Psalm 30 7

Psalm 30:7 kjv

LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

Psalm 30:7 nkjv

LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

Psalm 30:7 niv

LORD, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

Psalm 30:7 esv

By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

Psalm 30:7 nlt

Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

Psalm 30 verses

Psalm 30 7 Meaning

Psalm 30:7 describes a dramatic shift in the psalmist's experience. Initially, he acknowledges that his period of prosperity, stability, and seemingly unshakeable security (metaphorically, "my mountain stand strong") was entirely due to the undeserved grace and goodwill of the Lord. However, this state of blessing was abruptly shattered when God seemingly withdrew His direct presence or favor ("You hid Your face"), immediately plunging the psalmist into profound distress, confusion, and overwhelming dismay. The verse highlights the absolute dependence of human flourishing on the constant favor and presence of God.

Psalm 30 7 Context

Psalm 30 is a "Psalm, A Song for the Dedication of the Temple" or more accurately, "A Song for the Dedication of the House" (Chanukat HaBayit) by David. Scholars suggest this dedication might refer to David's own palace, his "house," after recovering from a life-threatening illness or danger, rather than Solomon's later Temple. The psalm itself moves from profound lament and near-despair (implied in earlier verses like v.2-3 where the psalmist cries out from the "pit" of death) to triumphant thanksgiving and praise. Verse 7 encapsulates the psalmist's initial sense of well-being, his attribution of it to God, and the subsequent sudden plunge into distress when God's favor was seemingly withdrawn. This turnaround likely served to humble the psalmist and solidify his understanding that true security rests solely in God's continuous presence, not in perceived achievements or circumstances. Historically, kings and individuals in ancient Israel often saw their well-being and security as a direct reflection of divine favor, and any calamity was often attributed to God's displeasure.

Psalm 30 7 Word analysis

• Lord: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH – Yahweh). This is the personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His faithful relationship with His people. It signifies the God who reveals Himself and actively interacts with humanity.
• by Your favor: Hebrew: בִּרְצוֹנְךָ (birtsonĕka). The noun רָצוֹן (ratzon) means pleasure, delight, goodwill, acceptance, or favor. This highlights that any stability or blessing received is not earned or deserved, but stems solely from God's gracious and sovereign will. It is unmerited kindness.
• You have made: Hebrew: הֶעֱמַדְתָּ (he‘ĕmadeta). This is the Hiphil (causative) perfect form of the verb עָמַד (amad), meaning "to stand" or "to establish." The Hiphil form implies that God actively, intentionally, and directly caused the psalmist's mountain (stability/position) to stand strong and firm.
• my mountain: Hebrew: הָרִי (hari). The word הַר (har) means "mountain" or "hill." Metaphorically, a "mountain" often symbolizes stability, strength, permanence, sovereignty, or a prominent position (like a kingdom or a fortified city). For David, it could refer to his kingdom, his secure position as king, or his personal health and well-being. The "my" implies a sense of possession or personal investment in this state of security, perhaps a touch of complacency.
• stand strong: The concept of "strength" or "firmness" is inherently embedded within the verb he‘ĕmadeta ("You caused to stand"). It denotes not just standing, but standing securely and enduringly. Some translations add "strong" to explicitly convey this robust stability.
• You hid: Hebrew: הִסְתַּרְתָּ (histerta). This is the Hiphil (causative) perfect form of סָתַר (satar), meaning "to hide," "to conceal," or "to withdraw." The Hiphil form again signifies God's deliberate and active choice to withdraw His presence or favor. It wasn't an accidental or passive occurrence.
• Your face: Hebrew: פָּנִים (panim). While literally "faces" (plural in Hebrew idiomatically for singular "face"), in this context, "Your face" signifies God's presence, attention, favor, and direct interaction. To hide His face means to withdraw His favorable countenance, protection, and blessing. It indicates a period of divine displeasure or, at the very least, a deliberate withdrawal of intimate fellowship.
• and I was troubled: Hebrew: נִבְהַלְתִּי (nivhaleti). This is the Niphal perfect form of בָּהַל (bahal), meaning "to be terrified," "dismayed," "confused," "disturbed," or "overwhelmed with panic." The Niphal conveys a passive or reflexive state, meaning the psalmist became dismayed/troubled, as a direct, involuntary reaction to God's withdrawal. It indicates profound psychological and emotional distress, a state of sudden shock and panic, far beyond mere sadness.

• "Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong": This phrase attributes all prior stability and success entirely to God's undeserved grace. It demonstrates a past acknowledgment of divine sovereignty over prosperity. The "mountain standing strong" reflects a perceived state of unshakeable security, perhaps leading to a sense of false self-reliance or presumption regarding continued blessing. It emphasizes the ephemeral nature of blessings without their Divine source.
• "You hid Your face, and I was troubled": This second clause creates a sharp and jarring contrast with the first. The shift from unshakeable stability to sudden, profound dismay reveals the psalmist's utter and ultimate dependence on God's continuous presence and favor. The abruptness signifies that genuine security is not inherent in circumstances or perceived strength but flows directly from God's sustaining attention. It exposes the fragile nature of relying on the benefits of God's favor without constant reliance on God Himself. This sequence suggests that God's temporary withdrawal might be a pedagogical act to expose spiritual complacency.

Psalm 30 7 Bonus section

The "mountain" metaphor for stability or kingdom is prevalent in scripture, often referencing Mount Zion (Ps 48:1, 125:1) as a symbol of God's unshakable kingdom, implying the psalmist's personal stability was patterned after this divine permanence. The deliberate "hiding of face" from God is a powerful biblical motif, indicating not merely absence, but often a purposeful act of divine discipline, testing, or a temporary withdrawal of His covenant presence to humble His people and call them back to Him (Isa 45:15; Jer 33:5). This divine action serves to remind humanity that prosperity and peace are contingent upon Him, preventing pride and fostering a deeper, more refined faith. The swiftness of the shift from prosperity to despair also underscores God's absolute sovereignty, illustrating His power to give and to take away (Job 1:21) for His righteous purposes, even when it involves discomfiting those He favors.

Psalm 30 7 Commentary

Psalm 30:7 captures a profound spiritual truth about divine dependence and human complacency. The psalmist, perhaps after experiencing great personal or national success ("my mountain stand strong"), briefly slipped into a state of presumptive security, assuming his stable circumstances would endure simply because God had blessed him in the past. This initial "standing strong" was entirely by God's "favor" (ratzon), indicating it was an act of unmerited grace. Yet, prosperity can ironically lead to self-reliance or a diminished sense of urgency in seeking God. God, in His sovereign wisdom, sometimes withdraws His manifest presence ("hid Your face") to reveal the true source of all blessing. This withdrawal, not necessarily punitive but often pedagogical, immediately stripped the psalmist of his perceived stability, plunging him into a state of acute "trouble" or dismay (nivhaleti). The verse is a powerful reminder that true and lasting security is found only in the continuous, active presence and favor of the Living God, not in the enduring nature of our circumstances or achievements. It compels a constant recognition that our "mountains" only stand because God chooses to hold them up. A practical implication is that times of great prosperity or stability should prompt deeper reliance and gratitude to God, not a slackening of devotion. When unexpected difficulties arise, they may be a sovereign call to re-evaluate where true security is being placed. For instance, a period of sustained good health (a "strong mountain") can lead one to neglect prayer or spiritual disciplines; a sudden illness (God "hides His face") then forces a profound realization of utter dependence.