Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

PSALMS 65:4KJV
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Psalms 65:4 (KJV)

What does Psalms 65:4 mean?

Psalms 65:4 describes the happiness of a person whom God chooses and brings near. The verse pictures closeness to God as a welcome into his dwelling place, where those gathered find more than enough to satisfy them.

The speaker addresses God as “thou,” then changes from one person to “we.” The courts and house picture a shared place of worship, while “dwell” gives the picture a sense of staying rather than merely visiting.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 65:4

  • “Blessed” — אַשְׁרֵי (ashrei): This word expresses happiness or a fortunate condition. Here it describes the person’s favored place in being brought near to God.
  • “satisfied” — שָׂבַע (savaʿ): This word often means having enough, as after a filling meal. The verse uses that sense of fullness to speak of receiving the goodness of God’s house.

Why Psalms 65:4 matters

  • The invitation begins with God’s choice. The speaker says God both “choosest” the person and “causest” that person to approach.
  • The verse moves from an individual to a group. “The man” becomes “we,” so the satisfaction belongs to those speaking together as well as to the person first described.
  • God’s dwelling is pictured as holy and good. “Holy” marks the temple as a place set apart for God, while “goodness” describes what those gathered there enjoy.

Where else these words appear

“goodness” Hebrew H2898 · used in 31 verses

  • Genesis 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
  • Nehemiah 9:35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
  • Proverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

“Blessed” Hebrew H835 · used in 42 verses

  • Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
  • Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
  • Psalms 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

“temple” Hebrew H1964 · used in 76 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
  • Nehemiah 6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
  • Ezekiel 41:1 Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.

“satisfied” Hebrew H7646 · used in 92 verses

  • Exodus 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
  • Psalms 90:14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.