Psalms 41:2

The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to give him over to the will of his foes.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David composes this psalm for the choirmaster, addressing the congregation while describing God’s promised response to the person who shows mercy to the needy.

The words — `תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗/הוּ` (ti.te.Ne./hu) means “you give him,” paired with `נֶ֣פֶשׁ` (Ne.fesh) meaning “desire,” forming the literal phrase “give him over to the desire.”

The thread — The phrase “give him over to the will of his foes” echoes the plea in Psalms 27:12 and contrasts with the divine demolition motif in Jeremiah 45:4.

Why it lands — The text states that God actively preserves the merciful person, blesses them in the land, and withholds them from enemy control, demanding recognition that divine protection is the direct result of compassionate action.

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

יְהוָ֤ה׀Yah.wehYahweh יִשְׁמְרֵ֣הוּyish.me.Re./huhe will keep/ him וִֽ֭יחַיֵּהוּVi./chai.ye./huand/ he will preserve alive/ him וְאֻשַּׁ֣רve./'u.Sharand/ he will be called blessed בָּאָ֑רֶץba./'A.retzin the/ land וְאַֽל־ve./'al-and/ may not תִּ֝תְּנֵ֗הוּti.te.Ne./huyou give/ him בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁbe./Ne.feshin/ [the] desire of אֹיְבָֽיו׃'o.ye.Va/venemies/ his

King James Version

The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 45:4 Thus Jeremiah was to say to Baruch: “This is what the LORD says: Throughout the land I will demolish what I have built and uproot what I have planted.
Psalms 27:12 Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
1 Timothy 4:8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
Psalms 33:19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
Psalms 37:32 Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
Psalms 37:22 Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.
Psalms 91:3 Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague.
Psalms 128:1 A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
Psalms 140:8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted. Selah