The Meaning of Psalms 26:3 Explained

Psalms 26:3

KJV: For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

YLT: For Thy kindness is before mine eyes, And I have walked habitually in Thy truth.

Darby: For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth.

ASV: For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes; And I have walked in thy truth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thy lovingkindness  [is] before mine eyes:  and I have walked  in thy truth. 

What does Psalms 26:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 26:1-12 - A Declaration Of Loyalty To God
In some respects this psalm resembles the previous one, only, instead of entreaties for forgiveness, there are protestations of innocence. It may have been composed during Absalom's rebellion, and contains a strenuous protest against the dissembling and hypocrisy upon which that revolt was based. In these avowals of conscious rectitude, it should be borne in mind that David did not mean to claim absolute sinlessness, but rather to declare his innocence of the specific charges with which he had been assailed.
We all need the laver of purification mentioned in Psalms 26:6-7. Or better, let us repair to our Lord, who still washes the feet of His disciples, as in John 13:1-38. Hatred to evil men is one side of the coin; love to God's house, the reverse. Either implies the other. However firm our foot seems to stand, we all need the redeeming mercy and grace of God. Ah, the riches of His gentle goodness! Ephesians 2:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 26

1  David resorts to God in confidence of his integrity

What do the individual words in Psalms 26:3 mean?

For Your lovingkindness [is] before my eyes and I have walked in Your truth
כִּֽי־ חַ֭סְדְּךָ לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י וְ֝הִתְהַלַּ֗כְתִּי בַּאֲמִתֶּֽךָ

חַ֭סְדְּךָ  Your  lovingkindness  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
לְנֶ֣גֶד  before 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
עֵינָ֑י  my  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וְ֝הִתְהַלַּ֗כְתִּי  and  I  have  walked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בַּאֲמִתֶּֽךָ  in  Your  truth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.