Psalm 31:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;

NIV: Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

NASB: For You are my rock and my fortress; For the sake of Your name You will lead me and guide me.

CSB: For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name's sake.

NLT: You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.

KJV: For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

NKJV: For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me.

Along with the first two verses (Psalm 31:1–2), a very similar statement is made in Psalm 71:1–3. David's trust in God was strong. He refers to his Lord as "a rock of refuge" and "a strong fortress" (Psalm 31:2).

"Rock," from the Hebrew root word tsuwr, implies something like a massive boulder, or "rock" as a substance, rather than as a single stone. This imagery, used in the prior verse (Psalm 31:2), suggests strength and stability, perhaps as one might picture a boulder or a mountainside. In blessing Joseph, Jacob called God, "the Stone of Israel" (Genesis 49:24). Moses, too, referred to God as "the Rock" (Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18). The term used in this verse is cela', which leverages the idea of security and strength, as in a large cliff face.

"Stronghold" and "fortress" are both translated from the same Hebrew root word. One can imagine a castle-like structure with thick stone walls. The main purpose of that structure is safety and stability, despite being attacked by an enemy.

And yet, David looks to God for more than strength and protection. He also asks God to lead and guide him. Acting for God's "name's sake" means doing what furthers the Lord's will. David wasn't simply praising God for protection, but also for the Lord's holy guidance in his life. In the next verse, David continues blending literal military concepts with spiritual ideas by speaking of how this divine guidance keeps him away from enemy ambush (Psalm 31:4).

Psalm 31:1–8 reveals David's trust in God to rescue him from his enemies. He detests idolaters but rejoices in the Lord's unfailing love. He praises the Lord for protecting him and allowing him to stand in a spacious place. These verses parallel similar psalms, in which David looks back on God's prior rescues in answer to prayer.

David mentions dangers and enemies in this psalm. He may have been referring to besieged cities such as Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1–15) or Ziklag (1 Samuel 30). Despite the plots of his enemies and abandonment by friends, David trusts in the Lord, receives an answer to his prayer, and encourages his fellow believers to love the Lord and be strong. This echoes themes also seen in Psalms 4, 25, and 71.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.