King James Version
Psalms 34:5 (KJV)
Psalms 34:5 in the Original Hebrew
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Psalms 34:5 in Other Translations
| KJV | They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. |
|---|---|
| WEB | They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. |
| ASV | They looked unto him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be confounded. |
| YLT | They looked expectingly unto Him, And they became bright, And their faces are not ashamed. |
| WBT | They looked to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. |
| DBY | They looked unto him, and were enlightened, and their faces were not confounded. |
Commentary on Psalms 34:5
Expositions from classic Bible commentators.
Matthew Henry · Psalms 34:1–10
The title of this psalm tells us both who penned it and upon what occasion it was penned. David, being forced to flee from his country, which was made too hot for him by the rage of Saul, sought shelter as near it as he could, in the land of the Philistines. There it was soon discovered who he was, and he was brought before the king, who, in the narrative, is called Achish (his proper name), here Abimelech (his title); and lest he should be treated as a spy,…
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Psalms 34:5
God's favor to the pious generally, and to himself specially, is celebrated.
looked--with desire for help.
lightened--or, "brightened," expressing joy, opposed to the downcast features of those who are ashamed or disappointed (Psa 25:2-3).
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Cross References for Psalms 34:5
Related passages, ranked by how often readers connect them. Cross-reference data from openbible.info (CC-BY).
They looked to him, and were lightened,.... That is, "the humble" ones, Psa 34:2; and so this is a reason why they should join in praising and magnifying the Lord; these "looked" up to God in prayer and by faith, when in distressed and uncomfortable circumstances, for help and deliverance, and a supply of every needful good thing; and they were "enlightened"; so the Targum renders it, "their faces were enlightened"; as Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret it, in opposition to what follows: they must have been enlightened before they could look, but by looking to the Lord more light was gained: this chiefly designs the light of joy, peace, and comfort, which is had in a way of believing: some render the word "and flowed" (l), as a river does, that is, to the Lord, as in Jer 31:12. So Kimchi and Ben Melech explain the word; and it denotes both the numbers of them that looked up to the Lord in their distress, and the swiftness of their motion to him, and their earnestness and fervour of mind; so faith is not only a looking to Christ, but a going forth unto him;
and their faces were not ashamed; having what they prayed and looked for, and what they hoped and believed they should have; namely, deliverance and salvation, and so peace and pleasure.
(l) "et confluunt", Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis; "et instar fluvii irruerint", Piscator, Amama; "et confluxerunt", Gejerus.