Psalm 86 5

Psalm 86:5 kjv

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 86:5 nkjv

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Psalm 86:5 niv

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 86:5 esv

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Psalm 86:5 nlt

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

Psalm 86 verses

Psalm 86 5 Meaning

Psalm 86:5 articulates David's profound trust in God's essential character: His inherent goodness, His proactive readiness to forgive, and His superabundant steadfast love towards all who earnestly call upon Him. This verse establishes the foundation for David's petitions, appealing not to his own merit, but to the benevolent and compassionate nature of God Himself. It emphasizes God's generous and accessible grace.

Psalm 86 5 Context

Psalm 86 is a deeply personal prayer of David, categorized as a psalm of lament mixed with expressions of trust. David, feeling afflicted and poor, pleads with God for deliverance and protection from his enemies (Ps 86:1-4, 14, 16-17). Verse 5 serves as the theological bedrock of his plea: David grounds his urgent petitions not in his own righteousness, but squarely in God's immutable character. The chapter transitions from humble petition to confident assertion of God's unique greatness (Ps 86:8-10) and then back to renewed appeals based on God's steadfast love (Ps 86:13, 15). Historically, David's prayers often reflect periods of distress, pursuit by foes, or national crisis, where he instinctively turned to the character of the God of Israel as his ultimate hope. This verse implicitly sets God apart from pagan deities, who were typically viewed as capricious and needing appeasement, whereas the God of Israel is inherently good and eager to bless and forgive.

Psalm 86 5 Word analysis

• For you (כִּי־אַתָּה, Ki-attah): "For" introduces the reason or explanation for David's trust and plea. "You" is an emphatic pronoun, placing strong emphasis on God Himself as the subject, highlighting that this declaration is fundamentally about God's nature.
• Lord (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai): A title of respect and address for God, signifying "my Lord" or "my Master." It emphasizes His sovereignty and rightful authority over creation and particularly over the one who prays. It is distinct from the covenant name YHWH but often used in prayer to express reverent submission.
• are good (טוֹב, tov): This word describes God's inherent, unchanging moral perfection and benevolent disposition. It implies not just ethical uprightness, but also kindness, generosity, and benefit-conferring nature. God's goodness is His very essence, making Him intrinsically trustworthy.
• and ready to forgive (וְסַלָּח, v'sallaḥ): "And" connects God's forgiveness to His goodness. The Hebrew sallaḥ is a unique word exclusively used for God's act of pardoning sins, signifying His singular ability and disposition to remit offenses fully. It conveys an active, ongoing, and willing inclination to pardon, underscoring His grace rather than a reluctant action.
• abounding in steadfast love (וְרַב־חֶסֶד, v'rav-chesed): This is a profound composite term describing God's covenant loyalty and overflowing compassion.
  • abounding (rav): Signifies "great," "much," "plenteous," or "abundant." It implies an infinite supply, a characteristic of overflowing generosity.
  • steadfast love (chesed): One of the most significant theological terms in the Old Testament, denoting faithful, loyal, and enduring covenant love, often translated as "lovingkindness" or "mercy." It refers to God's faithful adherence to His promises and His deep, compassionate affection, especially towards His people. This term is frequently paired with "truth" or "faithfulness" and is a core attribute of God revealed in Ex 34:6-7. It ensures His commitment to His promises and people.
• to all who call upon you (לְכָל־קֹרְאֶיךָ, l'khol-qore'eikha):
  • to all (l'khol): Broadens the scope, indicating inclusivity. God's character is universally accessible to those who respond in faith. It does not limit His mercy to a select few.
  • who call upon you (qore'eikha): Implies sincere, earnest prayer, invocation, and turning to God in worship and supplication. It speaks of genuine dependence and seeking His face, a heartfelt appeal to His being and His name, demonstrating faith and reliance. It's an active seeking relationship.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "good and ready to forgive": These attributes speak to God's moral nature and His action rooted in that nature. His goodness leads Him to desire reconciliation, and His readiness to forgive makes it possible. This linkage reveals that God is not just abstractly good, but His goodness expresses itself practically in the offer of pardon.
• "abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you": This phrase ties God's character directly to its recipients. His covenant loyalty (hesed) is not limited to a select inner circle but is profusely poured out upon anyone who approaches Him sincerely through prayer and faith. This emphasizes the accessibility of God's grace and love to humanity.

Psalm 86 5 Bonus section

Psalm 86:5 captures a core aspect of God's self-revelation from Mount Sinai (Ex 34:6-7), making it a foundational statement for understanding divine mercy throughout the Old and New Testaments. This consistent portrayal highlights that God's desire to forgive and His capacity for steadfast love are not situational but are immutable aspects of His divine being. This character empowers Him to extend salvation through Christ in the New Testament, as it is His intrinsic "goodness" and "chesed" that move Him to provide a means for reconciliation. Thus, David's confidence in Ps 86:5 foreshadows the ultimate demonstration of God's love and forgiveness through the cross.

Psalm 86 5 Commentary

Psalm 86:5 stands as a profound summary of God's benevolent character, central to biblical revelation. David, facing overwhelming challenges, rests his hope entirely upon the essential nature of God rather than his own performance. He understands that God's goodness (tov) is not merely an ethical quality but an active benevolence, eager to impart benefit. This inherent goodness gives rise to His unique readiness to forgive (sallaḥ), a divine capacity no other being possesses. It speaks of a God who actively delights in pardoning, not begrudgingly. This is further magnified by His "abounding steadfast love" (rav-chesed), a covenantal love that is rich, faithful, and overflowing, signifying His commitment to His promises and His profound, compassionate loyalty. The most reassuring aspect is that this boundless goodness, ready forgiveness, and abundant steadfast love are available "to all who call upon" Him. This underscores God's universal invitation, ensuring that anyone, regardless of past transgressions or current struggles, who genuinely seeks Him through prayer and dependence, will find His gracious reception and boundless mercy. This verse beautifully encapsulates the God who is both holy and approachable, just and merciful, sovereign yet intimately involved with those who seek Him. It provides the unwavering hope for all who acknowledge their need for Him.

For example, when an individual feels weighed down by sin, this verse reminds them that God is ready to forgive. Or when feeling abandoned, it reminds that His love is abounding and steadfast. In prayer, understanding God is good gives confidence to ask boldly.