The Meaning of Psalms 17:5 Explained

Psalms 17:5

KJV: Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

YLT: To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.

Darby: When thou holdest my goings in thy paths, my footsteps slip not.

ASV: My steps have held fast to thy paths, My feet have not slipped.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Hold up  my goings  in thy paths,  [that] my footsteps  slip  not. 

What does Psalms 17:5 Mean?

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 17:5 mean?

Uphold my steps in Your paths not [That] may slip my footsteps
תָּמֹ֣ךְ אֲ֭שֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ בַּל־ נָמ֥וֹטּוּ פְעָמָֽי

תָּמֹ֣ךְ  Uphold 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: תָּמַךְ  
Sense: to grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast.
אֲ֭שֻׁרַי  my  steps 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אָשֻׁר 
Sense: step, going.
בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ  in  Your  paths 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַעְגָּל 
Sense: entrenchment, track.
נָמ֥וֹטּוּ  [That]  may  slip 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
פְעָמָֽי  my  footsteps 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: פַּעַם  
Sense: stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence.