Psalms 27:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When the answer is slow in coming, this verse teaches us how to wait without losing heart.
The Context of Psalms 27:14
This is the closing line of Psalm 27, a song that moves from bold confidence to honest pleading and back again. David has cried out not to be forsaken (verse 9) and has steadied himself by believing he will yet see God's goodness in the land of the living (verse 13). Now, at the end, he turns and speaks to his own heart.
What Does Psalms 27:14 Mean?
Waiting is one of the hardest things asked of us, because it feels like nothing is happening. David knows this, and so he does not say it once. He says wait, then circles all the way back to say it again: wait, I say, on the LORD. In between he tucks the promise that makes waiting bearable. The strength comes from God Himself, who will strengthen the heart of the one who waits on Him, rather than from gritting our teeth.
Jesus walked this kind of waiting all the way to its end. In the garden He waited on the Father through a night of dread, and was strengthened to go forward (Luke 22:43). He knows what it is to hold steady when the help has not yet arrived. Because He waited and was not forsaken, we can take courage that the One we wait for is faithful, and the waiting is never wasted.
Psalms 27:14 in the Original Language
qavah (קָוָה), 'wait' -- to wait with hope, to look for something expectantly, like a taut cord stretched toward what is coming.
How to Apply Psalms 27:14 Today
Much of faith is spent in the gap between the prayer and the answer. This verse meets us there and tells us to keep waiting, and to let God be the one who strengthens our hearts while we do. We are waiting on the LORD, who is faithful and worth the wait, never on an empty sky.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 27:14
What does Psalms 27:14 mean?
When the answer is slow in coming, this verse teaches us how to wait without losing heart.
What is the context of Psalms 27:14?
This is the closing line of Psalm 27, a song that moves from bold confidence to honest pleading and back again. David has cried out not to be forsaken (verse 9) and has steadied himself by believing he will yet see God's goodness in the land of the living (verse 13). Now, at the end, he turns and speaks to his own heart.
How can I apply Psalms 27:14 today?
Much of faith is spent in the gap between the prayer and the answer. This verse meets us there and tells us to keep waiting, and to let God be the one who strengthens our hearts while we do. We are waiting on the LORD, who is faithful and worth the wait, never on an empty sky.