The Meaning of Psalms 27:11 Explained

Psalms 27:11

KJV: Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

YLT: Shew me, O Jehovah, Thy way, And lead me in a path of uprightness, For the sake of my beholders.

Darby: Teach me thy way, Jehovah, and lead me in an even path, because of mine enemies.

ASV: Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; And lead me in a plain path, Because of mine enemies.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Teach  me thy way,  O LORD,  and lead  me in a plain  path,  because of mine enemies. 

What does Psalms 27:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 27:1-14 - The Song Of Fearless Trust In God
This psalm probably dates from the time when the exiled king, surrounded by unscrupulous foes, looked from his hiding-place beyond the Jordan to the Holy City, where the Ark abode. One thing he desired above all else. The "one thing" people are irresistible, Philippians 3:13-14.
Here we have assurance, Psalms 27:1-6. God's house for us is His presence. We may live day by day in the New Jerusalem, which needs no light of sun or candle. We are in it, though we know it not. Oh, that our eyes might be opened to see where we are! 2 Kings 6:20. How beautiful must God be, who has made the world so fair!
Next we have supplication, Psalms 27:7-14. The triumphant note changes to sadness. Did the writer look from his Redeemer to the winds and waves? But sometimes God seems to hide His face only to draw us to a point of trust and abandonment which otherwise the soul had never dared to adopt, Mark 7:28. The dearest may forsake, but the Lord gathers, Isaiah 40:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 27

1  David sustains his faith by prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 27:11 mean?

Teach me Yahweh Your way and lead me in a path smooth because of my enemies
ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי

ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי  Teach  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ  Your  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וּ֭נְחֵנִי  and  lead  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָחָה  
Sense: to lead, guide.
בְּאֹ֣רַח  in  a  path 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹרַח  
Sense: way, path.
מִישׁ֑וֹר  smooth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִישֹׁור  
Sense: level place, uprightness.
לְ֝מַ֗עַן  because 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
שׁוֹרְרָֽי  of  my  enemies 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: שֹׁורֵר  
Sense: (Qal) to be an enemy.