But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

PSALMS 1:2KJV
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Psalms 1:2 (KJV)

What does Psalms 1:2 mean?

Psalms 1:2 describes a person who finds pleasure in the LORD’s instruction and returns to it continually in thought. The verse presents attention to God’s teaching as something the person welcomes, not merely a duty performed out of obligation.

Following the description of what the person avoids in verse 1, verse 2 turns to what draws that person’s attention. “Day and night” pictures a practice that extends through the whole of life, rather than a single moment of reflection.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 1:2

  • “law” — תּוֹרָה (torah): This word can mean teaching or instruction as well as law. In this verse, “law” points to the LORD’s instruction, not only to a list of rules.
  • “meditate” — הָגָה (hagah): This word can carry the sense of speaking or murmuring as well as pondering. It suggests that thought about the LORD’s instruction could include quietly voicing the words.

Why Psalms 1:2 matters

  • The verse joins desire with sustained attention. “His delight” and “doth he meditate” describe both the person’s pleasure in the instruction and what the person does with it.
  • The LORD is the source of the instruction. The phrase “the law of the LORD” makes the teaching’s connection to God central to the verse.
  • The verse helps explain the tree image that follows. In verse 3, the person is compared to a tree planted by water, an image of a steady source of nourishment.

Where else these words appear

“meditate” Hebrew H1897 · used in 24 verses

  • Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
  • Psalms 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
  • Isaiah 16:7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.

“delight” Hebrew H2656 · used in 38 verses

  • 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
  • Psalms 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

“day” Hebrew H3119 · used in 50 verses

  • Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
  • Nehemiah 1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
  • Isaiah 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.