Psalms 19:5

KJV

Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

KJV (with Strong's)

Which is as a bridegroom {H2860} coming out {H3318} of his chamber {H2646}, and rejoiceth {H7797} as a strong man {H1368} to run {H7323} a race {H734}.

Complete Jewish Bible

which comes out like a bridegroom from the bridal chamber, with delight like an athlete to run his race.

Berean Standard Bible

Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course,

American Standard Version

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 19:5 vividly personifies the sun, portraying its daily emergence and journey across the sky with imagery of profound joy, splendor, and unwavering strength. It describes the sun as a triumphant bridegroom leaving his chamber and a mighty athlete eagerly embarking on a race, thereby highlighting the magnificent, purposeful, and consistent revelation of God's glory through His creation. This verse serves as a powerful testament to the Creator's meticulous design, boundless energy, and faithful sustenance of the cosmos.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 19 is uniquely structured into two distinct, yet complementary, revelations of God: His general revelation through creation (verses 1-6) and His special revelation through His Law (verses 7-11). Verses 1-4 establish the overarching declaration of God's glory by the heavens and the firmament, noting that this "speech" is universal and unceasing, though without audible words. Within this cosmic symphony, the sun is singled out in verses 4-6 as the most prominent and powerful celestial witness. Verse 5 specifically elaborates on the sun's daily circuit, building upon the idea introduced in [Psalms 19:4](/psalms/19-4 "Psalms 19:4 - The Sun's Dwelling Place") that God has set a "tent" for the sun. This verse transitions from the sun's dwelling to its dynamic emergence, setting the stage for the sun's expansive journey described in [Psalms 19:6](/psalms/19-6 "Psalms 19:6 - The Sun's Circuit"). The psalm then shifts dramatically in [Psalms 19:7](/psalms/19-7 "Psalms 19:7 - The Perfection of God's Law") to praise the perfection and life-giving power of God's Law, demonstrating how both nature and Scripture perfectly reveal the same divine Author.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the sun was often deified or associated with powerful deities. However, the psalmist here firmly positions the sun not as a god, but as a created entity, subject to and glorifying the one true God. The imagery of a "bridegroom coming out of his chamber" draws upon the deeply significant and joyous custom of ancient Israelite weddings. The bridegroom, adorned in his finest garments, emerging from the bridal chamber (often a canopy or a specially prepared room) symbolized the culmination of anticipation, the beginning of a new covenant, and a moment of unparalleled splendor and public celebration. Similarly, the "strong man to run a race" evokes the common athletic contests and displays of physical prowess in the ancient world, where strength, endurance, and determination were highly valued. This imagery would have resonated strongly with an audience familiar with such spectacles, conveying the sun's immense, unwearied power and its consistent, purposeful movement across the sky, completing its divinely appointed course without fail.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to the psalm's central theme of **God's Universal Revelation**. The sun's daily, magnificent display serves as undeniable evidence of God's existence, power, and glory, accessible to all humanity, fulfilling the declaration of [Psalms 19:1](/psalms/19-1 "Psalms 19:1 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory"). It underscores the theme of **Divine Order and Purpose in Creation**, showing that the cosmos is not chaotic but operates with incredible precision and vigor, orchestrated by a divine hand. The sun's "rejoicing" and "running a race" also highlight the **Active and Dynamic Nature of Creation's Witness**. It's not a passive display but an energetic, joyful, and purposeful declaration. This consistent, powerful witness of creation foreshadows the reliability and perfection of God's Law, which is equally consistent and powerful in its revelation of divine truth, as explored in the latter half of [Psalms 19](/psalms/19 "Psalms 19 - God's Two Books: Nature and Law").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Chamber (Hebrew, _chuppah'_):** This word, often translated as "canopy" or "bridal chamber," refers to the private, intimate space where a bride and groom consummate their marriage. Its use here evokes a sense of privacy, preparation, and then a grand, public emergence. The bridegroom's appearance from this chamber is not mundane but a moment of climactic joy, splendor, and public display, signifying a new beginning and the fulfillment of anticipation. This term imbues the sun's dawn appearance with an aura of majesty and celebration.
* **Strong Man (Hebrew, _gibbor'_):** This term denotes a mighty one, a hero, a warrior, or a champion. It speaks of immense physical strength, prowess, and courage. Applied to the sun, it emphasizes its tireless energy, unyielding power, and unwavering determination. The sun is not depicted as merely moving, but as possessing an inherent, vigorous strength that enables it to complete its vast, daily circuit across the sky with enthusiasm and precision, never faltering.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber":** This clause initiates a vivid simile, comparing the sun's emergence at dawn to a bridegroom. Just as a bridegroom, adorned in his finest attire, steps forth from his bridal chamber with joy, radiance, and triumphant splendor on his wedding day, so too the sun rises. This imagery conveys the sun's dazzling beauty, its glorious and anticipated appearance, and the sense of exhilaration and newness that accompanies each new day. It suggests a deliberate, majestic, and celebratory beginning to its daily course.
* **"[and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.":** This second clause extends the personification with another powerful simile. The sun is likened to a mighty athlete or warrior, full of vigor and enthusiasm, eager to embark on a challenging race. This emphasizes the sun's immense power, its unwearied energy, and its unwavering determination to complete its divinely appointed circuit across the heavens. The "rejoicing" highlights the inherent delight and purpose with which the sun fulfills its cosmic task, reflecting the joy and power of its Creator. It speaks to the sun's consistent, reliable, and powerful movement throughout the day.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 19:5 is rich in **personification**, attributing human qualities and actions (coming out, rejoicing, running a race) to the inanimate sun. This device elevates the sun from a mere celestial body to an active, conscious participant in declaring God's glory. The verse also employs two powerful **similes**, comparing the sun to a "bridegroom coming out of his chamber" and a "strong man to run a race." These comparisons are highly effective, drawing on familiar human experiences of joy, splendor, strength, and determination to convey the sun's majestic appearance and tireless journey. The use of such vivid **imagery** creates a deeply evocative and memorable picture, allowing the reader to "see" and "feel" the sun's vibrant energy and purposeful movement, thereby enhancing the psalm's message of God's glorious revelation through creation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 19:5 serves as a profound theological statement about God's general revelation, demonstrating that His attributes are clearly seen and understood through the created order. The sun's consistent, powerful, and joyful performance of its divinely appointed task testifies to the reliability, might, and magnificent design of the Creator. This daily spectacle leaves humanity without excuse, as the heavens continually declare God's glory without spoken words, yet with undeniable impact. The sun's unwearied strength and purposeful journey reflect the inexhaustible power and unwavering faithfulness of the God who established its course and sustains it moment by moment. It points to a God who is not distant or disengaged but intimately involved in the continuous operation of His cosmos, ensuring that His creation fulfills its purpose of bearing witness to Him.

* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Attributes Seen in Creation")
* [Genesis 1:14](/genesis/1-14 "Genesis 1:14-18 - God Creates the Lights")
* [Jeremiah 33:20](/jeremiah/33-20 "Jeremiah 33:20 - God's Covenant with Day and Night")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 19:5 invites us to pause and truly *see* the world around us, not as a collection of random phenomena, but as a continuous, vibrant declaration of God's character. The sun's daily emergence, full of splendor and vigor, challenges our tendency to take the ordinary for granted. It encourages us to cultivate a spirit of wonder and awe, recognizing God's artistry and power in every sunrise and sunset. Furthermore, the sun's unwearied commitment to its divinely ordained "race" serves as a powerful metaphor for our own lives. We are called to approach our God-given tasks, responsibilities, and spiritual journey with similar enthusiasm, strength, and faithfulness. Just as the sun consistently fulfills its purpose without complaint or exhaustion, we are to run our race with endurance, reflecting the glory of our Creator in our daily walk. This verse reminds us that even the most fundamental aspects of existence are imbued with divine purpose and energy, urging us to live lives that consistently bear witness to the splendor and power of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How often do I truly pause to observe and appreciate the natural world as a revelation of God's glory?**
* **In what ways can I emulate the sun's "joyful" and "strong" commitment to its daily course in my own spiritual disciplines or daily responsibilities?**
* **What specific attributes of God are most clearly revealed to me through the consistent and powerful operations of nature?**

### FAQ
**How does the sun "rejoice" and "run a race" if it's an inanimate object?**

Answer: The psalmist employs **personification** and **simile** to describe the sun's daily journey. While the sun is an inanimate object, the poetic language attributes human qualities of joy, strength, and purposeful movement to it. This is not meant to suggest the sun literally possesses emotions or consciousness, but rather to convey the *effect* and *impact* of its consistent and powerful display. The sun's emergence is so magnificent, its course so vigorous and unfailing, that it *appears* to be acting with the joyous enthusiasm of a bridegroom or the determined energy of an athlete. This literary device vividly communicates the glory, order, and power of God, who orchestrates such a grand and reliable spectacle. It highlights that the sun fulfills its divinely appointed task with perfect precision and vigor, as if delighting in its Creator's design, thereby declaring His glory without words, as stated in [Psalms 19:1-4](/psalms/19-1 "Psalms 19:1-4 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 19:5 speaks directly of God's general revelation through the sun, its imagery finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate and perfect revelation of God. Just as the sun emerges with splendor and joy, so too did Christ, the [Light of the World](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"), come forth from the Father to illuminate a darkened world. He is the true "bridegroom" (as seen in [Matthew 9:15](/matthew/9-15 "Matthew 9:15 - The Bridegroom and His Companions")), whose coming initiates a new covenant and brings unparalleled joy to His people, the Church, His bride. Furthermore, like the "strong man" running a race, Christ perfectly fulfilled His divine mission with unwavering strength, determination, and purpose. From His incarnation to His triumphant resurrection and ascension, Jesus ran the race set before Him, enduring the cross for the joy set before Him ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith")). He is the one in whom all the fullness of God dwells ([Colossians 1:19](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19 - The Fullness of God in Christ")), the radiating glory of God's invisible attributes made visible ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")). Thus, the sun's daily declaration of God's glory in creation points forward to the even greater, personal revelation of God's glory in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the Creator's power, splendor, and faithful purpose.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 62:5

For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:24

¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1 Corinthians 9:26

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

Isaiah 61:10

¶ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.

John 3:29

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.