Psalms 28:9

Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Save {H3467} thy people {H5971}, and bless {H1288} thine inheritance {H5159}: feed {H7462} them also, and lift them up {H5375} for ever {H5769}.

Save your people! Bless your heritage! Shepherd them, and carry them forever!

Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them forever.

Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: Be their shepherd also, and bear them up for ever.

Commentary

Psalms 28:9 KJV is a powerful prayer of intercession, where King David shifts from his personal plea to an earnest petition for God's entire people. This verse beautifully encapsulates the desire for divine protection, provision, and eternal exaltation for those who belong to God.

Context

Psalm 28 is a prayer of David, beginning with a cry for God's attention and deliverance from the wicked. After expressing confidence in God's justice and declaring his personal trust, David expands his focus in verse 9. This transition highlights a key aspect of biblical prayer: moving from individual concerns to intercession for the community. It reflects a heart that understands its own well-being is intertwined with the well-being of the wider body of believers, and ultimately, God's plan for His "inheritance."

Key Themes

  • Divine Protection and Salvation: The opening plea, "Save thy people," is a direct appeal for deliverance from all forms of danger, both physical and spiritual. It acknowledges God as the ultimate source of salvation and refuge for His chosen.
  • God's Covenantal Relationship: "Bless thine inheritance" refers specifically to Israel, God's chosen nation, whom He regarded as His special possession. This phrase underscores God's commitment to His covenant people, promising them favor and prosperity. Today, it extends to all believers who are spiritual heirs of God's promises.
  • Divine Provision and Guidance: "Feed them also" uses the imagery of a shepherd caring for his flock. The Hebrew word re'eh (רְעֵה) means to shepherd, pasture, or tend. This signifies God's comprehensive provision—not just physical sustenance, but also spiritual nourishment, guidance, and protection. It evokes the comforting image of the Lord as our Good Shepherd.
  • Eternal Exaltation and Security: "And lift them up for ever" expresses a desire for God to continually elevate His people, not just in this life but eternally. The phrase venasse'em (וְנַשְּׂאֵם) implies bearing them up, sustaining them, and granting them enduring honor and security. It speaks to God's unwavering support and the ultimate hope of eternal glory and strength in Him.

Linguistic Insights

The term "inheritance" (Hebrew: nachalah, נַחֲלָה) often denotes a possession or heritage, specifically used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the nation of Israel as God's treasured possession, distinct from other nations (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:6). The verb "feed" (Hebrew: ra'ah, רָעָה) in this context carries the strong connotation of shepherding—leading, guarding, and providing for a flock, emphasizing God's role as the attentive caregiver. The phrase "lift them up" (Hebrew: nasa', נָשָׂא) can mean to carry, support, or exalt, suggesting not just elevation but sustained, protective care.

Practical Application

Psalms 28:9 serves as a timeless model for intercessory prayer. It reminds believers to look beyond their personal needs and pray fervently for the wider community of faith, the church, and all who are called God's people. It encourages us to trust in God's multifaceted care—His saving power, His blessings, His provision, and His promise to sustain and exalt us eternally. This verse instills confidence in God's enduring faithfulness to His "inheritance" through all generations.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 40:11

    He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

  • Psalms 78:71

    From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

  • Deuteronomy 9:29

    Yet they [are] thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.

  • Isaiah 63:9

    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

  • Matthew 2:6

    And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

  • Ezra 1:4

    And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem.

  • 1 Kings 8:51

    For they [be] thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:
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