Dwelling in the Promise of His Goodness and Mercy
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As an English teacher for forty-four years and a self-proclaimed “grammar nut,” I found myself questioning the grammatical correctness of the well-known verse, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...” (Psalm 23:6, KJV). “Surely” is an adverb, and by definition, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs—not nouns. Since “goodness” is a noun, how does “surely goodness” make grammatical sense?
This sparked a deeper dive into the original translation and the structure of the verse. I wondered—were there other translations that might clarify this? In my research, I discovered that the original text was, in fact,
translated correctly. The phrase, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,” maintains its poetic flow and rhythm, and “surely” actually modifies the verb “shall follow,” not “goodness.” The placement of “surely” at the beginning of the phrase is intentional, creating emphasis and poetic beauty. This small word adds deep assurance to the entire sentence.
In essence, “surely” means “without a doubt” or “absolutely.” David was not merely hoping for God’s goodness and mercy—he was declaring it with confidence. This truth, if we fully embrace it, is transformative. When we live as if we know God’s goodness and mercy will follow us, we step into victory and the fullness of His promises.
Other versions affirm this truth:
“Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:6, CSB).
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:6, NLT).
“Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life…” (Psalm 23:6, MSG).