What does Psalm 144:15 mean?
ESV: Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
NIV: Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.
NASB: Blessed are the people who are so situated; Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
CSB: Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.
NLT: Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.
KJV: Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.
NKJV: Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 144:12–15 prays for David's descendants to be strong. David prays for healthy and attractive sons and daughters, abundant harvests, for the livestock to multiply without harm, and for peace in the nation's streets. He acknowledges that the people who receive these benefits are blessed. David also celebrates that it is a blessing to worship the One True God of Israel.
Chapter Summary:
David begins by praising the Lord for ability, protection, and success in battle. This is amazing because humanity is so frail and temporary compared to God. Still, David asks for the Lord's intervention. Enemy nations and those who make false promises plague David. Yet he confidently plans to praise the Lord for the anticipated victory. The song ends with a prayer for the nation of Israel to experience prosperity. This is expected when the king is preserved, and such blessings are part of being God's chosen people.
Chapter Context:
Psalm 18 contains many of the same ideas and phrases as this song. There (Psalm 18:50), as here (Psalm 144:10), David also refers to himself by name. The psalm may be connected to David's defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:51), his ascension to the throne (2 Samuel 2:4; 5:3), or one of his many combat victories (1 Samuel 18:5, 14). The right hand would have been raised to make an oath; those whose right hands lie are making false vows.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
Accessed 4/16/2025 4:37:55 PM
© Copyright 2002-2025 Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved.
Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
