What Does Psalm 139:10 Mean in the King James?
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The farthest place you can reach is still within the reach of the hand guiding you.
THE MEANING
Even in the place that seems farthest from help, God’s hand leads you and holds you. The place does not end the guidance or break the contact.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being in the deepest or most distant place does not mean you have slipped beyond God’s reach.
THE ROOT
תַּנְחֵנִי
tancheni
GROWS FROM
נחה
The root נחה (nāḥāh) means to lead or guide.
“lead me” in this verse is tancheni. The derived words for a guide and for guidance preserve the root’s sense of direction. Here, that direction comes from a hand that also holds you; the verse joins a path with continued contact.
ALSO GROWS
hinḥāh: He led or guided.
הִנְחָה
This verbal form retains the root’s consonants and its sense of leading.
hanḥāyāh: Guidance or direction.
הַנְחָיָה
This derived word keeps נחה visible in a noun for the direction being given.
וְתֹאחֲזֵנִי
ve-to'achazeni
GROWS FROM
אחז
The root אחז (ʾāḥaz) means to grasp, seize, or take hold.
“hold me” in this verse is ve-to'achazeni. The same root describes something caught fast and a possession, carrying both the grasp and what is held. The verse’s hand is not a distant pointer: its guidance has grip.
ALSO GROWS
ne'eḥaz: Caught or held fast.
נֶאֱחַז
In Genesis 22:13, this form describes the ram caught in the thicket, showing the root’s sense of a firm hold.
aḥuzzāh: Possession or property.
אֲחֻזָּה
This noun from the same root names what is held or possessed, extending the image from grasp to sustained holding.
THE PATTERN
The hand that directs movement also preserves contact when the place feels unreachable.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.THE THREAD
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.Psalm 31:3 uses the same Hebrew form, תַּנְחֵנִי (tancheni, “lead me”), as Psalm 139:10. Its phrase “for thy name’s sake” points to this leading as an expression of God’s nature, present even in the farthest place.
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