The Meaning of Psalms 17:3 Explained

Psalms 17:3

KJV: Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

YLT: Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.

Darby: Thou hast proved my heart, thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me, thou hast found nothing: my thought goeth not beyond my word.

ASV: Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast proved  mine heart;  thou hast visited  [me] in the night;  thou hast tried  me, [and] shalt find  nothing; I am purposed  [that] my mouth  shall not transgress. 

What does Psalms 17:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David was not asking for acceptance by God because of his own righteousness. He claimed that in the present conflict, in which evil people were opposing him, he had done nothing worthy of their antagonism. God had examined David"s attitudes, as well as his actions, and had no basis for condemning him. Furthermore, David had previously made a strong commitment not to sin.
". . . he requests God to "test" his "heart" (see Psalm 7:9), i.e, to put him through every conceivable examination. The probing (bahan, see Psalm 7:9) of "the heart" ( Psalm 17:3 a) is a determination of the purity and integrity of the heart. Even as silver and gold underwent a refining process and were tested until the smith was satisfied with the purity of these precious metals, so the psalmist asks for an examination of his purity of devotion to God." [1]

Context Summary

Psalms 17:1-15 - God's True Servants Safely Kept
This also dates from the Sauline persecutions. In the earlier verses David protests his innocence, pleads for deliverance from his foes, and ends with glad anticipation of the vision of God. The psalm may have been composed for use at eventide; two at least of its verses point in that direction, Psalms 17:3; Psalms 15:1-5.
What a comfort it is to appeal from the accusations of men to the judgment-bar of God! Yet our sufferings at their hands are God's smelting-furnace. The Hebrew word translated tried is "melted," Psalms 17:3. But we cannot be kept without constant use of God's Word, Psalms 17:4. And then how safe we are! The apple of the eye-that is, the pupil-is defended by eye lash, lid, brow, bony socket, and uplifted arm. Thy wings, see Deuteronomy 32:11.
Note the contrast between Psalms 17:14 and Psalms 16:5; Psalms 16:11. The worldly are filled with this world-I with thee. They look for the things of this life-I for the unseen and eternal. They are satisfied with children-I with thy likeness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 17

1  David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies
10  He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness
13  He prays against them in confidence of his hope

What do the individual words in Psalms 17:3 mean?

You have tested my heart You have visited [me] in the night You have tried me nothing and have found I have purposed not [that] shall transgress my mouth
בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ לִבִּ֨י ׀ פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ לַּ֗יְלָה צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי בַל־ תִּמְצָ֑א זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י בַּל־ יַעֲבָר־ פִּֽי

בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ  You  have  tested 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּחַן  
Sense: to examine, try, prove.
לִבִּ֨י ׀  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ  You  have  visited  [me] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
לַּ֗יְלָה  in  the  night 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי  You  have  tried  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: צָרַף  
Sense: to smelt, refine, test.
בַל־  nothing 
Parse: Adverb
Root: בַּל 
Sense: not, hardly, else.
תִּמְצָ֑א  and  have  found 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י  I  have  purposed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: זָמַם  
Sense: to have a thought, devise, plan, consider, purpose.
יַעֲבָר־  [that]  shall  transgress 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
פִּֽי  my  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.