The Meaning of Psalms 1:2 Explained

Psalms 1:2

KJV: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

YLT: But -- in the law of Jehovah is his delight, And in His law he doth meditate by day and by night:

Darby: But his delight is in Jehovah's law, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

ASV: But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But his delight  [is] in the law  of the LORD;  and in his law  doth he meditate  day  and night. 

What does Psalms 1:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The godly allows the Word of God (Heb. torah, i.e, instruction that comes from God) to shape his conduct rather than the wicked. One expositor saw Jesus Christ as the ultimately godly person profiled in this psalm. [1] His meditation on it involves prolonged thinking about it that takes place in study and review throughout the day.
"Meditation is not the setting apart of a special time for personal devotions, whether morning or evening, but it is the reflection on the Word of God in the course of daily activities ( Joshua 1:8). Regardless of the time of day or the context, the godly respond to life in accordance with God"s word." [2]
"What digestion is to the body, meditation is to the soul." [3], 2:542.]
The motivation of the godly in this activity is delight; he or she has a desire to listen to and understand what God has revealed (cf. Philippians 2:13). Jesus expounded this idea in the Beatitudes ( Matthew 5:3-10).

Context Summary

Psalms 1:1-6 - The Two Ways And The Two Ends
Like a signpost, this psalm points the road to blessedness. The opening word may be read, "Oh, the blessedness!" The psalm begins with the same message as the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-48. Beneath the lintel of benediction we pass into the temple of praise.
Blessedness is obtainable in two ways: negatively, we may avoid the society of the irreligious; positively, we must enter the company of prophets and kings, of psalmists and historians, and especially of God Himself, speaking in Scripture. Do not simply read the Bible; meditate upon it. Better one verse really masticated than a whole chapter bolted.
The rewards are, to be planted by rivers, to bear fruit, and to prosper. See Genesis 39:3-4; Genesis 49:22. How blessed it is, also, to realize that God knows and loves! See Psalms 56:8. The sinner begins with ungodliness, goes on to scorning, and ends as chaff, Matthew 13:30. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 1

1  The happiness of the godly
4  The unhappiness of the ungodly

What do the individual words in Psalms 1:2 mean?

For but in the law of Yahweh his delight [is] and in His law he meditates day and night
כִּ֤י אִ֥ם בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה חֶ֫פְצ֥וֹ וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹ יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה

בְּתוֹרַ֥ת  in  the  law 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
יְהוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
חֶ֫פְצ֥וֹ  his  delight  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֵפֶץ  
Sense: delight, pleasure.
וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹ  and  in  His  law 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
יֶהְגֶּ֗ה  he  meditates 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָגָה  
Sense: to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, speak.
יוֹמָ֥ם  day 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יׄומָם  
Sense: by day, in the daytime subst.
וָלָֽיְלָה  and  night 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.