Psalms 86:15 (KJV)

What does Psalms 86:15 mean?

Psalms 86:15 describes God as deeply compassionate, gracious, patient, and overflowing with mercy and truth. The verse highlights these qualities to show that God’s character is marked by kindness, patience, and reliability.

In this psalm, David is speaking directly to God during a time of trouble, seeking comfort and help. By naming these traits, David is reminding himself—and telling God—that he trusts in God’s steady, caring nature. The verse stands out as a personal declaration of faith in God’s goodness, even when life is difficult.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 86:15

• compassion (רַחוּם, rachum): This word means deeply compassionate or full of tender mercy. It paints a picture of God’s heart being moved by the suffering of others.
• gracious (חַנּוּן, channun): This word means showing undeserved favor or kindness. It emphasizes that God gives good things not because people earn them, but because of who He is.
• longsuffering (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, erekh appayim): This phrase means slow to anger or patient. It shows that God does not rush to punish but gives people time to turn back to Him.
• mercy (חֶסֶד, chesed): This word refers to loyal love or steadfast kindness. It is often used to describe God’s faithful, covenant love that endures.
• truth (אֱמֶת, emet): This word means faithfulness or reliability, not just factual truth but being trustworthy and dependable.

Why Psalms 86:15 matters

• Psalms 86:15 clears up the idea that God is quick to anger or harsh; instead, it emphasizes His patience and willingness to forgive.
• The verse connects to the wider psalm, where David is honest about his distress but chooses to focus on God’s trustworthy character as his hope.
• By listing these qualities, the verse helps readers understand what makes God different from human leaders—His compassion, faithfulness, and mercy are unchanging.