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Old TestamentPsalm 25:12Wisdom & Poetry
“What man is he that feareth the LORD?”

The full verse · Psalm 25:12 · KJV

What is he that the ? him shall he in the that he shall .

Asked by

David

Asked to

Israel

The immediate audience is the Israelite community gathered for worship, with broader application to all who would read and meditate on this psalm.

Why It Was Asked

David uses interrogative form to engage his audience in reflection about true piety and its rewards. By framing this as a question rather than a declaration, he invites personal identification and self-examination, prompting each hearer to ask whether they themselves fear the Lord and thus qualify for His instruction.

The Response

No direct response is recorded. The verse itself contains the answer: God will instruct the God-fearer in the way he should choose, with the following verses elaborating that his soul will abide in well-being and his offspring will inherit the land.

The Bigger Picture

David’s question establishes a foundational principle of biblical wisdom: reverence precedes guidance. The interrogative form serves a catechetical purpose, teaching through question and answer. The Hebrew construction places emphasis on the man (mi-zeh ha’ish, literally “who is this, the man”) who possesses this fear, suggesting both rarity and blessing. Rather than stating “the God-fearer receives instruction,” David asks who this person is, inviting identification and aspiration. The promise that God will teach (Hebrew yarah, the same root as Torah) connects fear of the Lord directly to covenant instruction. The rhetorical question accomplishes what a simple statement could not: it engages the mind, invites self-examination, and creates longing for the promised blessing of divine guidance.

For Your Life Today

Your deepest questions about life direction find their answer in reverencing God. When you cultivate genuine fear of the Lord, not terror but awe-filled respect, you position yourself to receive His instruction about decisions great and small. This isn’t a mechanical formula but a relational reality: God delights to guide those who honor Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). Whether you’re choosing a career, navigating a relationship, or discerning daily priorities, reverence opens the channel for divine wisdom. God doesn’t leave the God-fearer guessing; He actively teaches the path forward. Your part is the fear; His part is the instruction.

Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources