Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse ends with a powerful repetition, not just a casual echo, but an urgent command to "wait for the LORD!" This isn't just about passive waiting; it’s about actively holding onto hope and inner strength, trusting that God will indeed strengthen your heart as you persist in waiting.
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
English Standard Version (ESV)
After declaring his unwavering faith that he would see God's goodness even amidst his troubles, the psalmist turns to himself or his audience with a final charge. He urges them to patiently wait for the Lord, to summon courage, and to trust that God will strengthen their hearts, reinforcing the importance of this steadfast waiting.
The Psalmist repeats himself in this verse. Why is 'waiting on the Lord' so important that it needs to be said twice?
This verse gives us a powerful two-part command:
Wait Actively
The Hebrew word for 'wait' here isn't about passive idleness. It implies active expectation, a committed posture of looking towards God.
Think of it like this: you're waiting for a crucial package. You don't just sit and stare at the door; you keep an eye on the tracking, you listen for the doorbell, you're ready when it arrives.
Wait with Strength
The verse doesn't just say 'wait.' It says 'Wait... be strong, and let your heart take courage.' This isn't a passive waiting; it's a courageous, strong waiting. It's about trusting God's timing and His power even when things are difficult. The strength doesn't come from us, but from God as we wait.
So, the repetition emphasizes that waiting on the Lord is a sustained, active, and courageous stance. It's a vital spiritual discipline.
David is speaking to himself, urging himself to be strong. What does this tell us about spiritual courage?
It's easy to think courage means never feeling fear. But the Bible often shows us that true courage is found in the midst of our weakness and fear.
A Command, Not Just a Feeling
When the Psalmist says, 'be strong, and let your heart take courage,' he's giving himself (and us) a command. It's an act of the will, an encouragement to push forward despite inner feelings of faintness or doubt.
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God Strengthens the Courageous Heart
The verse promises, 'he shall strengthen thine heart.' This is key! We are called to initiate the courage, to choose to be strong, and in that act, God promises to infuse His own strength into us. It’s not about mustering up strength from nothing; it's about leaning into God when we feel depleted.
This verse is a powerful reminder that God meets us in our struggle, empowering us to be courageous when we'd rather hide.
Understand the original words
qavah · Hebrew Verb
An active, patient expectation and trust in God’s timing and intervention; it is a form of spiritual discipline that relies on His promises rather than human effort.
chazaq · Hebrew Verb
Used to describe inner fortitude and firmness of purpose, often commanded to believers as they face trials and rely on God’s strength.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
In Hebrew thought, the seat of the intellect, will, and emotions; it is the center of human decision-making and the primary place where trust in God is cultivated.
amats · Hebrew Verb
To be brave, bold, or confident, especially in the face of fear or opposition, grounded in the knowledge of God’s presence.
This passage echoes the promise that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, just as Psalm 27:14 encourages strength and courage while waiting.
Romans 12:12It calls believers to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and constant in prayer, mirroring the call to wait with courage and strength.
Galatians 6:9This verse warns against growing weary in doing good and offers encouragement that in due time there will be a harvest, connecting with the endurance required by Psalm 27:14.
Deuteronomy 31:6Here, Joshua is commanded to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with him, a theme that resonates with the encouragement found in Psalm 27:14.
1 Corinthians 16:13Paul urges believers to stay alert, stand firm in the faith, and act courageously, which aligns directly with the Psalmist's exhortation to be strong and take courage while waiting.
cambridgePsalms 27:14: "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
14 . The Psalmist addresses himself, and encourages himself to patience. His faith rebukes his faintness. Be of good courage ] R.V., Be strong, and let thine heart take courage. Cp. Psalm 31:24 ; Deuteronomy 31:7 ; Joshua 1:6-7 ; Joshua 1:9 ; Joshua 1:18 . Wait, I say ] R.V., Yea, wait thou. Cp. Psalm 25:3 ; Psalm 37:9 ; Psalm 37:34 ; Proverbs 20:22 .
gillPsalms 27:14: "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Wait on the Lord,.... This, with what follows, is spoken by the psalmist either to himself or to others, or it may be to both, upon the rich experience he declares in Psalm 27:13 , it becomes believers to wait on the Lord for the common blessings of life, for even the eyes of all wait upon him for their daily food; and for the light of his countenance, when it is withdrawn from t…
The verse ends with a powerful repetition, not just a casual echo, but an urgent command to "wait for the LORD!" This isn't just about passive waiting; it’s about actively holding onto hope and inner strength, trusting that God will indeed strengthen your heart as you persist in waiting.
After declaring his unwavering faith that he would see God's goodness even amidst his troubles, the psalmist turns to himself or his audience with a final charge. He urges them to patiently wait for the Lord, to summon courage, and to trust that God will strengthen their hearts, reinforcing the importance of this steadfast waiting.
After declaring his unwavering faith that he would see God's goodness even amidst his troubles, the psalmist turns to himself or his audience with a final charge. He urges them to patiently wait for the Lord, to summon courage, and to trust that God will strengthen their hearts, reinforcing the importance of this steadfast waiting.
"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" — The verse ends with a powerful repetition, not just a casual echo, but an urgent command to "wait for the LORD!" This isn't just about passive waiting; it’s about actively holding onto hope and inner…
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Last reviewed October 2026