Psalm 56 13

Psalm 56:13 kjv

For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Psalm 56:13 nkjv

For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

Psalm 56:13 niv

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalm 56:13 esv

For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalm 56:13 nlt

For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light.

Psalm 56 verses

Psalm 56 13 Meaning

Psalm 56:13 articulates David's profound confidence and gratitude to God for deliverance from mortal danger. It declares that God has saved his life from the clutches of death and preserved his steps from stumbling, thereby enabling him to continue his life's journey in God's presence, guided by His divine illumination and power, which grants true, vibrant existence. This verse expresses not merely physical survival, but a renewed spiritual vitality and purpose that flows directly from God's salvific act.

Psalm 56 13 Context

Psalm 56 is a Michtam, or "golden psalm," of David, accompanied by the superscription: "When the Philistines seized him in Gath." This refers to a specific, perilous period in David's life, likely recounted in 1 Samuel 21. Fleeing from King Saul's pursuit, David sought refuge in the Philistine city of Gath, the home of Goliath. His situation was dire; he was surrounded by enemies, both the Philistines who knew of his slaying of Goliath, and Saul's men who sought his life. The psalm is a cry for mercy and protection amid intense persecution, expressing lament, deep fear, but also steadfast trust in God's word and ultimate deliverance. Verse 13 marks a climactic shift from pleading to confident declaration of God's past and future rescue, motivating his vow of praise.

Psalm 56 13 Word analysis

• For you (כִּי־אַתָּה - ki-'attah): "For" (כִּי - ki) indicates a reason or explanation. It links David's future vow of praise (implied in previous verses) to God's definitive actions. "You" (אַתָּה - 'attah) emphasizes God's personal, direct involvement.
• have delivered (חִלַּצְתָּ - chillatzta): From the root חָלַץ (chalats), meaning "to draw out," "extract," "rescue," or "deliver." It implies drawing someone out of a dangerous, confining, or deathly situation. It suggests God's power in an active, saving capacity.
• my soul (נַפְשִׁי - nafshi): "Soul" (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh) encompasses the entire person—life, self, breath, inner being. It is more than just a spiritual component; it signifies David's very existence, his being. Thus, "delivered my soul from death" means rescuing his whole self from perishing.
• from death (מִמָּוֶת - mimmavet): "Death" (מָוֶת - mavet) here refers to both literal physical death and the mortal danger, despair, and crushing circumstances that threatened to extinguish David's life.
• yes, my feet (וְרַגְלַי - v'raglai): The "yes" or "and" (וְ - v) emphasizes an additional, parallel aspect of deliverance. "Feet" (רֶגֶל - regel) are literal, but also a metaphor for one's path, stability, or journey through life.
• from falling (מִדֶּחִי - mikkedi): "Falling" (דֶּחִי - dechi) implies stumbling, slipping, overthrow, or utter ruin. It suggests not only preservation from a literal fall but from spiritual or moral collapse, ensuring one's path remains steady.
• that I may walk (לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ - lehit'hallelk): The preposition "that I may" (לְ - le) indicates purpose or result. "Walk" (הָלַךְ - halak), in its Hithpael form (הִתְהַלֵּךְ - hithalek), signifies a continuous, deliberate, active lifestyle, a 'living by walking'. It denotes fellowship and communion.
• before God (לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים - lifnei Elohim): "Before" (לִפְנֵי - lifnei) means in the presence of, in the sight of, under the eyes of. It speaks of accountability, intimate fellowship, and living in God's watchful care. "God" (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim) is the general but powerful name for the sovereign creator God. This highlights a life lived conscious of His presence and will.
• in the light (בְּאוֹר - be'or): "In the light" (אוֹר - 'or) represents divine guidance, truth, favor, blessing, purity, and life itself. Light dissipates darkness, representing deliverance from confusion, sin, and despair.
• of life (חַיִּים - chayyim): "Life" (חַיִּים - chayyim) here refers to true, flourishing existence, both temporal and eternal, marked by vitality, blessing, and God's favor, as opposed to mere existence or death. The "light of life" is a unified concept of God's presence as the source of all genuine existence and illumination.

Psalm 56 13 Bonus section

The phrase "light of life" (אוֹר חַיִּים - 'or chayyim') is highly significant. It is a rare and poetic combination, suggesting a quality of life infused with God's very being, wisdom, and guiding truth. It anticipates New Testament revelations, particularly in the Gospel of John, where Jesus proclaims Himself as "the light of the world" (John 8:12) and the source of true "life" (John 14:6). David's desire to "walk before God" underscores the Old Testament concept of covenant faithfulness and living in integrity. The Michtam designation of this Psalm (a golden psalm or epigrammatic poem) indicates its lasting significance and intrinsic value, often conveying a profound spiritual truth applicable across time. This psalm subtly contrasts the darkness, instability, and despair that idols or pagan gods of David's enemies offered, by showcasing the Lord's absolute sovereignty, life-giving power, and moral guidance. The God of Israel provides genuine, life-affirming light, unlike the emptiness of pagan practices which often involved rites of death or dark magic.

Psalm 56 13 Commentary

Psalm 56:13 acts as the grand conclusion to David's personal plea for divine intervention. It solidifies his confident expectation, which arises from faith and previous experiences of God's faithfulness. The dual rescue—from death (his ultimate peril) and from falling (his everyday struggle for stability and righteousness)—shows the comprehensiveness of God's salvation. This deliverance is not an end in itself but enables a profound purpose: to "walk before God in the light of life." This 'walk' implies a life of sustained, intentional fellowship, integrity, and obedience, lived under God's watchful eye and empowered by His illuminating truth and life-giving presence. It is a walk of spiritual vitality and direction, starkly contrasted with the darkness of sin and death. David's experience thus foreshadows the greater "light of life" found supremely in Jesus Christ, who delivers souls from spiritual death and enables a true walk of fellowship with God.Examples:

• A person facing terminal illness who finds spiritual strength and purpose to serve God daily.
• Someone rescued from a path of destructive addiction, now able to live a stable life committed to Christian principles.