Psalms 26:11 — Word Study
WLCוַ֭אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּ֥י אֵלֵ֗ךְ פְּדֵ֣נִי וְחָנֵּֽנִי׃
BSA◂But Iʼănîy [as for me, personally] with integritytôm [in my innocence, complete, morally pure] redeem mepâdâh [ransom, rescue] and be merciful to mechânan [show kindness, be gracious]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַ֭אֲנִי | and I | Conjunction, pronoun |
| בְּתֻמִּ֥י | in integrity my | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| אֵלֵ֗ךְ | I will walk | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| פְּדֵ֣נִי | redeem me | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| וְחָנֵּֽנִי׃ | and show favor to me | Conjunction, verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me. |
| KJV | But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. |
| ASV | But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: Redeem me, and be merciful unto me. |
| YLT | And I, in mine integrity I walk, Redeem me, and favour me. |
| WEB | But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me. |
| BBE | But as for me, I will go on in my upright ways: be my saviour, and have mercy on me. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of בְּתֻמִּ֥י — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around the main action of walking with integrity, followed by two requests that emphasize the psalmist's reliance on God.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֲנִי
verbהלך
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 26:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Plea for Deliverancegenerated
Psalm 26:11 is part of a larger plea where the psalmist contrasts his integrity with the wickedness of others. He requests that God redeem him and show mercy, highlighting his commitment to moral purity in a world filled with deceit and violence. This verse encapsulates the psalmist's desire for divine intervention based on his righteous conduct, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 26:1 | Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 12:2–5 | Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 31:20–21 | So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God. |
| 4 | Nehemiah 5:15 | The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God. |
| 5 | Job 1:1 | There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בְּתֻמִּ֥י, be.tu.Migenerated
The word תֹּם (tom) signifies completeness and integrity, suggesting a state of moral purity and innocence. It is derived from a root meaning to be whole or perfect, thus indicating a life lived with integrity and simplicity.
In this verse, the psalmist declares his intention to walk in integrity, which emphasizes his commitment to a morally upright life. This choice of word underscores the importance of personal integrity in the psalmist's relationship with God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions reflecting the psalmist's commitment to integrity and his plea for redemption and mercy.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is אֵלֵ֗ךְ, I will walk, which governs the overall action. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the manner of walking, followed by two clauses that express requests for redemption and mercy.
The word order emphasizes the psalmist's personal commitment to integrity first, followed by his appeals to God, highlighting the relationship between his moral stance and his requests.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בְּתֻמִּ֥י as μου, which indicates possession and personal application. This choice suggests a focus on the psalmist's own integrity as the basis for his appeal to God.
The Greek word ἐπορεύθην for 'I will walk' reflects a similar action but may carry different nuances in the context of the Greek translation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 26:11 expresses the psalmist's commitment to walk with integrity while asking God to redeem him and show mercy. This reflects his desire for divine help based on his moral character.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Walking with integrity means living a life that is morally pure and complete, reflecting honesty and uprightness in actions.
The psalmist seeks redemption as a plea for God to rescue him from his circumstances, emphasizing the need for divine intervention.
Asking for mercy highlights the psalmist's recognition of his dependence on God's grace and kindness in his life.
This verse relates to the surrounding verses by contrasting the psalmist's integrity with the wickedness of others, reinforcing his plea for God's protection and favor.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I demonstrate integrity in my daily life?
- How do I seek God's redemption and mercy in my own circumstances?
- What does it mean to me to walk with integrity in a world that often lacks it?
- How can I rely on God's kindness and grace in my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators like Augustine of Hippo and Cassiodorus reference this verse to discuss themes of integrity and divine mercy, drawing from the psalmist's expressions.
"But I have walked in mine innocence: deliver me, and have mercy on me" [Psalms 26:11].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 26 →
“Redeem me,” means, make me free through the precious blood of your first advent by which the world was delivered when it was being held subject to sins.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 26 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 26:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBut as for me, I will walk in mine integrity,.... In which he had hitherto walked, Psalms 26:1; or it may express his faith, that after he was gathered by death he should walk in uprightness and
Read John Gill on Psalms 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBut as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. Walk in mine integrity - resuming the theme, Psalms 26:1.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 26 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.Ver. 11. But as for me, I will walk] Whatever others do, their example shall be no rule to me to deviate. See my Righteous Man’ s Recompense, D. 1. Redeem me, &c.] For I am likely to suffer deeply for my singularity.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 26 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity] Whatever I may have to do with public affairs, shall be done with the strictest attention to truth, justice, and mercy. Redeem me] From all snares and plots laid against my life and my soul. And be merciful unto me.] I deserve no good, but thou art merciful; deal with me ever in thy mercy.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. With such evil-doers the Psalmist contrasts himself. His purpose, if his life is spared, is to shape his conduct as hitherto; and therefore he prays redeem me (Psalms 25:22), deliver me from the fate of the wicked, and be gracious unto me (Psalms 4:1, note).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 26 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBut as for me - The Hebrew is, “and I.” But there is evidently a contrast between what he purposed to do, and the course of life pursued by those to whom he had just referred; and this is correctly
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 26 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11. But as for me—Against all the forms of evil and evil men described hitherto, the psalmist opposes his own purpose and desire to “walk in his integrity.” This is the reason why his prayer should be heard.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 26 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me.
But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.
But I have integrity! Rescue me and have mercy on me!
Tyndale line
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: Redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity: redeem me, and be merciful to me.
But I will walke in mine innocencie: redeeme me therefore, and be mercifull vnto me.
Strictly literal
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity. Redeem me, and be gracious unto me.
And I, in mine integrity I walk, Redeem me, and favour me.
And I walk in my integrity, || Redeem me, and favor me.
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity: redeem me, and be gracious unto me.
But as for me, I will walk in integrity; redeem me and have mercy on me.
From the Latin
Set me, O Lord, a law in thy way, and guide me in the right path, because of my enemies.
Simplified
For I don't do that—I act with integrity. Save me and be gracious to me!
But as for me, I will go on in my upright ways: be my saviour, and have mercy on me.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all five words matched. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls show some editorial restoration, as the text is partially supplied by an editor.
וַ֭אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּ֥י אֵלֵ֗ךְ פְּדֵ֣נִי וְחָנֵּֽנִי׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ואני] [בתמ׳י] [אלך] [פד׳ני] [והחי׳ני]
nothing on the leather here — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 26:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp1bs
תֹּם (tom) refers to completeness or integrity, encompassing notions of fullness, innocence, and simplicity. It is derived from a root meaning to be complete or perfect. The word appears in contexts related to moral uprightness and wholeness, though the specific verses are not detailed in the entries.
תֹּם n.[m.] completeness, integrity
completeness, fulness
innocence, simplicity
integrity
תֻּמִּים
base
H8537 תֹּם completeness, integrity
8537 tom tome
from 8552; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually
(morally) innocence:--full, integrity, perfect(-ion),
simplicity, upright(-ly, -ness), at a venture. See 8550.
see HEBREW for 08552
see HEBREW for 08550
תֹּם (tom) — integrity.
1) integrity, completeness
1a) completeness, fulness
1b) innocence, simplicity
1c) integrity
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
HVqi1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
wok (peripatein): Aside from its frequent occurrence in the usual sense, the word "walk" is used figuratively of conduct and of spiritual states. (1) Observance of laws or customs: "Thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs" (Ac 21:21). (2) Of the spiritual life: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1Joh 1:7); "That like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Ro 6:4); "Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Ga 5:16); "For we walk by faith, not by sight"…
Is often figuratively used to denote a man’s mode of life, or his spiritual character, course, and relations, Eze 11:20. He may walk as a carnal or as a spiritual man, Ro 8:1; with God, or in ignorance and sin, Ge 5:24 1Jo 5:21; in the fire of affliction, Isa 43:2, or in the light, purity, and joy of Christ’s favor here and in heaven, Ps 89:15 Re 3:4.
פָּדָה (padah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to ransom or redeem. It encompasses actions like delivering or rescuing, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being ransomed or allowing someone to be ransomed. The entries highlight its use in contexts of release and preservation, but do not specify any particular verses.
פָּדָה vb. ransom
Qal ransom
Niph. she hath not been at all ransomed (from bondage)
Hiph. he shall let her be ransomed.
base
H6299 פָּדָה ransom
6299 padah paw-daw'
a primitive root; to sever, i.e. ransom; gener. to release,
preserve:--X at all, deliver, X by any means, ransom, (that
are to be, let be) redeem(-ed), rescue, X surely.
פָּדָה (pa.dah) — to ransom.
1) to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver
1a) (Qal) to ransom
1b) (Niphal) to be ransomed
1c) (Hiphil) to allow one to be ransomed
1d) (Hophal) redeemed
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sp1bs
חָנַן (chanan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to show favor or be gracious. It encompasses various forms, including being pitied, directing favor, and seeking favor through imploration. The word can also mean to be loathsome, as noted in Job 19:17. The lexicons provide a range of uses, primarily focusing on kindness and mercy.
חָנַן vb. shew favour, be gracious
Qal favour, shew favour
Niph. be pitied
Po‛el direct favour to
Hoph. be shewn favour, consideration
H2603a חָנַן shew favour, be gracious .favour, shew favour
. be pitied
.direct favour to
. be shewn favour, consideration
. seek or implore favour
H2603b חָנַן be loathsome
2603 chanan khaw-nan'
a primitive root (compare 2583); properly, to bend or stoop
in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to
implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):--beseech, X fair,
(be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant
(gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on,
upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.
see HEBREW for 02583
חָנַן (cha.nan) — be gracious.
1) to be gracious, show favour, pity
1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious
1b) (Niphal) to be pitied
1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious
1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on
1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration
1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour
חָנַן (cha.nan) — be loathsome.
to be loathsome
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHC/Vqv2ms/Sp1bs