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Psalm 63:8

ESV My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
NIV I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
NASB My soul clings to You; Your right hand takes hold of me.
CSB I follow close to you; your right hand holds on to me.
NLT I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.
KJV My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

What does Psalm 63:8 mean?

A theme of this psalm has been David's total reliance on the Lord (Psalm 63:1). That trust comes from experiences where God proved Himself to David (Psalm 63:7), and David's response of seeking spiritual intimacy with God. Here, that imagery continues as David speaks of being as close to God as possible: "clinging" to Him. The Hebrew word used here refers to extremely close contact, or "sticking." This is the same root word used in Genesis to refer to the closeness of husbands and wives in marriage (Genesis 2:24). It is also used in the story of Ruth (Ruth 1:14), who famously stayed loyal and near to her mother-in-law, Naomi (Ruth 1:16). Another version of the word is part of Boaz's instructions for Ruth to remain close to other women while gleaning (Ruth 2:8).

David maintained strong, active commitment because of his sense of God's power. For most people, the right hand is naturally dominant. In ancient writing, the "right hand" is a symbol of one's greatest strength. References to the right hand of God evoke His incredible might. Believers need not fear difficult circumstances, "for [God] has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5–6).
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