Psalms 125:4 — Word Study
WLCהֵיטִ֣יבָה יְ֭הוָה לַטּוֹבִ֑ים וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗ים בְּלִבּוֹתָֽם׃
BSAO LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the covenant God] to [those who are] goodṭôwb [pleasant, virtuous] and to the uprightyâshâr [straight, just] in heartlibbâh [the center of emotions and thoughts]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֵיטִ֣יבָה | do good ! | Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| יְ֭הוָה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| לַטּוֹבִ֑ים | to the good [people] | Preposition |
| וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗ים | and to [people] upright | Conjunction, preposition |
| בְּלִבּוֹתָֽם׃ | in hearts their | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart. |
| KJV | Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. |
| ASV | Do good, O Jehovah, unto those that are good, And to them that are upright in their hearts. |
| YLT | Do good, O Jehovah, to the good, And to the upright in their hearts. |
| WEB | Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts. |
| BBE | Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart. |
The translations agree on the imperative call for God to act favorably towards the good and upright.
The sentence is structured around a main imperative with two phrases detailing the recipients of the action.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 125:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Psalm of Trust in God's Justicegenerated
Psalm 125:4 is a prayer for divine favor towards those who are good and upright. The psalmist emphasizes the importance of righteousness and the assurance that God will care for His people, contrasting them with the wicked who will face judgment. This verse is part of a larger reflection on God's protection and justice, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 41:1–3 | Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble. |
| 2 | Psalm 51:18 | In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. |
| 3 | Psalm 73:1 | Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. |
| 4 | Isaiah 58:10–11 | and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. |
| 5 | Hebrews 6:10 | For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הֵיטִ֣יבָה, hei.Ti.vahgenerated
The word הֵיטִ֣יבָה (hei.Ti.vah) is a hiphil imperative, meaning 'do good'. It is derived from the root יָטַב (yatab), which signifies being good or pleasing. This word conveys a sense of action, requesting God to actively bring about goodness.
This verb is often used in contexts where one seeks favor or kindness, indicating a desire for positive outcomes for the righteous. In this verse, it is directed towards those who are good and upright, highlighting the psalmist's faith in God's justice.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse centers around the imperative verb הֵיטִ֣יבָה, do good, which governs the entire request. It is followed by two phrases: one specifying to whom the good is directed and another describing their character.
The structure emphasizes the psalmist's direct appeal to God, highlighting the relationship between divine action and the moral state of the people.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הֵיטִ֣יבָה as ἀγάθυνον, which means 'to do good' or 'to favor'. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the request for divine benevolence towards the righteous.
The use of ἀγάθυνον indicates a direct appeal for God's kindness, aligning with the Hebrew intent of the verse.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 125:4 is a prayer asking God to do good to those who are good and to those who are upright in heart. It reflects a trust in God's justice and care for His people, contrasting them with the wicked who will face judgment.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being good refers to living a life that is virtuous and pleasing to God, characterized by moral integrity and righteousness.
The heart represents the center of a person's emotions and thoughts, indicating that true goodness comes from a sincere and upright inner life.
Asking God to do good reflects a reliance on His character as just and benevolent, affirming faith in His active role in the lives of the righteous.
This verse is part of a psalm that emphasizes God's protection over His people, contrasting their fate with that of the wicked, thus reinforcing the theme of divine justice.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's goodness in my life?
- How can I strive to be considered among the good and upright in heart?
- What role does my heart play in my actions and decisions?
- How can I encourage others to seek goodness and righteousness?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss God's goodness and justice, using it to illustrate God's nature in relation to human righteousness.
God is good, but he is also just, and it is the nature of the just to reward in proportion to merit, as it is written: “Do good, O Lord, to those that are good and to the upright of heart.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 125 →
And he therefore adds, "Do well, O Lord, unto those that are good and true of heart" [Psalms 125:4].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 125 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 125:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDo good, O Lord, unto [those that be] good,.... That are made so by the Spirit and grace of God; for none are naturally good, but evil; only such who are regenerated and made new creatures, who have
Read John Gill on Psalms 125 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDo good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. Do good, O Lord, unto (those that be) good. The confident trust expressed in Psalms 125:1-3 is the ground on which rests the prayer here.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 125 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAs thou hast promised to keep thy people from evil, , be pleased also to vouchsafe unto them those blessings which are good for them. Or thus, having declared God’ s tender care of his people, and his promise made to them, he now prayeth for the execution of the said promises.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 125 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 125:4 Do good, O LORD, unto [those that be] good, and [to them that are] upright in their hearts.Ver. 4. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good] But afflicted by those men of thy hand, Psalms 17:14, who are the rod in thine hand, Isaiah 10:5. Do good in thy good pleasure (for nothing can be claimed by the very best) to such, according to thy promise, Psalms 125:3, which here I put in suit for them; let the Lord be with the good, 2 Chronicles 19:11. And to them that are upright in their hearts] For such only are good indeed, and approved in Christ, as was Apelles, Romans 16:10, and Nathanael, John 1:47, notwithstanding their infirmities. Hypocrisy imbaseth the purest metal, turneth…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 125 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good] Let the upright ever find thee his sure defence! Increase the goodness which thou hast already bestowed upon them; and let all who are upright in heart find thee to be their stay and their support!
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 125 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4, 5. A prayer for the faithful and a warning to renegades.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 125 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDo good, O Lord, unto those that be good ... - To the good; to the pious. Let them be under the divine protection.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 125 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4. Do good… unto those… good—The true Israel. An evident distinction between true and false Israelites.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 125 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart.
Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to the morally upright!
Tyndale line
Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
Do good, O Jehovah, unto those that are good, And to them that are upright in their hearts.
Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
Do good, O LORD, to those that are good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
Doe well, O Lord, vnto those that be good and true in their hearts.
Strictly literal
Do good, O Jehovah, unto the good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
Do good, O Jehovah, to the good, And to the upright in their hearts.
Do good, O YHWH, to the good, || And to the upright in their hearts.
Do good, O Lord, unto the good, and to those that are upright in their hearts.
Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good and to those who are upright in their hearts.
From the Latin
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south.
Simplified
Lord, please do good to those who do good, those who sincerely do what is right.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls show agreement in the core message of the verse. The Septuagint's translation matches the Hebrew closely, while the Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations but uphold the essential meaning of the text.
הֵיטִ֣יבָה יְ֭הוָה לַטּוֹבִ֑ים וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗ים בְּלִבּוֹתָֽם׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
היטיב׳ה יהוה [לטובים] [ולישרים] בלב
2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
היטיב׳ה יהוה לטובים ולישרים בלב
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 125:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word יָטַב (yatab) is a primitive root meaning to be good or pleasing. It encompasses a range of meanings including being glad, making something good or right, and dealing well with others. The entries highlight its use in both a literal sense (like sound or beautiful) and a figurative sense (like happy or successful).
[יָטַב] vb. be good, well, glad, pleasing
Qal
be glad, joyful
be well placed
impers. be well for or with, go well with
be pleasing
Hithp.
make glad, rejoice
do good to, deal well with
do well or thoroughly
make a thing good, right, beautiful
do well, right, ethically
base
H3190 יָטַב be good, well, glad, pleasing
3190 yatab yaw-tab'
a primitive root; to be (causative) make well, literally
(sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful,
right):--be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make)
better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, + be content,
diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad,
do (be, make) good((-ness)), be (make) merry, please (+ well),
shew more (kindness), skilfully, X very small, surely, make
sweet, thoroughly, tire, trim, very, be (can, deal, entreat,
go, have) well (said, seen).
יָטַב (ya.tav) — be good.
1) to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be glad, be joyful
1a2) to be well placed
1a3) to be well for, be well with, go well with
1a4) to be pleasing, be pleasing to
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to make glad, rejoice
1b2) to do good to, deal well with
1b3) to do well, do thoroughly
1b4) to make a thing good or right or beautiful
1b5) to do well, do right
HVhv2ms/Sh — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVhv2ms/Sh
good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.
(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:
(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.
טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good
pleasant, agreeable to the senses
pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
good, excellent, of its kind
good, rich, valuable in estimation
good, appropriate, becoming
c. מִן compar. = better
of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
good, kind, benign
good (ethical), right
base
טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare
welfare, prosperity, happiness
good things
good = benefit
moral good
base
טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good
welfare, prosperity, happiness
good things
bounty, good
base
H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses
. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
. good, excellent, of its kind
. good, rich, valuable in estimation
. good, appropriate, becoming
. c. מִן compar. =better
. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
. good, kind, benign
. good (ethical), right
H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good
2896 towb tobe
from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used
likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,
the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a
good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or
women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,
bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,
fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),
graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,
merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,
prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well
((-favoured)).
see HEBREW for 02895
טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.
adj
1) good, pleasant, agreeable
1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)
1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)
1c) good, excellent (of its kind)
1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation
1e) good, appropriate, becoming
1f) better (comparative)
1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)
1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)
1i) good, kind, benign
1j) good, right (ethical)
Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)
טוֹב (tov) — good.
1) a good thing, benefit, welfare
1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
1b) good things (collective)
1c) good, benefit
1d) moral good
טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.
1) welfare, benefit, good things
1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
1b) good things (collective)
1c) bounty
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHRd/Aampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
יָשָׁר (yashar) means straight or upright, covering a range of meanings from physical straightness to moral correctness. It can refer to something that is pleasing, just, or fitting, as well as the concept of uprightness itself. The term is also associated with a figure named Jashar, mentioned in Joshua 10:13.
יָשָׁר adj. straight, right
straight, level
right, pleasing
straightforward, just, upright
abstr., uprightness
base
H3477 יָשָׁר straight, right . straight, level
. right, pleasing
. straightforward, just, upright
. abstr., uprightness
3477 yashar yaw-shawr'
from 3474; straight (literally or figuratively):--convenient,
equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), + pleased well right(-eous),
straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 03474
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.
1) straight, upright, correct, right
1a) straight, level
1b) right, pleasing, correct
1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper
1d) uprightness, righteous, upright
1e) that which is upright (subst)
Also means: ya.shar (יָשָׁר "upright" H3477I)
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — Jashar.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jos.10.13
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.
1) straight, upright, correct, right
1a) straight, level
1b) right, pleasing, correct
1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper
1d) uprightness, righteous, upright
1e) that which is upright (subst)
Conj | Prep | Adj — Conjunction · prepositionHC/R/Aampa
לִבָּה (libbah) is a feminine noun meaning 'heart.' It is derived from the root word לֵב (lev), which also means 'heart.' The entries indicate that this term is used in contexts related to the heart, as seen in Ezekiel 16:30, where a correction is suggested.
[לִבָּה] Ez 16:30 should be corrected
base
H3826 לִבָּה
3826 libbah lib-baw'
feminine of 3820; the heart:--heart.
see HEBREW for 03820
לִבָּה (lib.bah) — heart.
heart
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp