The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

PSALMS 107:42KJV
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Psalms 107:42 (KJV)

What does Psalms 107:42 mean?

Psalms 107:42 says that when God acts to rescue and help people, those who do what is right will see it and be glad, while those who do wrong will be silenced and unable to argue against what God has done. The verse highlights a clear difference between the joy of the righteous and the defeat of those who practice injustice.

In the context of Psalms 107, the psalmist is reflecting on how God repeatedly saves people from trouble when they cry out to Him. The verse shows the outcome: people who live rightly ("the righteous") are encouraged and celebrate God's work, while those associated with wrongdoing ("iniquity") are left speechless, unable to object or boast. This contrast is meant to show the fairness and power of God's actions in the world.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 107:42

  • "righteous" (יָשָׁר, yashar): This word means someone who is upright or just. In this verse, it points to people who live according to what is right and fair, and who recognize God's work.
  • "iniquity" (עַוְלָה, avlah): This word refers to injustice or wrongdoing. Here, it is pictured almost as a person whose "mouth" is stopped, meaning those who do wrong are left without anything to say in the face of God's justice.
  • "stop" (קָפַץ, qafatz): This word means to shut or close. The verse uses it to describe how the mouths of those who do wrong are closed, showing they have no defense or reply when God acts.

Why Psalms 107:42 matters

  • Psalms 107:42 clears up that God's actions are not just random acts of kindness, but are seen and celebrated by those who value justice, while those who oppose what is right are left without an argument.
  • The verse emphasizes that God's deliverance brings joy to the righteous and exposes the emptiness of injustice, showing a moral order in how God responds to people.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of Psalms 107, where repeated stories of rescue end with a call to notice and reflect on God's faithful love and fairness.

Where else these words appear

“stop” Hebrew H7092 · used in 7 verses

  • Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
  • Job 24:24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
  • Song of Solomon 2:8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

“iniquity” Hebrew H5766 · used in 51 verses

  • Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
  • Job 27:4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
  • Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

“righteous” Hebrew H3477 · used in 119 verses

  • Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:
  • Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

“rejoice” Hebrew H8055 · used in 145 verses

  • Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
  • Psalms 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
  • Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.