Devine Scripture

Psalms 1:3

What does Psalms 1:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Psalms 1:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Psalms 1:3 means

This verse uses a vivid metaphor to illustrate the consequence of delighting in God's law. The righteous person is likened to a tree firmly established by life-sustaining water. Just as a well-nourished tree produces fruit in its proper season and remains vibrant, so too does the person rooted in God's Word. Their life is stable, productive, and resilient, unaffected by spiritual drought. This means that whatever they undertake with a heart devoted to God will ultimately flourish and succeed according to His divine purpose.

Psalms 1:3 in context

Psalms 1 — The Two Ways

The Psalter opens with a portrait of two roads. The blessed man does not stand in the path of sinners; instead he meditates on God's law day and night and is like a tree planted by streams of water, fruitful in its season. The wicked are not so — they are like chaff the wind drives away. The chapter is the doorway to all 150 psalms: prayer and praise grow out of a life rooted in the Word.

  • Meditation on Scripture
  • Two ways
  • Fruitfulness
  • Judgment

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time, whose leaves will ever be green; and he will do well in all his undertakings.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he hath been as a tree, Planted by rivulets of water, That giveth its fruit in its season, And its leaf doth not wither, And all that he doth he causeth to prosper.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he [is] as a tree planted by brooks of water, which giveth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf fadeth not; and all that he doeth prospereth.

Context

This verse provides the outcome and visual representation of the blessed life described in the preceding two verses. It moves from the internal delight and meditation on God's law to the external manifestation of that devotion. This imagery offers a clear contrast to the description of the wicked in the next verse, highlighting the stability and blessedness that comes from a life lived in accordance with God's will.

v.2But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night.

v.3This passage

v.4The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 39:3

    And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

  • Joshua 1:7

    Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest.

  • Psalms 129:8

    Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; We bless you in the name of Jehovah.

  • Jeremiah 17:8

    For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

  • Matthew 21:34

    And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.

  • Jude 1:12

    These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Sermon ideas from Psalms 1:3

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Psalms 1:3 teaches us about meditation on scripture

  • What Psalms 1:3 teaches us about two ways

  • What Psalms 1:3 teaches us about fruitfulness

  • What Psalms 1:3 teaches us about judgment

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