Psalms 146 · Verse 5

Psalms 146:5

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

Psalms 146:5 in other translations

BSBBlessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
WEBHappy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD, his God,
ASVHappy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God:
YLTO the happiness of him Who hath the God of Jacob for his help, His hope is on Jehovah his God,
DARBYBlessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Jehovah his God,
BBEHappy is the man who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
WebsterHappy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

What does Psalms 146:5 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help - While he that trusts in man is miserable, he that trusts in God is happy. In the son of man, בן אדם ben Adam, there is no help, תשועה teshuah, no saving principle. Every son of Adam naturally comes into the world without this, and must continue so till the Lord open the eyes of the blind, Psa 146:8; but a measure of light is given from that true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. This son of Adam returns to his earth, לאדמתו leadmatho, to the ground, from which he was taken; this refers directly to Gen 2:7; Gen 3:19. But he that has the God for his help who helped Jacob in his distress, and was with him, and sustained him in and through all adversities, can never be destitute; for this God changes not; he lives for ever, and his projects cannot perish. He has purposed that Israel shall be delivered from this captivity. Cyrus may change, but God will not; trust therefore in Him. He has all power; he made heaven and earth; he has them under his government and at his disposal; and should earth itself fail, heaven endures. And he keeps his truth for ever; and therefore his promises must be fulfilled to them that trust in him. Fear not.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 146:5-10
The psalmist encourages us to put confidence in God. We must hope in the providence of God for all we need as to this life, and in the grace of God for that which is to come. The God of heaven became a man that he might become our salvation. Though he died on the cross for our sins, and was laid in the grave, yet his thoughts of love to us did not perish; he rose again to fulfil them. When on earth, his miracles were examples of what he is still doing every day. He grants deliverance to captives bound in the chains of sin and Satan. He opens the eyes of the understanding. He feeds with the bread of life those who hunger for salvation; and he is the constant Friend of the poor in spirit, the helpless: with him poor sinners, that are as fatherless, find mercy; and his kingdom shall continue for ever. Then let sinners flee to him, and believers rejoice in him. And as the Lord shall reign for ever, let us stir up each other to praise his holy name.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 146:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַשְׁרֵ֗י'ash.Reihow blessed!H835
שֶׁ֤אֵ֣לshe.'El[is one] whom [the] God ofH410
יַעֲקֹ֣בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
בְּעֶזְר֑וֹbe.'ez.Ro[is] <in> help hisH5828
שִׂ֝בְר֗וֹSiv.Rohope hisH7664
עַל\־'al-[is] onH5921
יְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֱלֹהָֽיו\׃'e.lo.HavGod hisH430

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 146:5

  • Jeremiah 17:7-8

    Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

  • Psalms 144:15

    Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

  • Psalms 71:5

    For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

  • Psalms 33:12

    Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

  • Psalms 84:12

    O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

  • Psalms 46:11

    The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

  • Exodus 3:6

    Moreover 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.

  • Psalms 46:7

    The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

  • Genesis 32:24-29

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. …

  • 1 Peter 1:21

    Who 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.

  • Psalms 84:8

    O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

  • Psalms 39:7

    And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Happy.
33:12; 84:12; 144:15; De 33:29
the God.
46:7,11; 84:8; Ge 32:24-29; 50:17; Ex 3:6
whose.
39:7; 71:5; Jer 17:7,8; 1Pe 1:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 146:4

    His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

  • Psalms 146:5

    Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

  • Psalms 146:6

    Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Read all of Psalms 146

Psalms 146:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Bienaventurado aquel en cuya ayuda es el Dios de Jacob, cuya esperanza es en Jehová su Dios:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Bienheureux celui qui a le ✶Dieu de Jacob pour son secours, qui s’attend à l’ Éternel, son Dieu,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Glückselig der, dessen Hülfe der Gott Jakobs, dessen Hoffnung auf Jehova, seinen Gott, ist!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Magnus Dominus noster, et magna virtus ejus, et sapientiæ ejus non est numerus.