The Meaning of Psalms 40:16 Explained

Psalms 40:16

KJV: Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

YLT: All seeking Thee rejoice and are glad in Thee, Those loving Thy salvation say continually, 'Jehovah is magnified.'

Darby: Let all those that seek thee be glad and rejoice in thee; let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified!

ASV: Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let all those that seek  thee rejoice  and be glad  in thee: let such as love  thy salvation  say  continually,  The LORD  be magnified. 

What does Psalms 40:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A speedy deliverance from King David"s enemies would move the people of Israel to rejoice, feel encouraged, and praise the Lord.

Context Summary

Psalms 40:11-17 - A Cry For Deliverance
To the end of life we shall continually need God's lovingkindness, to deal mercifully with our failures and sins, and His truth, that is, His faithfulness. The Covenant, ordered in all things and sure, and that which binds him irrevocably, is the rock of our comfort, whether we are compassed by innumerable evils or overtaken by iniquities, Psalms 40:12.
Our sense of sin grows with our increasing knowledge of the holiness and love of God. They who are nearest to the heart of God are least able to forgive themselves, though they know that they are forgiven. But while we think hard thoughts against ourselves, and confess ourselves to be poor and needy, we may take great comfort in God's thoughts for us, Psalms 40:17. They are tender and loving, Jeremiah 29:11. Poverty and need are never reasons for despair. These things do not alienate God's interest. They rather attract Him; just as a sick child will get more of the mother's care than the healthy members of the home-circle. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 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 40:16 mean?

Rejoice and be glad in You all let those who seek You let say continually be magnified Yahweh such as love Your salvation
יָ֘שִׂ֤ישׂוּ וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ ׀ בְּךָ֗ כָּֽל־ מְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָ יֹאמְר֣וּ תָ֭מִיד יִגְדַּ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה אֹֽ֝הֲבֵ֗י תְּשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ

יָ֘שִׂ֤ישׂוּ  Rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שׂוּשׂ  
Sense: to exult, rejoice.
וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ ׀  and  be  glad 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
בְּךָ֗  in  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
מְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָ  let  those  who  seek  You 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
יֹאמְר֣וּ  let  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
תָ֭מִיד  continually 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.
יִגְדַּ֣ל  be  magnified 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֹֽ֝הֲבֵ֗י  such  as  love 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
תְּשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ  Your  salvation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: תְּשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.