Psalms 85:12

Translation
King James Version
Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Yea, the LORD H3068 shall give H5414 H8799 that which is good H2896; and our land H776 shall yield H5414 H8799 her increase H2981.
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Complete Jewish Bible
ADONAI will also grant prosperity; our land will yield its harvest.
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Berean Standard Bible
The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
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American Standard Version
Yea, Jehovah will give that which is good; And our land shall yield its increase.
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World English Bible Messianic
Yes, the LORD will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Yea, the Lord shall giue good things, and our land shall giue her increase.
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Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah also giveth that which is good, And our land doth give its increase.
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See also
James 1:17Psalms 84:11Psalms 67:6Leviticus 26:41 Corinthians 1:30Isaiah 30:23Isaiah 30:24
In the KJVVerse 15,284 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 85:12 is a profound declaration of faith and hopeful anticipation, asserting God's benevolent provision and the resultant flourishing of His people and their land. Rooted in a communal prayer for restoration and revival, this verse confidently proclaims that divine favor will manifest in tangible blessings, leading to a season of abundance and well-being that reflects God's faithfulness and the fruit of righteousness.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 85 is a communal lament and prayer for national restoration, transitioning into an expression of hopeful expectation. The psalm opens by recalling God's past mercy and forgiveness, specifically His turning away of the "captivity of Jacob" as described in Psalms 85:1-3. However, the present situation is one of distress, prompting a fervent plea for God to "turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease" as articulated in Psalms 85:4. The psalm then shifts from petition to confident expectation, culminating in the beautiful imagery of "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven" found in Psalms 85:10-11. Verse 12 serves as the confident culmination of this hope, declaring the certain outcome of God's renewed favor and the land's responsiveness to His blessing.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: While the exact historical setting of Psalm 85 is debated, many scholars place it in the post-exilic period, after the return from Babylon. The people of Israel had returned to their land, but the promised prosperity and full restoration had not yet fully materialized. They faced challenges, perhaps drought, economic hardship, or continued foreign oppression, leading them to lament and seek God's renewed favor. In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, the "increase" of the land was not merely an economic indicator but a direct sign of God's covenant faithfulness and blessing. Conversely, barrenness or famine was often seen as a sign of divine displeasure or judgment, as detailed in covenant curses found throughout Deuteronomy 28. Thus, the prayer for the land to "yield her increase" was a profound plea for God to restore their physical and spiritual well-being, signifying a return to covenant blessings.
  • Key Themes: Psalms 85:12 significantly contributes to several key themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores Divine Provision and Benevolence, portraying God as the ultimate source of all good things, both spiritual and material. This theme is central to the psalmist's trust that God will indeed "give that which is good." Secondly, the verse highlights Agricultural Prosperity as a Sign of Blessing. In a culture deeply connected to the land, the "increase" of the earth was a tangible manifestation of God's favor, symbolizing peace, stability, and the fulfillment of covenant promises. This stands in stark contrast to the curses of barrenness associated with disobedience, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:18. Finally, the verse speaks to Restoration and Revival, functioning as the hopeful outcome of the psalm's plea. It assures that God's turning away of anger and renewed favor will bring not only spiritual renewal but also concrete, material abundance, signifying a complete and holistic restoration of God's relationship with His people and their land. This comprehensive restoration is a recurring motif in the prophetic books, such as in Isaiah 35.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • LORD (Hebrew, Yᵉhôvâh', H3068): This is the sacred personal name of God, Yahweh, derived from a root meaning "to be" or "to exist." It signifies God as "the self-Existent" or "the Eternal," emphasizing His unchanging nature, covenant faithfulness, and absolute sovereignty. In Psalms 85:12, the use of "LORD" underscores that the promised good and increase come from the one true God who is faithful to His promises and actively involved in the well-being of His people.
  • give (Hebrew, nâthan', H5414): This primitive root is highly versatile, meaning "to give" with a vast latitude of application, including to put, make, bestow, grant, or yield. In this context, it highlights God's active role as the bestower of blessings. It implies a deliberate, generous, and effective act of provision, indicating that the "good" and the "increase" are not accidental occurrences but direct results of God's intentional giving.
  • good (Hebrew, ṭôwb', H2896): This highly versatile Hebrew word encompasses a broad spectrum of meaning, including moral goodness, aesthetic pleasantness, beneficial quality, and prosperity. When applied to God's giving, as here, it signifies that He provides everything that is truly beneficial, wholesome, and conducive to flourishing in every dimension of life—spiritual, material, relational, and emotional. It speaks to the inherent goodness of God's character and His desire for the well-being of His creation.
  • increase (Hebrew, yᵉbûwl', H2981): This term specifically refers to the produce, yield, or fruit of the land. It denotes the tangible outcome of agricultural labor when blessed by divine favor. In the context of an agrarian society, yᵉbûwl was a direct measure of prosperity and a visible sign of God's blessing on the land, ensuring sustenance and abundance for the community. It emphasizes the physical, material manifestation of God's "goodness" in the natural world.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good": This opening clause is a confident affirmation of God's active role as the provider. The emphatic "Yea" (or "Indeed") underscores the certainty of this declaration. "The LORD" (Yahweh) emphasizes His covenant faithfulness and sovereign power. The phrase "shall give" expresses a future certainty, not merely a possibility, but a divine assurance. "That which is good" is comprehensive, referring to all forms of blessing and well-being that originate from God's benevolent hand, encompassing spiritual favor, moral uprightness, and material provision.
  • "and our land shall yield her increase": This second clause describes the tangible, earthly consequence of God's giving. The "land" is personified, responding to divine blessing by producing abundantly. "Shall yield her increase" directly points to agricultural fertility and prosperity, a primary sign of God's favor in ancient Israel. It signifies a reversal of any previous barrenness or scarcity, demonstrating that God's goodness directly impacts the physical environment, leading to a flourishing existence for His people.

Literary Devices

Psalms 85:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of hope and divine blessing. Parallelism is evident, specifically a form of synthetic or constructive parallelism, where the second line expands upon or completes the thought of the first. "The LORD shall give that which is good" sets the divine action, and "our land shall yield her increase" describes the concrete result of that action, showing how God's goodness manifests. Furthermore, Personification is clearly present in the phrase "our land shall yield her increase." The land is depicted as an active agent, capable of "yielding" or producing, as if in response to God's blessing, rather than merely being a passive recipient. This imbues the natural world with a sense of vitality and responsiveness to divine favor. Finally, the verse utilizes vivid Imagery of agricultural abundance and fertility, which would have resonated deeply with an agrarian society. This imagery evokes a sense of peace, security, and prosperity, painting a picture of a flourishing existence under God's benevolent hand.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 85:12 stands as a powerful testament to God's character as the ultimate giver of all good things, linking divine righteousness and human flourishing. It encapsulates the profound biblical truth that God's blessings are holistic, encompassing both spiritual and material dimensions. The psalmist's confident declaration underscores the principle that when God's people turn to Him in repentance and seek His face, His favor is restored, leading to tangible manifestations of His goodness in their lives and environment. This verse reminds us that God is not only the source of spiritual renewal but also the sustainer of physical life, providing for the needs of His creation. The "increase" of the land is a visible sign of His covenant faithfulness and His desire for His people to live in abundance, reflecting His own generosity and the fruit of a right relationship with Him.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 85:12 offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us of God's unwavering faithfulness and His desire to bless His people. It calls us to cultivate a posture of confident expectation, trusting that the Lord is indeed the source of all that is truly good, even amidst challenging circumstances. This verse invites us to pray with assurance, knowing that God's provision extends beyond our immediate needs to encompass a holistic flourishing—spiritual, relational, and material. While not a guarantee of specific material wealth, it assures us that when we seek God's righteousness and align our lives with His will, we position ourselves to receive His abundant provision and witness His goodness manifest in various forms. It encourages us to look for the "increase" in our lives—whether it's spiritual fruit, restored relationships, renewed hope, or even tangible provision—as a testament to God's ongoing work of restoration and blessing.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of your life are you currently seeking God's "good" and "increase"?
  • How does the connection between spiritual revival (as seen in Psalm 85) and tangible blessings influence your prayer life and expectations of God?
  • What does it mean for you personally to trust that "the LORD shall give that which is good" even when circumstances seem contrary?
  • How can you be an instrument through whom God's "good" and "increase" flow to others in your community?

FAQ

What does "that which is good" encompass in Psalms 85:12?

Answer: "That which is good" (Hebrew: ṭôwb) is a comprehensive term that extends far beyond mere material prosperity. It encompasses everything that is morally upright, aesthetically pleasing, beneficial, and conducive to holistic well-being. In this context, it refers to God's benevolent provision in all aspects of life—spiritual favor, peace, righteousness, restored relationships, and indeed, material blessings like the "increase" of the land. It signifies God's desire for His people to flourish completely, reflecting His own perfect character and generosity, as affirmed in James 1:17.

Is this verse a guarantee of material prosperity for all believers?

Answer: While Psalms 85:12 certainly speaks of tangible, material blessings ("our land shall yield her increase"), it's crucial to interpret it within its broader biblical context. It is not a blanket guarantee of material wealth for every individual believer at all times. Instead, it highlights God's character as a generous provider and His covenant faithfulness to His people, particularly in a context of national restoration and obedience. The "increase" here is a sign of God's favor and the flourishing that results from a right relationship with Him. In the New Testament, while God promises to meet our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, as seen in Philippians 4:19, the emphasis shifts more towards spiritual abundance, the fruit of the Spirit, as detailed in Galatians 5:22-23, and the blessings of the Kingdom of God, which may or may not always translate into immediate material wealth in this life. The verse assures us of God's desire for our holistic good, which includes provision, but always in alignment with His sovereign will and purposes.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 85:12 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent "good" that the Lord has given to humanity, the very embodiment of God's benevolent provision. Through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, Christ brought the ultimate spiritual "increase"—salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life for all who believe, as declared in John 3:16. He is the true bread of life who gives life to the world, as He proclaimed in John 6:35, and through Him, we experience life "more abundantly," as promised in John 10:10. The "land" that yields her increase can be understood metaphorically as the hearts of believers and the church itself, which, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, bears spiritual fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as beautifully described in Galatians 5:22-23. This spiritual "increase" is the evidence of God's redemptive work in the new covenant, where the blessings are primarily spiritual but often manifest in transformed lives and communities. Ultimately, the promise of a flourishing land under God's favor points forward to the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness dwells and God's people will experience complete and unending abundance in His presence, as envisioned in Revelation 21:1-4.

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Commentary on Psalms 85 verses 8–13

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

We have here an answer to the prayers and expostulations in the foregoing verses.

I. In general, it is an answer of peace. This the psalmist is soon aware of (Psa 85:8), for he stands upon his watch-tower to hear what God will say unto him, as the prophet, Hab 2:1, Hab 2:2. I will hear what God the Lord will speak. This intimates, 1. The stilling of his passions - his grief, his fear - and the tumult of his spirit which they occasioned: "Compose thyself, O my soul! in a humble silence to attend upon God and wait his motions. I have spoken enough, or too much; now I will hear what God will speak, and welcome his holy will. What saith my Lord unto his servant?" If we would have God to hear what we say to him by prayer, we must be ready to hear what he says to us by his word. 2. The raising of his expectation; now that he has been at prayer he looks for something very great, and very kind, from the God that hears prayer. When we have prayed we should look after our prayers, and stay for an answer. Now observe here, (1.) What it is that he promises himself from God, in answer to his prayers: He will speak peace to his people, and to his saints. There are a people in the world who are God's people, set apart for him, subject to him, and who shall be saved by him. All his people are his saints, sanctified by his grace and devoted to his glory; these may sometimes want peace, when without are fightings and within are fears; but, sooner or later, God will speak peace to them; if he do not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace, speaking that to their hearts by his Spirit which he has spoken to their ears by his word and ministers and making them to hear joy and gladness. (2.) What use he makes of this expectation. [1.] He takes the comfort of it; and so must we: "I will hear what God the Lord will speak, hear the assurances he gives of peace, in answer to prayer." When God speaks peace we must not be deaf to it, but with all humility and thankfulness receive it. [2.] He cautions the saints to do the duty which this calls for: But let them not turn again to folly; for it is on these terms, and no other, that peace is to be expected. To those, and those only, peace is spoken, who turn from sin; but, if they return to it again, it is at their peril. All sin is folly, but especially backsliding; it is egregious folly to turn to sin after we have seemed to turn from it, to turn to it after God has spoken peace. God is for peace, but, when he speaks, such are for war.

II. Here are the particulars of this answer of peace. He doubts not but all will be well in a little time, and therefore gives us the pleasing prospect of the flourishing estate of the church in the last five verses of the psalm, which describe the peace and prosperity that God, at length, blessed the children of the captivity with, when, after a great deal of toil and agitation, at length they gained a settlement in their own land. But it may be taken both as a promise also to all who fear God and work righteousness, that they shall be easy and happy, and as a prophecy of the kingdom of the Messiah and the blessings with which that kingdom should be enriched. Here is,

1.Help at hand (Psa 85:9): "Surely his salvation is nigh, nigh to us, nigher than we think it is: it will soon be effected, how great soever our difficulties and distresses are, when God's time shall come, and that time is not far off." When the tale of bricks is doubled, then Moses comes. It is nigh to all who fear him; when trouble is nigh salvation is nigh, for God is a very present help in time of trouble to all who are his; whereas salvation is far from the wicked, Psa 119:155. This may fitly be applied to Christ the author of eternal salvation: it was the comfort of the Old Testament saints that, though they lived not to see that redemption in Jerusalem which they waited for, yet they were sure it was nigh, and would be welcome, to all that fear God.

2.Honour secured: "That glory may dwell in our land, that we may have the worship of God settled and established among us; for that is the glory of a land. When that goes, Ichabod - the glory has departed; when that stays glory dwells." This may refer to the Messiah, who was to be the glory of his people Israel, and who came and dwelt among them (Joh 1:4), for which reason their land is called Immanuel's land, Isa 8:8.

3.Graces meeting, and happily embracing (Psa 85:10, Psa 85:11): Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, kiss each other. This may be understood, (1.) Of the reformation of the people and of the government, in the administration of which all those graces should be conspicuous and commanding. The rulers and ruled shall all be merciful and true, righteous and peaceable. When there is no truth nor mercy all goes to ruin (Hos 4:1; Isa 59:14, Isa 59:15); but when these meet in the management of all affairs, when these give aim, when these give law, when there is such plenty of truth that it sprouts up like the grass of the earth, and of righteousness that it is showered down like rain from heaven, then things go well. When in every congress mercy and truth meet, in every embrace righteousness and peace kiss, and common honesty is indeed common, then glory dwells in a land, as the sin of reigning dishonesty is a reproach to any people. (2.) Of the return of God's favour, and the continuance of it, thereupon. When a people return to God and adhere to him in a way of duty he will return to them and abide with them in a way of mercy. So some understand this, man's truth and God's mercy, man's righteousness and God's peace, meet together. If God find us true to him, to one another, to ourselves, we shall find him merciful. If we make conscience of righteousness, we shall have the comfort of peace. If truth spring out of the earth, that is (as Dr. Hammond expounds it), out of the hearts of men, the proper soil for it to grow in, righteousness (that is, God's mercy) shall look down from heaven, as the sun does upon the world when it sheds its influences on the productions of the earth and cherishes them. (3.) Of the harmony of the divine attributes in the Messiah's undertaking. In him who is both our salvation and our glory mercy and truth have met together; God's mercy and truth, and his righteousness and peace, have kissed each other; that is, the great affair of our salvation is so well contrived, so well concerted, that God may have mercy upon poor sinners, and be at peace with them, without any wrong to his truth and righteousness. He is true to the threatening, and just in his government, and yet pardons sinners and takes them into covenant with himself. Christ, as Mediator, brings heaven and earth together again, which sin had set at variance; through him truth springs out of the earth, that truth which God desires in the inward part, and then righteousness looks down from heaven; for God is just, and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. Or it may denote that in the kingdom of the Messiah these graces shall flourish and prevail and have a universal command.

4.Great plenty of every thing desirable (Psa 85:12): The Lord shall give that which is good, every thing that he sees to be good for us. All good comes from God's goodness; and when mercy, truth, and righteousness, have a sovereign influence on men's hearts and lives, all good may be expected. If we thus seek the righteousness of God's kingdom, other things shall be added; Mat 6:33. When the glory of the gospel dwells in our land, then it shall yield its increase, for soul-prosperity will either bring outward prosperity along with it or sweeten the want of it. See Psa 67:6.

5.A sure guidance in the good way (Psa 85:13): The righteousness of his promise which he has made to us, assuring us of happiness, and the righteousness of sanctification, that good work which he has wrought in us, these shall go before him to prepare his way, both to raise our expectations of his favour and to qualify us for it; and these shall go before us also, and be our guide to set us in the way of his steps, that is, to encourage our hopes and guide our practice, that we may go forth to meet him when he is coming towards us in ways of mercy. Christ, the sun of righteousness, shall bring us to God, and put us into the way that leads to him. John Baptist, a preacher of righteousness, shall go before Christ to prepare his way. Righteousness is a sure guide both in meeting God and in following him.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–13. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
SERMON 26:15
We were wolves. “We too were by nature children of wrath just like the rest.” But the sheep died and turned us into sheep. “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sin,” not of this person or that, but “of the world.” So then, my brothers, let us claim no credit for anything we are, provided it is by faith in him we are whatever we are—let us claim no credit for ourselves, or we may lose what we have received. But for whatever we have received let us give him the glory, him the honor, and may he water the seeds he has sown. What would our land have if he had not sown anything? He too sends the rain. He does not abandon what he has sown. “The Lord will give his sweetness, and our land will yield its fruit.”
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 85
"For the Lord shall give sweetness, and our land shall give her increase" [Psalm 85:12]....He will give unto you the sweetness of working righteousness, so that righteousness shall begin to delight you, whom before unrighteousness delighted: so that thou who at first delighted in drunkenness, shall rejoice in sobriety: and thou who at first rejoiced in theft, so as to take from another man what you had not, shall seek to give to him that has not that which you have: and thou who took delight in robbing, shall delight now in giving: thou whom shows delighted, shall delight in prayer; thou who delighted in trifling and lascivious songs, shall now delight in singing hymns to God; in running to church, thou who at first ran to the theatre. Whence is that sweetness born to you, except from this, that "God gives sweetness"? For, behold, you see what I mean: behold, I have spoken unto you the word of God, I have sown seed in your devout hearts, finding your souls furrowed, as it were, with the plough of confession: with devout attention you have received the seed; think now upon the word which you have heard, like those who break up the clouds, lest the fowls should carry away the seed, that what is sown may be able to spring up there: and unless God rain upon it, what profits it that it is sown? This is what is meant by "our land shall give her increase." May He with His visitations, in leisure, in business, in your house, in your bed, at meal-time, in conversation, in walks, visit your hearts, when we are not by. May the rain of God come and make to sprout what is sown there: and when we are not by, and are resting quietly, or otherwise employed, may God give increase to the seeds which we have sown, that remarking afterwards your improved characters, we too may rejoice for your fruit.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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