Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

PSALMS 37:4KJV
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Psalms 37:4 (KJV)

What does Psalms 37:4 mean?

Psalms 37:4 encourages the reader to find joy and satisfaction in the LORD, promising that God will respond by granting the desires of the heart. The verse suggests a connection between delighting in God and experiencing fulfillment of one’s deepest longings.

King David is speaking to those who are troubled by the apparent success of the wicked, urging them to trust in God’s goodness instead of envying others. The verse sits within a larger psalm that reassures the faithful that God cares for those who seek Him, and that true contentment comes from a relationship with God rather than from material gain.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 37:4

  • Delight (עָנַג, anag): This word means to take exquisite pleasure or to enjoy deeply. In this verse, it points to a genuine enjoyment of God’s presence, not just dutiful obedience.
  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing a close, covenant relationship rather than a distant deity.
  • Desires (מִשְׁאֲלוֹת, mish'alot): This word refers to requests or longings, suggesting not just casual wishes but the heartfelt hopes a person carries.
  • Heart (לֵב, lev): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of a person’s will, emotions, and inner life—not just feelings, but the whole inner self.

Why Psalms 37:4 matters

  • Psalms 37:4 is sometimes misunderstood as a promise that God will grant any wish, but the original language shows the focus is on desires shaped by a heart that finds its joy in God.
  • The verse highlights a key theme in Psalms 37: trusting in God’s character and timing, rather than chasing after what others have.
  • Understanding the Hebrew words deepens the sense that this is about a relationship with God, not a transaction or formula for getting what one wants.

Where else these words appear

“desires” Hebrew H4862 · used in 2 verses

  • Psalms 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

“Delight” Hebrew H6026 · used in 10 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
  • Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
  • Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.