Psalm 86:11 kjv
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Psalm 86:11 nkjv
Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
Psalm 86:11 niv
Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11 esv
Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86:11 nlt
Teach me your ways, O LORD,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
Psalm 86 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 25:4-5 | Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths... | Plea for divine teaching and guidance. |
| Ps 27:11 | Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path... | Prayer for God's clear instruction and leading. |
| Ps 119:33 | Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes... | Desire to learn and follow God's laws. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word illuminates the path/way. |
| Ps 143:8 | Make me to know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. | Dependence on God for direction. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart... He will make straight your paths. | Reliance on God for guidance. |
| Isa 2:3 | ...He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths... | Prophecy of nations learning God's ways. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..." | Christ as the ultimate embodiment of God's Way and Truth. |
| Eph 4:20-24 | ...you learned Christ—if indeed you have heard him... to walk no longer... | Learning Christ means walking in new, truthful ways. |
| 1 Jn 1:6 | If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie... | Truth is connected to walking in light, not darkness. |
| 3 Jn 1:4 | I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | Affirmation of the joy found in walking truthfully. |
| Deut 6:4-5 | Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord... | The Shema, foundational call to undivided heart/love. |
| Josh 24:15 | ...choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. | Call to undivided allegiance. |
| 1 Kgs 18:21 | How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him... | Elijah's challenge against divided loyalties. |
| Matt 6:24 | No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one... | Cannot have a divided heart serving God and mammon. |
| Jas 1:6-8 | But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like... | Warning against being double-minded (undivided heart). |
| Jer 32:39 | I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever... | New Covenant promise of an undivided heart and fear of God. |
| Ezek 11:19 | I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. | Divine promise of internal transformation. |
| Ps 19:9 | The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever... | Describing the purity and permanence of reverential fear. |
| Ps 34:11 | Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. | Instruction on learning proper reverence for God. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... | Fear of God as foundational to wisdom. |
| Acts 9:31 | So the church... walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. | Practical example of walking in fear. |
| Heb 12:28 | ...let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe... | Fear of God is part of acceptable worship. |
Psalm 86 verses
Psalm 86 11 Meaning
Psalm 86:11 is a fervent prayer seeking divine instruction and alignment. It asks God to reveal His path, enabling the petitioner to live according to God's faithfulness and character. The petition culminates in a desire for an undivided heart, wholly focused on reverence for God's essential being and presence. It emphasizes the inseparable link between divine teaching, obedient living, and singular devotion to God.
Psalm 86 11 Context
Psalm 86 is a prayer of lament and trust attributed to David. It opens with urgent pleas for mercy and rescue, stemming from distress and need (vv. 1-7). David grounds his petition in God's character (vv. 8-10), acknowledging His incomparable greatness among the gods. Verse 11 marks a pivot, moving from specific appeals for help to a deeper request for spiritual instruction and an unwavering commitment to God's will. The context for the original audience, living in a polytheistic Near Eastern environment, makes the plea for an "unite my heart" profoundly significant, contrasting starkly with syncretistic practices or fragmented devotion. This psalm captures a yearning for undivided faithfulness to the unique God of Israel, Yahweh, especially against contemporary beliefs that permitted the worship of multiple deities or fragmented spiritual allegiances.
Psalm 86 11 Word analysis
- Teach me: (Hebrew: Yarah, יָרָה) To instruct, guide, point the way, shoot. Implies a divine imparting of wisdom and direction, not mere information but active demonstration.
- your way: (Hebrew: Derek, דֶּרֶךְ) A path, road, journey; metaphorically, a manner of life, conduct, God's moral order. It signifies God's divine principles and revealed will, encompassing behavior and doctrine.
- O Lord: (Hebrew: Yahweh, יְהוָה) The personal, covenantal name of God. Highlights the direct and intimate relationship the psalmist has with the sovereign Creator.
- that I may walk: (Hebrew: Halak, הָלַךְ) To go, walk, live, conduct oneself. Signifies an ongoing, active engagement with God's way, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical living.
- in your truth: (Hebrew: Emet, אֱמֶת) Firmness, faithfulness, reliability, veracity, stability. Refers to God's steadfast character and the reliability of His revealed word, which forms the basis for genuine living.
- unite: (Hebrew: Yachad, יָחַד) To join together, be united, make one. A rare verb here, signifying a bringing into singular focus, concentration, or integrity; removing division or duplicity.
- my heart: (Hebrew: Lev, לֵב) The innermost being, the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and conscience. It represents the totality of one's thoughts, desires, and decisions.
- to fear: (Hebrew: Yare, יָרֵא) To fear, be in awe of, reverence. Not a trembling terror, but a profound respect, humble submission, and worshipful honor due to God's holiness and majesty.
- your name: (Hebrew: Shem, שֵׁם) Represents the totality of God's character, reputation, essence, and authority as revealed through His mighty acts and attributes.
Words-group analysis:
- Teach me your way, O Lord: A humble petition for divine illumination. The psalmist acknowledges the inability to navigate life righteously without God's explicit instruction. It implies an openness and readiness to learn and follow.
- that I may walk in your truth: Reveals the purpose of divine teaching. The 'way' is God's will and law, and 'truth' is His unchanging faithfulness. The goal is to align one's entire conduct and life journey with God's reliable character and reality. This phrase speaks of an active, lived-out fidelity to God.
- unite my heart to fear your name: The core of the plea, signifying inward wholeness. A divided heart (e.g., serving God and other things, or internal conflict) hinders obedience and true reverence. "Unite" prays for singleness of purpose, an undivided allegiance where every faculty of the heart is aligned in reverent awe and worship of God's revealed being. It seeks purity of intention and loyalty against any form of spiritual distraction or compromise.
Psalm 86 11 Bonus section
The flow of this verse beautifully illustrates a progression from reception of divine instruction (Teach me) to obedient application (walk in your truth) and culminating in a purified motivation (unite my heart to fear your name). This is a comprehensive plea for total spiritual alignment. The emphasis on "your way" and "your truth" indicates that humanity cannot invent or discover this path; it must be revealed by God. The concept of "fearing His name" encapsulates the right response to who God is—reverent worship and faithful obedience stemming from a deep understanding of His majestic character. This verse is also notable for the intense personal appeal from David in distress, highlighting that true solace and direction are found in deep spiritual devotion to Yahweh alone, not in seeking worldly solutions or compromises.
Psalm 86 11 Commentary
Psalm 86:11 presents a three-fold, interconnected prayer that lays bare the deepest spiritual longing:
- Divine Instruction: "Teach me your way, O Lord." The psalmist first acknowledges dependency on God for knowledge. This isn't merely academic learning but an understanding of God's revealed character, His righteous standards, and His pathway for life. It's a prayer for personal divine pedagogy, acknowledging God as the supreme guide.
- Righteous Living: "that I may walk in your truth." The purpose of God's teaching is practical application. To "walk" signifies a consistent lifestyle, daily choices, and overall conduct. "Your truth" encompasses God's faithfulness and His ultimate reality. This means living consistently with who God is, His promises, and His moral will. The psalmist desires not just to know the truth, but to embody it in every step.
- Undivided Devotion: "unite my heart to fear your name." This is the foundation and culmination. A divided heart is one pulled in multiple directions by conflicting desires, loyalties, or doubts. To "unite" means to bring all of one's inner being—thoughts, emotions, will—into singular focus and unwavering allegiance. This unified heart is then directed toward "fearing God's name," which means to honor Him with profound reverence, submission, and worship due to His absolute holiness and authority. This fear is not terror but reverential awe that flows from a wholehearted devotion. Without this unified devotion, true walking in God's truth becomes difficult, if not impossible.Examples for practical usage:
- When faced with a difficult decision: pray for God to teach His way, seeking biblical counsel and prayerful discernment, to walk in His truth by making a decision aligned with His Word, and ensuring the decision comes from a united heart wanting to honor Him above all.
- In daily life: Consistently engage with Scripture (God's way), seek to apply its principles (walk in truth) rather than worldly standards, and actively surrender idols of money, fame, or self-will to maintain a united heart fearing His name.