Psalms 25:12
in Psalms 25Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.
KJV
What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
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This verse in Psalms 25
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWhat man is he that feareth the Lord? Let the question provoke self examination. Gospel privileges are not for every pretender. Art thou of the seed royal or no? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Those whose hearts are right shall not err for want of heavenly direction. Where God sanctifies the heart he enlightens the head. We all wish to choose our way; but what a mercy is it when the Lord directs that choice, and makes free will to be goodwill!
This site's exposition
Who is the man who fears the LORD
on Psalms 25:12-14
The man who fears the LORD is taught the path chosen for him, and his descendants inherit the land. Verse 14 uses the Hebrew word sod, a private council or inner circle, so God lets him in on what He is doing. The covenant is shown to him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Who is the man that fears the Lord?" from which fear he begins to come to wisdom. "He shall establish a law for him in the way, which he has chosen" [Psalm 25:12]. He shall establish a law for him in the way, which in his freedom he has taken, that he may not sin now with impunity.
He now comes to the third section in which the psalmist discusses in detail who it is who fears the Lord or with what gift the Lord expresses his thanks.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Who is the man?" Here he invites others to confess. And first he presents what is necessary on our part. Second, what is to be hoped for from God. On our part it is required that we subject ourselves; otherwise we would trust in vain. …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
What man is he that feareth the Lord?
Sincerity will be our best security in the worst of times. Integrity and uprightness will be a man's preservation more than the wealth and honour of the world can be. These will preserve us to the heavenly kingdom.
5 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
What man is he that feareth the Lord? Let the question provoke self examination. Gospel privileges are not for every pretender. Art thou of the seed royal or no? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Those whose hearts are right shall not err for want of heavenly direction. Where God sanctifies the heart he enlightens the head. We all wish to choose our way; but what a mercy is it when the Lord directs that choice, and makes free will to be goodwill! If we make our will God's will, God will let is have our will. God does not violate our will, but leaves much to our choice; nevertheless, he instructs our wills, and so we choose that which is well pleasing in his sight. The will should be subject to law; there is a way which we should choose, but so ignorant are we that we need to be taught, and so wilful that none but God himself can teach us effectually.
What man is he that feareth the Lord? Let the question provoke self examination. Gospel privileges are not for every pretender. Art thou of the seed royal or no? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Those whose hearts are right shall not err for want of heavenly direction. Where God sanctifies the heart he enlightens the head. We all wish to choose our way; but what a mercy is it when the Lord directs that choice, and makes free will to be goodwill!
That feareth the Lord - Who has a proper apprehension of his holiness, justice, and truth; and who, at the same time, sees himself a fallen spirit, and a transgressor of God’s holy law, and consequently under the curse. That is the person that truly and reverently fears God. Him shall he teach - Such a person has a teachable spirit. The way that he shall choose - The way that in the course of Providence he has chosen, as the way in which he is to gain things honest in the sight of all men; God will bless him in it, and give him as much earthly prosperity as may be useful to his soul in his secular vocation.
That feareth the Lord - Who has a proper apprehension of his holiness, justice, and truth; and who, at the same time, sees himself a fallen spirit, and a transgressor of God’s holy law, and consequently under the curse. That is the person that truly and reverently fears God. Him shall he teach - Such a person has a teachable spirit. The way that he shall choose - The way that in the course of Providence he has chosen, as the way in which he is to gain things honest in the sight of all men; God will bless him in it, and give him as much earthly prosperity as may be useful to his soul in his secular vocation.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
What man is he - Who is he. The statement in this verse is intended to include every man; or to be universal. Wherever one is found who has the character here referred to, or whoever he may be, of him what is here affirmed will be true, that God will lead him in the way that he shall choose. That feareth the Lord - That is, a true worshipper of Yahweh, or that is truly a pious man: Psa 5:7. “Him shall he teach.” He will guide, or instruct him. See Psa 25:9. In the way that he shall choose - The way that the person ought to choose; or, in other words, in the right way. It is not the way that God shall choose, but the way that the pious person ought to choose: God will so instruct him that he shall find the true path.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Who is this man who fears the Lord? The Holy One, blessed be He, will guide him on the road that he chooses; that is the good road.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
His soul shall abide in prosperity When he abides in the grave, his soul shall abide in prosperity.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מִי־ | mi- | who? | H4310 → | 423 times |
| זֶ֣ה | zeh | this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| הָ֭אִישׁ | haish | [is] the person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| יְרֵ֣א | yere' | <the> fearing | H3373 → | 64 times |
| יְהוָ֑ה | yahweh | <of> Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| י֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ | yorenu | he teaches him | H3384 → | 80 times |
| בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ | bederekh | <in> [the] way | H1870 → | 707 times |
| יִבְחָֽר׃ | yivchar | [which] he will choose | H977 → | 171 times |
מִי־who?
mi-H4310 →423 times
זֶ֣הthis
zehH2088 →1180 times
הָ֭אִישׁ[is] the person
haishH376 →1663 times
יְרֵ֣א<the> fearing
yere'H3373 →64 times
יְהוָ֑ה<of> Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
י֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּhe teaches him
yorenuH3384 →80 times
בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ<in> [the] way
bederekhH1870 →707 times
יִבְחָֽר׃[which] he will choose
yivcharH977 →171 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- Psalms 33:18
Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
- Psalms 25:8–10
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
- Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Proverbs 8:10–11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Through
Ecclesiastes 12:13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your…
- Job 28:28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 10:12
Through
Psalms 37:23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Proverbs 16:9
Where this verse is studied
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About Psalms
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 25; Cassiodorus, EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 25:12; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.