I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Parallel translations
- WEB I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
- BSB I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
- NKJV I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
- NASB ¶I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you.
- NLT The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God promises to instruct and guide his people personally, watching over them with attentive care.
Overview
This verse is usually read as God's own response to the forgiven sinner, pledging to teach and counsel him in the way he should go. The phrase 'my eye on you' conveys loving, watchful guidance rather than mere supervision. It points to the Lord who shepherds his people and, in Christ, gives the Spirit to lead them into truth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 3:5–6Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
- Ps 33:18Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
- Ps 25:8–10Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
- Matt 11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
- Prov 8:10–11Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
- Isa 49:10They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
- Prov 3:1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
- Ps 34:11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
- Prov 4:1–13Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 32:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.