Psalm 25 5

Psalm 25:5 kjv

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:5 nkjv

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:5 niv

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:5 esv

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25:5 nlt

Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.

Psalm 25 verses

Psalm 25 5 Meaning

Psalm 25:5 is a heartfelt prayer of dependence, expressing a deep desire for divine instruction and patient trust in God as the ultimate source of deliverance and steadfast faithfulness. It highlights the believer's active reliance on God's continuous guidance and His character as Savior throughout all times.

Psalm 25 5 Context

Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm (though some verses deviate from the strict pattern) penned by David. It is a prayer arising from a state of distress, surrounded by enemies and burdened by past sins. The psalm expresses deep reliance on God for guidance, protection, forgiveness, and vindication. Verse 5 is nestled within David's urgent plea for God to act, following his appeal in verses 1-3 for protection from shame at the hands of his adversaries, and a general request for God's ways (v. 4). This verse pivots specifically to a plea for personal, daily, active instruction and patience, establishing God as the ultimate source of truth and salvation amidst the troubles David faces. It demonstrates a humility to be taught by God, acknowledging His supremacy and faithfulness.

Psalm 25 5 Word analysis

• Lead me (נָחֵנִי - nachēni): From the root נָחָה (nachah), meaning to guide, conduct, direct, or bring to a desired place. This is an active, ongoing process of divine direction, not a one-time event. It implies more than mere information; it suggests accompanying, protecting, and seeing through to an outcome, like a shepherd leading his flock.

• in Your truth (בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ - ba'amitteka):

  • truth (אֱמֶת - 'emet): Not just factual correctness, but deeply rooted in God's faithfulness, reliability, and enduring character. It speaks to His consistent and dependable nature, His covenant loyalty, and the reality of His Word. To be led "in truth" means to be guided in alignment with God's very being and promises.

• and teach me (וְלַמְּדֵנִי - v'lamm'deni): From the root לָמַד (lamad), meaning to learn, teach, instruct. This implies discipleship, receiving instruction, and forming character through divine precepts. It goes hand-in-hand with "leading" — God doesn't just show the way; He actively imparts wisdom and understanding.

• For You are the God of my salvation (כִּי־אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי - ki-ʼatta Elohei yishʻi):

  • God (אֱלֹהֵי - Elohei): A general term for God, but used here in the singular possessive "my God," emphasizing a personal relationship and trust.
  • salvation (יִשְׁעִי - yishʻi): From the root יָשַׁע (yasha`), meaning to save, deliver, rescue, bring to safety, or bring victory. It encompasses rescue from all forms of distress—enemies, sin, despair—and points to complete deliverance, both temporal and eternal. God is the sole and ultimate source of this deliverance.

• For You are... and for You I wait (וְאוֹתְךָ קִוִּיתִי - v'otkha qivviti):

  • I wait (קִוִּיתִי - qivviti): From the root קָוָה (qavah), meaning to wait for, look eagerly for, expect, hope for, bind together. This "waiting" is not passive idleness but an active, hopeful, and enduring posture of expectation and dependence, involving patient endurance and persistent trust. It often implies a hopeful anticipation of God's timing and intervention.

• all the day long (כָּל הַיּוֹם - kol hayom): Continuously, constantly, without interruption. It signifies the ongoing, perpetual nature of the Psalmist's hope, dependence, and expectation in God. It underscores the profound need for daily, consistent divine intervention and trust.

• "Lead me in Your truth and teach me": This phrase combines external guidance ("lead") with internal instruction ("teach"), highlighting a comprehensive need for God to direct one's path and impart His wisdom and character. It reflects a desire for life and thought to be shaped entirely by God's faithfulness.

• "For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day long": This forms the core justification and commitment. God's identity as "God of my salvation" is the reason for the Psalmist's unwavering hope. The "waiting all the day long" is the response of persistent, active reliance on this God who delivers, contrasting sharply with relying on human strength or fleeting solutions. It signifies exclusive and enduring trust.

Psalm 25 5 Bonus section

• Active Waiting: The Hebrew word qavah (קוה) for "wait" is much more active than passive. It implies stretching, straining, or binding oneself to an object of expectation. It’s a patient but earnest seeking and longing, akin to tying oneself to a mooring in anticipation of something appearing on the horizon. This isn't passive idleness but diligent prayer, study, and trust while waiting for God's timing.
• Holistic Guidance: The combination of "lead" and "teach" speaks to both practical direction (what to do, where to go) and moral/spiritual formation (why, how to think and be). God's truth affects both our external actions and our internal character.
• The Polemic Against Self-Reliance: By constantly affirming dependence on God for truth, teaching, salvation, and the act of waiting, David implicitly challenges any reliance on human wisdom, strength, or self-help schemes common in the ancient world. It's a surrender of personal autonomy in favor of divine sovereignty.
• The Role of the Holy Spirit: While written in the Old Testament, the principles here foreshadow the New Testament understanding of the Holy Spirit's work. He is the "Spirit of truth" (Jn 16:13) who guides and teaches believers into all truth, directly fulfilling the prayer for divine leading and instruction.

Psalm 25 5 Commentary

Psalm 25:5 captures the heart of true piety: a dependent pursuit of God's ways and a patient trust in His ultimate deliverance. David’s cry "Lead me in Your truth and teach me" is not merely a request for factual information but for a living orientation, for his entire being to be aligned with God's unfailing character and revealed will. He yearns for instruction that transforms his steps and shapes his understanding, ensuring he walks according to divine principles. The emphasis on "Your truth" points to God's inherent faithfulness and dependability, providing a sure foundation amidst life's uncertainties and the deceptive nature of the world.

The second part, "For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day long," reveals the theological bedrock of his prayer. His active, hopeful "waiting" (which implies patient endurance and persistent expectation) is rooted in God's very nature as the "God of my salvation." This personal confession identifies God as the singular source of rescue, security, and spiritual deliverance. The commitment to wait "all the day long" signifies a sustained, unbroken posture of reliance, indicating that dependence on God is not an intermittent activity but the pervasive rhythm of life. It acknowledges that God's timing is perfect and that true hope lies in continually looking to Him, regardless of how long the trial persists. This verse serves as a powerful model for believers seeking comprehensive divine guidance and a steadfast, patient walk with their unfailing God.