Psalms 27:11
in Psalms 27Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; And lead me in a plain path, Because of mine enemies.
KJV
Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
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This verse in Psalms 27
Commentary
12 notes on this verseTeach me thy way, O Lord. He does not pray to be indulged with his own way, but to be informed as to the path in which the righteous Jehovah would have him walk. This prayer evinces an humble sense of personal ignorance, great teachableness of spirit, and cheerful obedience of heart. Lead me in a plain path. Help is here sought as well as direction; we not only need a map of the way, but a guide to assist us in the journey.
This site's exposition
Teach me Your way
on Psalms 27:11-12
David asks for teaching and for a level path, and the verse gives the reason, his oppressors. A level path is a road cleared of the traps an enemy sets on it. Verse 12 names them, false witnesses breathing out violence.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Appoint me a law, O Lord, in Your way" [Psalm 27:11]. For me then who am setting out toward You, and commenting so great a profession, of arriving at wisdom, from fear, appoint, O Lord, a law in Your way, lest in my wandering Your rule abandon me. "And direct me in the right path because of mine enemies." And direct me in the right way of its straits. For it is not enough to begin, since enemies cease not until the end is attained.
Give the law to me concerning your way, show what you wish, what you do not wish, what you love, what you hate. I will offend if I do not learn what I ought. And since my enemies are eager for nothing other except that …
In place of "Guide me by law," Aquila and Theodotion said, "Illuminate," whereas Symmachus has, "Give me a glimpse of your way." … Become for me in your own person both lawgiver and guide, giving me a glimpse of the path leading to you.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Establish a law." Above, the Psalmist presented two petitions: the first was for the vision of the divine face; the second for the help of divine protection; here, however, he presents another petition for the direction of his way. And concerning this he does two …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Teach me thy way, O Lord,....
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And let our hearts be thus affected in singing this psalm. Encouragement in Prayers. 1 The L ORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the L ORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Teach me thy way, O Lord. He does not pray to be indulged with his own way, but to be informed as to the path in which the righteous Jehovah would have him walk. This prayer evinces an humble sense of personal ignorance, great teachableness of spirit, and cheerful obedience of heart. Lead me in a plain path. Help is here sought as well as direction; we not only need a map of the way, but a guide to assist us in the journey. A path is here desired which shall be open, honest, straightforward, in opposition to the way of cunning, which is intricate, tortuous, dangerous. Good men seldom succeed in fine speculations and doubtful courses; plain simplicity is the best spirit for an heir of heaven: let us leave shifty tricks and political expediencies to the citizens of the world—the New Jerusalem owns plain men for its citizens. Esau was a cunning hunter, Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. Because of mine enemies. These will catch us if they can, but the way of manifest, simple honesty is safe from their rage. It is wonderful to observe how honest simplicity baffles and outwits the craftiness of wickedness. Truth is wisdom. "Honesty is the best policy."
Teach me thy way, O Lord. He does not pray to be indulged with his own way, but to be informed as to the path in which the righteous Jehovah would have him walk. This prayer evinces an humble sense of personal ignorance, great teachableness of spirit, and cheerful obedience of heart. Lead me in a plain path. Help is here sought as well as direction; we not only need a map of the way, but a guide to assist us in the journey.
Teach me thy way - Let me know the gracious designs of thy providence towards me, that my heart may submit to thy will. And lead me in a plain path - In the path of righteousness, because of mine enemies, who watch for my halting.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Teach me thy way, O Lord - See the notes at Psa 25:4-5. And lead me in a plain path - Margin, “a way of plainness.” That is, a straight or smooth path. In other words, he prayed that he might be enabled to act wisely and right; he desired that God would teach him what he should do. Because of mine enemies - Margin, “those which observe me.” The translation in the text expresses the true sense. The word which is used is derived from a verb that signifies “to twist; to twist together;” and then, to oppress; to treat as an enemy. Here it refers to those who would treat him harshly or cruelly; and he prays that God would show him how to act in view of the fact that he was surrounded by such foes. They were harsh and cruel; they sought to overcome him; they laid snares for him. He knew not how to act so as to escape from them, and he, therefore, pleads that God would instruct and guide him.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
For my father and my mother have forsaken me At the time of coitus, they intended their own pleasure. As soon as their pleasure is over, this one turns his face this way and that one turns her face the other way.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
to the desires of my adversaries To the desire of my enemies, to have their desire fulfilled through me.
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. 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי | horeni | teach me | H3384 → | 80 times |
| יְהוָ֗ה | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ | darkekha | way your | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וּ֭נְחֵנִי | unecheni | and lead me | H5148 → | 39 times |
| בְּאֹ֣רַח | beorach | in a path of | H734 → | 58 times |
| מִישׁ֑וֹר | mishor | level ground | H4334 → | 23 times |
| לְ֝מַ֗עַן | lemaan | on account of | H4616 → | 272 times |
| שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃ | shorai | enemies my | H8324 → | 5 times |
ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִיteach me
horeniH3384 →80 times
יְהוָ֗הO Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָway your
darkekhaH1870 →707 times
וּ֭נְחֵנִיand lead me
unecheniH5148 →39 times
בְּאֹ֣רַחin a path of
beorachH734 →58 times
מִישׁ֑וֹרlevel ground
mishorH4334 →23 times
לְ֝מַ֗עַןon account of
lemaanH4616 →272 times
שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃enemies my
shoraiH8324 →5 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 86:11Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
it leads to
- Psalms 25:4–5
Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 143:8–10
Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 32:38–39
They will be My people, and I will be their God.
- Psalms 5:8
Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.
- Psalms 119:33
Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.
- Psalms 25:4–5
Through
Psalms 5:8Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- Psalms 86:11
Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
- Psalms 119:10
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arnobius the Younger, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 27; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 27; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 27:7 and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.