Psalm 22 4

Psalm 22:4 kjv

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

Psalm 22:4 nkjv

Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.

Psalm 22:4 niv

In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.

Psalm 22:4 esv

In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.

Psalm 22:4 nlt

Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.

Psalm 22 verses

Psalm 22 4 Meaning

Psalm 22:4 asserts the unwavering faithfulness of God throughout Israel's history. It states that the patriarchs and ancestors of the nation placed their confident trust in the Lord, and in every instance, He proved faithful by delivering them from their troubles and dangers. This historical precedent forms the basis of the psalmist's present appeal and hope in a time of intense personal suffering, emphasizing God's consistent character as a deliverer.

Psalm 22 4 Context

Psalm 22 is a profound Messianic lament. It opens with the desolate cry, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" (v.1), echoing the words of Jesus on the cross. The psalmist (traditionally David) describes intense suffering, humiliation, and abandonment, graphically depicting a scene of utter despair. Verse 4 appears early in this psalm, strategically placed immediately after the psalmist's initial outcry of desolation and recognition of God's holiness (v.3). It serves as a stark contrast to the psalmist's present anguish, appealing to God's past demonstrations of faithfulness to the "fathers." This remembrance of collective history strengthens the psalmist's faith and provides a foundation for the eventual shift to praise and declaration of future triumph (v.22-31). Historically, this context points to Israel's consistent experience of God as their Deliverer through various trials, from the Exodus to subsequent challenges.

Psalm 22 4 Word analysis

• In You (בְּךָ, bəḵā): The preposition "in" (בְּ, be) with the second person singular suffix "You" emphasizes that God alone was the object of their trust. It highlights the direct, personal, and exclusive nature of their reliance. The trust was not in circumstances, human strength, or other gods, but specifically "in You"—God Himself. This word subtly suggests a relational aspect: the fathers trusted in God's character and power.
• our fathers (אֲבֹתֵינוּ, ’ăvōṯênû): This term refers to the ancestors of Israel, including figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the generations that experienced the Exodus and the wilderness wandering. It signifies the covenant community, drawing upon the shared national history and the foundational narratives of God's mighty acts for His people. The inclusion of "our" makes the remembrance personal and collective for the psalmist and his audience, solidifying a common legacy of faith.
• trusted (בָּטְחוּ, bāṭəḥû): This verb appears twice in the verse, underscoring its importance. The Hebrew word bāṭaḥ signifies a deep, confident reliance, security, or leaning upon something/someone with complete assurance. It implies a lack of fear and an unwavering certainty. The repetition acts as a literary device (epanadiplosis), adding emphasis and intensity to the assertion, demonstrating not just intellectual belief but a full and practical dependence.
• they trusted (בָּטְחוּ, bāṭəḥû): The immediate repetition serves for strong emphasis, stressing the profound and complete nature of their ancestors' trust. It communicates a certainty, that their trust was consistent and real. This reiteration serves to highlight the firmness of the past actions and to lay a stronger ground for the present appeal.
• and You delivered them (וַתְּפַלְּטֵמוֹ, watəpalləṭēmō): This is a key phrase. The Hebrew verb pālaṭ (פָּלַט) primarily means "to escape," "to get away," "to save," or "to deliver." In the Piel stem, as here, it signifies active and powerful deliverance by God. The "Vav-consecutive" before wattəpalləṭēmô indicates a direct consequence: because they trusted, God acted to deliver. The phrase vividly recalls numerous instances in Israel's history where God miraculously rescued His people from enemies, slavery, famine, or various dangers, solidifying His reputation as the great Rescuer.
• "In You our fathers trusted; they trusted": This phrase highlights the object and nature of trust. It emphasizes that the trust was directed singularly toward God, not other powers. The repeated "trusted" strengthens the assertion of their ancestors' unwavering faith and makes a forceful point that God was consistently the recipient of their faith.
• "trusted and You delivered them": This segment clearly illustrates the cause-and-effect relationship. The fathers' trust was met by God's deliverance. It demonstrates God's consistent responsiveness to faith, establishing a historical pattern and a theological principle: trust in God leads to divine intervention and salvation. This forms the very bedrock of the psalmist's plea.

Psalm 22 4 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of "trusted" (בָּטְחוּ, bāṭəḥû) within the single verse is not merely for emphasis but carries rhetorical power, solidifying the idea of an unbroken tradition of reliance on God across generations. This echoes ancient covenant concepts, where the actions and experiences of the ancestors were foundational for the identity and faith of subsequent generations. This collective memory reinforces God's attribute of immutability (Mal 3:6, Jas 1:17), meaning He does not change. Since He delivered "them," He is capable of delivering "me." This specific historical claim is then leveraged by the psalmist in the subsequent verse (v.5) where he expands on their crying out and being delivered, drawing a direct parallel that subtly contrasts with his own present, perceived unanswered cry.

Psalm 22 4 Commentary

Psalm 22:4 serves as a powerful theological anchor within a psalm of deep anguish. It establishes a fundamental truth about God's character: His absolute trustworthiness and unwavering faithfulness throughout history. The psalmist, at the brink of despair, looks back not at his own failing, but at the enduring testimony of "our fathers." They trusted confidently, leaning their full weight on God, and in response, God delivered them actively and powerfully. This isn't just a nostalgic glance; it's a profound declaration that God is not capricious or absent, but actively involved in rescuing those who put their hope in Him. For the psalmist, this past reliability forms the bedrock of hope in his present desolation, providing the courage to continue his lament, knowing that if God was faithful to them, He remains faithful now. This verse implicitly sets up the prophetic foreshadowing of Christ's suffering, implying that even in ultimate desolation, God's nature is to deliver those who truly trust Him. This past precedent gives validity to the expectation of future vindication and deliverance, both for the psalmist and, ultimately, for Christ.

Examples for practical usage:

• When facing a trial, reflect on biblical accounts of God's past deliverance (e.g., Daniel in the lion's den, Moses at the Red Sea) to bolster your faith.
• Remind yourself of God's consistent character ("He is the same yesterday, today, and forever") when present circumstances feel overwhelming.