Psalm 66:9 kjv
Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
Psalm 66:9 nkjv
Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.
Psalm 66:9 niv
he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.
Psalm 66:9 esv
who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.
Psalm 66:9 nlt
Our lives are in his hands,
and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
Psalm 66 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Job 12:10 | In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind... | God's ultimate control over all life and breath. |
| Ps 36:9 | For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. | God as the exclusive source of all life. |
| Ps 121:7-8 | The Lord will keep you from all evil... The Lord will keep your going out | God's comprehensive preservation and protection. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies... new every... | God's consistent provision and unfailing mercies. |
| Acts 17:28 | For in Him we live and move and have our being. | God as the active sustainer of existence. |
| 1 Sam 2:9 | He will guard the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked shall be... | God's specific protection over His loyal people. |
| Ps 37:23-24 | The steps of a man are established by the Lord... though he fall, he... | God guides steps and prevents complete ruin. |
| Ps 40:2 | He drew me up from the pit... set my feet upon a rock... made my steps... | God delivers from peril and provides stability. |
| Ps 73:2 | But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. | Acknowledging vulnerability without God's support. |
| Ps 94:18 | When I thought, "My foot slips," Your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. | God's intervention in moments of weakness or doubt. |
| Ps 116:8 | For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet... | God's rescue from deep distress and preventing falls. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's Word providing guidance and security. |
| Prov 3:23 | Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. | Wisdom leading to secure and stable progress. |
| Jer 10:23 | I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in... | Man's inherent inability to self-direct securely. |
| Jude 1:24 | Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you... | God's omnipotent power to prevent spiritual falls. |
| Deut 33:27-28 | The eternal God is your dwelling place... and underneath are the eternal.. | God's enduring support and refuge for His people. |
| Ps 55:22 | Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never... | God promises sustenance for those who trust Him. |
| Phil 1:6 | And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry... | God's faithfulness to complete His salvific work. |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear... | God provides a way of escape in trials and temptation. |
| Rom 14:4 | Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is to his... | God Himself is the one who upholds His servants. |
| 2 Tim 4:18 | The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely to... | God's ultimate deliverance and secure bringing to salvation. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity... | God's ultimate and absolute sovereignty over all things. |
| Ps 23:3 | He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness... | God guides, refreshes, and directs the inner person. |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. | God's overarching control over human planning and progress. |
Psalm 66 verses
Psalm 66 9 Meaning
Psalm 66:9 is a profound declaration of God's active and intimate preservation of His people. It expresses His constant care, not only sustaining their existence ("holds our soul in life") but also securing their stability and progression in His divine path, preventing them from stumbling or falling ("does not suffer our feet to be moved"). This verse underscores divine sovereignty over life and destiny, offering profound reassurance of God's steadfast support through life's trials and journey.
Psalm 66 9 Context
Psalm 66 is primarily a hymn of communal thanksgiving, inviting all the earth to celebrate God's marvelous works. The psalm opens with a universal call to worship (vv. 1-4), shifts to recalling God's past powerful deeds, particularly the Exodus and crossing the Jordan, which demonstrate His sovereignty over creation and nations (vv. 5-7). Verse 8 then begins a transition to a more specific, grateful reflection on God's active role in preserving His people through various trials, likened to being refined through fire. Within this context, verse 9 directly addresses God's ongoing, personal, and meticulous care for His faithful. It stands as an assurance that the God who performed great acts in the past continues to be intimately involved in maintaining the very life and spiritual steadfastness of His people, thereby ensuring their enduring witness and secure future.
Psalm 66 9 Word analysis
He who holds / sets (הַשָּׂם - haśśām): This Hebrew participle signifies continuous action and deliberate appointment. It presents God as the active, intentional, and perpetual agent who sustains, places, or preserves, emphasizing His ongoing sovereign involvement.
our soul (nap̄šēnû): Refers not just to physical breath or life but the entire person, the individual's essence, vitality, consciousness, and inner being. It denotes a holistic preservation of existence, including one's identity and spiritual health.
in life (baḥayyîm): Denotes the continuation of existence, vitality, and well-being. It implies not merely surviving but thriving, possessing flourishing life, indicating a quality of life upheld by divine provision.
and does not suffer / allow (וְלֹא־נָתַן - wəlōʾ-nāṯan): This strong negative conveys an active prevention. God proactively and purposefully forbids or denies any adverse forces from causing His people's feet to stumble, highlighting His protective will and power.
our feet (raglēnû): Metaphorical for one's walk, path, stability, moral conduct, and progress in life. Feet symbolize one's standing, direction, and ability to navigate life's journey. It speaks to steadfastness in one's faith and practical conduct.
to be moved (lāmôṭ): To totter, to slip, to stumble, or to fall. This encompasses physical faltering but, more significantly, denotes metaphorical stumbling in faith, succumbing to sin, or being overthrown by adversaries or adverse circumstances, implying a loss of spiritual or moral footing.
"He who holds our soul in life": This phrase captures God's comprehensive, intimate, and continuous sustenance of His people. It speaks to a divine act that maintains their very existence, purpose, and spiritual vitality, protecting against annihilation or a descent into despair. This underscores total dependence on God for being and vitality.
"and does not suffer our feet to be moved": This segment illustrates God's protective vigilance and empowering grace for their earthly and spiritual walk. It assures that God actively prevents His people from spiritual apostasy, moral failure, or physical collapse when facing challenges. This dynamic protection secures their steadfastness, allowing them to remain firm in faith and pursue their path of obedience despite threats. It presents a divine counterpoint to the vulnerability of human existence, affirming His commitment to their stability.
Psalm 66 9 Bonus section
The imagery in Psalm 66:9 implicitly offers a powerful polemic against pagan beliefs. Unlike the impotent idols and capricious deities of surrounding nations, which could not truly grant life or offer reliable protection, the God of Israel is demonstrated to be actively and constantly involved in sustaining the very essence and path of His people. He holds their nefesh (soul/life force) and guards their raglayim (feet/steps), illustrating an intimate, dynamic relationship and control over both destiny and daily existence. This portrayal highlights God's absolute sovereignty and steadfast love, reassuring the Israelites—and by extension, all believers—of His consistent faithfulness through every circumstance of their spiritual and physical journey. The verse thus stands as a foundational statement of God's providential care that enables perseverance through testing.
Psalm 66 9 Commentary
Psalm 66:9 provides a powerful affirmation of God's enduring and meticulous providence for His chosen. It transitions from celebrating His grand historical acts to emphasizing His intimate, moment-by-moment care for individual believers and the community. "He who holds our soul in life" means God is not merely the Creator who initiated life, but the tireless Sustainer who actively preserves every aspect of our being—physical vitality, mental faculties, and spiritual life. He is the spring from which life flows and by whom it is upheld, protecting against spiritual decay or ultimate despair. Concurrently, "and does not suffer our feet to be moved" reveals God's commitment to our stability and perseverance. This isn't passive watchfulness but an active prevention of stumbling, whether from temptations, adversities, or the malice of adversaries. It assures that God provides secure footing on the perilous path of life, allowing believers to walk with integrity and confidence, protected from losing their way or falling definitively. This verse underscores absolute divine dependability, showcasing God as the source of life's breath and the unwavering guide who secures our journey.
- Example: Like a parent supporting a child learning to walk, God enables our steps and catches us when we falter, preventing a catastrophic fall.
- Example: Imagine navigating a treacherous mountain pass; God ensures our footing is secure, not allowing us to slip into the abyss of doubt or sin.