Psalms 97 · Verse 11

Psalms 97:11

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Psalms 97:11, King James Version

Psalms 97:11 in other translations

BSBLight shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.
WEBLight is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
ASVLight is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
YLTLight is sown for the righteous, And for the upright of heart--joy.
DARBYLight is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
BBELight is shining on the lovers of righteousness, and for the upright in heart there is joy.
WebsterLight is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

What does Psalms 97:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 97:10-12

10-12. Let gratitude for the blessings of providence and grace incite saints (Psa 4:3) to holy living. Spiritual blessings are in store, represented by light (Psa 27:1) and gladness.

Read the full comment on Psalms 97:10-12 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Light is sown for the righteous - The Divine light in the soul of man is a seed which takes root, and springs up and increases thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold. Gladness is also a seed: it is sown, and, if carefully improved and cultivated, will also multiply itself into thousands. Every grace of God is a seed which he intends should produce a thousand fold in the hearts of genuine believers. We do not so much require more grace from God, as the cultivation of what we have received. God will not give more, unless we improve what we have got. Remember the parable of the talents. Let the light and gladness be faithfully cultivated, and they will multiply themselves till the whole body shall be full of light, and the whole soul full of happiness. But it is the righteous only for whom the light is sown; and the upright in heart alone for whom the gladness is sown. The words may also signify that, however distressed or persecuted the righteous and the upright may be, it shall not be always so. As surely as the grain that is sown in the earth shall vegetate, and bring forth its proper fruit in its season, so surely shall light - prosperity, and gladness - comfort and peace, be communicated to them. They also will spring up in due time.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 97:8-12

The faithful servants of God may well rejoice and be glad, because he is glorified; and whatever tends to his honour, is his people's pleasure. Care is taken for their safety. But something more is meant than their lives. The Lord will preserve the souls of his saints from sin, from apostacy, and despair, under their greatest trials. He will deliver them out of the hands of the wicked one, and preserve them safe to…

Read the full comment on Psalms 97:8-12 →

Psalms 97:11 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.

א֭וֹר'orlightH216
זָרֻ֣עַza.Ru.a'[is] sownH2232
לַצַּדִּ֑יקla.tza.Dikfor the righteousH6662
וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי\־u.le.yish.rei-and for [people] upright ofH3477
לֵ֥בlevheartH3820
שִׂמְחָֽה\׃sim.ChahjoyH8057

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

Cross references for Psalms 97:11

  • John 12:46

    I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

  • James 5:7-11

    Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. …

  • Proverbs 4:18

    But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

  • Isaiah 60:1-2

    Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

  • Job 22:28

    Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

  • Psalms 112:4

    Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

  • Psalms 126:5-6

    They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

  • Micah 7:9

    I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

  • Revelation 21:23

    And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

  • Psalms 18:28

    For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

  • Galatians 6:8

    For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • Esther 8:16

    The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Light.
18:28; 112:4; Es 8:16; Job 22:28; Pr 4:18; Isa 60:1,2; 62:1; Mic 7:9
Joh 12:46; Re 21:23; 22:5
sown.
126:5,6; Ga 6:8; Jas 5:7-11

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

Context

  • Psalms 97:10

    Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

  • Psalms 97:11

    Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

  • Psalms 97:12

    Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Read all of Psalms 97

Psalms 97:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Luz está sembrada para el justo, y alegría para los rectos de corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La lumière est semée pour le juste, et la joie pour ceux qui sont droits de cœur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Licht ist gesät dem Gerechten, und Freude den von Herzen Aufrichtigen.