Psalms 34:5
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
They looked to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
American King James Version (AKJV)
They looked to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
American Standard Version (ASV)
They looked unto him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be confounded.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Let your eyes be turned to him and you will have light, and your faces will not be shamed.
Webster's Revision
They looked to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
World English Bible
They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
English Revised Version (ERV)
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces shall never be confounded.
Clarke's Psalms 34:5 Bible Commentary
They looked unto him - Instead of הביטו hibbitu, they looked, several of Dr. Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. have הביטו habbitu, with the point pathach, "Look ye."
And their faces were not ashamed - Some MSS., and the Complutensian Polyglot, make this clause the beginning of a new verse and as it begins with a vau, ופניהם upheneyhem, "and their faces," they make it supply the place of the verse which appears to be lost; but see what is said in the introduction before the first verse.
Barnes's Psalms 34:5 Bible Commentary
They looked unto him - That is, they who were with the psalmist. He was not alone when he fled to Abimelech; and the meaning here is, that each one of those who were with him looked to God, and found light and comfort in Him. The psalmist seems to have had his thoughts here suddenly turned from himself to those who were with him, and to have called to his remembrance how they "all" looked to God in their troubles, and how they all found relief.
And were lightened - Or, "enlightened." They found light. Their faces, as we should say, "brightened up," or they became cheerful. Their minds were made calm, for they felt assured that God would protect them. Nothing could better express what often occurs in the time of trouble, when the heart is sad, and when the countenance is sorrowful - a dark cloud apparently having come over all things - if one thus looks to God. The burden is removed from the heart, and the countenance becomes radiant with hope and joy. The margin here, however, is, "They flowed unto him." The Hebrew word, נהר nâhar, means sometimes "to flow, to flow together," Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 31:12; Jeremiah 51:44; but it also means "to shine, to be bright;" and thence, "to be cheered, to rejoice," Isaiah 60:5. This is probably the idea here, for this interpretation is better suited to the connection in which the word occurs.
And their faces were not ashamed - That is, they were not ashamed of having put their trust in God, or they were not disappointed. They had not occasion to confess that it was a vain reliance, or that they had been foolish in thus trusting him. Compare Job 6:20, note; Psalm 22:5, note; Romans 9:33, note; 1 John 2:28, note. The idea here is, that they found God to be all that they expected or hoped that he would be. They had no cause to repent of what they had done. What was true of them will be true of all who put their trust in God.
Wesley's Psalms 34:5 Bible Commentary
34:5 Lightened - Comforted and encouraged. Ashamed - They were not disappointed of their hope.