Psalm 130 7

Psalm 130:7 kjv

Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

Psalm 130:7 nkjv

O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.

Psalm 130:7 niv

Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Psalm 130:7 esv

O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

Psalm 130:7 nlt

O Israel, hope in the LORD;
for with the LORD there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.

Psalm 130 verses

Psalm 130 7 Meaning

Psalm 130:7 is a profound call to the nation of Israel to place their complete trust and patient expectation in the Eternal God. This hope is grounded not in their own merit or ability, but entirely in God's immutable character, specifically His abundant steadfast love and His complete power to redeem and deliver. It proclaims that God possesses limitless mercy and a comprehensive ability to free His people from the deepest forms of bondage, including sin.

Psalm 130 7 Context

Psalm 130 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), likely sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals. It begins "out of the depths" (v.1), expressing profound distress and an urgent cry to God, deeply aware of sin's separating power (v.3). The psalmist acknowledges God's unique attribute of forgiveness (v.4) which forms the basis for hope. After personally waiting for and trusting in the Lord's word (v.5-6), the psalm broadens its scope in verse 7, extending the invitation to hope to all of Israel. It shifts from an individual's struggle and eventual confidence to a communal call for the entire chosen nation to trust in God's steadfast love and abundant redemption. This verse climaxes the preceding expressions of yearning and trust by revealing the secure foundation of that hope in God's unfailing nature and redemptive power.

Psalm 130 7 Word analysis

• O Israel: יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael). This direct address signifies God's covenant people. It moves the focus from the individual psalmist to the entire community, implying that the deep truths experienced personally by the psalmist—awareness of sin, trust in forgiveness, hope in God—are equally applicable and necessary for the whole nation. It is a reminder of their identity as those who "strive with God," now called to trust Him.

• hope: יַחֵל (yakhel). More than a passive wish, yakhel conveys a robust, patient, and expectant waiting. It implies confidently looking forward, a settled assurance of what God will do. This active hope is a deliberate posture of reliance, born from a conviction of God's character and promises, especially in the face of delay or difficulty. It's rooted in covenant faithfulness.

• in the LORD: בַּֽיהוָה (ba'YHWH). This specifies the object of hope as YHWH, the covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and unchanging nature. This name signifies His eternal self-existence and His commitment to His promises, particularly those made to Israel. Placing hope in YHWH implies total reliance on His character, not on circumstances or human efforts.

• For: כִּי (ki). This conjunction introduces the foundational reason for the command to hope. It explains why Israel should hope: because of the Lord's nature and actions. It underlines the logical necessity and absolute certainty of God's redemptive capacity.

• with the LORD: עִם־יְהוָה (im YHWH). Emphasizes that these qualities – steadfast love and ample redemption – are inherent in and originate from God Himself. They are not merely His gifts but are intrinsic aspects of His very being and relationship with His people.

• steadfast love: חֶסֶד (chesed). A profoundly rich and complex Hebrew term, often translated as mercy, loving-kindness, or loyal love. Hesed denotes active, persistent, covenantal loyalty and devotion that goes beyond mere sentiment. It signifies a faithful love expressed through generous, compassionate actions, especially towards those in covenant with God or those in need. It's not earned but freely given and endures perpetually.

• ample: הַרְבֵּה (harbeh). Signifies "much, many, abundant, plentiful." It describes the quantity and fullness of God's redemption. God’s redemptive work is not limited, partial, or insufficient. It is generous, far-reaching, and more than enough to cover the deepest sin and greatest need, signifying His overflowing grace.

• redemption: פְדוּת (pedut). This term means "ransom, deliverance, rescue, redemption." It refers to the act of setting free from bondage, slavery, or penalty, often through payment or the exercise of superior power. In the context of Psalm 130, following the acknowledgment of sin (v.3-4), pedut refers not only to physical rescue but profoundly to spiritual deliverance from the penalty and power of sin, as well as liberation from all forms of distress and oppression.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "O Israel, hope in the LORD!": A clarion call combining Israel's covenant identity with the central imperative of faith. It transitions the psalm's focus from individual petition to a national summons, highlighting that hope is not a private feeling but a collective stance of faith. It’s an urgent and gracious command.
  • "For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with Him is ample redemption.": This is the bedrock of Israel's hope. The conjunction "For" provides the irrefutable theological basis: God's character (steadfast love, chesed) and His capacity/action (ample redemption, pedut). These are presented as eternally existing "with Him," not something He grants temporarily or contingently. This emphasizes that His character guarantees His action.

Psalm 130 7 Bonus section

The communal dimension of this verse (the shift from "I" to "Israel") highlights that hope is both deeply personal and profoundly corporate. Individual faith is meant to extend to and encourage the whole community. This movement from the depths of personal conviction and prayer to a universal call for Israel underscores a prophetic foresight. It points towards a future full and complete redemption not only for the individual but for all who call upon the Lord, especially as manifested in the New Covenant through the Messiah. The ample nature of God's redemption (harbeh pedut) implies that His salvation plan is not piecemeal or restrictive, but complete and all-encompassing, addressing the entirety of the human condition and going beyond the scope of initial understanding. It's a foreshadowing of God's bountiful grace found in the ultimate Redeemer.

Psalm 130 7 Commentary

Psalm 130:7 articulates a powerful truth foundational to biblical faith: the ultimate and sufficient ground for hope is found solely in the character of God. Following the depths of despair and acknowledgement of sin in previous verses, this verse ascends to a declaration of confident assurance for the entire covenant community. The call to "hope in the LORD" is not a naive optimism, but a patient, robust trust rooted in two immutable divine attributes: His hesed, His loyal, covenant love that endures and actively blesses, and His pedut, His comprehensive and abundant power to redeem. This "ample redemption" speaks to the breadth and sufficiency of God's deliverance, covering all forms of human bondage—from the grip of sin, shame, and guilt to existential distress. It conveys that God's grace to forgive and His power to liberate are never exhausted or insufficient. He offers a full, overflowing deliverance, capable of drawing His people out of any depth into a state of freedom and reconciliation. This truth stands in stark contrast to human limitation and offers boundless encouragement, culminating in the complete work of Christ who fully embodies and delivers God's hesed and pedut.