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Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Psalms 146:5 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God:
  • BSB Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
  • NKJV Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
  • NASB Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
  • NLT But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Truly happy is the one whose help and hope are in the God of Jacob. Lasting blessedness comes from trusting God rather than man.

Overview

In deliberate contrast to trusting princes, this beatitude pronounces blessing on those who hope in the covenant 'God of Jacob.' He is named as the reliable helper who does not perish. This hope is anchored finally in Christ, our living hope through His resurrection (1 Peter 1:3).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 14

  • Jer 17:7–8Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
  • Ps 144:15Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
  • Ps 71:5For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
  • Ps 33:12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
  • Ps 46:11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
  • Ps 84:12O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
  • Gen 32:24–29And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
  • Exod 3:6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
  • Ps 46:7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
  • 1 Pet 1:21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
  • Ps 84:8O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
  • Ps 39:7And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
  • Deut 33:29Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
  • Gen 50:17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 146:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 146:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.