Psalm 26:2 kjv
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Psalm 26:2 nkjv
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
Psalm 26:2 niv
Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
Psalm 26:2 esv
Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
Psalm 26:2 nlt
Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
Psalm 26 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 29:17 | "...You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness." | God knows the heart's true condition. |
| Job 23:10 | "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold." | God's testing leads to purification. |
| Psa 7:9 | "Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end...for You test hearts and minds, O righteous God." | God as the righteous tester of inner thoughts. |
| Psa 17:3 | "You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and found nothing..." | Divine nocturnal scrutiny revealing blamelessness. |
| Psa 51:10 | "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." | Desire for inward purity and renewal. |
| Psa 66:10 | "For You, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried." | God's testing refining His people. |
| Psa 139:23-24 | "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." | Comprehensive prayer for divine search and guidance. |
| Prov 17:3 | "The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts." | God uses trials to test the heart. |
| Jer 11:20 | "But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, Who tries the mind and the heart..." | God's role as the judge of hidden intentions. |
| Jer 17:10 | "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways..." | God alone deeply discerns the heart and actions. |
| Zech 13:9 | "I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested." | God's purifying work through suffering. |
| Mal 3:2-3 | "But who can endure the day of His coming?... For He is like a refiner’s fire... He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver..." | God's coming as a refiner for His people. |
| Rom 8:27 | "And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is..." | God, as Spirit, comprehends inner spiritual truth. |
| 1 Cor 2:11 | "...so also no one knows the thoughts of a person except his own spirit within him. So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." | Emphasizes only God knows heart's depths. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "...until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of hearts..." | Jesus reveals all hidden motives at judgment. |
| 2 Cor 13:5 | "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves." | Call for self-examination in faith. |
| 1 Thes 2:4 | "...but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing people, but as pleasing God who examines our hearts." | God examines motives of service and teaching. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword... and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." | God's Word discerns innermost parts. |
| Rev 2:23 | "...and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts..." | Jesus' absolute knowledge of inner being. |
| Jas 1:2-3 | "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." | Trials are a testing of faith leading to endurance. |
Psalm 26 verses
Psalm 26 2 Meaning
Psalm 26:2 is a profound plea from the psalmist to the LORD for a thorough and intimate examination of his inner being. It expresses a desire for divine scrutiny and vindication, reflecting confidence in God's discerning judgment while also seeking the purification of hidden motives and intentions. The verse asks God to meticulously inspect and refine every aspect of the psalmist's thoughts, emotions, and desires, likening the process to the testing and purification of precious metals.
Psalm 26 2 Context
Psalm 26 is a prayer of David, where he pleads for vindication from the LORD based on his integrity and blameless conduct. The psalmist contrasts his walk with God to that of the wicked, asserting his commitment to fellowship with the righteous and devotion to God's house. Verse 2 specifically acts as an invitation for God to conduct a thorough internal audit, providing the basis for his subsequent pleas for divine justice and protection. This appeal for scrutiny signifies the psalmist's confidence in his genuine desire for purity and alignment with God's will, amidst perceived slanders or a deep personal commitment to holiness. Historically and culturally, the concept of a just God testing and refining individuals was paramount in ancient Israelite thought, often using the metallurgy metaphor to represent a severe, yet ultimately beneficial, process.
Psalm 26 2 Word analysis
- Examine me: Hebrew: Bāḥanēnnî (בָּחֲנֵנִי), from the verb bāḥan (בָּחַן). This word means to test, scrutinize, prove, or assay, particularly in the context of metals being tested for purity. It implies a thorough, discerning, and discerning investigation, not just a superficial check. It's a request for God to truly see and ascertain the psalmist's nature.
- O LORD: Hebrew: Yĕhwāh (יְהוָה). This is the personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness, omnipotence, and His relationship with His people. Appealing to "Yahweh" highlights the personal nature of this plea for examination and reliance on God's covenant loyalty.
- and prove me: Hebrew: ûvĕḥānēnnî (וּבְחָנֵנִי). This is from the same root verb bāḥan (בָּחַן) as "examine." The conjunction "and" acts as an intensification, underscoring the psalmist's earnest desire for a complete and conclusive verification of his integrity. It implies a call for God to validate what He finds.
- try: Hebrew: ṣārᵉfāh (צָרְפָה), from the verb ṣārap̄ (צָרַף). This word is even stronger than bāḥan, meaning to refine, smelt, purify, or purge by fire. It denotes a process designed to remove all impurities, suggesting discomfort or pain, but ultimately leading to greater purity and strength. This reflects a desire for internal purification at a deep level.
- my reins: Hebrew: ḵilyōṯay (כִּלְיוֹתָי). Literally "my kidneys." In ancient Hebrew thought, the "reins" or kidneys were considered the seat of deep emotions, affections, innermost desires, and secret thoughts. They represented the most concealed and profound parts of one's being, often associated with one's conscience and hidden impulses.
- and my heart: Hebrew: vĕlibbî (וְלִבִּי). "My heart." In biblical understanding, the "heart" (lēḇ) represents the whole inner person – the mind, will, intellect, moral consciousness, intentions, and decision-making center. Together with "reins," it encompasses the entirety of the psalmist's inner world, from the deepest subconscious stirring to the conscious thoughts and motives.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me": This phrase reflects a twofold request: a deep inquiry into character, and then a confirmation or vindication of what is found. It speaks to God's all-knowing nature and the psalmist's willingness to be completely transparent.
- "try my reins and my heart": This progression indicates an intensifying desire for profound purification. The "reins" point to the hidden, instinctive, and emotional depths, while the "heart" refers to conscious thoughts, will, and intentions. This combination represents the full spectrum of one's inner being, seeking God's transformative fire to remove all spiritual dross.
Psalm 26 2 Bonus section
- Divine Initiative and Human Submission: While the psalmist initiates the request, the true action rests with God. It demonstrates a complete submission to God's judgment and refining power, recognizing that true assessment and purification ultimately come from Him.
- Holistic Inner Being: The use of both "reins" and "heart" together highlights the ancient Hebrew understanding of the person as a unity. It indicates that God is called to examine not just conscious thoughts but also the subconscious desires, motivations, and emotional roots of actions, reaching into the entire fabric of one's spiritual and psychological makeup.
- Not a Plea for Learning by God: God, being omniscient, does not need to "examine" or "try" to gain information. His testing is for the benefit of the tested (to reveal themselves to themselves, to others, or for purification), or to demonstrate the reality of a person's faith.
- Confidence in Purity (or desire for it): This verse does not reflect a person afraid of what God will find, but one confident in their commitment to walking blamelessly, or sincerely desiring to align themselves with God's perfect standard.
Psalm 26 2 Commentary
Psalm 26:2 stands as a bold and profound invitation to the Almighty. The psalmist, likely David, expresses a deep trust in God's righteousness and omniscience by explicitly asking for a divine inspection. This isn't a prayer born of doubt in God's knowledge, but rather a confident self-assertion combined with a humble desire for God's refining work. The metaphors drawn from metallurgy—examining, proving, and trying with fire—are key. They signify that the psalmist is not asking for a casual glance, but an intense, sifting process, capable of discerning the finest impurities. He understands that genuine purity is not just about outward actions but resides in the deepest recesses of one's "reins" (innermost being, often associated with emotions and conscience) and "heart" (the seat of intellect, will, and moral choice). This verse demonstrates a commitment to transparency before God and a readiness for the spiritual transformation that such divine scrutiny can bring, revealing both authenticity and any need for purification. It's a prayer that asks God to affirm inner integrity and cleanse any hidden motivations that do not align with His will.