Psalm 41:10 kjv
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
Psalm 41:10 nkjv
But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them.
Psalm 41:10 niv
But may you have mercy on me, LORD; raise me up, that I may repay them.
Psalm 41:10 esv
But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!
Psalm 41:10 nlt
LORD, have mercy on me.
Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
Psalm 41 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 41:9 | Even my close friend, in whom I trusted... has lifted up his heel against me. | Psalmist's betrayal, direct context |
| Psa 55:12-14 | It is not an enemy... but you, a man my equal, my companion, my close friend. | Betrayal by intimate friend |
| John 13:18 | But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted... | Jesus quotes Ps 41:9 regarding Judas |
| Matt 26:48-50 | Now His betrayer had given them a sign... Judas, are you betraying the Son.. | Judas's betrayal of Christ |
| Psa 35:7, 19 | For without cause they have hidden their net for me... | Enemies plotting against the righteous |
| Psa 6:2 | Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing. | Plea for grace in times of affliction |
| Psa 51:1 | Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your steadfast love. | Plea for mercy and cleansing |
| Dan 9:18 | For we are not presenting our supplications before You... but according.. | Prayer for God's great mercies |
| Psa 3:3 | But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. | God as deliverer and restorer |
| Psa 27:6 | And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me... | Vindication and victory over adversaries |
| Psa 71:20-21 | You who have shown me many troubles... will revive me again; You will.. | Restoration and comfort after suffering |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. | God's sovereignty in raising up |
| Acts 2:24 | But God raised Him up, having loosed the pains of death... | God's act of resurrection and vindication |
| Phil 1:28 | ...in no way alarmed by your opponents, which is for them a clear sign.. | God's justice shown through believer's steadfastness |
| Deut 32:35 | Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; In due time their foot will slip... | God's claim of recompense |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for. | Believers entrusting vengeance to God |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." | Confirmation of God as the repaying judge |
| 2 Thess 1:6-8 | For it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you.. | God's righteous judgment and repayment |
| Psa 58:10-11 | The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance... Surely there.. | Rejoicing in God's demonstrated justice |
| Nah 1:2 | The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; The Lord is an avenger... | God's character as an avenging Judge |
| Psa 7:9 | Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous | Prayer for God to end evil and establish justice |
| Jer 51:56 | For the Lord is a God of recompense, He will surely repay. | God's sure act of recompense |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | When He was reviled, He did not revile in return... but committed Himself | Christ's example of trusting God for justice |
Psalm 41 verses
Psalm 41 10 Meaning
Psalm 41:10 is a heartfelt prayer by the Psalmist, likely King David, who is suffering from severe illness and has been betrayed by trusted individuals, even his close friend. In this verse, he appeals directly to the Lord (YHWH), pleading for divine grace and restoration. He asks God to be merciful and to raise him up from his affliction, not for personal vengeance, but so that God's justice may be displayed through him. The desire to "repay them" signifies a longing for God to bring about just consequences for their wicked actions, vindicating His righteous servant and demonstrating His sovereign authority over evil.
Psalm 41 10 Context
Psalm 41 is the final psalm of Book 1 of the Psalter. It is a lament of David, focusing on a time when he was gravely ill and seemingly near death. This physical affliction was exacerbated by the cruel mocking and gloating of his enemies, and, most poignantly, by the betrayal of a trusted companion, described in verse 9 as someone who "ate my bread." This psalm highlights the depths of physical suffering combined with the spiritual anguish of betrayal. In verse 10, David's prayer is a desperate plea for God's direct intervention. The preceding verses vividly describe the enemies' malevolent wishes for his demise ("When will he die, and his name perish?" v.5), their false words of concern (v.6), and their secret plotting (v.7-8). This specific verse, then, is a turn to divine grace and power as the sole hope for restoration, not only for himself but also for the display of God's righteous judgment against those who have wronged him.
Psalm 41 10 Word analysis
- But You (וְאַתָּה - ve'attah): The opening "But" serves as a strong contrast to the treacherous enemies and false friends just described. "You" (אַתָּה) directly addresses God, emphasizing a turn from human failings to divine steadfastness. This shifts the focus from earthly affliction to heavenly help.
- O Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, revealing His personal and redemptive relationship with His people. Calling upon YHWH signifies a trust in His faithfulness, power, and unchanging character, especially in times of great distress.
- be gracious to me (חָנֵּנִי - ḥonnēnî): Derived from the root ḥanan, meaning to show favor, pity, or mercy. It implies God bending down in kindness and compassion to an inferior in distress. It is a humble plea for unmerited favor and active intervention in the Psalmist's suffering.
- and raise me up (וַהֲקִימֵנִי - vahaqîmēnî): From the root qum, meaning to stand up, rise, or establish. In the Hiphil stem, it signifies "to cause to stand" or "to restore." This implies not only physical healing from illness but also restoration to former status, strength, or power, and spiritual vindication in the face of his adversaries. It's a prayer for God to lift him out of his fallen state.
- that I may repay them (וַאֲשַׁלְּמָה לָהֶם - va'ashallemāh lāhem): This phrase needs careful understanding.
- va'ashallemāh comes from the root shalem, meaning "to be complete" or "to be whole." In the Piel/Hiphil stem as used here, it often means to make full, complete, or render. It is the language of recompense, payment, or requital.
- lāhem simply means "to them" or "for them."
- This "repayment" is not necessarily personal vengeance, but rather a request for God to bring about appropriate and just consequences upon the wicked. The Psalmist, being "raised up" and empowered by God, would then be the instrument or visible recipient of God's vindication. His restoration would, in itself, be the "repayment," demonstrating that God indeed upholds the righteous and brings low the wicked, thereby fulfilling divine justice. It signifies a desire for justice to be meted out, with God using His servant as the agent or clear beneficiary of that divine retribution.
Psalm 41 10 Bonus section
The specific Hiphil verbal forms used in this verse ("raise me up" and "that I may repay them") are significant. They emphasize the active role of God in causing the Psalmist to be restored and subsequently empowering him for the specific purpose of demonstrating divine justice. It highlights God's sovereignty as the ultimate actor. This prayer, particularly "that I may repay them," can be understood through the lens of God's character as a God who hates evil and enacts justice, not out of cruelty, but out of His perfect righteousness. It reflects the psalmist's belief that a faithful God will not let unrighteousness prevail. The suffering of the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked were enduring theological tensions in ancient Israel, and this verse is part of David's resolution of that tension—by looking to God for ultimate redress.
Psalm 41 10 Commentary
Psalm 41:10 is a profoundly personal and powerful prayer arising from the crucible of severe suffering and bitter betrayal. The Psalmist, David, is not merely asking for relief from pain; he is pleading for divine vindication. His cry for God's grace and restoration ("be gracious to me, and raise me up") is fundamental. The "raising up" speaks not just of physical recovery from illness but also a complete restoration to a place of strength and honor, overturning the public disgrace caused by his illness and his enemies' gloating.
Crucially, the motivation for this restoration is "that I may repay them." This phrase is often misinterpreted as a vengeful desire for personal retribution. However, within the biblical framework, especially considering the broader teaching on justice, it is more accurately understood as a prayer for God's justice to be publicly demonstrated. David is asking to be the instrument or the clear witness of God's righteous judgment against his adversaries. His restoration and triumph, empowered by God, would be the "repayment"—a clear signal that God upholds the righteous and brings justice upon the wicked. It aligns with the principle that vengeance belongs to God (Deut 32:35, Rom 12:19). God's re-establishment of the righteous often functions as His "repayment" to the unrighteous, revealing their sin and the futility of opposing God's chosen ones. It is a request for God to set things right and demonstrate His sovereignty.