ךְ צַ֭דִּיקִים יוֹד֣וּ לִשְׁמֶ֑ךָ יֵשְׁב֥וּ יְ֝שָׁרִ֗ים אֶת־ פָּנֶֽיךָ

אַ֣ךְ  Surely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
צַ֭דִּיקִים  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
יוֹד֣וּ  shall  give  thanks 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
לִשְׁמֶ֑ךָ  to  Your  name 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יֵשְׁב֥וּ  shall  dwell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יְ֝שָׁרִ֗ים  the  upright 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.
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.
פָּנֶֽיךָ  in  Your  presence 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.