Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

PSALMS 4:5KJV
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Psalms 4:5 (KJV)

What does Psalms 4:5 mean?

Psalms 4:5 calls its hearers to bring offerings to God in a way that is right, while placing their confidence in the LORD. The verse brings the outward act of sacrifice together with an inward reliance on God.

A sacrifice was an offering made to God, often involving an animal. After the call to be still in verse 4, the speaker addresses people who must consider how they approach God.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 4:5

  • “sacrifices” — זֶבַח (zevaḥ): This word refers to a sacrifice or offering, often an animal offering. For the first hearers, the phrase would have brought to mind an established way of worshipping God.
  • “righteousness” — צֶדֶק (tsedeq): This word carries the sense of what is right or just. Joined with “sacrifices,” it describes the offerings as fitting what is right, rather than treating the act of offering alone as the whole point.
  • “trust” — בָּטַח (bataḥ): This word means to trust or feel secure in someone. Here the LORD is the one in whom that confidence is placed.

Why Psalms 4:5 matters

  • The verse gives the hearers two directions, not just one. “Offer” describes what they are to bring, while “put your trust” describes where their confidence is to rest.
  • The speaker’s concern includes what is right in the offering itself. The phrase “sacrifices of righteousness” connects the gift brought to God with right conduct.
  • The following verses continue the question of where confidence lies. In verse 6, people ask who will show them good, and the speaker asks for the light of the LORD’s face.

Where else these words appear

“righteousness” Hebrew H6664 · used in 109 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.
  • Psalms 58:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
  • Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

“trust” Hebrew H982 · used in 117 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
  • Psalms 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
  • Isaiah 30:12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

“Offer” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
  • 2 Chronicles 11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.