Psalm 1:3
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
King James Version (KJV)
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This verse completes the description of the righteous in Psalm 1, using the image of a fruitful tree to show the outcome of delighting in and meditating on God's word.
What Does Psalm 1:3 Mean?
Psalm 1:3 compares the person who delights in God's word to a tree planted beside flowing water, fruitful and unfading. This is the reward of the life described in the first two verses -- the one who turns from wrong counsel and feeds on God's instruction becomes deeply rooted and alive. The image is vivid and hopeful, painting a portrait of stability, nourishment, and growth.
Several details enrich the picture. The tree is "planted," not wild -- deliberately placed by a source of life. It stands "by the rivers of water," so that even in drought its roots reach an unfailing supply. It "bringeth forth his fruit in his season," reminding us that genuine spiritual growth follows God's timing rather than ours, and that fruitfulness is not constant frenzy but faithful production at the right moment. Its "leaf also shall not wither," suggesting endurance and freshness through hard seasons. The closing phrase, "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper," points to a life that flourishes under God's care. This is not a guarantee of ease or wealth, but the assurance that a life rooted in God bears lasting fruit. The well-watered tree contrasts sharply with the chaff of verse 4 -- one is anchored and living, the other rootless and blown away.
In the Original Language
The word shatul means "transplanted" or deliberately planted, implying intentional placement by a water source rather than a tree that simply grew where a seed happened to fall.
Cross References
“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river.”
- Jeremiah 17:8
“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
- Psalm 92:13
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.”
- John 15:5
Application
Sink your roots deep into God's word so that when seasons of drought come, you draw from a source that never runs dry and continue to bear fruit at the proper time.