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Commentary on Psalms 16 verses 1–7
This psalm is entitled Michtam, which some translate a golden psalm, a very precious one, more to be valued by us than gold, yea, than much fine gold, because it speaks so plainly of Christ and his resurrection, who is the true treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament.
I. David here flies to God's protection with a cheerful believing confidence in it (Psa 16:1): "Preserve me, O God! from the deaths, and especially from the sins, to which I am continually exposed; for in thee, and in thee only, do I put my trust." Those that by faith commit themselves to the divine care, and submit themselves to the divine guidance, have reason to hope for the benefit of both. This is applicable to Christ, who prayed, Father, save me from this hour, and trusted in God that he would deliver him.
II. He recognizes his solemn dedication of himself to God as his God (Psa 16:2): "O my soul! thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord, and therefore thou mayest venture to trust him." Note, 1. It is the duty and interest of every one of us to acknowledge the Lord for our Lord, to subject ourselves to him, and then to stay ourselves upon him. Adonai signifies My stayer, the strength of my heart. 2. This must be done with our souls: "O my soul! thou hast said it." Covenanting with God must be heart-work; all that is within us must be employed therein and engaged thereby. 3. Those who have avouched the Lord for their Lord should be often putting themselves in mind of what they have done. "Hast thou said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord? Say it again then, stand to it, abide by it, and never unsay it. Hast thou said it? Take the comfort of it, and live up to it. He is thy Lord, and worship thou him, and let thy eye be ever towards him."
III. He devotes himself to the honour of God in the service of the saints (Psa 16:2, Psa 16:3): My goodness extends not to thee, but to the saints. Observe, 1. Those that have taken the lord for their Lord must, like him, be good and do good; we do not expect happiness without goodness. 2. Whatever good there is in us, or is done by us, we must humbly acknowledge that it extends not to God; so that we cannot pretend to merit any thing by it. God has no need of our services; he is not benefited by them, nor can they add any thing to his infinite perfection and blessedness. The wisest, and best, and most useful, men in the world cannot be profitable to God, Job 22:2; Job 35:7. God is infinitely above us, and happy without us, and whatever good we do it is all from him; so that we are indebted to him, not he to us: David owns it (Ch1 29:14), Of thy own have we given thee. 3. If God be ours, we must, for his sake, extend our goodness to those that are his, to the saints in the earth; for what is done to them he is pleased to take as done to himself, having constituted them his receivers. Note, (1.) There are saints in the earth; and saints on earth we must all be, or we shall never be saints in heaven. Those that are renewed by the grace of God, and devoted to the glory of God, are saints on earth. (2.) The saints in the earth are excellent ones, great, mighty, magnificent ones, and yet some of them so poor in the world that they need to have David's goodness extended to them. God makes them excellent by the grace he gives them. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour, and then he accounts them excellent. They are precious in his sight and honourable; they are his jewels, his peculiar treasure. Their God is their glory, and a diadem of beauty to them. (3.) All that have taken the Lord for their God delight in his saints as excellent ones, because they bear his image, and because he loves them. David, though a king, was a companion of all that feared God (Psa 119:63), even the meanest, which was a sign that his delight was in them. (4.) It is not enough for us to delight in the saints, but, as there is occasion, our goodness must extend to them; we must be ready to show them the kindness they need, distribute to their necessities, and abound in the labour of love to them. This is applicable to Christ. The salvation he wrought out for us was no gain to God, for our ruin would have been no loss to him; but the goodness and benefit of it extend to us men, in whom he delighteth, Pro 8:31. For their sakes, says he, I sanctify myself, Joh 17:19. Christ delights even in the saints on earth, notwithstanding their weaknesses and manifold informities, which is a good reason why we should.
IV. He disclaims the worship of all false gods and all communion with their worshippers, Psa 16:4. Here, 1. He reads the doom of idolaters, who hasten after another God, being mad upon their idols, and pursuing them as eagerly as if they were afraid they would escape from them: Their sorrows shall be multiplied, both by the judgments they bring upon themselves from the true God whom they forsake and by the disappointment they will meet with in the false gods they embrace. Those that multiply gods multiply griefs to themselves; for, whoever thinks one God too little, will find two too many, and yet hundreds not enough. 2. He declares his resolution to have no fellowship with them nor with their unfruitful works of darkness: "Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, not only because the gods they are offered to are a lie, but because the offerings themselves are barbarous." At God's altar, because the blood made atonement, the drinking of it was most strictly prohibited, and the drink-offerings were of wine; but the devil prescribed to his worshippers to drink of the blood of the sacrifices, to teach them cruelty. "I will have nothing to do" (says David) "with those bloody deities, nor so much as take their names into my lips with any delight in them or respect to them." Thus must we hate idols and idolatry with a perfect hatred. Some make this also applicable to Christ and his undertaking, showing the nature of the sacrifice he offered (it was not the blood of bulls and goats, which was offered according to the law; that was never named, nor did he ever make any mention of it, but his own blood), showing also the multiplied sorrows of the unbelieving Jews, who hastened after another king, Caesar, and are still hastening after another Messiah, whom they in vain look for.
V. He repeats the solemn choice he had made of God for his portion and happiness (Psa 16:5), takes to himself the comfort of the choice (Psa 16:6), and gives God the glory of it, Psa 16:7. This is very much the language of a devout and pious soul in its gracious exercises.
1.Choosing the Lord for its portion and happiness. "Most men take the world for their chief good, and place their felicity in the enjoyments of it; but this I say, The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup, the portion I make choice of, and will gladly take up with, how poor soever my condition is in this world. Let me have the love and favour of God, and be accepted of him; let me have the comfort of communion with God, and satisfaction in the communications of his graces and comforts; let me have an interest in his promises, and a title by promise to everlasting life and happiness in the future state; and I have enough, I need no more, I desire no more, to complete my felicity." Would we do well and wisely for ourselves, we must take God, in Christ, to be, (1.) The portion of our inheritance in the other world. Heaven is an inheritance. God himself is the inheritance of the saints there, whose everlasting bliss is to enjoy him. We must take that for our inheritance, our home, our rest, our lasting, everlasting, good, and look upon this world to be no more ours than the country through which our road lies when we are on a journey. (2.) The portion of our cup in this world, with which we are nourished, and refreshed, and kept from fainting. Those have not God for theirs who do not reckon his comforts the most reviving cordials, acquaint themselves with them, and make use of them as sufficient to counterbalance all the grievances of this present time and to sweeten the most bitter cup of affliction.
2.Confiding in him for the securing of this portion: "Thou maintainest my lot. Thou that hast by promise made over thy self to me, to be mine, wilt graciously make good what thou hast promised, and never leave me to myself to forfeit this happiness, nor leave it in the power of my enemies to rob me of it. Nothing shall pluck me out of thy hands, nor separate me from thy love, and the sure mercies of David." The saints and their bliss are kept by the power of God.
3.Rejoicing in this portion, and taking a complacency in it (Psa 16:6): The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Those have reason to say so that have God for their portion; they have a worthy portion, a goodly heritage. What can they have better? What can they desire more? Return unto thy rest, O my soul! and look no further. Note, Gracious persons, though they still covet more of God, never covet more than God; but, being satisfied of his loving-kindness, they are abundantly satisfied with it, and envy not any their carnal mirth and sensual pleasures and delights, but account themselves truly happy in what they have, and doubt not but to be completely happy in what they hope for. Those whose lot is cast, as David's was, in a land of light, in a valley of vision, where God is known and worshipped, have, upon that account, reason to say, The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; much more those who have not only the means, but the end, not only Immanuel's land, but Immanuel's love.
4.Giving thanks to God for it, and for grace to make this wise and happy choice (Psa 16:7): "I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel, this counsel, to take him for my portion and happiness." So ignorant and foolish are we that, if we be left to ourselves, our hearts will follow our eyes, and we shall choose our own delusions, and forsake our own mercies for lying vanities; and therefore, if we have indeed taken God for our portion and preferred spiritual and eternal blessings before those that are sensible and temporal, we must thankfully acknowledge the power and goodness of divine grace directing and enabling us to make that choice. If we have the pleasure of it, let God have the praise of it.
5.Making a good use of it. God having given him counsel by his word and Spirit, his own reins also (his own thoughts) instructed him in the night-season; when he was silent and solitary, and retired from the world, then his own conscience (which is called the reins, Jer 17:10) not only reflected with comfort upon the choice he had made, but instructed or admonished him concerning the duties arising out of this choice, catechized him, and engaged and quickened him to live as one that had God for his portion, by faith to live upon him and to live to him. Those who have God for their portion, and who will be faithful to him, must give their own consciences leave to deal thus faithfully and plainly with them.
All this may be applied to Christ, who made the Lord his portion and was pleased with that portion, made his Father's glory his highest end and made it his meat and drink to seek that and to do his will, and delighted to prosecute his undertaking, pursuant to his Father's counsel, depending upon him to maintain his lot and to carry him through his undertaking. We may also apply it to ourselves in singing it, renewing our choice of God as ours, with a holy complacency and satisfaction.
If the line is measured, how is it written the Gospel of John: “For God gives the Spirit without measure” and “I will pour out my spirit on you.” Perhaps by chance it is called “measure” not in terms of knowledge itself but on account of him who receives it, because its receptivity cannot be greater. The rain itself also may exceed the measure, yet it is measured in that vessel in which it is received.
"The lines have fallen to me in glorious places" [Psalm 16:6]. The boundaries of my possession have fallen in Your glory as it were by lot, like as God is the possession of the Priests and Levites. [Numbers 18:20] "For Mine inheritance is glorious to Me." "For Mine inheritance is glorious," not to all, but to them that see; in whom because I am, "it is to Me."
According to an ancient custom, an inheritance used to be divided by roping off the lands, so that each person might obtain a portion of land by measurement, allotted by the size of the tract and the status of the individual. In this way, it says in the Old Testament that Moses commanded Joshua to distribute the inheritance of the promised land to the children of Israel through the use of cords. So he now rightly said “cords,” because he spoke about the breadth and glory of his inheritance.… The inheritance of Christ is the predestined multitude of the saints.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 16:6 is a profound declaration of contentment and gratitude from David, expressing his deep satisfaction with the portion or inheritance God has sovereignly allotted to him. Through the vivid imagery of surveying lines falling in desirable locations, David perceives his life's circumstances, both material and spiritual, as exceptionally good and desirable, a direct result of God's benevolent hand. This verse encapsulates a spirit of trust and joy in divine providence, highlighting the blessedness of a life lived in intimate relationship with the Lord, who is the ultimate source of all good.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 16 is a Michtam of David, often interpreted as a "golden psalm" or a psalm of "fixed writing," signifying its preciousness and enduring theological significance. The psalm opens with David's earnest plea for preservation and protection from God, acknowledging Him as his only true refuge and good, as seen in Psalms 16:1, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.". This quickly transitions into a resolute declaration of his unwavering trust in the Lord and a stark rejection of the worship of other gods, emphasizing the superiority and sufficiency of Yahweh, highlighted in Psalms 16:4, "Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god...". The verse immediately preceding our focus, Psalms 16:5, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.", sets the theological foundation for verse 6: it firmly establishes God as the direct source and sustainer of David's fortunate circumstances, leading directly into the joyous affirmation of the pleasantness of his divinely appointed "lot" in verse 6. The psalm culminates in a powerful prophetic look towards resurrection and eternal joy in God's presence, as prophesied in Psalms 16:10, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." and Psalms 16:11, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.", indicating that David's "goodly heritage" extends far beyond earthly blessings to encompass the promise of eternal life and fellowship with God.
Historical & Cultural Context: The imagery in Psalms 16:6 is deeply rooted in the ancient Near Eastern practice of land division and inheritance, particularly as it pertains to the allocation of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel. Following the conquest of Canaan, the land was divided by lot, using measuring lines, as described in Joshua 18:10, "And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD; and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.". Each tribe and family received a specific portion, which was considered their nachalah (inheritance), a sacred and inalienable possession passed down through generations, as mandated in Numbers 26:55, "Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.". The phrase "the lines are fallen unto me" evokes this process, suggesting that David's "lot" or portion has been divinely determined and assigned. This was not a random occurrence but a sovereign act of God, ensuring each family received its rightful share. For David, this cultural understanding of land inheritance is spiritualized; his "portion" is not merely physical land but the Lord Himself, and the "pleasant places" refer to the blessedness of his life under God's care.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 16 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Provision and Blessing, highlighting God as the ultimate sovereign provider who determines and bestows a favorable "lot" or inheritance upon His people. David's experience serves as a testament to God's active involvement in the lives of His faithful. Secondly, it exemplifies Contentment and Gratitude, as David expresses profound satisfaction and thankfulness for what he has received, modeling a posture of peace and joy in God's sovereign will. This resonates deeply with the New Testament call for believers to cultivate contentment in all circumstances, as articulated by Paul in Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.". Thirdly, the verse points to the concept of Spiritual Inheritance, transcending mere material possessions. While the imagery is rooted in the division of land, the "pleasant places" and "goodly heritage" primarily refer to the spiritual blessings and the intimate covenant relationship with God Himself, who is David's "portion," as stated in Psalms 16:5, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup...". This spiritual inheritance is infinitely more valuable than any earthly possession, echoing the sentiment found in Lamentations 3:24, "The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.". Lastly, the idea of "lines" (boundaries) being "fallen" suggests a Security and Stability in a divinely appointed and maintained portion, providing a profound sense of peace and assurance in God's unchanging faithfulness.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 16:6 is rich in Imagery, particularly that of land surveying and inheritance. The "lines" falling in "pleasant places" creates a vivid mental picture of a beautiful, fertile, and desirable plot of land, symbolizing the blessedness of David's life and circumstances as ordained by God. This specific imagery functions as a powerful Metaphor, where the physical act of land division represents the entirety of David's life and destiny as a divinely appointed portion. The "goodly heritage" further extends this metaphor, encapsulating not just material blessings but the profound spiritual endowment of God's presence and covenant relationship. There is also an element of Synecdoche, where "the lines" (a part of the surveying process) stand in for the entire process of divine allocation and the resulting portion. The verse's structure, with its emphatic "yea," also employs Parallelism in thought, where the second clause reiterates and amplifies the meaning of the first, reinforcing the central message of gratitude for a divinely blessed life.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 16:6 profoundly articulates the biblical truth of God's sovereign providence and His benevolent care for His people. It teaches that our "lot" in life, our circumstances, and our ultimate inheritance are not random but are divinely appointed and maintained by a loving God. David's contentment stems from his recognition that God Himself is his portion, making any "place" pleasant and any "heritage" goodly. This verse challenges believers to shift their perspective from worldly measures of success and happiness to a deep appreciation for the spiritual riches found in Christ. It underscores that true contentment and security are found not in what we possess, but in the One who possesses us and graciously provides for us, both materially and spiritually. The "goodly heritage" ultimately points to the eternal blessings of salvation, communion with God, and the promise of resurrection life.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 16:6 serves as a powerful invitation for believers today to cultivate a profound sense of contentment and gratitude for the life and blessings God has bestowed upon them. It calls us to recognize His sovereign hand in our circumstances, trusting that our "lines" have indeed fallen in "pleasant places" because He is our portion. This perspective encourages us to embrace our present reality with peace, knowing that God's plan for us is good, even when it may not align with worldly expectations. It challenges us to prioritize our spiritual inheritance in Christ above all else, understanding that our true wealth lies in our relationship with God, the forgiveness of sins, the promise of eternal life, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, which are infinitely more precious than any earthly possession or status. Ultimately, this verse inspires us to live a life of joyful trust, confident that with God as our heritage, our future is eternally secure and good, regardless of the immediate challenges we face.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "the lines are fallen unto me" literally mean, and how does it apply spiritually?
Answer: Literally, "the lines are fallen unto me" refers to the ancient practice of surveying and dividing land using measuring cords or ropes. When lots were cast to determine land portions (as in the division of Canaan among the Israelite tribes, described in Joshua 18:10, "And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD; and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions."), the "lines" would fall to designate a specific area. So, it means "my allotted portion has been determined." Spiritually, this applies to the idea of divine providence. It signifies that God has sovereignly determined and assigned our life's circumstances, our blessings, our calling, and ultimately our spiritual inheritance. It's an expression of trust that God's allocation for us is not random but purposeful and good, leading to "pleasant places" and a "goodly heritage" in Him.
Is this verse primarily about material wealth and earthly blessings?
Answer: While the imagery of "lines" and "heritage" has roots in physical land inheritance, the context of Psalm 16, particularly Psalms 16:5, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.", clearly elevates the meaning beyond mere material wealth. David declares that his ultimate "goodly heritage" is God Himself and the intimate relationship he shares with Him. While God certainly blesses us materially, the primary emphasis here is on the spiritual abundance, security, and joy found in a covenant relationship with the Creator. The "pleasant places" are not just physical locations but the blessed state of being in God's favor and presence, which is far more valuable than any earthly possession, as also echoed in Lamentations 3:24, "The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.".
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 16:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. David's declaration of a "goodly heritage" and "pleasant places" points beyond his own earthly blessings to the far greater inheritance secured by the Messiah. The psalm itself is deeply Messianic, culminating in the prophecy of resurrection in Psalms 16:10, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.", which Peter explicitly applies to Christ in Acts 2:25, "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face..." and Acts 2:31, "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ...". Christ, as the true Son of David, inherited the ultimate "pleasant places" – resurrection from the dead, exaltation to the right hand of the Father, and a name above every name, as described in Philippians 2:9, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name...". For believers, our "goodly heritage" is found in Christ. Through His death and resurrection, we are granted an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance, kept in heaven for us, as promised in 1 Peter 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," and 1 Peter 1:4, "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you...". Our "lines" have fallen in the most pleasant of places because we are co-heirs with Christ, as affirmed in Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ...", receiving every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, as declared in Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...". Thus, David's joy in his portion foreshadows the immeasurable joy and eternal inheritance that is ours through faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus.