Psalm 6 4

Psalm 6:4 kjv

Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

Psalm 6:4 nkjv

Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake!

Psalm 6:4 niv

Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 6:4 esv

Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

Psalm 6:4 nlt

Return, O LORD, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 6 verses

Psalm 6 4 Meaning

Psalm 6:4 is a desperate and concise plea to God for intervention and comprehensive deliverance. The psalmist, likely David, asks God to turn His favorable attention back towards him ("Return, O Lord"), to rescue his very being from profound distress ("deliver my soul"), and to grant complete salvation from peril ("save me"). Crucially, the basis for this urgent request is not human merit but God's intrinsic character – His unfailing, covenantal love and mercy ("for Your mercies’ sake"), affirming that all deliverance stems purely from divine grace.

Psalm 6 4 Context

Psalm 6 is a Penitential Psalm, one of a group of psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) that express profound repentance and supplication for divine forgiveness and relief from suffering, which is perceived as divine discipline. The psalm opens with the psalmist expressing severe anguish—physical illness, emotional distress, and possibly the threat of enemies—all of which he interprets as consequences of God's anger due to his sin (vv. 1-3). Verse 4 marks a crucial pivot point, moving from complaint and acknowledgment of distress to an urgent and direct petition for God’s active intervention. The historical context for David, as the presumed author, would include periods of illness, personal sin (e.g., the Bathsheba affair and its consequences), and the burdens of kingship that invited spiritual reflection on divine justice and mercy. In such a state, the psalmist recognized his inability to help himself and turned wholly to God, pleading for the restoration of God’s life-giving presence.

Psalm 6 4 Word analysis

• "Return" (שׁוּבָה, shuvah): This is an imperative verb derived from the root shuv, meaning "to turn" or "to turn back." It is a plea for God to reverse His apparent withdrawal or disfavor and to turn His gaze and presence back towards the suffering individual with active and compassionate intervention.

• "O Lord" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the sacred, personal, and covenantal name of God. By invoking YHWH, the psalmist appeals to God's specific promises and faithfulness within His established relationship with Israel, emphasizing trust in His steadfast character.

• "deliver" (הַצִּילָה, hatsila): An imperative verb from the root natsal, meaning "to snatch away," "to rescue," or "to tear away from danger." It expresses an urgent demand for decisive and immediate liberation from a life-threatening or deeply distressing situation.

• "my soul" (נַפְשִׁי, naphshi): "My soul," where nephesh in Hebrew thought refers not merely to a spiritual component but often to the entire person, the vital breath, the very life, being, or self. Thus, "deliver my soul" is a plea for the preservation of one’s life and entire existence from affliction.

• "save me" (הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי, hoshie'ni): An imperative verb from the root yasha, which means "to save," "to deliver," "to bring spaciousness," or "to give victory." This term carries broad connotations of comprehensive salvation from all forms of peril, encompassing restoration, healing, and overcoming all opposition. It is the root word for the name "Yeshua" (Jesus).

• "for Your mercies’ sake" (לְמַעַן חַסְדֶּךָ, lema'an chasdekha):

  • "for Your sake" (lema'an): A prepositional phrase meaning "for the sake of," "because of," or "on account of." It clarifies that the ground or reason for the plea is entirely outside of the supplicant's own worth or action.
  • "mercies’" (chasdekha, "Your chesed"): A foundational Hebrew theological term signifying God's steadfast, covenantal love, loyal kindness, enduring faithfulness, and compassionate grace. It is not about feeling sorry, but about actively demonstrating loyal love rooted in relationship and promises. The appeal here is purely to God's intrinsic and unfailing nature.

• "Return, O Lord, deliver my soul": This sequence reveals the logical flow of the psalmist’s prayer. First, God's favorable attention must be engaged (Return), and then He can actively rescue the supplicant’s very life and being (deliver my soul). It expresses the deepest yearning for God’s engaged presence amidst dire suffering.

• "deliver my soul; save me": These two parallel and intensified pleas underscore the totality of the psalmist's distress and the comprehensive nature of the desired divine intervention. They encompass physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being, portraying a holistic cry for rescue from imminent danger and overwhelming pain.

• "save me for Your mercies’ sake": This phrase succinctly highlights the theological foundation of the entire plea. It emphasizes that salvation is purely an act of God’s grace (chesed), not contingent upon human merit or worthiness. This anchors human hope squarely in the faithful character of God rather than human performance.

Psalm 6 4 Bonus section

The progression within Psalm 6 from the opening appeal to Elohim (God in His capacity as judge or sovereign ruler) in verse 1 to the more intimate appeal to YHWH (the covenantal, personal God) in verses 2 and 4 reveals a shift in the psalmist's understanding and trust. In verse 4, calling upon YHWH demonstrates a deeper appeal to God’s personal faithfulness and covenant promises even amidst discipline. This deep theological shift emphasizes that even when God is perceived as angry or chastening, His faithful character remains the ultimate source of hope and mercy. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that divine deliverance is not earned but given purely out of God's abundant chesed, solidifying the foundation for all grace-based relationships with Him.

Psalm 6 4 Commentary

Psalm 6:4 embodies a profound pivot in the psalmist's cry of lament. From the depths of perceived divine anger and overwhelming affliction, the desperate plea shifts focus from human suffering to the unwavering character of God. The supplication "Return, O Lord" is not merely a request for God to reappear, but for Him to re-engage with compassionate favor and action, to turn His countenance towards the sufferer. The dual appeal to "deliver my soul" and "save me" is comprehensive, seeking preservation of the entire being—life, health, and spirit—from a perilous state that threatens existence. Crucially, the entire petition is firmly grounded in "Your mercies' sake," that is, God's chesed. This loyal, steadfast, and covenantal love is the sole and ultimate basis for the psalmist’s hope. It signifies an understanding that rescue and restoration flow purely from God’s gracious nature, independent of any human deserving, offering a timeless model for prayer rooted in unmerited grace. This verse offers solace, demonstrating that even when facing the consequences of sin, one can boldly approach God based on His character.