The Meaning of Psalms 5:7 Explained

Psalms 5:7

KJV: But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

YLT: And I, in the abundance of Thy kindness, I enter Thy house, I bow myself toward Thy holy temple in Thy fear.

Darby: But as for me, in the greatness of thy loving-kindness will I enter thy house; I will bow down toward the temple of thy holiness in thy fear.

ASV: But as for me, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house: In thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But as for me, I will come  [into] thy house  in the multitude  of thy mercy:  [and] in thy fear  will I worship  toward thy holy  temple. 

What does Psalms 5:7 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Verse Meaning

David did not claim a right to stand before God and to present his petitions on the basis of his own righteousness. He believed God would be merciful to him because God had made promises to bless David and his house ( 2 Samuel 7). The king believed God would be loyal to His servant. "Lovingkindness" (NASB) or "mercy" (NIV) means "loyal love" (Heb. hesed). The house and temple in view refer to the tabernacle David had pitched for the ark in Jerusalem ( 2 Samuel 6:17; cf. 1 Samuel 1:7; 1 Samuel 1:9). Rather than behaving arrogantly like the wicked, David prostrated himself before the Lord in worship. This posture expressed an attitude of humility and vulnerability in God"s presence.

Context Summary

Psalms 5:1-12 - Protection From The Wicked
The ordering of prayer is very necessary, Genesis 22:9. Our Lord's prayer should be our model. Often our words need to be supplemented by our meditations; that is, we must make room for the "groanings which cannot be uttered," but which the Spirit understands, Romans 8:26-27. Distinct from either of these is the urgent ejaculation for aid which is here described as the voice of my cry, Psalms 5:2. As soon as we awake, let us speak to God. We must keep watch for the answer, Psalms 5:3, r.v. How many answers we miss, because we get tired of waiting for the return of our ships!
Note the seven expressions for the ungodly, Psalms 5:4-7. As for me-the chief of sinners, but see 1 Corinthians 15:10. The Jew in prayer turned toward the Temple, Psalms 5:7; Daniel 6:10. Here the Tabernacle, which preceded it, stood for the same, 1 Samuel 1:9. We look to the Most Holy Place, whither Jesus has entered, Hebrews 10:19.
The ungodly are specially characterized by sins of speech, Psalms 5:9. Wicked men are like sepulchers, which exhale pestilential odors. Their doom is inevitable. Notice the combination of trust, love, and joy, Psalms 5:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 5

1  David prays, and professes his study in prayer
4  God favors not the wicked
7  David, professing his faith, prays to God to guide him
10  to destroy his enemies
11  and to preserve the godly

What do the individual words in Psalms 5:7 mean?

But I in the multitude of Your mercy will come into Your house I will worship toward temple Your holy in fear of You
וַאֲנִ֗י בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ אָב֣וֹא בֵיתֶ֑ךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־ הֵֽיכַל־ קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ

וַאֲנִ֗י  But  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
בְּרֹ֣ב  in  the  multitude 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
חַ֭סְדְּךָ  of  Your  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
אָב֣וֹא  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בֵיתֶ֑ךָ  into  Your  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה  I  will  worship 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
אֶל־  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הֵֽיכַל־  temple 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗  Your  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ  in  fear  of  You 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יִרְאָה  
Sense: fear, terror, fearing.