Psalm 85:10-11
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What's easy to miss is that "meet" and "kiss" aren't passive actions here. They describe active, relational encounters where divine attributes, once seemingly at odds, now embrace each other in a profound unity. This isn't just a description of God's character, but a picture of His active work, bringing together what humanly speaking could never coexist.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is reflecting on God's past faithfulness to His people, even in their sin and its consequences, and is now anticipating a time of restoration and renewed blessing. Having acknowledged God's forgiveness of their iniquity, the psalm moves towards a vision of future peace and prosperity that will result from this divine reconciliation. This verse describes the beautiful harmony that will be evident in God's dealings when His steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace all converge.
Ever feel like justice and mercy are at odds? In God's world, they don't just coexist, they embrace!
This verse paints a vivid picture of God's character. It's not that mercy and truth, or righteousness and peace, are separate attributes that might clash. Instead, they are personified as meeting and kissing – like dear friends or lovers reunited.
A Divine Meeting
This divine interplay, where all attributes harmonize, finds its ultimate expression in Jesus Christ. As Wesley noted, Christ's work reconciles these seemingly opposing divine qualities, satisfying God's justice while extending mercy and peace to us.
Ask a follow-up
What does it mean for God's attributes to 'kiss'? The answer lies in a profound act of love that bridges heaven and earth.
While this verse speaks to the general character of God's dealings, many see in it a profound prophecy about the work of the Messiah.
A Prophetic Glimpse
Understand the original words
emeth · Hebrew Noun
Truth, reliability, or steadfastness; the quality of being firm and trustworthy. It refers to God’s unwavering dependability in fulfilling His word and maintaining His character.
tsedeq · Hebrew Noun
The standard of what is morally right, just, and in conformity with God's perfect law. It involves God acting in integrity to establish justice and declare His people right before Him.
'emet · Hebrew Noun
Refers to God's steadfast love, loyalty, and faithfulness to His covenant promises. It often implies integrity, reliability, and truthfulness in both God and His people.
tsedeq · Hebrew Noun
The moral quality of being right, just, and conforming to God's standards or laws. In a biblical context, it describes both God's nature and the state of a person who is in right standing with Him.
This psalm looks forward to a time when God’s perfect character—His steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace—will be fully and harmoniously expressed, especially in the work of redemption, a hope deeply felt during and after the national trauma of exile and the rebuilding of the Temple.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army conquer Judah, destroying Jerusalem and its sacred Temple. This marks a devastating national crisis, leading to widespread exile.
c. 586-538 BC
Babylonian Exile
Many Judeans are deported to Babylon, living as exiles far from their homeland and their place of worship. This period is characterized by national grief and longing for restoration.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This political shift creates an opportunity for the exiled Judeans.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus Allows Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the return and restoration period.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
The Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt and rededicated after the return from exile. While a significant achievement, it lacks the splendor of the first Temple, and the nation still struggles with its identity and relationship with God.
This passage echoes the idea of divine attributes meeting by stating that the Word (Jesus) became flesh, full of grace and truth, mirroring how steadfast love and faithfulness (grace and truth) are perfectly united in Christ.
Romans 3:23-26This passage explains the theological reconciliation of God's righteousness and mercy in Christ's atoning sacrifice, showing how God can be both just and the justifier of those who have faith.
Isaiah 32:17This verse directly links the outcome of righteousness to peace, stating that 'the effect of righteousness will be peace,' which strongly parallels the idea in Psalms 85:10 that righteousness and peace 'kiss each other.'
Luke 1:72-75This prophetic song describes God's faithfulness to His promises and His plan to show mercy, leading to a deliverance that brings peace and security, beautifully illustrating the meeting of steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace.
clarkePsalms 85:10: "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Mercy and truth are met together - It would be more simple to translate the original: - חסד ואמת נפגשו צדק ושלום נשקו Chesed veemeth niphgashu; Tsedek veshalom nashaku, - " Mercy and truth have met on the way Righteousness and peace have embraced." This is a remarkable text, and much has been said on it: but there is a beauty in it which, I think, has not been noticed. Mercy and peace are on one si…
pulpitPsalms 85:10: "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Verse 10. - Mercy and truth are met together. God's mercy and God's truth are reconciled and brought into harmony. The psalmist does not say - probably does not know - how, He accepts the fact of the reconciliation, which is revealed to him (ver. 8) by faith, and boldly announces it. The explanation was reserved for the coming and teaching of Christ. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.…
What's easy to miss is that "meet" and "kiss" aren't passive actions here. They describe active, relational encounters where divine attributes, once seemingly at odds, now embrace each other in a profound unity. This isn't just a description of God's character, but a picture of His active work, bringing together what humanly speaking could never coexist.
The Psalmist is reflecting on God's past faithfulness to His people, even in their sin and its consequences, and is now anticipating a time of restoration and renewed blessing. Having acknowledged God's forgiveness of their iniquity, the psalm moves towards a vision of future peace and prosperity that will result from this divine reconciliation. This verse describes the beautiful harmony that will be evident in God's dealings when His steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace all converge.
The Psalmist is reflecting on God's past faithfulness to His people, even in their sin and its consequences, and is now anticipating a time of restoration and renewed blessing. Having acknowledged God's forgiveness of their iniquity, the psalm moves towards a vision of future peace and prosperity that will result from this divine reconciliation. This verse describes the beautiful harmony that will be evident in God's dealings when His steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace all converge.
"Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky." — What's easy to miss is that "meet" and "kiss" aren't passive actions here. They describe active, relational encounters where divine attributes, once seemingly at odds, now embrace each other in a pro…
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Last reviewed October 2026
