Psalm 116 7

Psalm 116:7 kjv

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

Psalm 116:7 nkjv

Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:7 niv

Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.

Psalm 116:7 esv

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:7 nlt

Let my soul be at rest again,
for the LORD has been good to me.

Psalm 116 verses

Psalm 116 7 Meaning

Psalm 116:7 is a profound declaration of peace and trust, a personal directive from the psalmist to his innermost being. It commands the soul to return to its state of tranquil dependence, based on the certainty that the Lord, Yahweh, has acted generously and fully on the psalmist's behalf, having delivered him from distress and death. It reflects a turning point from a cry for help to an assured resting in divine provision and unfailing grace.

Psalm 116 7 Context

Psalm 116 is a psalm of thanksgiving, falling within the "Egyptian Hallel" psalms (113-118) recited during Passover. It specifically recounts the psalmist's profound personal distress, perhaps a life-threatening illness or near-death experience, from which he was miraculously delivered by the Lord. The initial verses describe the intensity of his suffering, the "cords of death" and "anguish of Sheol" gripping him, and his desperate cry for divine intervention. Verse 7 serves as the climactic pivot within the psalm. Having acknowledged God's grace and heard His answer, the psalmist exhorts his very soul to settle into a state of deep, confident peace. This "rest" is not mere cessation of activity but a profound, inner tranquility rooted in the faithful and bountiful acts of the Lord. The historical context implies that in a world fraught with uncertainties and pagan reliance on unreliable deities, the psalmist's direct experience of Yahweh's delivering power was a testament to His unique faithfulness and goodness.

Psalm 116 7 Word analysis

• Return (שׁוּב, shuv)

  • This Hebrew verb means to turn back, to restore, or to go back.
  • Here, it signifies a conscious decision to revert to a state of peace and confidence.
  • It implies the soul had momentarily departed from this state, perhaps due to fear or distress.
  • Theological significance: Often used in scripture for repentance (turning back to God), but here it's the soul returning to a settled state in God.

• to your rest (לִמְנוּחַיְכִי, limnuḥayik from מְנוּחָה, menuḥah)

  • Menuḥah means rest, quiet, place of rest, or repose. It’s not simply the absence of work but a state of tranquil security and well-being.
  • Biblically, this "rest" connects to God's Sabbath rest (Gen 2:2-3), the Promised Land as a place of rest for Israel (Deu 12:9-10), and the ultimate spiritual rest found in God's presence and provision (Ps 95:11, Heb 4).
  • For the soul, this is a deep, inner calm and security that transcends outward circumstances.

• O my soul (נַפְשִׁי, nafshi)

  • Nafsh (soul, self, life-breath) refers to the totality of the person's inner being: mind, will, emotions, life force.
  • It's a self-exhortation, a form of spiritual discipline where the psalmist speaks directly to his own spirit, reminding it of truth.
  • It highlights the internal struggle and the need for self-direction towards faith and trust.

• for (כִּי, ki)

  • This is a conjunction meaning "because," "for," or "indeed."
  • It introduces the foundational reason and assurance for the soul's return to rest.
  • It links the command directly to God's gracious action.

• the LORD (יְהוָה, YHVH)

  • This is the personal, covenantal name of God, Yahweh.
  • Emphasizes the relationship of absolute fidelity, power, and intimacy between God and His people.
  • It highlights that the source of the deliverance and the basis for rest is the sovereign and faithful God of Israel.

• has dealt bountifully with you (גָּמַל עָלַיְכִי, gamal 'alayik)

  • Gamal means to deal fully, ripen, reward, bestow, act bountifully or kindly. It suggests a completed action.
  • It can imply full recompense, whether positive or negative, but in this context, it unequivocally means God has shown great kindness, generosity, and performed a beneficial work for the psalmist.
  • The phrase "with you" ('alayik) indicates God's action was directly towards, upon, and for the psalmist's soul/person.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Return to your rest, O my soul": This phrase is a powerful act of self-talk and spiritual resolve. It reflects a deliberate choice to align one's internal state with spiritual truth, rather than letting emotions dictate the soul's condition. It’s a turning away from anxiety or disquiet, back towards a state of quiet trust and secure dependence. It embodies the essence of "mindfulness" in a spiritual sense—directing the focus inward and then upward.

• "for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you": This provides the immutable foundation for the self-exhortation. The soul is not to rest in an abstract concept of peace, but in the concrete, historical, and personal actions of Yahweh. It emphasizes God's proactive, generous, and complete deliverance and kindness as the sufficient reason for tranquility. It shifts the focus from the internal turmoil to the external reality of God’s benevolent character and finished work.

Psalm 116 7 Bonus section

The concept of "rest" in Psalm 116:7 extends beyond mere physical relaxation. It points to a deep, spiritual shalom – a state of wholeness, well-being, and security found solely in a right relationship with God. This divine rest contrasts sharply with the frantic pace and anxieties of the world, where peace is often conditional upon external circumstances or human effort. The psalmist's self-exhortation reveals that such peace is a choice; one must intentionally "return" to it, indicating that even after experiencing God's deliverance, the soul can wander back into disquiet. It’s a lifelong discipline of recalibrating the soul to the unchanging truth of God's abundant goodness, not merely His existence. This underscores the practical, enduring nature of spiritual peace in the believer's walk, reminding us that trust is not a one-time event but a continuous surrender.

Psalm 116 7 Commentary

Psalm 116:7 serves as a spiritual compass, redirecting the psalmist's anxious soul towards a secure haven. After recounting deep distress and God's miraculous rescue, the psalmist now actively commands his innermost self to find quiet repose. This is not passive relaxation but an active decision to cease striving and to fully trust. The "rest" offered by the Lord is not just an absence of trouble, but an assurance of divine peace and sufficiency, secured by God’s previous acts of grace and generosity. The very foundation of this command and resulting peace is God's proven faithfulness—He has "dealt bountifully." This phrase encapsulates all of God’s previous acts of kindness, provision, and salvation, making the call to rest both rational and deeply personal. It's an internal liturgy of trust: be at peace, my soul, because God is abundantly good and faithful.