The Meaning of Psalms 40:4 Explained

Psalms 40:4

KJV: Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

YLT: O the happiness of the man Who hath made Jehovah his trust, And hath not turned unto the proud, And those turning aside to lies.

Darby: Blessed is the man that hath made Jehovah his confidence, and turneth not to the proud, and to such as turn aside to lies.

ASV: Blessed is the man that maketh Jehovah his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Blessed  [is] that man  that maketh  the LORD  his trust,  and respecteth  not the proud,  nor such as turn aside  to lies. 

What does Psalms 40:4 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
.
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Verse Meaning

The person who does not rely on the self-sufficient or liars but puts his complete trust in the Lord experiences great blessing.

Context Summary

Psalm 40:1-10 - A Joyous Testimony
This psalm follows appropriately on the two former, in which the psalmist had been detailing his sufferings. Here he celebrates deliverance. But a Greater than David is here. Hebrews 10:5-7 puts Psalms 40:6-8 upon the lips of Christ, and we hear His voice speaking through these olden words.
In deep distress, Psalms 40:1-3, what can the soul do but wait patiently until the Lord inclines and hears? The horrible pit is a "pit of roaring;" that is, a ravine where the deep waters rush and roar. What Jeremiah experienced literally, Jeremiah 38:6, we pass through spiritually. But God will leave no child of His there; He will lift him to stand on the rock, his mouth filled with songs.
When we are delivered let us set our gladness to music and embody it in renewed consecration, Psalms 40:4-10. Let us not hide God's love in our hearts, but tell it out. The bored ear, Psalms 40:6, in reference to Exodus 21:6, means obedience forever, absolute consecration, the glad submission of the will. This is dearer to God than the most elaborate ceremonial or ritual. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 40

1  The benefit of confidence in God
6  Obedience is the best sacrifice
11  The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 40:4 mean?

Blessed [is] that man who makes Yahweh his trust and not does respect unto the proud nor such as turn aside to lies
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי הַגֶּ֗בֶר אֲשֶׁר־ שָׂ֣ם יְ֭הֹוָה מִבְטַח֑וֹ וְֽלֹא־ פָנָ֥ה אֶל־ רְ֝הָבִ֗ים וְשָׂטֵ֥י כָזָֽב

אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי  Blessed  [is] 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֶשֶׁר 
Sense: happiness, blessedness.
הַגֶּ֗בֶר  that  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּבֶר  
Sense: man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight).
שָׂ֣ם  makes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
יְ֭הֹוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מִבְטַח֑וֹ  his  trust 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִבְטָח  
Sense: trust, confidence, refuge.
וְֽלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
פָנָ֥ה  does  respect 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
רְ֝הָבִ֗ים  the  proud 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: רָהָב  
Sense: proud, defiant.
וְשָׂטֵ֥י  nor  such  as  turn  aside 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: סֵט 
Sense: to swerve, fall away.
כָזָֽב  to  lies 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּזָב  
Sense: a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing.