Psalm 13 6

Psalm 13:6 kjv

I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:6 nkjv

I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:6 niv

I will sing the LORD's praise, for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13:6 esv

I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:6 nlt

I will sing to the LORD
because he is good to me.

Psalm 13 verses

Psalm 13 6 Meaning

Psalm 13:6 marks a dramatic shift in the psalmist's expression, transitioning from deep despair and unanswered cries to a firm declaration of trust and impending joy. It proclaims a personal and settled confidence in God's enduring covenant love, which then becomes the certain foundation for heart-felt rejoicing in God's certain and ultimate deliverance. This verse transforms the tone of the entire psalm, pivoting on an act of faith and anticipating the salvation that steadfast love guarantees.

Psalm 13 6 Context

Psalm 13 is an individual lament, opening with the psalmist's anguished cry, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?" (v. 1). The initial verses (1-4) vividly describe feelings of abandonment, deep sorrow, and the perceived triumph of his enemies. The psalmist expresses the crushing weight of his spiritual and physical suffering. This dire lament then experiences a radical turning point, which begins subtly in verse 5 ("But I have trusted...") and culminates in the declarative confidence of verse 6. This verse provides the internal spiritual pivot for the entire Psalm, transforming cries of distress into confident hope and a resolve to praise. The historical context, often attributed to David facing profound distress, whether from enemies, sickness, or internal conflict, highlights the human struggle but also God's faithfulness, reinforcing that divine steadfast love is the ultimate anchor in life's storms.

Psalm 13 6 Word analysis

• But (וַאֲנִי, wa’ănî): This is a strong adversative conjunction ("And I," or "But as for me"). It dramatically signals a pivot or change in perspective, shifting from the lament of verses 1-4 to a confident assertion. It emphasizes the psalmist's personal, deliberate, and counter-intuitive act of faith in the face of despair.
• I have trusted (בָּטַחְתִּי, bataḥti): The Hebrew verb bataḥ signifies a deep reliance, confidence, and security; it means to feel safe or be carefree because of something or someone trustworthy. It implies leaning on, taking refuge in, or entrusting oneself wholly. The perfect tense indicates a settled, established, or ongoing state of trust, rooted in a past decision with continuing effects. This isn't a momentary feeling, but a firm disposition.
• in your steadfast love (בְחַסְדֶּךָ, bᵉḥasd'ka):
  • Steadfast love (ḥesed, חֶסֶד): This is one of the most significant theological terms in the Old Testament, denoting covenant loyalty, unfailing kindness, mercy, and loyal love. It speaks of a bond of commitment, reliability, and active benevolence. Hesed is not just an emotion but an action-oriented faithfulness, particularly God's unwavering fidelity to His covenant promises and to His people. It is boundless, freely given, and foundational to God's character.
  • Your: The possessive suffix ("your") emphasizes the personal and unique nature of God's hesed as it is directed towards the psalmist.
• my heart (לִבִּי, libbi): In Hebrew anthropology, the "heart" (lēv, לֵב or lēvāḇ) is considered the totality of the inner person – the seat of thought, will, emotion, moral character, and spiritual understanding. It is not merely a physical organ or an emotional center, but the core from which one's intentions, decisions, and innermost being flow.
• shall rejoice (יָגֵל, yagel): The Hebrew verb gil (גִּיל) means to exult, to be jubilant, to shout for joy, often indicating outward expression of great happiness. The imperfect tense expresses a future certainty ("will rejoice") or a resolve to rejoice. This joy is not conditioned by immediate circumstances but by the anticipated certainty of God's intervention.
• in your salvation (בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ, bîshuʿateka):
  • Salvation (yeshua, יְשׁוּעָה): This term encompasses deliverance, rescue, help, victory, and prosperity. It refers to God's act of setting one free from danger, oppression, or suffering, bringing safety and wellbeing. It is God's powerful intervention to bring about liberation and restoration. Ultimately, yeshua points to the ultimate and comprehensive redemption embodied in Jesus Christ (Yeshua in Hebrew).
  • Your: Again, emphasizing that this deliverance comes uniquely from God.
• Words-group: "But I have trusted in your steadfast love": This phrase marks the strategic shift in the psalm. It indicates a conscious act of redirecting faith from the overwhelming problem to the unchanging character of God. The emphasis is on hesed as the bedrock upon which genuine trust is built. This trust is not blind optimism, but a profound, established reliance on God's proven loyalty.
• Words-group: "my heart shall rejoice in your salvation": This consequence is a spiritual victory. Because trust is placed in God's hesed, the heart, the deepest part of the being, is assured of God's future yeshua. This joy is not a current emotion based on external conditions but a certain hope and resolution that finds its security in God's power and intent to deliver, despite ongoing difficulty.

Psalm 13 6 Bonus section

• This verse embodies a powerful pattern common in the Psalter and Christian experience: moving from honest lament (vv. 1-4) to an assertion of faith (v. 5) and finally to anticipatory praise (v. 6 and following). It teaches us that expressing our pain to God is valid, but the Christian journey calls for a pivot towards His steadfast character.
• The transition in Psalm 13 is a volitional act. The psalmist chooses to trust and resolves to rejoice, even before outward circumstances have changed. This demonstrates that faith is not merely passive belief but an active leaning into God's truth.
• The personal relationship implied by "your steadfast love" and "your salvation" highlights the intimacy between the individual believer and God. It's a specific, relational trust that elicits the joy.

Psalm 13 6 Commentary

Psalm 13:6 stands as a monumental statement of faith within a lament. After pouring out a desperate soul to God, the psalmist consciously chooses to anchor himself in what he knows to be true about God, regardless of his painful feelings. This choice is predicated entirely upon God's character, particularly His hesed, His unfailing, covenant love. It is this absolute faithfulness that becomes the immutable foundation for the psalmist's hope. This verse teaches that trust in God's enduring love leads to an inevitable outcome: rejoicing. The joy described is not contingent upon the immediate resolution of problems, but arises from the profound certainty that God's salvation is assured. It's a deep-seated gladness of the heart that recognizes God as the ultimate rescuer, capable and willing to deliver. This anticipatory joy allows the believer to persevere through trials, knowing that the God who loves unfailingly will also save comprehensively.

• Example 1: When battling a persistent temptation, choosing to trust in God's power to deliver you, even when you feel weak, leads to an inner joy in His ultimate victory.
• Example 2: Facing significant personal loss, actively remembering God's hesed through past experiences allows one to resolve to rejoice in His future and ultimate redemption.