The Meaning of Psalms 34:9 Explained

Psalms 34:9

KJV: O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

YLT: Fear Jehovah, ye His holy ones, For there is no lack to those fearing Him.

Darby: Fear Jehovah, ye his saints; for there is no want to them that fear him.

ASV: Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O fear  the LORD,  ye his saints:  for [there is] no want  to them that fear  him. 

What does Psalms 34:9 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Psalms 34:1-10 - "magnify The Lord With Me"
The event associated with this psalm is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-15. It was not a very creditable incident. David, however, realized the goodness of God, notwithstanding his own failures and mistakes.
In the original the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalms 34:1 : At all times"¦ continually. It is a sign of great grace to bless always, in dark as well as bright days.
Psalms 34:3 : "Birds," says Trapp, "when they come to a full heap of corn, will chirp to call their fellows."
Psalms 34:4-6 : All the time David was feigning madness, his soul was going out to God in prayer.
Psalms 34:7 : Compare Acts 12:6-10.
Psalms 34:8 : Some experiences must be enjoyed to be understood. There are not words adequate to tell of them.
Psalms 34:10 : "We will leave thee nothing!" said plundering soldiers to a widow. "I care not," returned she. "I shall not want so long as God is in the heavens." Columba-an early Celtic missionary-spent his last afternoon in transcribing this psalm, saying when He reached Psalms 34:10 : "I will stop here. The following verse will better suit My successor." [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 34

1  David praises God, and exhorts others thereto by his experience
8  They are blessed who trust in God
11  He exhorts to the fear of God
15  The privileges of the righteous

What do the individual words in Psalms 34:9 mean?

Oh fear - Yahweh you His saints for [There is] no want to those who fear Him
יְר֣אוּ אֶת־ יְהוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־ אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו

יְר֣אוּ  Oh  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
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.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
קְדֹשָׁ֑יו  you  His  saints 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָדֹושׁ  
Sense: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart.
אֵ֥ין  [There  is]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מַ֝חְס֗וֹר  want 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַחְסׄור  
Sense: need, poverty, thing needed.
לִירֵאָֽיו  to  those  who  fear  Him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.