The Meaning of Psalms 62:11 Explained

Psalms 62:11

KJV: God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

YLT: Once hath God spoken, twice I heard this, That 'strength is with God.'

Darby: Once hath God spoken, twice have I heard this, that strength belongeth unto God.

ASV: God hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God.

What does Psalms 62:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 62:1-12 - Our Only Rock And Refuge
This is the "Only" Psalm. It consists of three stanzas, each of which begins with that word and ends with Selah. It was probably composed during Absalom's rebellion.
Waiting, Psalms 62:1-4
They who wait for God, and God alone, cannot wait in vain. Though ringed around by men who hide their malice under specious words, the soul is not greatly moved. Their ring-fence of hate totters to its fall, but the inner wall of God's care is steadfast.
Silence, Psalms 62:5-8
Wait here, and in Psalms 62:1, may be rendered "is silent," "be silent." There are times when God seems so near that we cannot speak aloud, but are just silent before Him and breathe out our thoughts and desires.
Not disappointed, Psalms 62:9-12
Men and money are lighter than air, but God endures. His performances, unlike man's, weigh heavier than His promises. They who trust Him will be satisfied with an abundance of power and mercy, which are open to the poorest, but which gold can never buy. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 62

1  David, professing his confidence in God, discourages his enemies
5  In the same confidence he encourages the godly
9  No trust is to be put in worldly things
11  Power and mercy belong to God

What do the individual words in Psalms 62:11 mean?

Once has spoken God Twice this I have heard that power [belongs] to God
אַחַ֤ת ׀ דִּבֶּ֬ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים שְׁתַּֽיִם־ ז֥וּ שָׁמָ֑עְתִּי כִּ֥י עֹ֝֗ז לֵאלֹהִֽים

אַחַ֤ת ׀  Once 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
דִּבֶּ֬ר  has  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֱלֹהִ֗ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
שְׁתַּֽיִם־  Twice 
Parse: Number, fd
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
ז֥וּ  this 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: זוּ  
Sense: this, such rel pron.
שָׁמָ֑עְתִּי  I  have  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
כִּ֥י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עֹ֝֗ז  power  [belongs] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
לֵאלֹהִֽים  to  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).