The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

PSALMS 92:12KJV
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Psalms 92:12 (KJV)

What does Psalms 92:12 mean?

Psalms 92:12 describes people who live rightly as flourishing and growing like two well-known trees. The verse uses these trees to picture a life that continues and thrives, rather than the brief success of people who do wrong earlier in the psalm.

The palm tree was familiar in warm, dry regions and could bear fruit. The cedars of Lebanon were known for their great size and strong wood. The singer brings these images together to describe the righteous person’s lasting growth.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 92:12

  • “flourish” — פָּרַח (parach): This word can mean to sprout or blossom. It gives “flourish” the sense of a plant putting out fresh growth.
  • “grow” — שָׂגָה (sagah): This word carries the sense of growing tall or increasing. Beside “cedar in Lebanon,” it draws attention to the tree’s impressive growth.

Why Psalms 92:12 matters

  • The verse contrasts two kinds of growth. Earlier, verse 7 compares the wicked to grass that springs up but is destroyed; verse 12 compares the righteous to long-lived trees.
  • The tree pictures continue into the next verses. Verses 13–14 describe the righteous as planted in the house of the Lord and still bearing fruit in old age.
  • “The righteous” means people who live rightly. The verse speaks of them as a group, then uses “he” to picture such a person as an individual tree.

Where else these words appear

“grow” Hebrew H7685 · used in 4 verses

  • Job 8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
  • Job 8:11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
  • Psalms 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

“tree” Hebrew H8558 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
  • Deuteronomy 34:3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
  • Nehemiah 8:15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

“flourish” Hebrew H6524 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 40:10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
  • Numbers 17:5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
  • Isaiah 27:6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

“Lebanon” Hebrew H3844 · used in 64 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
  • Isaiah 33:9 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.