Psalms 85 · Verse 1

Psalms 85:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Psalms 85:1, King James Version

Psalms 85:1 in other translations

BSBFor the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.
WEBFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. LORD, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
ASVFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Jehovah, thou hast been favorable unto thy land; Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
YLTTo the Overseer. --By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Thou hast accepted, O Jehovah, Thy land, Thou hast turned to the captivity of Jacob.
DARBYTo the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Thou hast been favourable, Jehovah, unto thy land; thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob:
BBELord, you were good to your land: changing the fate of Jacob.
WebsterTo the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favorable to thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

What does Psalms 85:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 85:1-13. On the ground of former mercies, the Psalmist prays for renewed blessings, and, confidently expecting them, rejoices.

1. captivity--not necessarily the Babylonian, but any great evil (Psa 14:7).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Thanksgiving to God for restoration to the Divine favor, Psa 85:1-3; prayer for farther mercies, Psa 85:4-7; the psalmist waits for a gracious answer in full confidence of receiving it, Psa 85:8. He receives the assurance of the greatest blessings, and exults in the prospect, Psa 85:9-13. The title of this Psalm we have seen before, Psa 42:1-11 : As to the time, it seems to have been written during, or even after, the return from the Babylonish captivity. In the three first verses the psalmist acknowledges the goodness of God in bringing the people back to their own land; he next prays to God to restore them to their ancient prosperity. In the spirit of prophecy, he waits on God, and hears him promise to do it; and then exults in the prospect of so great a good. The whole Psalm seems also to have a reference to the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ. Verse 1 Lord, thou hast been favorable - Literally, Thou hast been well pleased with thy land. Thou hast brought back the captivity - This seems to fix the time of the Psalm to be after the return of the Jews from Babylon.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 85:1-7
The sense of present afflictions should not do away the remembrance of former mercies. The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons. When God forgives sin, he covers it; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all. See what the pardon of sin is. In compassion to us, when Christ our Intercessor has stood before thee, thou hast turned away thine anger. When we are reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort of his being reconciled to us. He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mere mercy. The Lord's people may expect sharp and tedious afflictions when they commit sin; but when they return to him with humble prayer, he will make them again to rejoice in him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 85:1 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.

רָצִ֣יתָra.Tzi.tayou showed favor toH7521
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehO YahwehH3068
אַרְצֶ֑ךָ'ar.Tze.khaland yourH776
שַׁ֝֗בְתָּShav.tayou turned backH7725
שְׁבִ֣יתshe.Vit[the] captivity ofH7622
יַעֲקֹֽב\׃ya.'a.KoJacobH3290

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

Cross references for Psalms 85:1

  • Jeremiah 30:18

    Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

  • Psalms 14:7

    Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

  • Ezekiel 39:25

    Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

  • Psalms 77:7

    Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

  • Joel 2:18

    Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

  • Joel 3:1

    For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

  • Psalms 42:1

    To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

  • Psalms 126:1-2

    A Song of degrees. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

  • Leviticus 26:42

    Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

  • Jeremiah 31:23

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

  • Zechariah 1:16

    Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

  • Ezra 1:11-2:1

    All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem. Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The Psalmist, out of the experience of former mercies, prays for the continuance thereof.
8 He promises to wait thereon, out of confidence of God's goodness.

A.M. 3468. B.C. 536. (Title.) for. or, of.
42:1; *title
Lord.
Le 26:42; Joe 2:18; Zec 1:16
favourable unto. or, well pleased with.
77:7
thou hast.
14:7; 126:1,2; Ezr 1:11; 2:1; Jer 30:18; 31:23; Eze 39:25; Joe 3:1

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

Context

  • Psalms 85:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

  • Psalms 85:2

    Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

Read all of Psalms 85

Psalms 85:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Al Músico principal: Salmo para los hijos de Coré. FUISTE propicio á tu tierra, oh Jehová: volviste la cautividad de Jacob.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Au chef de musique. Des fils de Coré. Psaume.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jehova, du hast Gunst erzeigt deinem Lande, hast die Gefangenschaft Jakobs gewendet;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Oratio ipsi David. Inclina, Domine, aurem tuam et exaudi me, quoniam inops et pauper sum ego.