Psalms 16:3 Meaning: Delight in the Saints
As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
As for the saints that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight.
For the holy ones who are in the land, And the honourable, all my delight is in them.
To the saints that are on the earth, and to the excellent [thou hast said], In them is all my delight.
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to call believers 'saints' and 'excellent ones'? Discover why David's delight in God's people flows from his delight in God alone.
Context
David begins Psalm 16 with a plea for protection, grounded in taking refuge in God. Then he speaks directly to his own soul: You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. That confession is the key to everything that follows. Having placed his entire hope in God, David now looks around at the people God has placed in his life. They are not competition for his devotion. In verse 3 he names them, the saints, the excellent ones, and says his delight is in them. He will go on to contrast them with those who chase other gods (v. 4), making clear that his delight in the faithful community is part of his loyalty to the Lord. This is not a general goodwill toward everyone; it is a specific love for those who also belong to God.
Key Words
The word translated saints is qadoshim (H6918), which simply means holy ones, people set apart for God, not because they are perfect, but because they belong to Him. The same word is used for God Himself as the Holy One; here it is applied to His people, marking them as His treasured possession.
The excellent ones translates addir (H0117), a word that elsewhere describes majestic waters, towering trees, and nobles among the people. In calling the saints addirim, David bestows on them the honour that the world usually reserves for the powerful and famous. Before God, the truly noble are those who are holy.
And then there is delight, chephetz (H2656). It means pleasure, desire, the thing you long for. David does not merely tolerate the saints; he finds his happiness in their company. This delight flows from the deeper truth of verse 2: when God is your supreme treasure, His people become precious to you too.
How Christians Read This Verse
Protestant commentators like Barnes see in this verse a natural movement from devotion to God to affection for His people. Having centred his hope in God alone, David now expresses his joy in the godly community on earth. Calvin reads the psalm as a meditation on God’s benefits that leads David to separate himself from idolaters and cleave to the faithful.
In the Anglican tradition, the Cambridge Bible notes a possible textual difficulty but still affirms that the ‘saints’ are those in whom Israel’s calling to be a holy nation has been realised, not the rich or powerful, but the truly consecrated. Gill, writing from a Baptist perspective, expands on the honour Christ gives to His people: they are nobles, princes, kings and priests.
Across traditions, the central agreement holds: David’s delight is not in abstract holiness but in the actual people of God, however humble they may appear to the world.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think ‘saints’ here refers only to canonised saints in heaven, or that David is contradicting his claim in verse 2 that his goodness does not extend to God. In fact, verse 3 shows exactly how his goodness does extend: horizontally, to God’s people. Because God needs nothing from David, David pours out his devotion on those who bear God’s image, not as a substitute for loving God, but as its natural expression.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the people in your life who belong to God. It might be the older woman at church who prays for you, the friend who texts to check in, the small group that meets in someone’s living room. Do you delight in them, or do you take them for granted?
Consider one concrete act: thank a fellow believer for the way they reflect Christ to you. Or offer a simple kindness to someone who is often overlooked in your congregation. David named the saints excellent not because they were famous, but because they were holy. Ask God to give you eyes to see His people the same way.
Main takeaway: Because God is our greatest good, we can find genuine delight in His people, who are the true nobles of the earth.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
David said he loved being with people who love God. You can too! Think of someone at church who is kind to you. Tell them thank you. That makes God happy.
For ages 9, 12
David had already said that all his good comes from God. Then he looked around and said, “I also love God’s people; they are excellent and I delight in them.” He wasn’t choosing between God and friends. Loving God made him love God’s family more. You can grow that same love, by spending time with believers who help you follow Jesus, and by being the kind of friend others can delight in.
Questions People Ask
Who are the 'saints' in Psalm 16:3?
The word 'saints' translates the Hebrew 'qadoshim,' meaning holy ones or those set apart for God. In this context, David refers to faithful Israelites who belong to the Lord. Across Christian traditions, 'saints' is understood as all believers who are consecrated to God, not just those officially recognized after death.
What does 'excellent ones' mean in this verse?
The Hebrew word 'addir' often describes nobles, majestic things, or people of high rank. David applies it to the saints, calling them the true nobility. While the world honors wealth or power, God honors holiness. The excellent ones are those who reflect His character.
How does Psalm 16:3 relate to verse 2?
In verse 2 David says, 'Apart from you I have no good thing.' Verse 3 does not contradict that; it shows how his devotion to God overflows into love for God's people. Because his ultimate good is in God alone, he is free to delight in the saints without making them an idol.
Does 'in the earth' mean only in the land of Israel?
The Hebrew 'erets' can mean the whole earth, a specific land, or even the underworld. Here it probably refers to the land of Israel, where God's people lived. But the principle extends: wherever God's people are, David (and we) find delight in them.
Is there a textual difficulty with this verse?
Some commentators, like the Cambridge Bible, note that the Hebrew text is difficult and may be corrupted. Various translations render it differently. However, the main point is clear across traditions: David expresses his love for the holy people of God, in contrast to those who follow other gods.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study