Psalm 37:5

Context

The superscription of Psalm 37 identifies it as "A Psalm of David." It is classified as a wisdom psalm (a psalm that teaches practical wisdom for life), offering instruction to the righteous who are troubled at seeing the wicked prosper. The psalm is an acrostic in which the first letter of each stanza follows the order of the Hebrew alphabet; verse 5 belongs to the stanza beginning with the third letter, gimel.

After "Fret not thyself" in verse 1, verses 3–7 present a series of exhortations: trust in the LORD and do good, delight thyself in the LORD, commit thy way, and rest in the LORD and wait patiently for him. The psalm as a whole develops a contrast between the wicked, whose time is brief, and the righteous, who shall inherit the earth. Verse 5 continues into verse 6, "And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light," and the two verses form a single sentence.

Interpretation

• A reading attentive to the original language: The Hebrew verb translated "commit" (galal) originally means "to roll." The verse is therefore explained through the image of rolling one's entire way of life onto God, as one would roll off a heavy burden. The same verb is used for "commit" in Proverbs 16:3.
• A reading of trust in providence: This reading is widely accepted across denominations. It understands the verse as an exhortation for those who cannot know what lies ahead to trust in the providence of God, who governs the outcome.
• A reading as a promise of vindication: Many commentators, reading the verse together with verse 6, hold that "bring it to pass" refers less to the fulfillment of personal plans than to vindication (the righting of a wrong suffered). In this view, God will bring to light the rightness of the righteous person who has been unjustly treated.
• A reading of active trust: This reading holds that committing one's way is not passive resignation. Pairing the verse with "do good" in verse 3, it describes an attitude of faith that relies on God while faithfully carrying out one's responsibilities.

Questions Concerning Application

There is no notable dispute among denominations over the meaning of this verse. However, the Hebrew original of "he shall bring it to pass" has no object, so a literal rendering is closer to "he will act." For this reason, some observe that reading it as "he will surely fulfill my plans" can drift toward a prosperity theology interpretation that guarantees the granting of one's wishes. This concern is raised especially often when the verse is cited together with verse 4, "and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." On the other hand, many consider it natural to use the verse as a basis for prayer concerning one's career or business. They, too, understand it to mean entrusting the outcome to the will of God.

In the Korean Church

The Korean Revised Version's rendering ("너의 길을 여호와께 맡기라") and that of the New Korean Revised Version ("네 길을 여호와께 맡기라"), both meaning "Commit thy way unto the LORD," are short and easy to remember, and they are widely used as memory verses. The verse is also commonly shared with believers who must decide their future course—such as pursuing further education, seeking employment, moving, or opening a business—and is frequently read during pastoral home visits.

Related Passages

• Proverbs 16:3
• Psalm 37:7
• 1 Peter 5:7
• Psalm 55:22
• James 4:13-15