Psalm 108:12 kjv
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
Psalm 108:12 nkjv
Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless.
Psalm 108:12 niv
Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.
Psalm 108:12 esv
Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!
Psalm 108:12 nlt
Oh, please help us against our enemies,
for all human help is useless.
Psalm 108 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 60:11 | Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man. | Identical verse, original context for Ps 108. |
| Psa 146:3 | Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no salvation. | Explicitly warns against trusting human power. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | The king is not saved by a mighty army... The horse is a vain hope for deliverance. | Rejects reliance on military or human might. |
| Isa 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... and rely on horses! | Condemns trusting foreign alliances over God. |
| Jer 17:5 | Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man..." | Strong warning against reliance on human strength. |
| Psa 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man... in princes. | Contrasts trust in God with trust in human leaders. |
| P2sa 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Highlights trust in God's name, not military might. |
| 2 Chr 32:7-8 | Be strong... for with us is the LORD our God to help us... | Assures that God is the true helper in battle. |
| Psa 121:1-2 | I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD. | Affirms God as the sole source of help. |
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | Declares God's immediate availability as a helper. |
| Heb 13:6 | So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper..." | Affirms God as a reliable, present helper. |
| Php 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | God's strength enables what human weakness cannot. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's advocacy nullifies human opposition. |
| Zec 4:6 | Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Emphasizes reliance on divine Spirit, not human means. |
| Jn 15:5 | Apart from me you can do nothing. | Reinforces utter dependence on Christ. |
| Prv 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. | Counsels against self-reliance and promotes trusting God. |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. | God's power perfected through human limitations. |
| Deut 33:29 | Blessed are you, O Israel... the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! | God is Israel's ultimate defender and aid. |
| 1 Sam 17:45 | David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword... but I come to you in the name of the LORD." | Illustrates faith in God's power over human might. |
| Psa 57:7 | My heart is steadfast, O God... (Psalm 108 includes elements of Psalm 57). | The unwavering heart trusts God despite circumstances. |
| Ex 14:13-14 | Stand firm... the LORD will fight for you. | God's direct intervention in impossible situations. |
| Ps 22:11 | Be not far from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help. | Acknowledges the desperate need for divine presence. |
| Lam 4:17 | We have looked in vain for help, looked from our watchtower for a nation that could not save. | A past example of relying on vain human help. |
Psalm 108 verses
Psalm 108 12 Meaning
Psalm 108:12 is a fervent plea for divine assistance in times of distress, coupled with a declarative statement about the ultimate futility of human help. It articulates a profound dependence on God, acknowledging that all earthly endeavors and alliances are ultimately insufficient without His sovereign intervention. The verse captures a cry from a heart overwhelmed by adversity, realizing that true deliverance comes only from the Lord, not from the limited power or resources of mankind.
Psalm 108 12 Context
Psalm 108 is a composite psalm, skillfully crafted by combining verses from two other psalms of David: Psalm 57:7-11 (for the opening five verses of Psalm 108) and Psalm 60:5-12 (for the remainder of Psalm 108, including verse 12). This blending serves to create a powerful unified prayer. Specifically, Psalm 108:12 is a direct quotation from Psalm 60:11. Psalm 60 is a lament and petition for help during a period of national military defeat or severe distress, possibly reflecting King David's campaign against Aram and Edom (as suggested by the superscription to Psalm 60 and references in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Kings 11). The context is one of profound vulnerability where human strength and alliances have proven insufficient. The psalmist, on behalf of the nation, acknowledges their predicament and appeals directly to God, whose perceived abandonment has led to their current plight. The verse functions as a climax to the psalmist's plea, emphasizing that while military and political strategies may fail, God's help is unfailing.
Psalm 108 12 Word analysis
- Give us help: Hebrew:
Tēnah-lānu 'ezrāh(תְּֽנָה־לָּנוּ עֶזְרָת מִצָּ֑ר).Tēnah(תְּֽנָה): Imperative verb, "give" or "grant". It is a direct and urgent petition, reflecting desperation and a clear understanding that help must originate from outside themselves.lānu(לָּנוּ): "to us," indicating a communal or national cry, not just an individual one, intensifying the plea on behalf of a collective in need.'ezrāh(עֶזְרָה): "help," "aid," "succor." This word signifies assistance in a practical, saving way. It often refers to divine intervention or rescue in the Bible, especially in times of warfare or severe distress.
- from trouble: Hebrew:
mittsār(מִצָּ֑ר).min(מִּ): "from," indicating the source of the peril from which deliverance is sought.tsār(צָר): "trouble," "distress," "adversary," "straits." This term signifies a narrow, confining, or oppressive situation. It can refer to physical hardship, a powerful enemy, or general anguish that constricts freedom and causes pain.
- for: Hebrew:
kî(כִּי). A common conjunction meaning "for," "because," "indeed," or "surely." In this context, it introduces the reason or justification for the urgent plea that precedes it, presenting the subsequent statement as an irrefutable truth. - vain: Hebrew:
shāv'(שָׁ֑וְא).shāv'means "emptiness," "vanity," "worthlessness," "futility," "falsehood," "deceit." It denotes something that lacks substance, achieves nothing, or is deceptive. This is a strong word, not merely indicating inadequacy but absolute pointlessness or ineffectiveness in achieving genuine deliverance.
- is the help: Hebrew:
‘ezrath(עֶזְרַת). A construct form of‘ezrāh, connecting it directly to "man." It signifies "the help of," specifying whose help is being discussed. - of man: Hebrew:
'ādām(אָדָם).'ādāmrefers to generic "humanity," "mankind," "man" in general, without distinction. This broad term underscores that it is not just specific individuals whose help is futile, but the very nature of human capacity is limited when compared to the magnitude of the trouble or the power of God.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Give us help from trouble": This phrase functions as a desperate, communal lament and urgent prayer. It reflects a nation or people overwhelmed by an adverse, pressing situation from which they cannot extract themselves. The direct address "Give us" highlights complete dependence on a higher power for salvation.
- "for vain is the help of man": This phrase serves as the theological justification and contextual explanation for the plea. It is a declaration born out of painful experience and spiritual insight that human efforts, resources, or alliances—no matter how impressive—are utterly useless when God's favor is withdrawn or when the adversary's power is too great. It underscores a shift from relying on conventional means to acknowledging divine sovereignty as the only effective solution.
Psalm 108 12 Bonus section
The inclusion of Psalm 60:11 (our Psalm 108:12) into the compiled Psalm 108 speaks to the timeless relevance and enduring theological significance of this confession of dependence on God. Its placement within a psalm of victory and confidence (Psalm 108 shifts from a desperate cry to declarations of God's dominion) underscores that even amidst declarations of faith and expectation of triumph, the initial and foundational principle remains: human efforts alone are insufficient. This reinforces that true strength and success are rooted in continued reliance on God's active involvement, not self-sufficiency or reliance on the arm of flesh. It serves as a reminder that victory is ultimately given by God, not achieved purely by human might.
Psalm 108 12 Commentary
Psalm 108:12 crystallizes a profound theological truth: ultimate help comes solely from God, as human capabilities are inherently limited. The verse is not merely a statement of preference for divine help, but a stark recognition of the utter futility (shāv') of relying on human strength, wisdom, or alliances when facing deep trouble (tsār). It echoes a repeated theme throughout the Scriptures, urging believers to trust not in flesh or worldly power, but in the omnipotent God. The prayer for help flows from a position of acknowledged weakness and desperation, acknowledging that mankind's assistance, no matter how well-intentioned or strategically deployed, cannot secure true deliverance without divine enablement. It promotes radical dependence on God, reminding us that any lasting victory or rescue is an act of His sovereign grace. This foundational principle fosters humility and directs the heart in prayer to the One who is the true and everlasting helper.