Psalms 62:11 Commentary: God’s Power

Psalm 62 is attributed to David and bears the title 'upon Jeduthun,' naming a chief musician from the time of the ark’s journey to Zion (1 Chronicles 9:16; 16:38-42). The psalm’s tone of personal trust under attack fits periods of David’s life such as the rebellion of Absalom, as Lange and others suggest. The opening verses describe a soul ‘silent toward God’, a posture of waiting faith even when enemies ‘bless with their mouth but curse inwardly’ (v.4).

The immediate context of verse 11 is a warning against trusting in human power and wealth. Verse 9 dismisses both low and high rank as ‘a breath’ and ‘a lie.’ Verse 10 forbids oppression, robbery, and a heart set on riches. In contrast, what is solid and enduring is God’s word. The phrase ‘once, twice’ echoes legal or prophetic language in passages like Job 33:14 and Job 40:5, where repetition marks a matter of supreme importance.

Adam Clarke and Gill note that the Targum (Aramaic paraphrase) linked this verse to the giving of the law at Sinai: ‘One law God spake, and twice we heard it from the mouth of Moses the great scribe.’ The ‘once’ may recall the decisive divine revelation, while ‘twice’ signals the repeated confirmation of that revelation. The historical setting thus reinforces the psalm’s central claim: what God has declared stands firm, unlike the fleeting assurances of human society.

The supplied translations (WEB, KJV, ASV, BSB, YLT, Darby) all render Psalm 62:11 with close agreement: 'God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.' The one exception is the Douay version, which gives a text ('sword' and 'foxes') that does not match this verse and likely represents a different chapter. Among the versions used, there is no evidence of a significant textual variant in the Hebrew. The consulted commentaries note no alternative readings or manuscript disputes for this verse.

In early Jewish interpretation, the Targum connected this verse to the giving of the law at Sinai, seeing the 'once' as the single law and the 'twice' as hearing it through Moses. Medieval Kabbalists (cited by Gill) found a hint of the three highest sephirot in the 'once, twice, this' language, interpreting it as a threefold unity within the divine. Calvin and other Reformers read the verse as a straightforward affirmation of God’s power as the antidote to human frailty. The verse’s pairing of power and mercy later echoed in Christian doxologies (cf. Matthew 6:13: 'Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory'). Across traditions, it has been a favorite text for building confidence in God’s sovereign ability to save and sustain His people.

Three-point outline

1. God alone holds ultimate power. Human power, whether from high rank or wealth, is unreliable (v.9-10). Only God’s power is absolute and unchanging.
2. God’s power is certified by His word. He has spoken ‘once, twice’, a repetition that confirms the truth and invites our full confidence.
3. God’s power is matched by His mercy. Verse 12 pairs power with lovingkindness, securing both the ability and the will to save His people.

Five-point outline

1. Human trust is often misplaced. The psalm warns against confidence in social status, dishonest gain, or wealth (vv.9-10).
2. God’s speech is final. ‘Once’ points to the irrevocable nature of His word, unlike human promises.
3. God’s word is confirmed. ‘Twice’ indicates that the truth has been repeated and is sure.
4. The core truth: power belongs to God. All strength originates in Him and is exercised by Him.
5. Power plus mercy equals hope. Because God is both mighty and merciful, we can approach Him with confidence and trust.

Illustration hooks

• A double confirmation in a legal contract: one signature is binding, but a second witness strengthens the case. God’s word comes with double certainty.
• Imagine a building built on sand versus rock. Human power is sand; God’s power is the rock. The psalm invites the congregation to test what they are building on.
• When a parent says something twice to a child, it signals importance. God’s repeated word calls for our serious attention.

Questions your congregation is asking

• How can I be sure God is powerful enough to help me with my specific problem?
• If God has all power, why do I feel so weak and overwhelmed?
• Does God’s power mean He will always fix my circumstances, or does He sometimes choose not to use it?

Psalm 62:11 arrives at a moment of climax in a psalm about trust. The psalmist has weighed every other source of confidence, people, position, wealth, and found them empty. Now he declares that God alone holds true power. The 'once, twice' rhythm invites us to slow down and consider the weight of what God has said. Use these questions as your group explores the passage together.

Discussion questions

1. Observation: Read verses 9-11 together. What contrasts does the psalmist draw between human resources and God’s power?
2. Observation: What does the phrase ‘God has spoken once; twice I have heard this’ imply about the nature of God’s word?
3. Interpretation: Some interpreters think the ‘once, twice’ points to two separate truths: God’s power (v.11) and God’s mercy (v.12). Others see it as a single truth repeated for emphasis. Which reading seems more natural to you, and why?
4. Interpretation: How do the cross-references in Job 33:14 and 40:5 help us understand the Hebrew idiom of ‘once, twice’?
5. Interpretation: Why is it important that the psalm mentions both power and mercy in the same breath (vv.11-12)?
6. Application: What are the ‘high degree’ and ‘low degree’ things in your life that tempt you to trust in them instead of God?
7. Application: How can remembering that ‘power belongs to God’ change the way you pray about a difficult situation this week?