Psalm 37:22

ESV for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

NIV those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.

NASB For those blessed by Him will inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be eliminated.

CSB Those who are blessed by the Lord will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be destroyed.

NLT Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die.

KJV For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

NKJV For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

What does Psalm 37:22 mean?

Those who are blessed by the Lord—in this context, meaning the righteous who follow Him (Psalm 37:21)—can look forward to dwelling in the Promised Land. In a prophetic sense, this applies to those who believe in God and can look forward to eternal life (John 6:40).

The Lord vowed to give a vast territory to Abraham and his descendants. In Genesis 17:8, He promised Abraham: "I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." The hope of all faithful Jews is to live in the Promised Land with their Messiah.

When the apostle Paul was under arrest in Rome, he called for the local leaders of the Jews and told them, "It is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain" (Acts 28:20). At a later meeting he told them about the kingdom of God, meaning the Messiah's earthly kingdom, and tried to lead them to faith in Jesus (Acts 28:23).

Those who defy God, however, will be "cut off." They will not share any of the promises the Lord made in His covenant with Israel. They will never inherit the Promised Land or participate in the community of God's people.

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