//
Search for a command to run...
Forms of meditate appear in 22 verses of the World English Bible, and almost all of them mean thinking over and murmuring God's words, not emptying the mind. The Lord tells Joshua to meditate on the book of the law day and night (Joshua 1:8), and Psalm 1:2 says the blessed person delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. Psalm 119 is the longest meditation, with the writer meditating on God's precepts, statutes and promises (verses 15, 23, 48, 97, 148). Isaac meditates in the field at evening (Genesis 24:63), David meditates on God in the night watches (Psalm 63:6), and Paul tells Timothy to meditate on these things (1 Timothy 4:15). The verses below follow those threads.
Counts from this page's curated collection (10 books of Scripture).
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success."
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
"Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper."
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
"I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways."
"I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways."
"Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes."
"Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes."
"I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes."
"My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes."
"How I love your law! It is my meditation all day."
"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."
"I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation."
"I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation."
"My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word."
"Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word."
"when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches."
"When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches."
"I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings."
"I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings."
"I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands."
"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands."
"Let my meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh."
"My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD."
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer."
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
"Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah."
"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah."
"We have thought about your loving kindness, God, in the middle of your temple."
"We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple."
"Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate."
"I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works."
"My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him."
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."
"I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
"I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
"One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple."
"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."
"My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:"
"My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,"
"Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming."
"And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming."
"Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all."
"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."
"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things."
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
"You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you."
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
"Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth."
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
"Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God."
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
"But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart."
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."
"Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there."
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible and the King James Version (both public domain), checked word for word against the full text. Updated October 5, 2026.
Continue exploring similar Bible verse collections
Yes, when it means reflecting on God, his word and his works (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 77:12). The Hebrew word hagah suggests murmuring or musing aloud over a text, closer to slow reading than to clearing the mind.
The Bible's pattern fills the mind with God's word and character (Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:2); many Eastern practices aim to empty it. Psalm 46:10, 'Be still, and know that I am God', is about trusting God, not about a technique.
Choose a short passage, read it slowly several times, ask what it says about God, and pray it back (Psalm 119:15, 119:97). Psalm 1:2-3 says the one who meditates is like a tree planted by streams of water.
Psalm 46:10 says to be still and know that God is God, Psalm 4:4 says to commune with your heart on your bed and be still, and Psalm 62:5 says to wait in silence for God alone.
Explore more topics and discover God's Word for every season of life.