The Meaning of Psalms 32:6 Explained

Psalms 32:6

KJV: For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

YLT: For this doth every saintly one pray to Thee, As the time to find. Surely at an overflowing of many waters, Unto him they come not.

Darby: For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee at a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they will not reach him.

ASV: For this let every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For this shall every one that is godly  pray  unto thee in a time  when thou mayest be found:  surely in the floods  of great  waters  they shall not come nigh  unto him. 

What does Psalms 32:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David initially advised the godly to confess their sins quickly, so God would not remove Himself from them because of their sin, and seem harder to find later on. If one keeps short accounts with God, calamities that God sometimes uses to bring people to repentance will not overwhelm him.
"Guilt is to the conscience what pain is to the body: it tells us that something is wrong and must be made right, or things will get worse." [1]

Context Summary

Psalm 32:1-11 - The Song Of The Forgiven
David wrote this psalm, Romans 4:6-8. Maschil means "to give instruction." We are deeply instructed as to the working of conscience. Compare with Psalms 51:1-19. This was one of Luther's favorites.
For some time after his sin, David withheld confession and suffered terribly. But when the wound was opened and the poison pressed from it, he burst out in the words with which the psalm opens: Oh, the blessedness! Sin means missing the mark; iniquity is that which is turned aside from its course. Forgiven, covered, not imputed-each of these is true in Jesus.
The presence of God is always appreciably nearer when floods are running high. Note those three precious promises of instruction, teaching, and guidance, Psalms 32:8. Throw on God the responsibility of indicating your path. Don't wait for the sharp jerk of bit or bridle; let love prompt and inspire your every movement. Haydn said: "When I think on God, the notes dance from my pen." Remember the music and dancing that welcomed the prodigal! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 32

1  Blessedness consists in remission of sins
3  Confession of sins gives ease to the conscience
8  God's promises bring joy

What do the individual words in Psalms 32:6 mean?

For this [cause] shall pray everyone who is godly to You in a time when You may be found surely in a flood of waters great near him not they shall come
עַל־ זֹ֡את יִתְפַּלֵּ֬ל כָּל־ חָסִ֨יד ׀ אֵלֶיךָ֮ לְעֵ֪ת מְ֫צֹ֥א רַ֗ק לְ֭שֵׁטֶף מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים אֵ֝לָ֗יו לֹ֣א יַגִּֽיעוּ

זֹ֡את  this  [cause] 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
יִתְפַּלֵּ֬ל  shall  pray 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
כָּל־  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חָסִ֨יד ׀  who  is  godly 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָסִיד  
Sense: faithful, kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious.
אֵלֶיךָ֮  to  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לְעֵ֪ת  in  a  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
מְ֫צֹ֥א  when  You  may  be  found 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
רַ֗ק  surely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
לְ֭שֵׁטֶף  in  a  flood 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁטֶף  
Sense: flood, downpour.
מַ֣יִם  of  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
רַבִּ֑ים  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
אֵ֝לָ֗יו  near  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יַגִּֽיעוּ  they  shall  come 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.