Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

PSALMS 62:8KJV
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Psalms 62:8 (KJV)

What does Psalms 62:8 mean?

Psalms 62:8 urges people to trust God at all times and to be honest with Him about their feelings, because God is a safe place for them. The verse encourages everyone to pour out their hearts before God, knowing He is a dependable refuge.

King David is speaking to the people of Israel, likely during a time of trouble or uncertainty. He is inviting them not just to believe in God quietly, but to openly share their worries and emotions with Him. The verse highlights that God welcomes honesty and vulnerability, and that He can be relied on as a shelter in every situation.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 62:8

  • Trust (בָּטַח, batach): This word means to place confidence or security in someone. Here, it is a call for ongoing, active trust in God, not just a one-time belief.
  • Refuge (מַחְסֶה, machseh): This word describes a shelter or a place of protection. David is saying God is not just a helper, but a true place of safety where people can find protection.
  • Pour out (שָׁפַךְ, shafakh): This phrase means to spill or empty out completely. The verse is encouraging people to be fully open with God, not holding anything back.
  • Selah (סֶלָה, selah): This word often signals a pause for reflection. Here, it invites the reader to stop and think deeply about what it means to trust God and find refuge in Him.

Why Psalms 62:8 matters

  • Psalms 62:8 clarifies that trusting God is not just about silent faith, but also about honest communication—God invites people to share their deepest feelings with Him.
  • The verse emphasizes that God is a reliable refuge at all times, not just in moments of crisis, which can be reassuring for anyone facing uncertainty.
  • In the context of the whole psalm, this verse stands out as a direct invitation to the community, showing that faith in God is meant to be shared and lived out together.

Where else these words appear

“refuge” Hebrew H4268 · used in 20 verses

  • Job 24:8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
  • Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
  • Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

“Selah” Hebrew H5542 · used in 74 verses

  • Psalms 3:2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
  • Psalms 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
  • Psalms 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

“out” Hebrew H8210 · used in 111 verses

  • Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
  • Job 30:16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
  • Ezekiel 16:36 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

“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 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against 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: