The Meaning of Psalms 37:11 Explained

Psalms 37:11

KJV: But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

YLT: And the humble do possess the land, And they have delighted themselves In the abundance of peace.

Darby: But the meek shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of prosperity.

ASV: But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the meek  shall inherit  the earth;  and shall delight  themselves in the abundance  of peace. 

What does Psalms 37:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 37:1-17 - A Sure Cure For Fretting
This is an acrostic psalm, grappling with the problem of the inequality of human life and the apparent failure of God to reward His servants and punish His enemies as they deserve. Life and immortality, where we know that the balance will be readjusted, had not then been brought to light, and therefore the solution was far harder before the advent of our Lord than for us.
But though the psalmist's solution is therefore not complete, his teaching of the blessedness of absolute trust in God's providence is very delightful. Fret not thyself; that is, do not give way to passionate resentment or bitter disappointment. Live in God; find your delight in contemplating His nature and His works; roll on Him the decision of your life-choices; trust in Him to supply all your need and work in your behalf. Be silent and rest!
How dramatically this picture of the happy, restful child of God is contrasted with the wicked and his certain doom-like barren pastures scorched by heat, or thin smoke-columns vanishing in the air! "Wait and trust! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 37

1  David persuades to patience and confidence in God,
12  by the different estate of the godly and the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 37:11 mean?

But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace
וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־ אָ֑רֶץ וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־ רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם

וַעֲנָוִ֥ים  But  the  meek 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָנָו 
Sense: poor, humble, afflicted, meek.
יִֽירְשׁוּ־  shall  inherit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרַשׁ  
Sense: to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir.
אָ֑רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ  and  shall  delight  themselves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָנַג  
Sense: to be soft, be delicate, be dainty.
רֹ֥ב  the  abundance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
שָׁלֽוֹם  of  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.