Psalms 36:10
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
Original Language Analysis
מְשֹׁ֣ךְ
O continue
H4900
מְשֹׁ֣ךְ
O continue
Strong's:
H4900
Word #:
1 of 6
to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)
חַ֭סְדְּךָ
thy lovingkindness
H2617
חַ֭סְדְּךָ
thy lovingkindness
Strong's:
H2617
Word #:
2 of 6
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
לְיֹדְעֶ֑יךָ
unto them that know
H3045
לְיֹדְעֶ֑יךָ
unto them that know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
3 of 6
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וְ֝צִדְקָֽתְךָ֗
thee and thy righteousness
H6666
וְ֝צִדְקָֽתְךָ֗
thee and thy righteousness
Strong's:
H6666
Word #:
4 of 6
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
Cross References
Hebrews 8:11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.Psalms 9:10And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.Jeremiah 24:7And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.Jeremiah 22:16He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.1 Peter 1:5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.John 17:3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.Jeremiah 31:3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Historical Context
Covenantal language permeates this verse. 'Knowing' God was the essence of Israel's covenant (Jeremiah 31:34), distinguishing them from nations who worshiped gods they could not truly know.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you cultivate deeper knowledge of God beyond mere information?
- What does it mean to have an 'upright heart' before God?
Analysis & Commentary
The prayer for continuance ('O continue') recognizes that God's past faithfulness doesn't guarantee presumptuous assumption but motivates petition for ongoing grace. The recipients—'them that know thee' and 'the upright in heart'—indicates covenant relationship and moral integrity. Knowing God isn't merely intellectual but experiential, relational knowledge ('yada'), while uprightness describes those whose hearts are aligned with God's character. Divine lovingkindness and righteousness together provide security and guidance.