Psalms 37:40

And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

And the LORD {H3068} shall help {H5826} them, and deliver {H6403}{H8762)} them: he shall deliver {H6403}{H8762)} them from the wicked {H7563}, and save {H3467}{H8686)} them, because they trust {H2620}{H8804)} in him.

ADONAI helps them and rescues them, rescues them from the wicked and saves them; because they take refuge in him.

The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.

And Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them: He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

Psalms 37:40 from the King James Version (KJV) serves as a powerful summary and culmination of the psalm's central message, offering a resounding promise of divine intervention for those who place their faith in God.

Context of Psalms 37

Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm, often attributed to King David, that addresses a common dilemma: why do the wicked often seem to prosper while the righteous suffer? Throughout the psalm, David advises believers not to fret or envy evildoers, but rather to trust in the Lord, do good, and delight in Him. Verse 40 acts as a confident concluding statement, affirming God's ultimate justice and faithfulness to His people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Help and Deliverance: The verse emphatically states that "the LORD shall help them, and deliver them." This is not a passive hope but an active declaration of God's direct involvement in the lives of His faithful. He is a rescuer, providing assistance and salvation.
  • Protection from the Wicked: A specific aspect of God's deliverance is His protection "from the wicked." This reinforces the psalm's recurring theme that while the ungodly may flourish temporarily, their end is destruction, and God will shield His own from their schemes and ultimate fate.
  • The Centrality of Trust: The crucial condition for receiving this help and deliverance is clearly stated: "because they trust in him." The Hebrew word for "trust" here is bataḥ, which implies a deep reliance, confident security, and leaning upon God. It's not mere intellectual assent but a profound confidence in His character and promises, even when circumstances are challenging. This active faith is the foundation of God's protective and saving work. Proverbs 3:5-6 also emphasizes the importance of trusting in the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The word "trust" (Hebrew: bataḥ) is key. It signifies a profound sense of security and confidence derived from leaning entirely on someone else. It's not a fleeting emotion but a settled conviction that God is utterly dependable. Similarly, "deliver" (Hebrew: natsal) means to snatch away or rescue, highlighting God's powerful and active intervention on behalf of His people.

Practical Application

Psalms 37:40 offers immense encouragement for believers facing adversity or disheartened by the apparent success of the unrighteous. It reminds us that our ultimate security lies not in our circumstances or human efforts, but in our steadfast trust in God. When we commit our way to the Lord and rely on Him, we can be confident that He will intervene, provide help, and ultimately save us from the trials and schemes of the wicked. This verse calls us to cultivate a deeper reliance on God, knowing that He is our ultimate refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 31:5

    As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver [it; and] passing over he will preserve it.

  • 1 Chronicles 5:20

    And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that [were] with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.

  • Daniel 6:23

    Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

  • Daniel 3:17

    If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king.

  • Daniel 3:28

    ¶ [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

  • Isaiah 46:4

    And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he; and [even] to hoar hairs will I carry [you]: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver [you].

  • 1 John 5:18

    ¶ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
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