Psalms 106:5 · Bible study
Psalms 106:5 Commentary: Study: Longing for the Good of God's Chosen
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the psalmist’s prayer to see and share in the prosperity, joy, and inheritance of God’s chosen people. Commentary, context, and application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The psalmist prays to personally experience and share in the blessings, joy, and honor that belong to God’s covenant people.
- Key words: “See” (לִרְאוֹת), to experience/enjoy; “chosen” (בְּחִירֶי), God’s elect; “inheritance” (נַחֲלָה), the people as God’s possession.
- Main debate: Whether “the good” refers primarily to material prosperity (Barnes) or spiritual blessings (Gill); most agree it includes both
- Theological theme: Solidarity with God’s people, personal blessing is inseparable from the community of faith.
- Best use: As a model for praying for revival and restoration, and as a transition into communal confession of sin.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
that I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, and rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, and give glory with Your inheritance.
WEB World English Bible 2000
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
KJV King James Version 1769
That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, That I may glory with thine inheritance.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
To look on the good of Thy chosen ones, To rejoice in the joy of Thy nation, To boast myself with Thine inheritance.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the joy of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
They were hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Para que yo vea el bien de tus escogidos, para que me goce en la alegría de tu gente, y me gloríe con tu heredad.
Para eu ver o bem de teus escolhidos; para eu me alegrar com a alegria de teu povo; para eu ter orgulho de tua herança.
Afin que je voie le bonheur de tes élus,
daß wir sehen mögen die Wohlfahrt deiner Auserwählten und uns freuen, daß es deinem Volk wohl geht, und uns rühmen mit deinem Erbteil.
Opdat ik aanschouwe het goede Uwer uitverkorenen; opdat ik mij verblijde met de blijdschap Uws volks; opdat ik mij beroeme met Uw erfdeel.
affinché io vegga il bene de’ tuoi eletti, mi rallegri dell’allegrezza della tua nazione, e mi glori con la tua eredità.
Abym używał dobrego z wybranymi twoimi, a weselił się w radości narodu twego, i chlubił się wespół z dziedzictwem twojem.
терпели голод и жажду, душа их истаевала в них.
使我見 你選民 的福，樂 你國民 的樂，與 你的產業 一同誇耀。
So that I may see the well-being of the people of your selection, and have a part in the joy of your nation, and take pride in your heritage.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 106:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse is a deeply personal petition for inclusion in the communal blessings of God’s covenant people. The verb “see” (לִרְאוֹת) is used idiomatically, as Clarke and Barnes explain: in Hebrew thought, to “see” frequently means to experience or enjoy what is seen. The psalmist does not ask merely to observe from a distance but to “possess and enjoy the same favor” (Barnes). Gill elaborates that “the good of thy chosen” is the goodness of God laid up for His elect, spiritual and eternal blessings. The three parallel lines (“see the good,” “rejoice in the gladness,” “glory with the inheritance”) are synonymous, each intensifying the desire to be part of God’s people. The Cambridge Bible notes that this personal prayer is not out of place; it is the cry of an individual who longs to share in the restoration of Israel to the Lord’s favor. This longing then leads directly into the corporate confession of sin that begins at verse 6 (Matthew Henry, Calvin). The psalmist identifies with the sinful nation, yet his prayer shows that solidarity with God’s people is the very path to forgiveness and renewal.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The psalmist earnestly desires to experience the blessings and joy that God bestows on His covenant people, and this prayer sets the stage for the communal confession of sin that follows.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of “see” (לִרְאוֹת) | All commentators agree that in this context “see” means to experience or enjoy, not merely to look at. | A minority note that the Hebrew can also imply a future vision, but the main point remains unchanged. |
| Nature of “the good of your chosen” | The good refers to the blessings God has promised His covenant people, both material and spiritual. | Gill emphasizes spiritual and eternal blessings (election, grace, glory), while Barnes sees it including the temporal prosperity of the nation. Both affirm it comes from God’s favour. |
| Connection to the confessional section (vv.6ff.) | The personal petition is intended to lead into the corporate confession of sin; it is not a separate private devotion. | Some (Cambridge Bible) consider it an individual’s prayer inserted for liturgical use; others (Matthew Henry) see it as the voice of the community personified. Either way, it identifies speaker with the nation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 106 belongs to the fourth book of the Psalter and is a national history psalm, recounting Israel’s repeated sin and God’s faithful deliverance. Verses 1, 5 serve as an introduction: a call to praise and a personal petition before the historical confession that follows. The psalm is placed alongside Psalm 105 (which highlights God’s faithfulness) and seems designed for public worship, likely in the temple liturgy. The psalmist’s phrase “with the favour that you show to your people” (v.4) echoes the language of covenant blessing (Deuteronomy 7:6; 9:29; 32:9). The terms “chosen” (בְּחִירֶי), “nation” (גּוֹי), and “inheritance” (נַחֲלָה) are loaded with covenant meaning: Israel is God’s treasured possession, chosen from among the peoples.
Keil and Delitzsch note that the call to praise (Hallelujah) was already in use in Jeremiah’s time, so the psalm may not be as late as some suppose. The request to “see the prosperity of your chosen” points to a context of exile or hardship: the speaker longs to witness the restoration of the nation’s fortunes. Cambridge Bible compares the personal pleas in Nehemiah’s memoirs, where the leader prays for God to remember him for good. The psalmist’s individual prayer is thus a model for every worshipper who recites the psalm: they join their own longings to the corporate story of sin and redemption. The immediate shift to “We have sinned” (v.6) shows that the prayer is not an escape from community failure but the starting point for honest confession within the community.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 106:5. The Masoretic Text is consistent with the ancient versions (LXX, Syriac, Targum), which render the Hebrew without substantial disagreement. The only variation mentioned in the commentary tradition concerns verse 4 (LXX reads “remember us” instead of “remember me”), but this does not affect verse 5.
Reception History
Since the early church, Psalm 106 has been used in both Jewish and Christian worship, particularly as a penitential psalm that recounts God’s mercy despite human failure. Verse 5, with its threefold desire for the good, joy and heritage of God’s people, has been a favourite prayer for those seeking inclusion in the people of God. In many Christian traditions, it is prayed as a preparation for the confession of sin, first longing for the blessings of the redeemed, then humbly admitting failure. The verse has also been cited in discussions on election and the church as the new “inheritance” (1 Peter 2:9). Its language echoes in hymns that express a desire for revival and for the joy of the saints, keeping the psalmist’s personal longing alive in the worship of the centuries.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A personal plea for covenant inclusion: The psalmist asks to “see the good of your chosen”, not as a spectator but as a participant. This is a prayer to experience the blessings God pours out on His people.
- A desire for shared joy: “Rejoice in the gladness of your nation” shows that the speaker’s happiness is tied to the joy of the whole community. True piety delights not only in private blessing but in the good of God’s family.
- A longing to belong to God’s inheritance: “Glory with your inheritance” means finding one’s honor and identity in belonging to God’s people, not in worldly status. This prayer prepares the heart to confess sins alongside the nation (vv.6, 48).
Five-point outline
- Context of praise: The psalm opens with a call to give thanks for God’s enduring mercy (vv.1, 3).
- The individual’s request: The psalmist petitions God to remember him with the favor shown to the whole people (v.4).
- Threefold desire: To see the good of the chosen, to rejoice in the nation’s gladness, to glory with the inheritance (v.5).
- The moral urgency: This desire arises precisely because the nation has sinned; the prayer is a plea for restoration, not a claim of personal virtue.
- Transition to corporate confession: “We have sinned” (v.6) shows that personal longing leads to communal humility and hope.
Illustration hooks
- A family waiting for a prodigal: An individual deeply longs for a lost family member to return, not just to see them but to share in the joy of reconciliation. The psalmist’s prayer is that kind of longing for the whole nation.
- A runner in a relay race: One runner doesn’t just want to finish the race alone, they want to hand off the baton well so the whole team wins. The “good of the chosen” includes everyone crossing the finish line together.
- A church praying for revival: Many Christians pray not only for personal blessing but for God to pour out joy on the whole congregation. That is the spirit of this verse.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Can I pray for my own good without being selfish? The psalmist shows that personal blessing is tied to the community’s welfare.
- What does it mean to “see” something I haven’t experienced? The psalm models asking for future hope with confident expectation.
- How do I confess sin as part of a group that has failed? This verse prepares us to say “we have sinned” with honesty and hope.
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 106:5 is a single, intense prayer nestled inside a national history of sin and grace. The psalmist asks for nothing less than full participation in everything God is doing among His people. This opens up questions about how our personal desires connect to the church’s story. Before we confess our own sins (as the psalm will do in v.6), we first ask God to let us share in the good, the joy, and the inheritance of His chosen ones.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What do the three parallel lines in verse 5 have in common? What is the psalmist asking for?
- Observation: Look at the surrounding verses (1, 4, 6, 7). How does this petition fit into the psalm’s overall structure?
- Interpretation: The Hebrew verb “see” can mean “experience” (Clarke, Barnes). Why might the psalmist use this word instead of “receive” or “have”?
- Interpretation: “The good of your chosen” (v.5) is contrasted with “we have sinned” (v.6). How does personal longing for blessing prepare a person to confess sin?
- Application: How can you pray this verse in your own life? What would it mean for you to “see the good of your chosen” in your church or small group?
- Application: When have you wanted to “glory with” God’s people rather than seek glory on your own? What changed?
- Application: This prayer is personal but not private. How can we cultivate a desire for the joy of the whole church, not just our own satisfaction?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 7:6 | For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. |
| Psalms 1:3 | He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. |
| Psalms 14:7 | Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. |
| Psalms 48:11 | Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. |
| Psalms 105:6 | you offspring of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones. |
| Psalms 105:43 | He brought his people out with joy, his chosen with singing. |
| Psalms 118:15 | The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly. |
| Isaiah 12:6 | Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke explains that the Hebrew concept of “seeing” often means “enjoying.” He applies this to the psalmist’s prayer and to the Beatitude: “see God” means fully enjoy Him, possess His favor, and be transformed into His likeness.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the psalmist longs for the unique happiness found only among God's chosen people, a joy the world cannot give. True piety, he notes, desires this divine favor above all earthly honors, and this same happiness extends to the entire nation that serves God.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that Psalm 106 is not primarily a reproof or complaint against Israel, but a confession of sins aimed at obtaining pardon. The psalm begins with praise to encourage hope, then acknowledges that God's people repeatedly abused his kindness, making them unworthy of continued blessing—so the writer asks forgiveness.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary defends the personal prayer in these verses as the psalmist's own, not a marginal note or the community speaking. It points out that the speaker distinguishes himself from the people, like Nehemiah's personal prayers, and notes the unique phrase "thy nation" for Israel.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note frames this as a threefold longing to fully share in the life of God's people. The speaker desires not merely to observe their happiness but to experience it firsthand, to rejoice alongside them, and to be counted among the inheritance that God has claimed.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that "seeing the good of God's chosen" means experiencing and possessing that good, not just knowing about it. He defines the chosen, the nation, and the inheritance as the same people—God's elect—who glory not in themselves but in Christ and what He gives them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the psalmist's prayer to see God's goodness and be remembered as His chosen
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stress that when the psalm calls God "good," it refers to how He reveals His nature rather than to His essential nature itself. They describe His mighty acts and praise as inexhaustible, and the psalm
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley defines the verse's key terms as referring to God's relationship with Israel. "Chosen" means those who are true Israelites inwardly. "Gladness" is the joy God historically gave his beloved nation. "Glory" is cause to boast in God's goodness, and "inheritance" means a place among the gathered congregation.