The Meaning of Psalms 86:2 Explained

Psalms 86:2

KJV: Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

YLT: Keep my soul, for I am pious, Save Thy servant -- who is trusting to Thee, O Thou, my God.

Darby: Keep my soul, for I am godly; O thou my God, save thy servant who confideth in thee.

ASV: Preserve my soul; for I am godly: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Preserve  my soul;  for I [am] holy:  O thou my God,  save  thy servant  that trusteth  in thee. 

What does Psalms 86:2 Mean?

Study Notes

trusteth
.
trust
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Context Summary

Psalms 86:1-17 - A Prayer To The God Of Mercy
This psalm is largely composed of quotations. When the soul is in great need, it is not concerned with inventing new forms of address to God, but avails itself of well-known and well-worn phrases. Our Lord in Gethsemane "prayed the same words." The background of the psalm is faith which reckons on God's goodness. Thou art good, Psalms 86:5; thou art great, Psalms 86:10; thou art merciful and gracious, Psalms 86:15. Be sure to build prayer upon the revelation of God's nature as given by Christ.
Psalms 86:1-5. That we are indeed poor and needy is our strongest plea with God. That we are holy is true only so far as we present Christ as our righteousness. That we cry all the day is a plea which God honors. But the best of all is the plenteousness of His lovingkindness.
Psalms 86:6-13. Again, in this strophe, there is the cry of need; and faith is helped by remembering that God's power is sufficient. God is so great that He can include our little life in His microscopic care.
Psalms 86:14-17. We can readily imagine the rabble that beset the psalmist, for we are similarly beset; but nearer than they can come is the calm and holy inner presence of God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 86

1  David strengthens his prayer by the consciousness of his religion
5  By the goodness and power of God
11  He desires the continuance of former grace
14  Complaining of the proud, he craves some token of God's goodness

What do the individual words in Psalms 86:2 mean?

Preserve my life for godly I [am] Save Your servant You [are] my God who trusts in You
שָֽׁמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁי֮ כִּֽי־ חָסִ֪יד אָ֥נִי הוֹשַׁ֣ע עַ֭בְדְּךָ אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֑י הַבּוֹטֵ֥חַ אֵלֶֽיךָ

שָֽׁמְרָ֣ה  Preserve 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
נַפְשִׁי֮  my  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
חָסִ֪יד  godly 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָסִיד  
Sense: faithful, kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious.
אָ֥נִי  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
הוֹשַׁ֣ע  Save 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
עַ֭בְדְּךָ  Your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אַתָּ֣ה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
אֱלֹהַ֑י  my  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הַבּוֹטֵ֥חַ  who  trusts 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
אֵלֶֽיךָ  in  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).