Psalm 19:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

NIV: It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

NASB: Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.

CSB: It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.

NLT: It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

KJV: Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

NKJV: Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

In this verse David compares the radiance of the sun to that of a man who emerges from his home on his wedding day. He is full of joy and handsomely arrayed as he goes to his fiancée's home to claim her as his bride. He also compares the sun to a strong man, probably a well-conditioned athlete, who runs a prescribed course.

The similes accurately describe our earthly observation of the brilliant sun as it rises in the east in the morning, runs its course, and sets in the west in the evening. Some see Jesus in these illustrations. He came from his home in heaven to earth to claim His bride, the church, and like a strong man finished His prescribed course by way of the cross and the open tomb and then returned to heaven. Interestingly, Malachi 4:2 calls him "the sun of righteousness." Jesus, the light of the world, came into the world, but the world rejected Him because "people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil" (John 3:19).

Psalm 19:1–6 focuses on creation as a means by which God reveals Himself to mankind. The heavens and the sky offer testimony about God both night and day. This revelation reaches everyone, just as the sun in its strength appears daily and reaches everywhere. This establishes, in part, the idea that all people have ample evidence telling them that God exists.

David refers to the details of creation as evidence for God's power and design. The appearance and function of nature are evidence of God's majesty. The second half of this psalm also celebrates God's revelation, but in the form of His Word. The law, precepts, and commandments of God are hailed for their perfection and benefit.

This psalm of David celebrates two separate revelations which God has given human beings. He has revealed Himself in nature and in Scripture. Psalm 8 is a companion psalm because it, too, refers to nature as revealing God's majesty. Romans 1:18–25 also points out that God revealed himself through nature, but the passage indicates that disobedient people rejected this revelation.

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 5/3/2024 8:41:46 AM