The Meaning of Psalms 65:5 Explained

Psalms 65:5

KJV: By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

YLT: By fearful things in righteousness Thou answerest us, O God of our salvation, The confidence of all far off ends of earth and sea.

Darby: By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation, thou confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the distant regions of the sea. ...

ASV: By terrible things thou wilt answer us in righteousness, Oh God of our salvation, Thou that art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of them that are afar off upon the sea:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[By] terrible things  in righteousness  wilt thou answer  us, O God  of our salvation;  [who art] the confidence  of all the ends  of the earth,  and of them that are afar off  [upon] the sea: 

What does Psalms 65:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 65:1-13 - Abundant Favor From Our Gracious God
This joyous hymn was probably composed for use in the sanctuary at one of the great annual festivals. It deals expressly with God's bounty in the fertility of the earth.
The Temple courts, Psalms 65:1-4
God hears our prayer, purges away our transgressions, chooses us, and causes us to approach. Let us ask Him to cause us to approach and to make us dwell in the consciousness of His presence. If iniquities prevail and transgressions shame us, there is provision for these also. God shall purge them away. For such condescending love all flesh shall ultimately come to His footstool.
Terrible things, Psalms 65:5-7
Thunder tones and lightning flashes, inaccessible mountains and roaring seas-such are the darker aspects of nature. But beneath all, like a sweet refrain, we hear Him praised as the God of salvation. Make Him your confidence, by land and sea.
The beauty and order of the world, Psalms 65:8-13
Brimming rivers, soft spring showers, golden harvests, the hum of the bees in mountain pastures, the call of the ewes to their lambs-all bespeak God's goodness. Let us ask Him to visit our hearts with the throb of springtime. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 65

1  David praises God for his grace
4  The blessedness of God's chosen by reason of benefits

What do the individual words in Psalms 65:5 mean?

[By] awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us God of our salvation [You who are] the confidence of all the ends of the earth and of the far-off seas
נ֤וֹרָא֨וֹת ׀ בְּצֶ֣דֶק תַּ֭עֲנֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעֵ֑נוּ מִבְטָ֥ח כָּל־ קַצְוֵי־ אֶ֝֗רֶץ וְיָ֣ם רְחֹקִֽים

נ֤וֹרָא֨וֹת ׀  [By]  awesome  deeds 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
בְּצֶ֣דֶק  in  righteousness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
תַּ֭עֲנֵנוּ  You  will  answer  us 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׁעֵ֑נוּ  of  our  salvation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: יֵשַׁע  
Sense: deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare.
מִבְטָ֥ח  [You  who  are]  the  confidence 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִבְטָח  
Sense: trust, confidence, refuge.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
קַצְוֵי־  the  ends 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: קָצוּ  
Sense: end, border, boundary.
אֶ֝֗רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְיָ֣ם  and  of  the 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
רְחֹקִֽים  far-off  seas 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.