Bible Strands
Psalms 85:9
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A communal voice, likely a representative speaker, addresses God in a moment of waiting (v.8). The "our land" marks this as a corporate prayer, not an individual one.
The words — קָרֹב (qārov, "near") and שָׁכֹן (shākôn, "dwell") form the two poles of the verse: salvation approaches, glory settles.
The thread — Isaiah 46:13 echoes the nearness of salvation ("it is not far away"); Zechariah 2:5 echoes the glory dwelling ("I will be the glory within it").
Why it lands — The verse ties God's nearness to the condition of fearing Him and frames the end goal as His glory in the land, not personal deliverance. It asks the reader to see proximity to God as contingent on reverence and communal, not private.
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
Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 46:13 I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
- Zechariah 2:5 For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
- John 7:17 If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
- Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—
- Psalms 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
- Luke 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
- Psalms 50:23 He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rightly orders his way, I will show the salvation of God.”
- Ezekiel 26:20 then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living.
- Haggai 2:7 I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.
- Acts 11:13 He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.