For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse speaks to an unwavering divine promise: not only will God refuse to leave His beloved in the realm of death, but He also guarantees that His "Holy One" will not experience decay. This is a profound declaration of preservation, pointing beyond mere survival to an ultimate victory over the grave for Christ.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a prayer for preservation, filled with a deep trust in God. The psalmist expresses a confident assurance that God will not abandon him to the grave or allow his body to decay. This hope, particularly the promise that God's "holy one" will not see corruption, is later interpreted by New Testament writers as a prophecy specifically about Jesus' resurrection.
When the Psalmist talks about not being left in 'hell,' what exactly are they referring to? It's more than just dirt nap!
The Hebrew word 'Sheol' (often translated as 'hell' or 'the grave') paints a vivid picture of the underworld.
The Land of No Return
Sheol wasn't just a physical burial place, but a shadowy, desolate realm where the dead existed in a state of weakness and separation from God. Think of it as the ultimate 'out of sight, out of mind,' but with a profound sense of finality and despair.
A Deeper Despair
For the ancient Israelites, Sheol represented the complete cessation of life and fellowship with God. It was the antithesis of God's vibrant life-giving presence. To be 'left in Sheol' meant to be utterly forgotten and abandoned.
David's Confidence
In this verse, David expresses an astonishing confidence. He trusts that God's power extends even to this place of ultimate darkness and that his very being – his 'soul' (representing his whole person) – will not be permanently surrendered to it.
The verse mentions 'your Holy One.' Is this talking about the Psalmist, or someone greater? The answer changes everything.
The phrase 'your Holy One' is a powerful clue pointing beyond David himself to the Messiah.
The Plural vs. Singular
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While the original Hebrew text might have variations (some ancient manuscripts and versions read 'holy ones' in the plural), the overwhelming weight of evidence, especially the New Testament quotations (Acts 2:27, 13:35), points to the singular 'Holy One.' This isn't just a general reference to God's saints.
Christ's Unique Holiness
This 'Holy One' is distinct. He is God's unique Son, set apart and without sin. Unlike others, His divine nature and sinless life meant He would not experience the corruption of death in the grave in the same way.
A Prophetic Glimpse
David, as God's anointed, was a representative figure. But his confidence that his 'Holy One' would not see corruption was a prophetic declaration about Jesus Christ, whose body did not decay in the tomb.
Corruption in the grave – it's a grim reality. But this verse promises something astonishing: escape from it.
The promise that God's 'Holy One' will not 'see corruption' is a profound declaration of victory over death's finality.
More Than Just Delay
'Seeing corruption' refers to the physical decay and putrefaction that naturally occurs after death. It signifies the ultimate breakdown and defeat of the physical body.
Divine Intervention
This verse asserts that God Himself will intervene. He will not allow His chosen, sinless One to undergo the natural process of decay in the grave. This isn't about embalming or special preservation methods, but about divine power.
The Resurrection Power
This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was raised before His body could corrupt, demonstrating His triumph over death and the grave. It's a foreshadowing of the resurrection hope for all who are in Christ.
A Foundation of Hope
Because Christ did not remain corrupted in death, believers can have an unshakeable hope. Our future is not one of decay, but of glorious resurrection and eternal life, secured by His victory.
Understand the original words
Sheol · Hebrew Noun
The place of the dead; the underworld or the state of existence after physical death, often contrasted with the presence and life-giving power of God.
chasid · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
One who is set apart for God's holy use; specifically refers to someone sanctified or consecrated, often used prophetically in scripture for the Messiah.
shachath · Hebrew Noun
The process of decay or ruin, specifically of the physical body after death; biblically, God’s preservation of His own from this state points to victory over death.
The psalm's confident declaration that God would not abandon 'His Holy One' to death and decay finds its ultimate fulfillment in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, offering a profound hope beyond the grave.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
King David rules a united Israel, establishing Jerusalem as its capital. This period marks a high point of national and religious confidence.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Temple Construction Begins
David's son, Solomon, begins building the First Temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship and a symbol of God's presence.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its people. This event shakes Judah's faith and prompts prophetic warnings.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the population. This is a devastating national trauma.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Decree
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, conquers Babylon and allows exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homeland and rebuild their Temple.
c. 30 BC - AD 33— this verse
Life, Ministry, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ lives and ministers in Judea, is crucified, and then, according to Christian belief, resurrects from the dead, fulfilling prophecies.
This New Testament passage directly quotes Psalm 16:10 and applies it to Jesus, explaining that God raised him from the dead, preventing his soul from remaining in the grave and his body from decaying.
Acts 13:35Similar to Acts 2, this passage quotes Psalm 16:10 and explicitly states that the 'Holy One' mentioned refers to Jesus, whose body did not experience corruption because God raised him from the dead.
Romans 8:11This verse speaks of the same life-giving power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, assuring believers that the Spirit who dwells in them will also bring their mortal bodies to life, echoing the triumph over death and corruption found in the Psalm.
1 Corinthians 15:54-55These verses celebrate the ultimate victory over death and corruption through Christ's resurrection, looking forward to the future resurrection of believers where death will be swallowed up in victory, a theme powerfully foreshadowed in Psalm 16:10.
poolePsalms 16:10: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
My soul, i.e. my person, as this word is every where used by a synecdoche of the part, and then the person by another synecdoche of the whole is put for the body. The soul is oft put for the body; either for the living body, as Psalm 35:3 105:18 , or for the carcass or dead body, as it is taken Leviticus 19:28 21:1 Numbers 5:2 6:6,9,11 9:10 19:11,13 ; and so it is interpreted in t…
pulpitPsalms 16:10: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Verse 10. - For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; literally, to Sheol, or "to Hades." The confidence in a future life shown here is beyond that exhibited by Job. Job hopes that he may not always remain in Hades, but may one day experience a "change" or "renewal" (Job 14:14); David is certain that his soul will not be left in hell. Hell (Sheol) is to him an "intermediate state,"…
This verse speaks to an unwavering divine promise: not only will God refuse to leave His beloved in the realm of death, but He also guarantees that His "Holy One" will not experience decay. This is a profound declaration of preservation, pointing beyond mere survival to an ultimate victory over the grave for Christ.
This psalm is a prayer for preservation, filled with a deep trust in God. The psalmist expresses a confident assurance that God will not abandon him to the grave or allow his body to decay. This hope, particularly the promise that God's "holy one" will not see corruption, is later interpreted by New Testament writers as a prophecy specifically about Jesus' resurrection.
This psalm is a prayer for preservation, filled with a deep trust in God. The psalmist expresses a confident assurance that God will not abandon him to the grave or allow his body to decay. This hope, particularly the promise that God's "holy one" will not see corruption, is later interpreted by New Testament writers as a prophecy specifically about Jesus' resurrection.
"For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." — This verse speaks to an unwavering divine promise: not only will God refuse to leave His beloved in the realm of death, but He also guarantees that His "Holy One" will not experience decay. This is a…
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Last reviewed October 2026