Psalms Chapter 16 · Verse 2
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
Original Language Analysis
לַֽ֭יהוָה
unto the LORD
H3068
לַֽ֭יהוָה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֲדֹנָ֣י
Thou art my Lord
H136
אֲדֹנָ֣י
Thou art my Lord
Strong's:
H136
Word #:
3 of 7
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י
my goodness
H2896
ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י
my goodness
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
5 of 7
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
Cross References
Psalms 73:25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.Psalms 89:26He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.Psalms 91:2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.Psalms 31:14But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.Psalms 27:8When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.Isaiah 26:13O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.Psalms 8:1O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.Romans 11:35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?Zechariah 13:9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Historical Context
A Michtam of David, possibly composed during exile or flight, when stripped of earthly supports and forced to rely solely on God.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you practically acknowledge that all your good comes from God?
- What areas of life do you still try to claim as 'self-made' rather than God-given?
Analysis & Commentary
David declares 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.' This is comprehensive God-dependence. The Hebrew 'towb' (good) encompasses all blessing and welfare. This anticipates Jesus' teaching that 'no one is good except God alone' (Mark 10:18) and Paul's affirmation that every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). Reformed theology's doctrine of total depravity teaches that apart from God's grace, humanity possesses no spiritual good.