Psalm 18 25

Psalm 18:25 kjv

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

Psalm 18:25 nkjv

With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;

Psalm 18:25 niv

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

Psalm 18:25 esv

With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

Psalm 18:25 nlt

To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 25 Meaning

Psalm 18:25 encapsulates the principle of divine reciprocity in God’s dealings with humanity. It declares that the way the Creator interacts with people reflects the character and conduct of those people. For those who walk in covenant faithfulness and manifest loving-kindness, the Almighty demonstrates His own faithful love. Conversely, to the individual of integrity and sincerity, the Most High reveals His perfect and upright nature in His responses. This verse highlights the righteous and consistent nature of the Heavenly Father, affirming that His actions are always just and in harmony with the principles He upholds, meeting each person according to their moral alignment and the true condition of their heart.

Psalm 18 25 Context

Psalm 18 is a triumphant psalm of David, composed as a song of thanksgiving to the Lord for His powerful deliverance from all David’s enemies, especially from the hand of Saul. David recounts how the Most High intervened mightily on his behalf, using vivid imagery of natural phenomena as symbols of divine power. Prior to verse 25, David passionately asserts his own integrity and blamelessness before God (vv. 20-24), claiming his hands were clean and he had kept the ways of the Lord. Verse 25 follows this affirmation, serving as a foundational principle that explains why God acted as He did for David, and how He universally interacts with humanity. It explains God's just and consistent governance over the affairs of people, making it clear that His responses are directly linked to the moral and spiritual disposition of those He encounters. The verse transitions into further descriptions of God's interaction with the perverse and the humble, reinforcing this principle of divine reciprocity throughout the following verses.

Psalm 18 25 Word analysis

• With the merciful (עִם־חָסִ֣יד - im-chasid):
  • עִם (im): A preposition meaning "with," "alongside," indicating association or manner of interaction.
  • חָסִיד (chasid): This noun refers to one who practices hesed. Hesed (often translated as loving-kindness, steadfast love, or mercy) is a deep covenantal loyalty and devotion that goes beyond mere legal obligation, characterized by generosity, grace, and faithfulness. Therefore, a chasid is not just someone who is kind, but one who is steadfast in their devotion and exercises loyal love, particularly within a covenant relationship. The emphasis is on faithful living.
• You show Yourself merciful (תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד - titchassad):
  • From the verb חָסַד (chasad), in the Hitpa'el stem. The Hitpa'el stem signifies a reflexive or reciprocal action, or to present oneself as something. Here, it means the Almighty demonstrates, shows, or proves Himself to be one who acts with hesed. It's not just that He is merciful, but He manifests or shows Himself to be merciful in His actions towards such an individual. It implies that His covenant faithfulness is actively expressed.
• with the blameless man (עִם־תָּמִ֥ים - im-tamim):
  • עִם (im): Again, "with," indicating alignment or condition for interaction.
  • תָּמִים (tamim): An adjective meaning complete, whole, perfect, sound, upright, sincere. It describes moral integrity and spiritual wholeness, a person whose heart and actions are undivided in their devotion and without spiritual defect or hidden guile. It is often used in the Torah to describe sacrifices that are "perfect" or "without blemish," applied here to human character indicating ethical soundness.
• You show Yourself blameless (תִּתַּמָּֽם - tittamam):
  • From the verb תָּמַם (tamam), in the Hitpa'el stem. Similar to titchassad, this means the Almighty acts perfectly, wholly, or proves Himself to be perfectly righteous in His dealings. He responds with complete integrity to the integrity of the individual, demonstrating His own flawlessness and consistency. It’s God’s truthfulness and righteous character being revealed in His interaction with the one who is truly upright.

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• "With the merciful...You show Yourself merciful": This phrase highlights God's reciprocal response to one who actively practices hesed. The divine action mirrors the human action. If a believer walks in loyal love and covenant faithfulness towards the Lord and others, the Lord reciprocates and demonstrates His steadfast love and mercy towards them in their lives. It underscores that our walk with the Lord affects how His character is tangibly manifested in our circumstances.
• "with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless": This segment further solidifies the principle by stating that the Most High’s dealings are marked by integrity and perfection when engaging with those whose lives are characterized by sincerity, uprightness, and wholehearted devotion. God reveals His flawless character by dealing justly, faithfully, and perfectly with those who are without blemish in their moral and spiritual walk before Him. This doesn't suggest human perfection in a sinless sense, but rather a complete commitment and sincerity of heart.

Psalm 18 25 Bonus section

This verse carries significant implications for understanding the fear of the Lord and the concept of "walking worthy." It implies that while the Heavenly Father’s inherent nature is love and mercy, His demonstration of these attributes, or of His justice and integrity, is calibrated to the character He encounters. It underscores that there is a discernible difference in the experience of God’s dealings between those who pursue righteousness and those who do not. The Hitpa'el stem, emphasizing the reflective or self-showing aspect of the verb, means God does not merely possess these qualities, but He presents Himself, acts out, or manifests these qualities in specific interactions. It speaks to God's holy reciprocity—He truly is what He proclaims, and He interacts with us in ways that confirm His just and righteous nature, mirroring our character in His response. This verse profoundly asserts divine moral governance, reminding us that while God’s grace is unconditional for salvation, His ongoing relationship and active interventions are often proportionate to our faithfulness.

Psalm 18 25 Commentary

Psalm 18:25 presents a fundamental truth about the nature of the Heavenly Father's interaction with humanity: He is just and responds in kind to the character and conduct of individuals. This verse is not about earning salvation, which is by grace through faith, but about the divine principles governing relationships and consequences within life. For those who walk in devoted loving-kindness (hesed), actively demonstrating loyalty and compassion, God Himself manifests His own boundless hesed—His unwavering, faithful love and mercy. Similarly, to those who maintain sincerity, integrity, and uprightness of heart and life (tamim), the Creator reveals His perfect and just nature in His dealings, showing Himself without fault or blemish in His judgment and response. This illustrates God’s consistency and the fact that He acts righteously, mirroring the actions of humanity. It reinforces the biblical teaching that one reaps what one sows (Gal 6:7) and that divine justice is intrinsically linked to human conduct. It serves as an encouragement to pursue godly character, knowing that the Almighty will always be faithful and just in His response.

For example, consider how:

• A believer who extends forgiveness to others often finds the peace of God, demonstrating the Most High's mercy.
• Someone committed to ethical business practices, even when difficult, may see the Almighty's providential blessing or integrity manifest in unexpected ways in their life, showing His blamelessness.