The Meaning of Psalms 105:4 Explained

Psalms 105:4

KJV: Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

YLT: Seek ye Jehovah and His strength, Seek ye His face continually.

Darby: Seek Jehovah and his strength, seek his face continually;

ASV: Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Seek  the LORD,  and his strength:  seek  his face  evermore. 

What does Psalms 105:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 105:1-15 - The Lord's Covenant With Israel
This psalm and the next are a pair, probably composed during the Exile in Babylon. They are evidently derived in part from the old Tabernacle service, in which is found the beginning of this psalm and the end of the next, 1 Chronicles 16:1-43. Here we have the story of Jehovah's faithfulness to his Covenant and of Israel's ingratitude.
It is right to make known God's doings. Nothing touches men more quickly, or excites faith and hope more certainly, than to hear what others have experienced of God's saving health. Let us talk more often of His marvelous works. If God has forgiven you, even to ten thousand talents, confess it. If you have learned more of Christ's patience in His bearing with your sins and failures, tell it out. The salient points which stand out in our record of the past may be summarized under the same general headings as those of the psalmist. God has been mindful of His Covenant, ratified by the blood of his Son. He has shown his independence of human standards in choosing us, though we are absolutely unworthy to inherit His Kingdom. How often He has interposed in our behalf even when we have deserved the worst, saying, Touch not mine anointed! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:4 mean?

Seek Yahweh and His strength Seek His face evermore
דִּרְשׁ֣וּ יְהוָ֣ה וְעֻזּ֑וֹ בַּקְּשׁ֖וּ פָנָ֣יו תָּמִֽיד

דִּרְשׁ֣וּ  Seek 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְעֻזּ֑וֹ  and  His  strength 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
בַּקְּשׁ֖וּ  Seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
פָנָ֣יו  His  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
תָּמִֽיד  evermore 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.