King James Version

What Does Psalms 85:12 Mean?

Psalms 85:12 in the King James Version says “Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 85 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.”

Psalms 85:12 · KJV

Context

10

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12

Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

13

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Read Psalms 85 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. This concluding promise assures God's comprehensive blessing—both spiritual and material. The affirmative "yea" (gam, גַּם, "also, even, indeed") emphasizes certainty. The imperfect verb "shall give" (yiten, יִתֵּן) indicates future certainty: God WILL give. This isn't wishful thinking but confident expectation based on God's character and covenant promises.

"That which is good" (ha-tov, הַטּוֹב) uses the definite article—not merely "good things" but "THE good." This may refer to (1) God Himself as the supreme good (Psalm 16:2, 73:25), (2) all good gifts flowing from Him (James 1:17), or (3) specific good things appropriate to context—in this case, restoration, revival, peace, prosperity. The comprehensive term encompasses every genuine benefit, material and spiritual.

"And our land shall yield her increase" (ve-artzenu titen yevulah, וְאַרְצֵנוּ תִּתֵּן יְבוּלָהּ) promises agricultural abundance. Yevul (יְבוּל) means "produce, harvest, yield"—crops growing abundantly from the soil. This literal promise had profound significance for agricultural society where prosperity depended directly on harvest. Famine meant disaster; abundant crops meant blessing. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 linked covenant obedience with agricultural prosperity, disobedience with crop failure.

Yet the promise isn't merely materialistic. The land's productivity symbolizes God's comprehensive restoration—when relationship with God is restored, everything else flourishes. Eden's fertility before the fall (Genesis 2:8-9) and new creation's abundance (Isaiah 65:21-23, Amos 9:13-15) bracket history with images of fruitful earth under God's blessing. Sin brought curse on the ground (Genesis 3:17-19); redemption lifts that curse, causing earth to yield increase again.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Covenant Blessings and Eschatological Hope

Old Testament covenant theology explicitly connected spiritual faithfulness with material prosperity. Deuteronomy 28:1-14 promised abundant harvests, livestock increase, victory over enemies, and economic prosperity for obedience. Conversely, disobedience brought drought, crop failure, infertility, and famine (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). This wasn't arbitrary but reflected creation's design: when humanity fulfills its God-given role, creation flourishes; when humanity rebels, creation suffers (Romans 8:19-22).

Israel's history bore this out. During faithful periods under righteous kings, the land prospered. During apostasy, drought and locust plagues afflicted the nation (1 Kings 17:1, Joel 1:4). Babylonian exile removed people from the land entirely—ultimate curse (Leviticus 26:33-35). Return from exile prompted prayers like Psalm 85 that God would restore both spiritual relationship and material blessing.

The New Testament transforms but doesn't eliminate this principle. Jesus promised: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Paul affirmed: "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Yet prosperity isn't guaranteed in present age—faithful Christians often suffer persecution and poverty. The ultimate fulfillment awaits new creation.

Revelation envisions earth yielding abundant increase: "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb... and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month" (Revelation 22:1-2). This transcends natural agriculture—it's creation fully restored, yielding perpetual increase under God's direct blessing. Psalm 85:12's promise finds complete fulfillment when "the LORD shall give that which is good" eternally, and new earth yields increase forever.

Reflection Questions

  1. What is "the good" that God promises to give, and how does this encompass both spiritual and material blessings?
  2. How should Christians understand Old Testament promises of material prosperity in light of New Testament teaching on suffering and persecution?
  3. What is the relationship between spiritual restoration (right relationship with God) and creation's fruitfulness (land yielding increase)?
  4. How does Romans 8:19-22 help explain the connection between humanity's spiritual state and creation's condition?
  5. In what ways will new creation fulfill Psalm 85:12's promise more completely than any temporal restoration could?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 7 words
גַּם1 of 7
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

יְ֭הוָה2 of 7

“Yea the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

תִּתֵּ֥ן3 of 7

“shall give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

הַטּ֑וֹב4 of 7

“that which is good”

H2896

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

וְ֝אַרְצֵ֗נוּ5 of 7

“and our land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

תִּתֵּ֥ן6 of 7

“shall give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

יְבוּלָֽהּ׃7 of 7

“her increase”

H2981

produce, i.e., a crop or (figuratively) wealth

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 85:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 85:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

James 1:17Psalms 84:11Psalms 67:6Leviticus 26:41 Corinthians 1:30Isaiah 30:23-24

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