The Meaning of Psalms 101:6 Explained

Psalms 101:6

KJV: Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

YLT: Mine eyes are on the faithful of the land, To dwell with me, Whoso is walking in a perfect way, he serveth me.

Darby: Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

ASV: Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall minister unto me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Mine eyes  [shall be] upon the faithful  of the land,  that they may dwell  with me: he that walketh  in a perfect  way,  he shall serve  me. 

What does Psalms 101:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 101:1-8 - My Righteous Purpose
This psalm, as the title indicates, was composed by David, probably at the commencement of his reign. It contains a number of resolutions upon which he was prepared to act. First, he made up his mind that he would give heed to the perfect way, and would walk in his house in the integrity of his heart, Psalms 101:2, r.v., margin. Next, he made up his mind to choose his friends with rigorous care, that froward hearts and evil persons should depart from him; that he would not enter into close relations with those that slandered their neighbors, or that gave evidence by their high looks of proud hearts. Deceit and falsehood were alike to be banished from his palace; while faithful souls, who also walked in "the perfect way," should minister to him. Finally, he made up his mind to carry out his rule in the public state, that the wicked might be put out of the way and the righteous exalted.
It was an excellent program, and happy would he have been if, throughout his life, he had rigorously adhered to it. It is not possible for us to exercise David's absolute power in the selection of our environment. It is often necessary for us to work in places of business among those whom we would not choose as associates. But we can, at least, forbear making any of these our intimates, or the friends with whom we spend our leisure and recreational hours, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 101

1  David makes a vow and profession of godliness

What do the individual words in Psalms 101:6 mean?

My eyes [shall be] on the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me He who walks in a way perfect He shall serve me
עֵינַ֤י ׀ בְּנֶֽאֶמְנֵי־ אֶרֶץ֮ לָשֶׁ֪בֶת עִמָּ֫דִ֥י הֹ֭לֵךְ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ תָּמִ֑ים ה֝֗וּא יְשָׁרְתֵֽנִי

עֵינַ֤י ׀  My  eyes  [shall  be] 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
בְּנֶֽאֶמְנֵי־  on  the  faithful 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
אֶרֶץ֮  of  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
לָשֶׁ֪בֶת  that  they  may  dwell 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
עִמָּ֫דִ֥י  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִמָּד  
Sense: with.
הֹ֭לֵךְ  He  who  walks 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ  in  a  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
תָּמִ֑ים  perfect 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תָּמִים  
Sense: complete, whole, entire, sound.
יְשָׁרְתֵֽנִי  shall  serve  me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁרַת  
Sense: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to.