Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
When the apostle quotes this psalm, he's not just pointing to David's words but God's promise directly. The word for "suffer" here, translated from Greek, can also mean "give," revealing God's active decision not to give His Holy One over to decay. This highlights that Jesus' resurrection wasn't an accident but a divine intervention against corruption.
Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is building his case for Jesus' resurrection by showing that the Old Testament scriptures pointed to it. He's already established from Isaiah that Jesus would rise again, and now he quotes Psalm 16, arguing that these words, spoken by David, couldn't have been about David himself. The key point is that David died and saw decay, but this psalm prophesies that God's "Holy One" would not experience corruption, directly pointing to Jesus' victory over the grave.
Why would Paul quote a psalm by David and insist it's not about him? It's a crucial point for understanding the resurrection!
The Apostle Paul is making a powerful argument here, connecting the Old Testament to Jesus. He quotes Psalm 16:10, a psalm written by David.
The Problem with David
Many might assume David is the 'Holy One' mentioned. However, David himself died and was buried; his body saw decay.
The Messiah's Victory
Paul argues that this psalm must refer to someone else – the Messiah. This 'Holy One' would not be left in the grave to decay. This points directly to Jesus, whose resurrection proves He is God's uniquely Holy Son.
The word 'corruption' in this ancient psalm carries a profound meaning that goes beyond just physical decay. What does it truly signify?
The original language word translated as 'corruption' (Hebrew: shachath) has a strong sense of ruin, destruction, or utter desolation. While it can certainly refer to physical decay in a grave, its meaning here is broader.
Beyond the Tomb
When Paul applies this to Jesus, he's not just saying Jesus' body wouldn't rot in the tomb. He's saying the power of death and the grave would have no lasting hold on Him. Jesus' resurrection is a victory over sin and death itself, a complete deliverance from ruin.
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The Grave's Defeat
This psalm, fulfilled in Jesus, declares that death is not the end and that the grave cannot permanently claim God's Chosen One.
Understand the original words
hosion · Greek Adjective
A title emphasizing the sinless character, divine setting apart, and purity of the Messiah. It denotes one who is entirely consecrated to God and untainted by the effects of sin or death.
This passage from Psalm 16 was written by David, but he, as a prophet inspired by God, was speaking about the future Messiah. The context of the Babylonian exile and the subsequent return shows how God's promises, even in the face of destruction, ultimately point to life and resurrection through Christ.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital and a center of worship, ushering in a period of relative peace and prosperity. He is credited with composing many of the Psalms.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division leads to decades of conflict and instability.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and scattering the ten tribes. This event deeply impacts the collective memory and prophetic outlook of the people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This marks a profound crisis of faith and national identity.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus's Decree and Return from Exile
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, conquers Babylon. Cyrus issues a decree allowing deported peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem during the Roman governorship of Pontius Pilate. His followers proclaim that he was resurrected from the dead on the third day, a central event for early Christianity.
c. AD 48
Paul's First Missionary Journey Begins
The Apostle Paul embarks on his first major missionary journey, which includes a significant stop in Antioch. Here, he preaches the gospel, encountering both believers and opposition, drawing on Old Testament prophecy to explain Jesus's messiahship.
This is the direct source of the verse quoted by Paul, showing how the Old Testament itself anticipated the Messiah's victory over death.
Acts 2:27Peter quotes the same verse from Psalm 16 in his sermon, also applying it to Jesus' resurrection and demonstrating its consistent interpretation by the early church.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4This passage lays out the core Christian belief in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection according to the Scriptures, which is the very truth Paul is proving with the Psalm.
Romans 6:9Paul explicitly states that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again and will no longer be subject to death, directly echoing the implication of not seeing corruption.
gillActs 13:35: "Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Wherefore he saith also in another psalm,.... Psalm 16:10 or "in another place", as the Syriac version supplies; or "in another section", as the Arabic version; or "elsewhere", as Beza's most ancient copy, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, read: thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption; which cannot be understood of David: the term "Holy One", is not so applicable…
meyerActs 13:35: "Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Acts 13:35 . Διό ] therefore , namely, because the Messiah, according to Acts 13:34 , after His resurrection will not again die, but live for ever. ἐν ἑτέρῳ ] sc . ψαλμῷ , which is still present to the mind of the speaker from the quotation in Acts 13:33 . λέγει ] the subject is necessarily that of εἴρηκεν , Acts 13:34 , and so neither David (Bengel, Heinrichs, and others) nor the Scr…
When the apostle quotes this psalm, he's not just pointing to David's words but God's promise directly. The word for "suffer" here, translated from Greek, can also mean "give," revealing God's active decision not to give His Holy One over to decay. This highlights that Jesus' resurrection wasn't an accident but a divine intervention against corruption.
Paul is building his case for Jesus' resurrection by showing that the Old Testament scriptures pointed to it. He's already established from Isaiah that Jesus would rise again, and now he quotes Psalm 16, arguing that these words, spoken by David, couldn't have been about David himself. The key point is that David died and saw decay, but this psalm prophesies that God's "Holy One" would not experience corruption, directly pointing to Jesus' victory over the grave.
Paul is building his case for Jesus' resurrection by showing that the Old Testament scriptures pointed to it. He's already established from Isaiah that Jesus would rise again, and now he quotes Psalm 16, arguing that these words, spoken by David, couldn't have been about David himself. The key point is that David died and saw decay, but this psalm prophesies that God's "Holy One" would not experience corruption, directly pointing to Jesus' victory over the grave.
"Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’" — When the apostle quotes this psalm, he's not just pointing to David's words but God's promise directly. The word for "suffer" here, translated from Greek, can also mean "give," revealing God's active…
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Last reviewed October 2026