The Meaning of Psalms 37:24 Explained

Psalms 37:24

KJV: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

YLT: When he falleth, he is not cast down, For Jehovah is sustaining his hand.

Darby: though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for Jehovah upholdeth his hand.

ASV: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Though he fall,  he shall not be utterly cast down:  for the LORD  upholdeth  [him with] his hand. 

What does Psalms 37:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 37:18-29 - Ways That God Establishes
God takes pleasure in our lives. In each He is working out a plan. Even our failures do not turn Him away from us, for He keeps fast hold of our hands, Psalms 37:24, r.v., margin. Long after His people have passed home, God sees to their children. If they follow in their parents' ways, they are borne along in the stream of providential care; but obviously they may depart from it. What precious promises in Psalms 37:28; Psalms 37:31; Psalms 37:33; Psalms 37:37; Psalms 37:39-40! Never forsaken! Always sure of an Advocate in the Divine Presence! Not left to the mercy of our foes! Safely housed in the time of need! Dying in peace! Such are the blessings which accrue to the servant of God. Such has been the observation of one no longer young, Psalms 37:25.
When taunted, persecuted, maligned, desperate, go into a silent place and lift your tear-stained face to Him. He understands the unspoken language of sighs and tears. Do not hurry Him; He has ages to work in. Wait patiently and rest. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 37

1  David persuades to patience and confidence in God,
12  by the different estate of the godly and the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 37:24 mean?

Though he fall not he shall be utterly cast down for Yahweh upholds [him] [with] His hand
כִּֽי־ יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא־ יוּטָ֑ל כִּֽי־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ

כִּֽי־  Though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יִפֹּ֥ל  he  fall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
יוּטָ֑ל  he  shall  be  utterly  cast  down 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טוּל  
Sense: to hurl, cast.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
סוֹמֵ֥ךְ  upholds  [him] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: סָמַךְ  
Sense: to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon.
יָדֽוֹ  [with]  His  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.