Psalm 66 20

Psalm 66:20 kjv

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Psalm 66:20 nkjv

Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

Psalm 66:20 niv

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 66:20 esv

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

Psalm 66:20 nlt

Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Psalm 66 verses

Psalm 66 20 Meaning

Psalm 66:20 is a doxology, a profound declaration of praise and gratitude from the psalmist to God. It extols God for two specific and interconnected reasons: His attentiveness to the psalmist's personal prayer and His steadfast, unwavering mercy that was never withheld. The verse affirms God's faithfulness and lovingkindness as actively present in the life of the one who prays.

Psalm 66 20 Context

Psalm 66 is a psalm of communal thanksgiving, though it includes a significant individual testimony. The psalm opens with a call for all the earth to praise God for His mighty deeds (v. 1-7), particularly recalling His deliverance of Israel from Egypt (crossing the sea) and leading them through the wilderness. Verses 8-12 continue with a corporate thanksgiving for enduring trials and being brought into a place of abundance. From verse 13 to 20, the psalmist shifts to a personal declaration of thanksgiving and praise, recounting a specific instance of deliverance and a solemn vow made and fulfilled. He invites all who fear God to listen to his testimony (v. 16) before culminating in the doxology of verse 20. The preceding verses (18-19) are critical: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer." This establishes the psalmist's righteousness (in this context, sincere intent) and confirms God's active hearing before he pronounces the blessing. Historically, it reflects the practice of recounting divine interventions in personal and national life within worship, affirming Yahweh's unique role as a God who responds and cares, distinct from the silent or capricious deities of surrounding cultures.

Psalm 66 20 Word analysis

• Blessed (בָּרוּךְ - baruch): This Hebrew word means "praised," "lauded," or "held in highest esteem." When applied to God, it is not wishing something on God, but rather acknowledging and declaring His inherent blessedness and worthiness of praise as the source of all blessing. It's a declarative exclamation of His intrinsic glory and goodness.

• be God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): A plural noun used with a singular verb, typically understood as intensifying the majesty, power, and sovereignty of the one true God. It refers to the Creator, the mighty Ruler of all things, emphasizing His divine power and authority in responding to human cries.

• Who has not turned away (הֵסִיר - hesir): From the verb סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside," "to remove," "to take away." In this context, it means God did not disregard, ignore, reject, or withhold His attention from the prayer. It strongly implies active engagement and positive response, not merely passive hearing. God "did not dismiss" the prayer.

• my prayer (תְּפִלָּה - tephillah): This term refers to petition, supplication, intercession. It emphasizes the personal and specific nature of the psalmist's direct communication with God. The divine response to "my prayer" signifies an intimate, personal relationship and God's attention to individual cries.

• Nor His mercy (וְלֹא חֶסֶד - welo ḥesed): The "Nor" (וְלֹא) connects this second affirmation directly to the first, creating a parallel emphasis. "His mercy" translates ḥesed, a profoundly rich Hebrew term denoting steadfast love, covenant loyalty, lovingkindness, and faithful kindness. It signifies God's active, compassionate, and unwavering loyalty that goes beyond mere pity, encompassing His commitment to His covenant people and His gracious acts.

• from me: This simple prepositional phrase emphasizes the continuous outflow and presence of God's ḥesed toward the psalmist. God's mercy was not withdrawn or removed but remained consistently present and operative in his life, providing the very context and substance of the answer to prayer.

• Blessed be God: This phrase serves as a powerful doxological exclamation, a recognition and affirmation of God's supreme worth and gracious character. It sets the tone of profound gratitude and worship.

• Who has not turned away my prayer: This phrase speaks to God's divine attentiveness and responsiveness. It counters any doubt that God might ignore or dismiss the earnest cries of His people, confirming His active hearing and engagement with their petitions. It’s an affirmation of God's imminence and His readiness to intercede.

• Nor His mercy from me: This complements the previous phrase by highlighting the motivation and outcome of God's responsiveness. The fact that God hears prayer is intrinsically linked to His constant, unfailing ḥesed. It means His answer, His intervention, His presence are all rooted in His steadfast love, which never departs from the supplicant. This clause underlines the unchanging nature of God's benevolent faithfulness toward His own.

Psalm 66 20 Bonus section

The verse effectively presents God as utterly dependable and intimately involved in the lives of His people. The "my prayer" aspect shows the deeply personal nature of this encounter. The psalmist isn't speaking theoretically, but from a direct, lived experience of divine intervention. This testimony reinforces the theological truth that God is not a distant, impersonal deity but one who hears, cares, and acts with loyal love. The phrase "Blessed be God" acts as an antithesis to any notion that human achievements or fate are responsible for deliverance; instead, all glory is redirected to the divine source of blessing and mercy. It encourages believers to pray with the assurance that their voices matter to the Almighty.

Psalm 66 20 Commentary

Psalm 66:20 stands as a pinnacle of the psalmist's personal gratitude, distilling the essence of God's character and His relationship with His faithful people. It’s not just an acknowledgment that God heard a prayer; it’s an adoration of God’s nature revealed through the act of hearing. The psalmist is thankful not merely for a granted request, but for the fundamental truth that God is the kind of God who attends to human cries, and crucially, does so from an unceasing wellspring of ḥesed. His mercy, His loyal covenant love, is what undergirds His readiness to listen and respond. The fact that God did not "turn away" the prayer implies a positive, active engagement – He considered it, valued it, and responded to it. Furthermore, the declaration that God did not turn His mercy "from me" testifies to a continuing divine care and an uninterrupted flow of grace. This verse offers profound encouragement for all believers, assuring them that sincere prayer is met with a hearing ear and a heart full of unfailing mercy. It serves as an ultimate expression of faith and trust, encouraging others to call upon the Lord knowing His benevolent faithfulness remains constant.

Examples for practical usage:

• After experiencing God's help in a difficult situation, consciously offer thanks: "Blessed be God, Who did not turn away my cry, nor His mercy from me."
• When faced with anxiety about whether God hears you, recall this verse to bolster your faith in His attentiveness and lovingkindness.
• Use this as a doxology in your personal prayers or worship services to give thanks for God's faithfulness.