Psalm 109 26

Psalm 109:26 kjv

Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:

Psalm 109:26 nkjv

Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy,

Psalm 109:26 niv

Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love.

Psalm 109:26 esv

Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love!

Psalm 109:26 nlt

Help me, O LORD my God!
Save me because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 109 verses

Psalm 109 26 Meaning

Psalm 109:26 is a fervent and direct plea to God for urgent deliverance. The psalmist, in deep distress and under intense oppression from adversaries, cries out for God’s saving intervention. This petition is grounded not in the psalmist's own merit, but solely in God’s inherent nature, specifically His steadfast love and covenant faithfulness. It expresses profound dependency on the Almighty for rescue from overwhelming affliction and disgrace.

Psalm 109 26 Context

Psalm 109 is a profound and poignant Davidic psalm of lament, characterized primarily by its intense imprecatory curses against bitter adversaries who have maliciously slandered and oppressed the psalmist. It follows the pattern of a personal lament, beginning with an outcry against the wicked (vv. 1-5) and then pivoting sharply into severe imprecations against them (vv. 6-20), calling upon God to exact justice.

Immediately preceding verse 26, the psalmist describes his own wretched and desolate condition (vv. 21-25): he is "poor and needy," his heart "pierced within," his strength failing, his body wasted away, and he has become "a reproach" to others, "shaken my head at." This vivid depiction of extreme suffering and public shame underscores the desperate nature of his subsequent plea for divine intervention. Verse 26, therefore, marks a pivotal turn from describing the dire situation to making a direct and earnest petition to God, moving beyond the cursing of enemies to an appeal for personal deliverance and vindication, entirely based on God's character and covenant commitment rather than on human revenge or merit. The request for salvation (v. 26) is also implicitly a request for vindication so that his enemies may know God’s hand is at work (v. 27).

Psalm 109 26 Word analysis

• Help me, O LORD my God! (הוֹשִׁיעֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֮ אֱלֹהָי֙):
  • Help me! / Save me! (הוֹשִׁיעֵ֤נִי - Hoshienii): This is a strong imperative form of the Hebrew verb יָשַׁע (yasha’), meaning "to save," "to deliver," "to help," "to set free." It implies an urgent and immediate need for intervention, often from a perilous situation. This term is foundational to the biblical concept of salvation, signifying a rescue from danger, oppression, or distress. It’s an appeal for full deliverance.
  • O LORD (יְהוָה֮ - YHWH): The divine, covenant name of God, tetragrammaton, pronounced Adonai. It speaks to God’s eternal, self-existent nature, but primarily signifies His covenant faithfulness and personal relationship with His people. Calling on YHWH means appealing to the God who is true to His promises.
  • my God! (אֱלֹהָי֙ - Elohai): Elohim (God) with a first-person singular possessive suffix, indicating an intensely personal and intimate relationship. It underscores the psalmist's personal ownership and trust in God as his particular protector and provider, not merely a generic deity. The combined YHWH Elohai expresses profound, personal dependence on the covenant God.
• Oh, save me according to Your steadfast love! (וְהֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֤נִי כְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃):
  • Oh, save me! (וְהֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֤נִי - ve-Hoshienii): Repeats the same verb yasha’ (to save/deliver), reinforcing the earnestness and desperation of the plea. The "and" (וְ) linking it to the previous part of the verse creates a continuous, intensifying cry for rescue.
  • according to Your steadfast love! (כְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ - ke-chasdecha):
    • according to (כְ - ke-): The preposition "like" or "according to," meaning "in keeping with" or "on the basis of." This signifies the ground or standard for the requested salvation.
    • Your steadfast love (חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ - chasdeka): The Hebrew word חֶסֶד (chesed) is a pivotal theological concept in the Old Testament. It denotes loyal love, covenant faithfulness, lovingkindness, mercy, and enduring grace. It describes God’s loyal and compassionate devotion to His people, a faithfulness that goes beyond mere legal obligation and is expressed in gracious and merciful actions. The psalmist does not ask for salvation based on his own worthiness or righteousness, but entirely on God's intrinsic and revealed character of loyal, unfailing love, as revealed in His covenant relationship. This highlights that salvation is a sovereign act of God's grace.

Psalm 109 26 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of this humble plea for salvation based on chesed with the surrounding imprecations (vv. 6-20) highlights a crucial tension within the psalm and perhaps the human experience of faith. While the psalmist expresses profound anger and desire for justice against his oppressors, he ultimately places his hope and the burden of resolution not on his own curses or human retribution, but on God's steadfast love and intervention. This suggests that true vindication, for the faithful, stems from God's character and righteous judgment, not solely from personal revenge. It shows that even in the midst of extreme emotional pain and the longing for justice, the psalmist's ultimate resort and deepest trust remain anchored in the divine attributes of mercy and loyal love. This commitment to chesed as the foundation of God's redemptive work finds its ultimate expression in Christ, who perfectly embodied God's steadfast love by offering salvation to those who were enemies of God.

Psalm 109 26 Commentary

Psalm 109:26 presents a direct, passionate appeal from deep affliction to the covenant God. The psalmist's repeated cries for יָשַׁע (yasha’, "save/help") underscore the extreme peril and utter helplessness experienced. By invoking YHWH Elohai (LORD my God), the psalmist leans on the specific covenant relationship, appealing to the God who is personally invested in his welfare and bound by faithful promises. Crucially, the plea is explicitly "according to Your חֶסֶד (chesed)," not based on human merit or perceived deservingness. This means the request is anchored solely in God's immutable character of loyal, enduring love and covenant faithfulness. It is an acknowledgment that God's actions are driven by His gracious nature, providing hope even when the supplicant's situation is one of profound shame and despair. This dependence on divine chesed turns the psalmist away from vengeance (even amidst the imprecations) and firmly towards God's mercy as the only source of genuine salvation and vindication. It signifies a profound trust that despite dire circumstances and public disgrace, God's lovingkindness will prevail and manifest in active deliverance. This verse offers a model for prayer in distress: acknowledging complete dependence on God, pleading directly with the Personal Covenant God, and basing the plea entirely on His inherent loving-kindness rather than one's own standing.