Psalm 69 15

Psalm 69:15 kjv

Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Psalm 69:15 nkjv

Let not the floodwater overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.

Psalm 69:15 niv

Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.

Psalm 69:15 esv

Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

Psalm 69:15 nlt

Don't let the floods overwhelm me,
or the deep waters swallow me,
or the pit of death devour me.

Psalm 69 verses

Psalm 69 15 Meaning

Psalm 69:15 is a desperate plea from the Psalmist to be delivered from imminent and overwhelming peril, expressed through vivid water and pit imagery. It signifies a cry for divine intervention against total engulfment by forces of destruction and death, whether literal threats or spiritual oppression. The speaker fears being completely overwhelmed, swallowed, and trapped, highlighting an acute sense of helplessness and an urgent need for God’s saving power to prevent utter despair and ultimate demise.

Psalm 69 15 Context

Psalm 69 is a profound lament of a suffering servant, often traditionally attributed to King David, depicting deep emotional, spiritual, and physical anguish. It is characterized by intense expressions of persecution, false accusations, ostracism by friends and family, and overwhelming disgrace. The Psalmist feels alienated even from God due to the severity of his plight, which he attributes to enemies and his own zeal for God's house (Psa 69:9). This verse, Psa 69:15, appears amidst a series of urgent pleas for deliverance (Psa 69:13-18), intensifying the graphic water imagery used throughout the psalm to symbolize the overwhelming nature of the suffering and the approach of death. It depicts a multi-layered threat: being swept away by a deluge, swallowed by the depths, and ultimately entombed in a pit. Historically and culturally, wells and cisterns were vital but also perilous; falling into one meant being trapped and facing certain death unless rescued. Spiritually, the imagery powerfully conveys being drowned by despair, consumed by the evil intent of adversaries, and eternally lost without divine intervention. Many scholars recognize Psalm 69 as a Messianic psalm, anticipating the profound suffering, rejection, and zeal of the Lord Jesus Christ, making the cries for deliverance particularly poignant in a prophetic context.

Psalm 69 15 Word analysis

• Let not: The Hebrew term is אַל (al), a strong prohibitive particle. It indicates a fervent, desperate negative command, emphasizing the Psalmist's urgent and absolute rejection of the threatened outcome. This is not a mere wish but an impassioned plea to God to prevent the impending doom.
• the flood of waters: Hebrew is שִׁבֹּ֣לֶת מַיִם (shibbōlet mayim). Shibbōlet (שִׁבֹּלֶת) here signifies an "overflowing stream," a "torrent," or a "flood," as seen in Judges 12:6. It conveys the image of overwhelming, rushing waters, indicating a situation where one is swiftly overtaken and has no power to resist. Mayim (מַיִם) is simply "waters." This emphasizes the sheer volume and irresistible force of the approaching danger.
• overflow me: The verb is תִּשְׁטְפֵ֣נִי (tishṭəfēnî), derived from שָׁטַף (shaṭap), meaning "to sweep away," "to inundate," "to drown," or "to wash over completely." This signifies complete engulfment, not just wetting, but total submergence, leaving no part untouched or able to breathe.
• neither let the deep: Hebrew וְֽאַל־תִּבְלָעֵ֥נִי מְצוּלָ֑ה (wə’al-tivlā‘ēnî məṣūlâ). Məṣūlâ (מְצוּלָה) means "deep," "depth," "abyss," or "the profound part of the sea." In a figurative sense, it often refers to Sheol or the grave, the depths of destruction from which there is no return. It evokes images of a dark, suffocating void.
• swallow me up: The verb is תִּבְלָעֵ֥נִי (tivlā‘ēnî), from בָּלַע (bāla‘), meaning "to swallow," "to engulf," "to absorb," or "to destroy completely." This implies total annihilation and absorption, suggesting an active, devouring force. It is a terrifying image of utter disappearance and non-existence.
• and let not the pit: Hebrew וְֽאַל־תֶּאְטַ֨ר־עָלַ֖י פִּ֭י בְּאֵ֥ר (wə’al-te’ṭar-‘ālay pî bə’er). Bə’er (בְּאֵר) means a "well," "cistern," or "pit," often referring to a literal deep hole or metaphorically to the grave/Sheol. In biblical thought, falling into a pit implies inescapable confinement and impending death.
• shut her mouth upon me: The phrase is תֶּאְטַ֨ר־עָלַ֖י פִּ֭י (te’ṭar-‘ālay pî). ’Aṭar (אָטַר) means "to shut," "to close," or "to enclose completely." Pî (פִּי) refers to the "mouth" or "opening." The personification of the pit having a "mouth" that can close indicates an inescapable trap, a sealed destiny. It paints a picture of being alive, but already buried, with the means of escape permanently closed off.

• Progression of Peril: The verse presents a terrifying crescendo of threats. First, the "flood of waters" overflowing suggests an immediate, overwhelming force sweeping one away. This is followed by the "deep swallowing", implying total absorption and sinking into an inescapable void, worse than merely being washed over. Finally, the horror culminates with the "pit shutting her mouth upon me," which speaks of a literal entrapment and entombment while alive, symbolizing utter and final destruction without any hope of exit or survival. This three-fold progression underscores the Psalmist's dire situation and the total finality of the threatened demise without divine intervention.

Psalm 69 15 Bonus section

• The use of water imagery in the Psalms and other biblical texts frequently alludes to the ancient Near Eastern cosmology, where chaotic waters represented primeval disorder or the realm of death. By praying that these waters not overflow or the deep not swallow, the Psalmist is invoking God’s power, who historically established order over these primordial waters (Gen 1:6-10; Psa 104:6-9), to once again exert His dominion over the chaos threatening His servant.
• This verse can be understood not only literally for physical dangers but also as a powerful metaphor for being overwhelmed by sorrow, spiritual despair, or the accusations of enemies. The "pit" can represent the ultimate separation from God or profound abandonment.
• The Psalm, being Messianic, points to the Lord Jesus Christ. While Jesus experienced unimaginable suffering and the depths of anguish (e.g., in Gethsemane), He was ultimately raised from the pit (Psa 16:10, Acts 2:27, 31). His prayer, though not directly quoting this verse, echoes its spirit, as He truly plumbed the depths of human and divine suffering to bring about salvation. His resurrection proves God's power to "not let the pit shut its mouth" on His Anointed One, guaranteeing eternal hope for those who trust in Him.

Psalm 69 15 Commentary

Psalm 69:15 is a visceral cry for divine deliverance from forces that threaten to completely obliterate the Psalmist. The triple imagery of flooding waters, a devouring deep, and a closing pit illustrates a rapid descent into absolute destruction. This is not merely about danger, but about utter engulfment and permanent obliteration, leaving no chance for breath or escape. The Psalmist acknowledges his utter powerlessness against these overwhelming spiritual or literal forces and implores God, the ultimate sovereign over creation and chaos, to intervene and prevent this dire end. This desperate plea resonates with anyone who feels overwhelmed by life's trials, sin's power, or persecution's relentless advance, reminding them to turn to God who alone can rescue from the abyss of despair and death. It speaks to the believer's absolute reliance on God for salvation, not just from physical peril but also from spiritual defeat and the grasp of Sheol.