The Meaning of Psalms 61:7 Explained

Psalms 61:7

KJV: He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

YLT: He dwelleth to the age before God, Kindness and truth appoint -- they keep him.

Darby: He shall abide before God for ever: bestow loving-kindness and truth, that they may preserve him.

ASV: He shall abide before God for ever: Oh prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He shall abide  before  God  for ever:  O prepare  mercy  and truth,  [which] may preserve  him. 

What does Psalms 61:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 61:1-8 - Safe Under God's Protection
This psalm was probably composed at the time of Absalom's rebellion, when David was a fugitive from the Tabernacle that he loved. There are two stanzas.
Prayer, Psalms 61:1-4
The king was only across the Jordan, yet it seemed the end of the earth. He was at the end of human help. In overwhelming floods trouble poured all around, but in the distance he perceived the rock that towered above the waters. If he could but reach it, he would be safe. What rock is this save the Rock of Ages, that was cleft for us! We cannot reach or climb it by ourselves, but need to be led and lifted thither. And God answers, "I will put thee." See Exodus 33:22.
Confidence, Psalms 61:5-8
The psalmist quotes the great assurance of 2 Samuel 7:12-16, and turns it into prayer. Faith presents God's pledges to Himself, and affirms her confidence in their fulfillment. Thus we advance from step to step on the predestined road, knowing that Loving-Kindness and Truth have gone before us, to prepare the way of our steps and to discover themes for endless praise. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 61

1  David flees to God upon his former experience
4  He vows perpetual service unto him, because of his promises

What do the individual words in Psalms 61:7 mean?

He shall abide forever before God mercy and truth Oh prepare [which] may preserve him
יֵשֵׁ֣ב ע֭וֹלָם לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת מַ֣ן יִנְצְרֻֽהוּ

יֵשֵׁ֣ב  He  shall  abide 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
ע֭וֹלָם  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֱלֹהִ֑ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
חֶ֥סֶד  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת  and  truth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.
מַ֣ן  Oh  prepare 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: מָנָה  
Sense: to count, reckon, number, assign, tell, appoint, prepare.
יִנְצְרֻֽהוּ  [which]  may  preserve  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.