I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Hebrew word translated as "wait" implies an active, outstretched desire, like a cord connecting the soul to God. This isn't passive resignation, but an intense, enduring hope fixed on God's promises, not just a general wish for things to get better.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is in a deep pit of distress, crying out to God for deliverance and confessing his sinfulness. He acknowledges God's mercy and faithfulness, finding hope not in his own merit but in God's promises. This verse reveals his determined posture of patient waiting, trusting that God's salvation will come in His perfect time, even before dawn breaks.
We often think of 'waiting' as passive, just sitting back. But what if waiting for God is an active, energetic posture of the heart?
The Psalmist uses the word 'wait' twice in this verse, and emphasizes it by saying 'my soul waits.' This isn't a lazy, do-nothing kind of waiting. The original Hebrew word paints a picture of stretching, extending, like a cord connecting two points – God on one end, and the believer's heart on the other. It’s a deep, earnest desire, a stretching out towards God in every circumstance, using every available means of grace, and even when no means are apparent. This active, energetic waiting is what God looks for, and it's where true hope is found.
Where do you place your hope when things get tough? This verse points us to a solid, unshakeable foundation.
The Psalmist doesn't just wait for God; he waits 'in His word.' This refers to God's promises – His declarations of who He is and what He will do. For the Psalmist, this meant recalling God's character as merciful and gracious (like in Exodus 34:6-7) and His specific promises to forgive and deliver. Our hope isn't based on our feelings or circumstances, but on the unchanging truth of God's Word. It's in these divine assurances that our hope finds its firmest footing, especially in the promise of salvation through Christ.
Understand the original words
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qavah · Hebrew Verb
To wait with eager, patient, and active expectation for God to act or fulfill His promises.
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The revealed truth, command, or promise of God, serving as the objective anchor for faith and hope.
yachal · Hebrew Verb
A confident expectation and trust in God’s future action, based securely on His character and His promises.
This verse echoes the Psalmist's sentiment by highlighting that if we hope for what we do not see, we must wait for it with patience, mirroring the deep, soul-felt waiting described in Psalm 130:5.
Galatians 5:5Just as Psalm 130:5 expresses hope in God's word, this passage shows that through the Spirit, we eagerly await the hope of righteousness, demonstrating that active, Spirit-led hope is a key element of the Christian life.
Hebrews 11:1This foundational verse on faith defines it as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen, directly aligning with the Psalmist's patient waiting and hope grounded in God's word, even before His promises are fully realized.
Isaiah 40:31This passage powerfully connects waiting on the Lord with renewed strength, beautifully illustrating the outcome of the deep, soul-waiting and hope found in Psalm 130:5, promising that those who wait will soar like eagles.
pulpitPsalms 130:5: "I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope."
Verse 5. - I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait. "Waiting for the Lord" is patiently bearing our affliction, whatever it may be, and confidently looking forward to deliverance from it in God's good time. The expression, "my soul doth wait," is stronger than "I wait;" it implies heart-felt trust and confidence. And in his word do I hope; i.e. his word of promise.
clarkePsalms 130:5: "I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope."
I wait for the Lord - The word קוה kavah, which we translate to wait, properly signifies the extension of a cord from one point to another. This is a fine metaphor: God is one point, the human heart is the other; and the extended cord between both is the earnest believing desire of the soul. This desire, strongly extended from the heart to God, in every mean of grace, and when there is none, is the active, energ…
The Hebrew word translated as "wait" implies an active, outstretched desire, like a cord connecting the soul to God. This isn't passive resignation, but an intense, enduring hope fixed on God's promises, not just a general wish for things to get better.
The Psalmist is in a deep pit of distress, crying out to God for deliverance and confessing his sinfulness. He acknowledges God's mercy and faithfulness, finding hope not in his own merit but in God's promises. This verse reveals his determined posture of patient waiting, trusting that God's salvation will come in His perfect time, even before dawn breaks.
The Psalmist is in a deep pit of distress, crying out to God for deliverance and confessing his sinfulness. He acknowledges God's mercy and faithfulness, finding hope not in his own merit but in God's promises. This verse reveals his determined posture of patient waiting, trusting that God's salvation will come in His perfect time, even before dawn breaks.
"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;" — The Hebrew word translated as "wait" implies an active, outstretched desire, like a cord connecting the soul to God. This isn't passive resignation, but an intense, enduring hope fixed on God's promi…
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Last reviewed October 2026