Psalms 62 · Verse 11

Psalms 62:11

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Psalms 62:11, King James Version

Psalms 62:11 in other translations

BSBGod has spoken once; I have heard this twice: that power belongs to God,
WEBGod has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.
ASVGod hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God.
YLTOnce hath God spoken, twice I heard this, That ‘strength is with God.'
DARBYOnce hath God spoken, twice have I heard this, that strength belongeth unto God.
BBEOnce has God said, twice has it come to my ears, that power is God's:
WebsterGod hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth to God.

What does Psalms 62:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. once; twice--(as in Job 33:14; 40:5), are used to give emphasis to the sentiment. God's power is tempered by His mercy, which it also sustains.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 God hath spoken once - God has once addressed his people in giving the law on Mount Sinai. The Chaldee translates the whole passage thus: "God hath spoken one law, and twice have we heard this from the mouth of Moses the great scribe, that strength is before God: and it becomes thee, O God, to show mercy to the righteous; for thou renderest to man according to his works." Twice have I heard this - Except some of the ancient Versions, almost every version, translation, and commentary has missed the sense and meaning of this verse. I shall set down the text: אחת דבר אלהים שתים זו שמעתי achath dibber Elohim; shetayim zu shamati; of which the true version is this: Once hath God spoken; these two things have I heard. Now what are the two things he had heard? 1. כי וז לאלהים ki oz lelohim, "That strength is the Lord's;" that is, He is the Origin of pourer. 2. ולך אדני חסד ulecha Adonai, chased; "and to thee, Lord, is mercy;" that is, He is the Fountain of mercy. These, then, are the two grand truths that the law, yea, the whole revelation of God, declares through every page. He is the Almighty; he is the most merciful; and hence the inference: The powerful, just, and holy God, the most merciful and compassionate Lord, will by and by judge the world, and will render to man according to his works. How this beautiful meaning should have been unseen by almost every interpreter, is hard to say: these verses contain one of the most instructive truths in the Bible.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 62:8-12

Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger…

Read the full comment on Psalms 62:8-12 →

Psalms 62:11 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.

אַחַ֤ת\׀'a.Chatone [time]H259
דִּבֶּ֬רdi.Berhe has spokenH1696
אֱלֹהִ֗ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
שְׁתַּֽיִם\־she.ta.yim-two [times]H8147
ז֥וּzuthisH2098
שָׁמָ֑עְתִּיsha.Ma.'e.tiI have heardH8085
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
עֹ֝֗ז'OzstrengthH5797
לֵאלֹהִֽים\׃le.lo.Him[belongs] to GodH430

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

Cross references for Psalms 62:11

  • Revelation 19:1

    And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

  • Job 33:14

    For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

  • Isaiah 26:4

    Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

  • Psalms 68:34-35

    Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

  • Job 40:5

    Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

  • John 19:11

    Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

  • Matthew 28:18

    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

  • Matthew 6:13

    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

  • Psalms 59:17

    Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
spoken.
Job 33:14; 40:5
power. or, strength.
68:34,35; Isa 26:4; Mt 6:13; 28:18; Joh 19:11; Re 19:1

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

Context

  • Psalms 62:10

    Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

  • Psalms 62:11

    God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

  • Psalms 62:12

    Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Read all of Psalms 62

Psalms 62:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Una vez habló Dios; dos veces he oído esto: Que de Dios es la fortaleza.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		N’ayez pas confiance dans l’oppression, et ne mettez pas un vain espoir dans la rapine; si les biens augmentent, n’y mettez pas votre cœur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Einmal hat Gott geredet, zweimal habe ich dieses gehört, daß die Stärke Gottes sei.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		tradentur in manus gladii: partes vulpium erunt.