TRV
Translation
King James Version
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Complete Jewish Bible
Since you are my rock and fortress, lead me and guide me for your name's sake.
Berean Standard Bible
For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.
American Standard Version
For thou art my rock and my fortress; Therefore for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me.
World English Bible Messianic
For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Geneva Bible (1599)
For thou art my rocke and my fortresse: therefore for thy Names sake direct mee and guide me.
Young's Literal Translation
For my rock and my bulwark art Thou, For Thy name's sake lead me and tend me.
In the KJVVerse 14,335 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 31 verses 1–8
1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Faith and prayer must go together. He that believes, let his pray - I believe, therefore I have spoken: and he that prays, let him believe, for the prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer. We have both here.
I. David, in distress, is very earnest with God in prayer for succour and relief. This eases a burdened spirit, fetches in promised mercies, and wonderfully supports and comforts the soul in the expectation of them. He prays, 1. That God would deliver him (Psa 31:1), that his life might be preserved from the malice of his enemies, and that an end might be put to their persecutions of him, that God, not only in his mercy, but in righteousness, would deliver him, as a righteous Judge betwixt him and his unrighteous persecutors, that he would bow down his ear to his petitions, to his appeals, and deliver him, Psa 31:2. It is condescension in God to take cognizance of the case of the greatest and best of men; he humbles himself to do it. The psalmist prays also that he would deliver him speedily, lest, if the deliverance were long deferred, his faith should fail. 2. That if he did not immediately deliver him out of his troubles, yet he would protect and shelter him in his troubles; "Be thou my strong rock, immovable, impregnable, as a fastness framed by nature, and my house of defence, a fortress framed by art, and all to save me." Thus we may pray that God's providence would secure to us our lives and comforts, and that by his grace we may be enabled to think ourselves safe in him, Pro 18:10. 3. That his case having much in it of difficulty, both in respect of duty and in respect of prudence, he might be under the divine guidance: "Lord, lead me and guide me (Psa 31:3), so order my steps, so order my spirit, that I may never do any thing unlawful and unjustifiable - against my conscience, nor unwise and indiscreet - against my interest." Those that resolve to follow God's direction may in faith pray for it. 4. That his enemies being very crafty, as well as very spiteful, God would frustrate and baffle their designs against him (Psa 31:4): "Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me, and keep me from the sin, the trouble, the death, they aim to entrap me in."
II. In this prayer he gives glory to God by a repeated profession of his confidence in him and dependence on him. This encouraged his prayers and qualified him for the mercies he prayed for (Psa 31:1): "In thee, O Lord! do I put my trust, and not in myself, or any sufficiency of my own, or in any creature; let me never be ashamed, let me not be disappointed of any of that good which thou hast promised me and which therefore I have promised myself in thee." 1. He had chosen God for his protector, and God had, by his promise, undertaken to be so (Psa 31:3): "Thou art my rock and my fortress, by thy covenant with me and my believing consent to that covenant; therefore be my strong rock," Psa 31:2. Those that have in sincerity avouched the Lord for theirs may expect the benefit of his being so; for God's relations to us carry with them both name and thing. Thou art my strength, Psa 31:4. If God be our strength, we may hope that he will both put his strength in us and put forth his strength for us. 2. He gave up his soul in a special manner to him (Psa 31:5): Into thy hands I commit my spirit. (1.) If David here looks upon himself as a dying man, by these words he resigns his departing soul to God who gave it, and to whom, at death, the spirit returns. "Men can but kill the body, but I trust in God to redeem my soul from the power of the grave," Psa 49:15. He is willing to die if God will have it so; but let my soul fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great. With these words our Lord Jesus yielded up the ghost upon the cross, and made his soul an offering, a free-will offering for sin, voluntarily laying down his life a ransom. By Stephen's example we are taught in, our dying moment, to eye Christ at God's right hand, and to commit our spirits to him: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. But, 2. David is here to be looked upon as a man in distress and trouble. And, [1.] His great care is about his soul, his spirit, his better part. Note, Our outward afflictions should increase our concern for our souls. Many think that while they are perplexed about their worldly affairs, and Providence multiplies their cares about them, they may be excused if they neglect their souls; whereas the greater hazard our lives and secular interests lie at the more we are concerned to look to our souls, that, though the outward man perish, the inward man may suffer no damage (Co2 4:16), and that we may keep possession of our souls when we can keep possession of nothing else, Luk 21:19. [2.] He thinks the best he can do for the soul is to commit it into the hand of God, and lodge that great trust with him. He had prayed (Psa 31:4) to be plucked out of the net of outward trouble, but, as not insisting upon that (God's will be done), he immediately lets fall that petition, and commits the spirit, the inward man, into God's hand. "Lord, however it goes with me, as to my body, let it go well with my soul." Note, It is the wisdom and duty of every one of us solemnly to commit our spirits into the hands of God, to be sanctified by his grace, devoted to his honour, employed in his service, and fitted for his kingdom. That which encourages us to commit our spirits into the hand of God is that he has not only created, but redeemed, them; the particular redemptions of the Old Testament church and the Old Testament saints were typical of our redemption by Jesus Christ, Gen 48:16. The redemption of the soul is so precious that it must have ceased for ever if Christ had not undertaken it; but, by redeeming our souls, he has not only acquired an additional right and title to them, which obliges us to commit them to him as his own, but has shown the extraordinary kindness and concern he has for them, which encourages us to commit them to him, to be preserved to his heavenly kingdom (Ti2 1:12): "Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth! redeem me according to a promise which thou wilt be true to."
III. He disclaimed all confederacy with those that made an arm of flesh their confidence (Psa 31:6): I have hated those that regard lying vanities - idolaters (to some), who expect aid from false gods, which are vanity and a lie - astrologers, and those that give heed to them, so others. David abhorred the use of enchantments and divinations; he consulted not, nor even took notice of, the flight of birds or entrails of beasts, good omens or bad omens; they are lying vanities, and he not only did not regard them himself, but hated the wickedness of those that did. He trusted in God only, and not in any creature. His interest in the court or country, his retreats or strongholds, even Goliath's sword itself - these were lying vanities, which he could not depend upon, but trusted in the Lord only. See Psa 40:4; Jer 17:5.
IV. He comforted himself with his hope in God, and made himself, not only easy, but cheerful, with it, Psa 31:7. Having relied on God's mercy, he will be glad and rejoice in it; and those know not how to value their hope in God who cannot find joy enough in that hope to counterbalance their grievances and silence their griefs.
V. He encouraged himself in this hope with the experiences he had had of late, and formerly, of God's goodness to him, which he mentions to the glory of God; he that has delivered doth and will. 1. God had taken notice of his afflictions and all the circumstances of them: "Thou hast considered my trouble, with wisdom to suit relief to it, with condescension and compassion regarding the low estate of they servant." 2. He had observed the temper of his spirit and the workings of his heart under his afflictions: "Thou hast known my soul in adversities, with a tender concern and care for it." God's eye is upon our souls when we are in trouble, to see whether they be humbled for sin, submissive to the will of God, and bettered by the affliction. If the soul, when cast down under affliction, has been lifted up to him in true devotion, he knows it. 3. He had rescued him out of the hands of Saul when he had him safe enough in Keilah (Sa1 23:7): "Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy, but set me at liberty, in a large room, where I may shift for my own safety," Psa 31:8. Christ's using those words (Psa 31:5) upon the cross may warrant us to apply all this to Christ, who trusted in his Father and was supported and delivered by him, and (because he humbled himself) highly exalted, which it is proper to think of when we sing these verses, as also therein to acknowledge the experience we have had of God's gracious presence with us in our troubles and to encourage ourselves to trust in him for the future.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–8. Public domain.
Copy as
Evagrius PonticusAD 399
NOTES ON THE PSALMS 30[31].4
He leads through right faith and works and nourishes through his own understanding.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 31
"For You are My strength, and My refuge" [Psalm 31:3]. For You are unto Me My strength to bear My persecutors, and My refuge to escape them. "And for Your Name's sake You shall be My guide, and shall nourish Me." And that by Me You may be known to all the Gentiles. I will in all things follow Your will; and, by assembling, by degrees, Saints unto Me, You shall fulfil My body, and My perfect stature.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 31:3
Now, through all the verses occurring here, at any rate, we learn the measure of his prudence: his appeal for divine assistance is made on the basis not of his own virtue but of God’s name and of God’s righteousness and because he hoped in him.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Psalms 31:3 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalms 31:3 is a profound declaration of unwavering trust and a fervent prayer for divine guidance, articulated by the psalmist from a posture of deep distress and vulnerability. It establishes God as the psalmist's absolute and unyielding refuge, metaphorically depicted as an impenetrable "rock" and "fortress." Building upon this foundational confidence in God's inherent character and sovereign power, the psalmist appeals to God's very "name's sake"—His reputation, honor, and covenant faithfulness—as the compelling basis for a plea for active, personal leadership and unerring direction. This verse encapsulates a pivotal moment of turning from overwhelming circumstances to the steadfast nature of God as the ultimate source of security, wisdom, and deliverance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 31:3 is rich with literary artistry that profoundly enhances its theological impact and emotional resonance. The most prominent device is Metaphor, where God is described not literally, but as "my rock" and "my fortress." These are powerful comparisons that convey God's attributes of stability, strength, and impenetrable protection in a way that is both tangible and deeply reassuring. The repeated use of the possessive "my" personalizes these metaphors, transforming God from a general concept into an intimate, personal refuge for the psalmist. The verse also employs Parallelism in the concluding plea, "lead me, and guide me." This is a form of synonymous or complementary parallelism, where two phrases express similar or reinforcing ideas, intensifying the request for comprehensive divine direction and emphasizing the psalmist's complete reliance on God for every step. Furthermore, the profound phrase "for thy name's sake" functions as a potent Appeal to Divine Character, a rhetorical and theological device that grounds the human petition not in human worthiness, but in the unchangeable nature, covenant faithfulness, and inherent glory of God Himself, highlighting His honor as the ultimate reason for His intervention.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates the biblical truth that God is the ultimate and sole source of security and wisdom for His people. It connects profoundly to the broader theme of divine providence, where God actively intervenes in the lives of His faithful, not based on their merit, but on His own immutable character and steadfast promises. The declaration of God as "rock" and "fortress" resonates throughout Scripture, affirming His unwavering protection, fidelity, and constancy in the face of human vulnerability and external threats. The appeal "for thy name's sake" underscores the profound theological principle that God acts ultimately to uphold His own glory and honor, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant and His redemptive purposes in the world. This perspective transforms prayer from a mere request into an act of worship and humble alignment, where human desires are submitted to and find their deepest meaning within God's sovereign will and glorious character.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 31:3 offers a timeless and profoundly practical model for believers navigating life's inevitable storms and uncertainties. It teaches us to first anchor our identity and hope in God's unshakeable nature, declaring Him as our personal "rock" and "fortress" even before articulating our needs or fears. This foundational declaration shifts our focus from the overwhelming nature of our problems to the infinite power, steadfast character, and unwavering faithfulness of God. In a world fraught with uncertainty, anxiety, and often hostile forces, this verse calls us to profound dependence, reminding us that true security is found not in human strength, financial stability, worldly influence, or self-reliance, but solely and completely in the divine. Building on this foundation of trust, we are then empowered to humbly and earnestly seek His active guidance in every decision, big or small, knowing that He desires to lead us. The appeal "for thy name's sake" reminds us that our prayers are effective not because of our eloquence, our perceived worthiness, or our perfect performance, but because they align with God's unchanging nature and His passionate desire to glorify Himself through His faithful care for His children. This verse encourages us to live lives of confident trust, knowing that the God who is our impregnable refuge is also the God who delights to lead and guide us in paths that honor His glorious name.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the psalmist appeal "for thy name's sake" instead of his own merit or righteousness?
Answer: The appeal "for thy name's sake" is a profound theological statement that reflects a deep understanding of God's character and covenant faithfulness. In ancient Near Eastern thought, a "name" represented the essence, reputation, and authority of a person. Therefore, when the psalmist appeals to God's "name's sake," he is not asking God to act because of any personal merit, righteousness, or worthiness on his part. Instead, he is appealing to God's inherent nature, His unchanging attributes, His covenant promises, and His desire to uphold His own glory in the world. It means that God's honor and reputation are involved in delivering and guiding His devoted servant. It's an appeal to God's faithfulness to Himself, demonstrating that God's actions are ultimately for His own glory, as seen in passages like Isaiah 48:11. This shifts the basis of the prayer from human deserving to divine character, making the prayer ultimately about God's glory rather than the supplicant's worth.
How can God be both a "rock" and a "fortress"? Aren't they essentially the same thing?
Answer: While both "rock" and "fortress" convey the idea of protection and security, they carry distinct nuances that, when combined, offer a more comprehensive and robust picture of God's defensive nature. A "rock" (H5553, çelaʻ) typically refers to a natural, unyielding, immovable geological feature—a craggy cliff or a massive boulder. It emphasizes God's inherent stability, permanence, and the unassailable, natural refuge He provides by His very being. It speaks to His immutability and steadfastness, a place of natural, unmovable safety. A "fortress" (H4686, mâtsûwd), on the other hand, refers to a constructed stronghold, a fortified place, or a castle built for strategic defense. This implies an active, designed, and often impenetrable sanctuary. It speaks to God's deliberate and active provision of safety, His strategic protection against external attacks, and His ability to enclose and secure His people. Thus, "rock" highlights God's inherent, unchangeable nature as a refuge, while "fortress" emphasizes His active, strategic, and impenetrable defense, both assuring the believer of complete security in Him.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 31:3 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the true and living "Rock" upon whom the church is built, the unshakeable foundation that cannot be moved, as powerfully declared by Peter in Matthew 16:18. Just as the Israelites drank from the spiritual rock that followed them in the wilderness, so too Christ is the spiritual Rock who provides living water and sustenance for His people, a truth illuminated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:4. He is our ultimate "Fortress," the one in whom we find complete refuge from the accusations of sin, the power of death, and the relentless assaults of the enemy. Through His atoning sacrifice, He has become our impenetrable sanctuary, a place of perfect safety and eternal security (Hebrews 6:18). The "name's sake" appeal is perfectly fulfilled in Christ, for it is through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection that God's name—His character of justice, mercy, holiness, and love—is supremely revealed and glorified. God acts "for His name's sake" by sending His Son to redeem humanity, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises and His desire to bring glory to Himself through the salvation of His people, as Paul explains in Ephesians 1:5-6. Furthermore, Jesus is the one who truly "leads" and "guides" His people. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep and leads them in paths of righteousness (John 10:11). He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life," the ultimate and unerring guide to the Father (John 14:6). In Christ, the psalmist's longing for an unshakeable refuge and unerring guidance is fully and eternally satisfied.