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Psalm 25 · a question people ask

"He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose" (25:12). Who chooses the way, the man or the LORD?

In the text

The verse doesn't say. The first He, who instructs "the man" who "fears the LORD" (25:12), is read as the LORD, since in Hebrew instruct is the verb of 25:8, where the LORD is named: "Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way" (25:8). The second he could be either: the LORD, choosing the way he teaches, or the man, choosing the way he takes. In Hebrew it is one verb, "he shall choose", with no name beside it, so the Hebrew leaves it as open as the English. The psalm's other verses speak of the way both ways: it is the LORD's ("Show me your ways, LORD", 25:4; "He will teach the humble his way", 25:9), and the psalmist asks to be taught it (25:4-5). These notes don't choose between the readings.

The verses

“Show me your ways, LORD. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I wait for you all day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5 · World English Bible
“Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.”
Psalm 25:8-9 · World English Bible
“What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.”
Psalm 25:12 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 25

Psalm 25: Teach me your paths

"To you, LORD, I lift up my soul" (25:1) and "Forgive all my sins" (25:18) are one Hebrew verb, nasa: lift, carry, take. And in Hebrew, after the title, the psalm's verses begin with the alphabet's letters in order, aleph to tav, with three left out; then comes one verse more: "God, redeem Israel out of all his troubles" (25:22).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions