The Meaning of Psalms 4:6 Explained

Psalms 4:6

KJV: There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

YLT: Many are saying, 'Who doth show us good?' Lift on us the light of Thy face, O Jehovah,

Darby: Many say, Who shall cause us to see good? Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah.

ASV: Many there are that say, Who will show us any good? Jehovah, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[There be] many  that say,  Who will shew  us [any] good?  LORD,  lift thou up  the light  of thy countenance  upon us. 

What does Psalms 4:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The comment of many people that David quoted reflects the spirit of discontent with present conditions that had led them to oppose the king.
"The Jewish Publication Society version reads, "O for good days!" It"s well been said that "the good old days" are a combination of a bad memory and a good imagination." [1]
The desire of these complainers for good was legitimate. David asked God to show them good by blessing them. Causing God"s face to shine on His people is a figure of speech for bestowing His favor on them (cf. Psalm 31:16; Psalm 44:3; Psalm 67:1; Psalm 80:3; Psalm 80:7; Psalm 80:19; Psalm 119:135). Promised covenant blessings would accompany God"s presence (cf. Numbers 6:25).

Context Summary

Psalm 4:1-8 - Morning And Evening Prayers
These psalms probably date from David's flight before Absalom, 2 Samuel 16:1-23. It is the perfection of trust to be able to sleep when our foes are many and set upon our destruction. So Jesus slept, Mark 4:38; and Peter, Acts 12:6. Be sure that you are where God would have you to be, and then resign yourself to His loving care. Even though pursued by the results of your sins, you will find that God will save you, on condition of your being contrite.
Let us begin the day and close it with thanksgivings and prayers. Godly means having the power to love. Dost thou love God and His saints? Then know that He has set thee apart-that is, separated thee-for Himself. Seek His will alone. Be content to let the world go by. Thou hast no need to envy the prosperous worldling. God suffices for heaven; why not for earth? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 4

1  David prays for audience
2  He reproves and exhorts his enemies
6  Man's happiness is in God's favor

What do the individual words in Psalms 4:6 mean?

[There are] many who say who will show us [any] good lift up upon us the light of Your countenance Yahweh
רַבִּ֥ים אֹמְרִים֮ מִֽי־ יַרְאֵ֪נ֫וּ ؟ ט֥וֹב נְֽסָה־ עָ֭לֵינוּ א֨וֹר פָּנֶ֬יךָ יְהוָֽה

רַבִּ֥ים  [There  are]  many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
אֹמְרִים֮  who  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יַרְאֵ֪נ֫וּ  will  show  us 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
؟ ט֥וֹב  [any]  good 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
נְֽסָה־  lift  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עָ֭לֵינוּ  upon  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
א֨וֹר  the  light 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
פָּנֶ֬יךָ  of  Your  countenance 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.