Psalms 16:7 Meaning and Explanation
“I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist praises God for giving guidance and for inward instruction that comes even in darkness.
The Context of Psalms 16:7
The psalmist praises God for providing wisdom both through explicit counsel and through inward instruction.
What Does Psalms 16:7 Mean?
The psalmist will bless the Lord because God provides counsel—not arbitrary commands but wise direction. Beyond conscious advice, the psalmist also describes internal instruction: the reins (kidneys, the seat of conscience and emotion in Hebrew thought) instruct him in night seasons. This suggests that God works through the psalmist's own conscience and inner life, particularly during vulnerable times of darkness and solitude.
Night seasons often represent times of testing, anxiety, or uncertainty. That instruction comes even then demonstrates God's constant presence. The psalmist's inward faculties—his conscience, emotions, intuition—become channels through which God guides and teaches, transforming dark times into seasons of learning.
Psalms 16:7 in the Original Language
klayot (כְּלָיוֹת), 'reins' — kidneys, viewed as the seat of conscience and deeper emotions in Hebrew physiology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 16:7
What does Psalms 16:7 mean?
The psalmist praises God for giving guidance and for inward instruction that comes even in darkness.
What is the context of Psalms 16:7?
The psalmist praises God for providing wisdom both through explicit counsel and through inward instruction.