This verse highlights that the psalmist, speaking on behalf of the Messiah, uses "give" in the sense of "allow" or "permit" for his Holy One to experience decay. The point isn't that God failed to give something, but that He actively prevented His perfect One from experiencing the corruption that comes with death and the grave.
Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is continuing his sermon in Pisidian Antioch, building on his previous point that God raised Jesus from the dead and that He would not again die. To prove that this promise of unending life wasn't just for King David, Paul quotes from another psalm, showing that the one speaking in the psalm couldn't possibly be David himself but points to God's Anointed, the Messiah.
The Apostle Paul quotes from the Old Testament, but who is 'your Holy One,' and why can't it be King David?
Paul is arguing that the Old Testament, specifically Psalm 16, points directly to Jesus and His resurrection. He asserts that the words, 'You will not let your Holy One see corruption,' could not have referred to David himself.
David's Fate
King David was a righteous man, but he died and was buried. His tomb was well-known, and his body experienced decay – it saw corruption. Therefore, the promise couldn't have been about him.
The Messiah's Promise
But Jesus, the Son of God, is uniquely 'the Holy One.' His death was real, but God's promise was that His divine nature, His very life, would not be surrendered to the decay of the grave. The psalm, spoken by David but inspired by God, is a prophecy about the Messiah's future resurrection.
What does it truly mean that the Holy One would 'not see corruption,' and what does this guarantee for us?
This phrase, 'see corruption,' is powerful. It doesn't just mean avoiding physical decay in the grave, but rather the ultimate defeat and powerlessness of death over God's chosen One.
A Divine Guarantee
God the Father made a promise to God the Son: 'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.' This wasn't a hopeful wish; it was a declaration of divine intent. God would ensure that death could not hold Jesus captive.
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Victory Over Death
When Jesus rose from the dead, He demonstrated this victory. His body did not decay in the tomb. This event is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, proving Jesus' divine identity and the power of His atoning sacrifice. It signifies that death has no final sting for those in Christ.
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.
boulē · Greek Noun
Used throughout Scripture to denote God’s will, intent, or sovereign plan for history and the lives of individuals. It implies that God has a specific objective that he works out through human agents.
koimaō · Greek Verb
A common biblical euphemism for death, particularly for those who die in a state of faith or covenant relationship with God, implying a future resurrection.
diaphthora · Greek Noun
The process of physical decay and decomposition of a dead body. In this context, it contrasts the mortality of David with the incorruptibility of the resurrected Christ.
egeirō · Greek Verb
The act of God reversing death, confirming the efficacy of Christ’s atonement, and validating his identity as the Son of God and Messiah. It is the foundational event of the Christian gospel.
The Apostle Paul is drawing on Psalm 16, a prayer of David, but argues forcefully that David, who died and saw corruption, couldn't be the primary fulfillment. The verse points to Jesus, whose resurrection proved He would not remain in the grave, thus securing victory over death.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
King David unites the tribes of Israel, establishes Jerusalem as the capital, and ushers in a golden age for the kingdom. Many of the Psalms are attributed to him.
c. 627-586 BC
Prophetic Ministry of Jeremiah
Jeremiah prophesies during a turbulent period, warning of impending judgment and exile due to the people's disobedience. His prophecies often speak of God's faithfulness and future restoration.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Jerusalem, destroys the First Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population to Babylon.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
c. 450 BC
Rebuilding of Jerusalem and Temple
Under leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah, and with Persian support, the returned exiles rebuild the city walls and the Second Temple, re-establishing Jewish religious and civic life.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33— this verse
Life, Ministry, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth lives, teaches, performs miracles, is crucified, and is resurrected. His resurrection is the central event for Christian faith.
c. AD 45-50
Paul's First Missionary Journey
The Apostle Paul travels through Asia Minor and parts of Europe, establishing churches and teaching the Gospel. This journey includes his sermon in Pisidian Antioch, recorded in Acts 13.
This is the direct source of the quote, highlighting the Messianic hope that God would preserve His 'Holy One' from decay in the grave.
Acts 2:27Peter also quotes this very passage in his sermon at Pentecost, arguing that it could not refer to David but clearly pointed to Jesus' resurrection.
Isaiah 53:10This prophecy speaks of the Suffering Servant's 'offspring' and that the 'desire of the Lord shall prosper in his hand,' hinting at His ultimate triumph over death and the continuation of His lineage through resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4Paul lays out the foundational gospel message, including Christ's death for sins and His resurrection on the third day, which is the very event this psalm foretold.
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…
This verse highlights that the psalmist, speaking on behalf of the Messiah, uses "give" in the sense of "allow" or "permit" for his Holy One to experience decay. The point isn't that God failed to give something, but that He actively prevented His perfect One from experiencing the corruption that comes with death and the grave.
Paul is continuing his sermon in Pisidian Antioch, building on his previous point that God raised Jesus from the dead and that He would not again die. To prove that this promise of unending life wasn't just for King David, Paul quotes from another psalm, showing that the one speaking in the psalm couldn't possibly be David himself but points to God's Anointed, the Messiah.
Paul is continuing his sermon in Pisidian Antioch, building on his previous point that God raised Jesus from the dead and that He would not again die. To prove that this promise of unending life wasn't just for King David, Paul quotes from another psalm, showing that the one speaking in the psalm couldn't possibly be David himself but points to God's Anointed, the Messiah.
"Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he w…" — This verse highlights that the psalmist, speaking on behalf of the Messiah, uses "give" in the sense of "allow" or "permit" for his Holy One to experience decay. The point isn't that God *failed* to…
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Last reviewed October 2026