Psalm 16 7

Psalm 16:7 kjv

I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

Psalm 16:7 nkjv

I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

Psalm 16:7 niv

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

Psalm 16:7 esv

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

Psalm 16:7 nlt

I will bless the LORD who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

Psalm 16 verses

Psalm 16 7 Meaning

Psalm 16:7 expresses profound gratitude to the Almighty for His divine counsel and acknowledges how that counsel is internalized within the believer. The verse highlights that God's guidance, once received, takes root so deeply in one's inner being—often described metaphorically as the "mind" or "reins"—that it subsequently provides self-instruction and conviction, particularly during quiet moments of reflection, symbolized by "the night." It portrays an intimate and ongoing relationship where God’s wisdom continually shapes and teaches the individual from within.

Psalm 16 7 Context

Psalm 16 is identified as a "Michtam of David," often translated as a "golden" psalm or a psalm conveying profound spiritual insight. This psalm portrays David's complete trust and delight in God as his refuge, inheritance, and portion. Following verses that reject idolatry and embrace the true God (Ps 16:1-6), verse 7 details how David experiences God's ongoing guidance. It precedes a confident declaration of God's constant presence (Ps 16:8) and the joyful hope of resurrection and eternal life in God's presence (Ps 16:9-11), themes later fulfilled supremely in Christ (Acts 2:25-28, Acts 13:35). Historically, it reflects the psalmist's deep personal walk with God amidst life's challenges, seeking and receiving direct divine leading beyond merely external laws or human advice.

Psalm 16 7 Word analysis

• I will bless: The Hebrew word is barakh (בָּרַךְ), meaning "to kneel," "to praise," "to bless." Here, it signifies the psalmist’s proactive decision to praise and give thanks to God, recognizing His goodness and beneficial action. It is an act of reverent worship, often done in response to receiving a benefit or insight.
• the Lord: Refers to YHWH (יהוה), the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, faithful, and redemptive relationship with His people. It underscores that the counsel originates from the one true, sovereign God.
• who has given me counsel: The Hebrew word for "counsel" is 'etsah (עֵצָה), which refers to advice, guidance, or divine purpose. This indicates that the counsel is an intentional, deliberate act of God bestowing wisdom and direction. It implies God's benevolent initiative in guiding His servant, contrasting with human, fallible counsel.
• indeed, my mind: The Hebrew term here is kilyotai (כִּלְיֹותָי), literally meaning "my kidneys" or "my reins." In ancient Hebrew thought, the kidneys (and intestines) were considered the seat of one's deepest emotions, thoughts, conscience, and moral decision-making—the very core or innermost being of a person, distinct from mere intellectual processing. This suggests that God's counsel penetrates beyond the superficial, reaching and influencing the very heart and convictions of the individual.
• instructs me: The Hebrew verb is yissaruni (יִסְּרוּנִי), derived from yasar (יָסַר), meaning "to discipline," "to chasten," "to teach," or "to admonish." It’s a process of internal formation and refinement. The divine counsel received externally now operates internally, teaching and even correcting the psalmist’s inner man, ensuring alignment with God's will. It highlights the transformation of the inner being into an instrument for self-correction and godly discernment.
• in the night: The Hebrew balailah (בַּלָּיְלָה) denotes "in the night" or "at night." This period is typically associated with quiet, stillness, reflection, dreams, or sometimes, distress. For the psalmist, it signifies a time removed from the distractions of the day, allowing for deep contemplation and introspection, where the internalized divine counsel can uniquely surface and instruct the spirit. It indicates a consistent and ongoing internal process, even during rest.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel": This opening phrase reveals an active posture of worship and thankfulness. It grounds the subsequent internal experience in a recognition of God's active, intentional grace. The psalmist is not merely acknowledging, but proactively declaring praise for God's provision of divine wisdom and direction.
• "indeed, my mind instructs me in the night": This clause describes the profound outcome of receiving God's counsel. It illustrates an internal mechanism whereby the very core of the psalmist’s being processes and applies God’s truth, leading to personal spiritual instruction. The "night" symbolizes moments of profound solitude, reflection, or perhaps even difficulty, during which God's internalized truth shines most clearly and provides inner clarity or correction. This is not simply hearing information, but experiencing an inner tutelage by God's truth resident in one's regenerated being.

Psalm 16 7 Bonus section

The profound internalization of divine counsel described in Psalm 16:7 finds its ultimate expression and realization in the New Covenant through the indwelling Holy Spirit. While David experienced moments of profound internal illumination, believers in Christ possess the Spirit who permanently guides, teaches, and convicts from within (Jn 16:13; 1 Jn 2:27). The Spirit enables God's counsel to reside deeply within, aligning the regenerated heart and mind with divine truth. This verse also implicitly teaches the importance of intentional self-reflection and disciplined meditation, which allows the spiritual seeds of God's counsel to germinate and bring forth fruit in inner discernment and outward obedience. It presents God's guidance as not merely an external directive but a powerful, internal, transformative force that shapes one's conscience and inner convictions.

Psalm 16 7 Commentary

Psalm 16:7 paints a vivid picture of the dynamic interaction between God's external grace and the believer's internal spiritual reception. David doesn't just receive guidance; he deeply internalizes it. God's "counsel" is not a fleeting suggestion but a powerful, transformative word that infiltrates the very core of his being ("my mind" or "reins"). This internal processing is so complete that the psalmist declares his own inner man then "instructs" or "disciplines" him. This reflects a conscience made sensitive and discerning by God's wisdom. The mention of "the night" emphasizes that this inner instruction occurs during times of quiet, often intense reflection, away from the clamor of the world, suggesting God often speaks most clearly to our hearts when we are still and attentive. It portrays a life where divine guidance leads to a Spirit-responsive conscience, making the believer not merely a hearer but a doer of the word, whose very inner self echoes God's wisdom, offering clarity, conviction, and correction for navigating life.

Practical Usage:

• Regularly seek God's counsel through prayer and Scripture study.
• Cultivate quiet times, especially "in the night" or early morning, for meditation and allowing God's word to settle deep within.
• Pay attention to internal convictions and admonitions that align with God's revealed will; these can be the Spirit working through your transformed "mind."