Psalm 116 6

Psalm 116:6 kjv

The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

Psalm 116:6 nkjv

The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.

Psalm 116:6 niv

The LORD protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

Psalm 116:6 esv

The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.

Psalm 116:6 nlt

The LORD protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.

Psalm 116 verses

Psalm 116 6 Meaning

Psalm 116:6 proclaims that the Lord, by His divine nature and character, actively preserves and watches over those who are simple, guileless, or vulnerable, protecting them from harm. The psalmist then testifies from personal experience, confirming this truth: when he was brought to a state of utter weakness, distress, or helplessness, the Lord intervened and delivered him. It highlights God's compassionate care for the unassuming and His personal rescue of those in deep trouble.

Psalm 116 6 Context

Psalm 116 is a deeply personal psalm of thanksgiving. It follows the psalmist's fervent prayer for deliverance (Ps 116:3-5) and celebrates the Lord's faithful response. The immediate context shows the psalmist recalling his cry of distress when "the cords of death encompassed me" (Ps 116:3), demonstrating the very low state from which he was saved. This verse, Ps 116:6, serves as a general theological statement about God's character ("The Lord preserves the simple") followed by the psalmist's direct testimony as an example of that truth in action ("I was brought low, and He saved me"). Historically, the psalm resonates with individuals facing life-threatening illness, oppression, or deep personal anguish, common experiences for people in ancient Near Eastern societies where life was often fragile. There isn't a direct polemic here against other beliefs, but it implicitly contrasts the reliable care of Yahweh with the impotence of pagan deities who neither hear nor preserve the weak. It reinforces the unique relational covenant of Yahweh with His people.

Psalm 116 6 Word analysis

• The Lord (יהוה - Yahweh): Refers to the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness, self-existence, and His unique relationship with His people. It is the personal, active God of Israel who is attentive and intervenes.

• preserves (שֹׁמֵר - shomer): This Hebrew word means to guard, keep, protect, watch over. It signifies active, attentive care, implying vigilance against danger and a commitment to upholding or maintaining the one being guarded. It's not passive observation but purposeful preservation.

• the simple (פְּתָאִים - p'ta'im): This term, in its context here, refers not to those who are intellectually foolish or stupid, but to the naive, unsophisticated, inexperienced, vulnerable, unsuspecting, or unsuspecting. They lack the cunning or worldly wisdom to navigate dangers or protect themselves. In Proverbs, p'ta'im can sometimes denote those easily led astray (e.g., Prov 14:15), but here, in the context of divine protection, it highlights the guileless, perhaps those unacquainted with life's deeper perils or lacking the self-reliance often valued by human wisdom. It underscores their utter dependence on divine protection.

• I was brought low (דַּלּוֹתִי - dalloti): This is the first person singular perfect of dalal, meaning to be or become low, weak, languish, become thin, impoverished, or diminished. It describes a state of severe personal distress, whether physical weakness (e.g., illness), emotional despair, social marginalization, or extreme vulnerability akin to near-death. It implies a state of being utterly helpless and without recourse on one's own.

• and He saved me (וְלִי יְשַׁע - v'li yasha'): Yasha' means to deliver, save, help, rescue, bring victory. This term signifies active divine intervention, drawing someone out of a state of danger, affliction, or death. It speaks of a decisive act of liberation that reverses the dire condition. The emphasis is on God as the sole source of this deliverance.

• "The Lord preserves the simple": This phrase establishes a fundamental principle of God's character. He does not abandon the vulnerable or the unassuming. Instead, He actively defends them against the snares and complexities of a world they might not be equipped to navigate, extending His protective care precisely where human weakness is most evident.

• "I was brought low, and He saved me": This is the psalmist's personal testament that directly exemplifies the truth stated in the first half of the verse. It shifts from a general theological truth to specific experiential proof, emphasizing the profound reality of God's intervention in a moment of extreme helplessness. The "bringing low" indicates the extremity of his plight, which necessitated divine "saving." The conjunction "and" here indicates a direct consequence or divine response to his distress.

Psalm 116 6 Bonus section

The Hebrew concept of 'simple' (p'ta'im) often includes a connotation of teachability or openness. While it can mean easily misled, it also implies a heart without guile or cynical sophistication, which, paradoxically, can be more receptive to divine truth than those puffed up with their own wisdom. This verse demonstrates that God's preserving power is directed towards this disposition of trust and reliance, rather than worldly shrewdness. It implicitly challenges human reliance on cunning or self-sufficiency, promoting a child-like trust in God. The contrast between being 'brought low' and God 'saving' highlights the dynamic of divine sovereignty and human vulnerability, a core theme throughout the Psalms where lament leads to praise because God is faithful.

Psalm 116 6 Commentary

Psalm 116:6 beautifully encapsulates the essence of divine grace meeting human weakness. It asserts God's inherent nature to care for those who are simple, meaning those who are not self-reliant, worldly-wise, or strategically powerful. They are precisely those who stand most exposed to life's harshness without the pretense or cunning that many possess. God's preservation of them speaks to His protective love, a shield against the schemes of the proud or the ravages of a broken world. The psalmist then moves from this universal truth to his specific narrative, demonstrating that he himself was among those 'simple' or vulnerable ones. His state of being "brought low" was a condition of utter personal helplessness, whether physical, emotional, or social, a profound humbling experience where human resources failed entirely. It was in this state of absolute need that God’s saving power was most vividly displayed. This verse reminds us that God's power often manifests in our weakness, elevating the humble and rescuing those who recognize their complete dependence on Him, thus reflecting His glorious power and unwavering faithfulness. It calls believers to embrace humility and rely fully on God for all needs.