Bible Strands
Psalms 31:3
For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses God directly in a psalm of personal distress, immediately following a plea for swift rescue and a declaration of divine protection.
The words — The text pairs סַלְעִי (sal'I, "my rock") and מְצוּדָתִי (meTzudaTi, "my stronghold") to describe God's stability, then uses תַּנְחֵנִי (tanHenI, "you guide me") and תְנַהֲלֵנִי (teNaHelEnI, "you lead me") to request directional control.
The thread — Requests for divine guidance appear in Psalms 143:10, where direction is tied to God's Spirit, and Psalms 25:5, where it is tied to God's truth. The motive of acting for God's name reappears in Psalms 79:9, where deliverance is explicitly sought for the glory of His name.
Why it lands — The verse conditions trust on God's reliable character and active direction, grounding that guidance in His reputation rather than human worthiness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Cross-references
- Psalms 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
- Psalms 25:5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.
- Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
- Isaiah 49:10 They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.
- Luke 1:79 to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
- John 16:13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
- Nehemiah 9:12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they should travel.
- Psalms 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
- Psalms 25:11 For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.
- Jeremiah 14:7 Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.