Psalm 25:10 kjv
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psalm 25:10 nkjv
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
Psalm 25:10 niv
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
Psalm 25:10 esv
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psalm 25:10 nlt
The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
Psalm 25 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 34:6-7 | The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth... | God's self-revelation of His attributes. |
| Deut 7:9 | ...know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy... | God as the faithful covenant-keeper. |
| 1 Kgs 8:23 | "O Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy..." | God's uniqueness in covenant faithfulness. |
| Ps 36:5 | Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. | God's boundless mercy and truth. |
| Ps 40:10-11 | I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart... Let Your mercy and Your truth continually preserve me. | Praying for God's steadfastness and truth. |
| Ps 57:3 | He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. | God sending mercy and truth for deliverance. |
| Ps 85:10 | Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. | Personification of divine attributes. |
| Ps 86:15 | But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. | Echoes Ex 34:6, emphasizing God's character. |
| Ps 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. | Attributes underlying God's reign. |
| Ps 92:2 | To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, | God's constant, unending loyalty. |
| Ps 103:17-18 | But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant... | God's eternal mercy towards covenant keepers. |
| Ps 119:1-2 | Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies... | Blessing for adherence to God's ways. |
| Ps 119:33-34 | Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes... Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. | Prayer for understanding to keep the law. |
| Deut 5:29 | Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments... | God's desire for His people's obedience. |
| Deut 10:12-13 | ...what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways... and to keep the commandments of the Lord...? | God's fundamental requirements for Israel. |
| Prov 3:3 | Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck... | Human embodiment of divine attributes. |
| Is 48:17 | Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer... "I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go." | God guiding on profitable paths. |
| Jer 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts... | New Covenant: God enabling internal obedience. |
| Lk 11:28 | But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" | New Testament emphasis on hearing and doing. |
| Rom 3:3-4 | For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true though every man a liar... | God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. | God's unchangeable character of faithfulness. |
| Rev 22:14 | Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life... | Final blessing for obedience in the new creation. |
Psalm 25 verses
Psalm 25 10 Meaning
Psalm 25:10 declares that all of God's ways and dealings with humanity are characterized by His unwavering loyal love (chesed) and steadfast faithfulness ('emet). This divine truth, however, is specifically experienced and revealed to those who faithfully uphold and observe His covenant and His divine decrees (testimonies). It assures the obedient that God's nature towards them is consistently dependable and compassionate.
Psalm 25 10 Context
Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm (though not perfectly structured in the Hebrew) by David, characterized as a heartfelt prayer and lament. The surrounding verses reveal David's plea for God's guidance ("Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths," v. 4), instruction in righteousness ("Lead me in Your truth and teach me," v. 5), forgiveness for past sins ("Do not remember the sins of my youth," v. 7), and deliverance from enemies. Amidst these personal requests, verse 10 functions as a declarative statement of faith and assurance. It affirms God's consistent nature and operation in the world, particularly towards those who adhere to His commands. This foundational belief provides the psalmist with confidence in appealing to God's character despite his present distress and need for grace.
Psalm 25 10 Word analysis
- All (כָּל־, kol): Implies completeness and universality. Not just some but every single path.
- the paths (אָרְחוֹת, 'orchot): Refers to God's ways of acting, His modes of operation, His dealings, or His providence in the world. It signifies not physical routes, but His moral and active course. The plural emphasizes the variety and totality of His interactions.
- of the Lord (יְהוָה, Yahweh): The personal, covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful nature. It highlights that these characteristics (mercy and truth) flow from His very being and are consistent with His covenant relationship with Israel.
- are mercy (חֶסֶד, chesed): This pivotal Hebrew term signifies "steadfast love," "loyal love," "kindness," "covenant loyalty," or "unfailing love." It is more than mere pity; it is an active, persistent, and loyal love that God shows in His covenant relationships. It points to God's benevolence and His commitment to His promises.
- and truth (וֶאֱמֶת, ve'emet): From the root aman, meaning firm, stable, faithful. 'Emet signifies "faithfulness," "reliability," "stability," or "integrity." It describes God's unwavering adherence to His own character, promises, and word. When paired with chesed, it highlights God's dependable and unfailing goodness in all His dealings.
- Unto such as keep (לְנֹצְרֵי, lenots'rei): "To guard," "observe," "preserve," "keep watch over." This active verb implies intentional and diligent adherence, not passive reception. It denotes careful observance and safeguarding of God's revealed will.
- His covenant (בְּרִיתוֹ, berito): A formal, divinely instituted agreement between God and His people, entailing mutual obligations and promises. Here, it refers primarily to the Mosaic Covenant, embodying the laws and principles by which Israel was to live.
- and His testimonies (וְעֵדֹתָיו, ve'edotav): Literally "His witnesses" or "His decrees." These are divine precepts, laws, or commands that bear witness to God's will and character. Often synonymous with God's law or statutes, they are foundational for proper living and relationship with Him.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "All the paths of the Lord": This phrase describes God's entire manner of conduct, His methods, and His operations in the world. It emphasizes that every aspect of His interaction with humanity flows from His inherent character. Scholars highlight that 'paths' are His providential ways of working and leading.
- "are mercy and truth": This core assertion reveals the two inseparable and foundational attributes defining God's dealings. Chesed (loyal love) denotes His steadfast goodness and benevolence, while 'emet (truth/faithfulness) guarantees His reliability and integrity. They form a consistent banner over all His interactions.
- "Unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies": This delineates the recipients of the full manifestation and experience of God's chesed and 'emet. It is not that God lacks these attributes for others, but that their full scope, benefits, and protective nature are deeply experienced by those who walk in intentional obedience to His established relationship (covenant) and His revealed will (testimonies). This is a foundational principle of Old Covenant theology and finds New Covenant resonance in themes of faithful obedience (e.g., John 14:21).
Psalm 25 10 Bonus section
This verse can be understood as an early expression of the concept of "doing truth." It is not merely believing in God's truth, but actively walking in alignment with it, by "keeping" His covenant and testimonies. This resonates with the New Testament concept of "doing the truth" (John 3:21) or "obeying the truth" (Gal 5:7, 1 Pet 1:22). The "paths of the Lord" can be seen as reflecting God's established moral and relational order for the world; for humans to experience their blessing, they must align their own paths with His. This verse offers comfort not just in abstract theological understanding but also practical encouragement for the believer that God's consistent goodness undergirds every aspect of their obedient journey.
Psalm 25 10 Commentary
Psalm 25:10 offers a profound theological statement that grounds the psalmist's prayer in God's unchanging nature. It is an affirmation that Yahweh, the covenant God, consistently operates from His fundamental character of chesed (steadfast love/covenant loyalty) and 'emet (faithfulness/truth). These two divine attributes are not merely theoretical but are manifested in all His "paths"—His active ways of relating to and guiding His people. While God is inherently merciful and truthful to all creation (Ps 145:9), the full experience and revelation of these qualities are particularly promised to and enjoyed by those who choose to live in loyal obedience to His covenant and His divine laws (testimonies). This verse therefore highlights the reciprocal nature of the covenant relationship: God is ever faithful to His character, and His blessings and protection are realized by those who are faithful to His revealed will. It serves as an assurance to the believer that walking in God's ways means walking under the banner of His unfailing love and unwavering dependability. Practically, this means a believer facing trials can cling to the promise that God's ways towards them will still be characterized by His merciful and truthful nature, especially when they strive to uphold His commands.