Bible Strands
Psalms 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A wisdom psalm addressed to a general audience, presenting a two-path contrast between the one who delights in Torah (v. 2) and the wicked (v. 4). The speaker is not praying but declaring a fixed pattern of outcomes.
The words — שָׁתוּל (shatul, "planted") implies deliberate human action, not wild growth; the tree was set there by intention. פַּלְגֵי (palgei, "streams") refers to underground springs or water channels, not a passing rain.
The thread — Jeremiah 17:8 repeats the image of a tree planted by waters that does not fear the heat; Ezekiel 47:12 and Psalms 92:14 both echo the un-withering leaf and continued fruitfulness.
Why it lands — The verse is a consequence, not a promise: the stability described here is the organic outgrowth of the delight declared in v. 2, not a separate gift. It asks the reader to test whether their life is actually yielding fruit in season or merely appearing stable.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 17:8 He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.
- Ezekiel 47:12 Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”
- Psalms 92:14 In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,
- John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
- Ezekiel 19:10 Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters.
- Genesis 39:23 The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
- Joshua 1:7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
- Ezekiel 17:8 It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’
- Revelation 22:2 down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
- Matthew 13:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.