The Meaning of Psalms 16:3 Explained

Psalms 16:3

KJV: But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

YLT: For the holy ones who are in the land, And the honourable, all my delight is in them.

Darby: To the saints that are on the earth, and to the excellent thou hast said, In them is all my delight.

ASV: As for the saints that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[But] to the saints  that  [are] in the earth,  and [to] the excellent,  in whom [is] all my delight. 

What does Psalms 16:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

An evidence of David"s confidence in the Lord was his choice to keep company with others who trusted in and walked with God. He respected them because they shared the majestic quality of their God.

Context Summary

Psalm 16:1-11 - The Citizen Of Zion And His Inheritance
The first of these psalms was probably composed to celebrate the bringing of the Ark to Mount Zion, 1 Samuel 6:20. It describes the character of those who have fellowship with God and dwell in His house all the days of their earthly lot. To the challenge of the soloist, Psalms 15:1, the choir makes response, Psalms 15:2-5, first positively, then negatively. We must act as non-conductors to evil; must mind what company we keep; and must cultivate a spirit of love and self-sacrifice which will never take advantage of others, Psalms 15:5. Here is the secret of permanence and peace.
Michtam means "golden," and may be truly applied to the next psalm, as also to Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11; Psalms 59:1-17; Psalms 60:1-12. Others explain the word as a "secret." It is the song of the golden secret. The key is furnished in Acts 2:25. The Apostle Paul expressly emphasizes the divine authorship in Acts 13:35-38. Our Lord may have repeated Psalms 16:8-11 when He was descending the dark valley, and so may we. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 16

1  David, in distrust of merits, and hatred of idolatry
5  He shows the hope of his calling, of the resurrection, and life everlasting

What do the individual words in Psalms 16:3 mean?

As for the saints who [are] on the earth they [are] and the excellent ones all my delight in whom [is]
לִ֭קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הֵ֑מָּה וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י כָּל־ חֶפְצִי־ בָֽם

לִ֭קְדוֹשִׁים  As  for  the  saints 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קָדֹושׁ  
Sense: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart.
אֲשֶׁר־  who  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בָּאָ֣רֶץ  on  the  earth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הֵ֑מָּה  they  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י  and  the  excellent  ones 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: אַדִּיר  
Sense: great, majestic.
חֶפְצִי־  my  delight 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חֵפֶץ  
Sense: delight, pleasure.
בָֽם  in  whom  [is] 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural