Psalm 69:29 kjv
But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
Psalm 69:29 nkjv
But I am poor and sorrowful; Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
Psalm 69:29 niv
But as for me, afflicted and in pain? may your salvation, God, protect me.
Psalm 69:29 esv
But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!
Psalm 69:29 nlt
I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
Psalm 69 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 32:32-33 | Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, blot me, I pray, out of Your book which You have written. And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” | Moses' plea and the concept of blotting out names from God's book. |
| Ps 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. | God's elevating and protecting His servant amidst adversaries. |
| Ps 25:16 | Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. | Echoes the psalmist's "afflicted" state and plea for mercy. |
| Ps 34:6 | This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. | God hearing and saving the "poor" and afflicted. |
| Ps 40:17 | But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God. | A direct parallel, expressing poverty and need for swift divine aid. |
| Ps 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. | God's regard for the "pained" or broken-hearted. |
| Ps 69:33 | For the Lord hears the needy, And does not despise His prisoners. | Confirms God's compassion for the afflicted. |
| Ps 102:17 | He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. | God listening to the prayers of the desperate and humble. |
| Ps 109:22 | For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me. | Similar expression of being "poor" and deeply "pained." |
| Ps 113:7 | He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, | God's pattern of exalting the humble. |
| Isa 4:3 | And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. | Concept of being "recorded" or written in God's book/book of life. |
| Isa 61:3 | To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. | Transformation from mourning and heaviness to praise and exaltation. |
| Dan 12:1 | ...And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. | Reinforces the importance of being "written in the book" for deliverance. |
| Lk 10:20 | Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. | New Testament affirmation of names written in God's heavenly register. |
| Phil 4:3 | And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. | Paul acknowledging co-workers having their names in the Book of Life. |
| Heb 12:23 | to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, | The "registered in heaven" implies names in the Book of Life. |
| Rev 3:5 | He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. | Promise not to blot out names for overcomers from the Book of Life. |
| Rev 13:8 | All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. | Connects being saved from deception with having name in Lamb's Book of Life. |
| Rev 17:8 | The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world... | Reinforces the exclusion of those not written in the Book of Life. |
| Rev 20:12 | And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. | The centrality of the Book of Life in final judgment. |
| Rev 21:27 | But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. | Only those in the Lamb's Book of Life can enter the New Jerusalem. |
Psalm 69 verses
Psalm 69 29 Meaning
Psalm 69:29 encapsulates the psalmist's personal plea for divine deliverance amid intense suffering, shifting focus from the preceding imprecations against his enemies to his own desperate need for God's saving power. Despite his afflicted and pained state, he expresses hope that God will elevate him and secure his salvation, transforming his humiliation into exaltation. This verse is a heartfelt cry for recognition and rescue from a humble and distressed servant of the Most High.
Psalm 69 29 Context
Psalm 69 is a profound psalm of lament, attributed to David, expressing the deep suffering, isolation, and persecution faced by the psalmist. He feels overwhelmed by his enemies, forsaken even by friends and family, and mocked for his devotion to God. The chapter vividly details his distress, feeling as if he is drowning in deep waters (v. 1-2). His tears are constant (v. 3), and his persecutors are numerous and malicious (v. 4). He also confesses his own failings before God (v. 5-6), yet his suffering is amplified by the fact that he endures reproach for God's sake (v. 7).
Verses 22-28 contain severe imprecatory prayers against his adversaries, invoking divine judgment upon them for their evil deeds and for persecuting one whom God has afflicted. Psalm 69:29 marks a significant shift. After calling for curses upon his enemies, the psalmist turns back to his own dire situation. Instead of continuing with imprecations, he presents his own pitiable state before God ("But I...") and cries out for personal salvation and exaltation. This verse bridges the fervent curses with a return to personal plea and culminates in thanksgiving in the final verses of the chapter (v. 30-36), emphasizing God's ultimate deliverance of the poor and needy. Historically, the psalm may reflect periods of intense persecution for David, such as during Absalom's rebellion or Saul's pursuit, where he experienced deep betrayal and unjust suffering.
Psalm 69 29 Word analysis
וַאֲנִי (va'ani) – "But I"
- Significance: The conjunction "וְ" (ve - "and" or "but") combined with "אֲנִי" (ani - "I") serves as a strong adversative, signaling a dramatic shift in focus. It redirects the entire lament from the enemies (preceding verses 22-28) back to the psalmist's personal condition and plea. It emphasizes his individuality and unique suffering in contrast to the collective fate of the wicked he just cursed.
- Database insight: This pronoun highlights the intense personal nature of the psalm, typical of individual laments where the petitioner directly addresses God about his own experience.
עָנִי (ani) – "afflicted" / "poor"
- Meaning: Derives from the root עָנָה ('anah), which implies being bowed down, oppressed, afflicted, or humbled. It signifies both a state of poverty or deprivation and a state of deep emotional or physical distress due to suffering or persecution.
- Significance: It's a foundational term in the Psalms for the righteous who suffer unjustly. It emphasizes his vulnerability and dependence on God. It’s not just a material condition but also a spiritual posture of humility before God, often implying piety.
- Database insight: The "anawim" (the poor, humble, afflicted) are a recurring theme in biblical theology, often seen as those truly reliant on Yahweh and chosen for His salvation.
וְכוֹאֵב (ve'kho'ev) – "and in pain" / "and sorrowful"
- Meaning: From the verb כָּאַב (ka'av), "to be in pain," "to grieve," "to suffer intensely." It refers to physical agony and deep emotional distress.
- Significance: This word reinforces the severity of the psalmist's affliction, making it clear that his suffering is both external (from persecution) and internal (deep emotional and perhaps physical pain).
- Database insight: Together with "ani," "kho'ev" paints a complete picture of internal and external torment, intensifying the psalmist's plea.
יְשׁוּעָתְךָ (yeshua'at'kha) – "Your salvation"
- Meaning: From יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah), "salvation," "deliverance," "rescue." It's derived from the root יָשַׁע (yasha'), "to save," "to deliver." The suffix "-kha" means "Your," referring to God.
- Significance: It implies more than mere escape; it is the comprehensive and ultimate deliverance provided by God. This emphasizes that only God can truly rescue the psalmist from his predicament and vindicate him. It points to a redemptive act.
- Database insight: This term is rich in theological meaning, often encompassing spiritual, physical, and eternal deliverance. It’s a foundational concept related to God’s nature as a redeemer.
אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – "O God"
- Meaning: A general Hebrew name for God, expressing His power, might, and supreme deity. It can be used for the one true God or for pagan deities, but in Psalms, it almost exclusively refers to the Lord.
- Significance: By addressing God directly with "Elohim," the psalmist invokes His divine authority and power as the sole source of rescue and ultimate help.
תְּשַׂגְּבֵנִי (tesagevini) – "lift me up" / "set me on high" / "exalt me"
- Meaning: From the root שָׂגַב (sagav), which means "to be high," "to be exalted," "to be made secure," "to be inaccessible." In this form (Hiphil imperative/jussive), it means to "cause to be high," "lift up," "exalt," or "protect securely."
- Significance: This prayer is for vindication, elevation, and protection from all adversaries. It signifies not just rescue from the pain but rescue into a secure, honored position by God. It suggests God will not only save but also glorify him, reversing his current state of lowliness and humiliation.
- Database insight: This concept of God elevating the humble (שָׂגַב / sagav or רוּם / rum) is a consistent biblical theme, showing God's justice in reversing fortunes and displaying His sovereignty. It points towards future restoration and divine honor.
Words-group analysis:
וַאֲנִי עָנִי וְכוֹאֵב (va'ani ani ve'kho'ev) – "But I am afflicted and in pain": This phrase dramatically shifts the psalm's focus back to the psalmist himself. It paints a picture of extreme personal vulnerability and deep suffering, appealing to God's compassion for the distressed. It creates a stark contrast with the preceding verses of strong imprecations, demonstrating the psalmist's personal burden.
יְשׁוּעָתְךָ אֱלֹהִים תְּשַׂגְּבֵנִי (yeshua'at'kha Elohim tesagevini) – "Your salvation, O God, lift me up": This forms the core prayer of the verse. It encapsulates the psalmist's total reliance on God's active, divine intervention for deliverance ("Your salvation") and for ultimate vindication and security ("lift me up"). It is a powerful declaration of trust in God's ability not only to rescue but also to honor and secure those who suffer for Him. This echoes a hope of reversal, where humiliation is transformed into exaltation by God's mighty hand.
Psalm 69 29 Bonus section
- Typological Significance: While not explicitly Messianic, Psalm 69 as a whole is heavily quoted in the New Testament concerning Jesus's suffering, including phrases like "zeal for your house has consumed me" (Jn 2:17), "they gave Me sour wine for My thirst" (Jn 19:28-29, Ps 69:21), and the imprecations against Judas (Acts 1:20, Ps 69:25). While Psalm 69:29 specifically details David's personal suffering and plea, it typologically points to Christ's humility and ultimate exaltation by the Father after His suffering and resurrection. Jesus was indeed "afflicted and in pain," yet God "lifted Him up" (Phil 2:9).
- Theological Contrast: This verse showcases a core biblical principle: God's redemptive preference for the humble and oppressed. In a world that often exalts the powerful and overlooks the weak, this psalm emphasizes God's attentiveness to those who are suffering and cast down, promising their exaltation and security.
- Book of Life and Polemics: While the verse itself does not explicitly mention "The Book of Life," its prayer for God to "lift me up" and bring "salvation" directly connects to the desire for eternal life and divine recognition, which is linked elsewhere in scripture to having one's name in God's Book of Life (Exod 32, Isa 4, Rev 3, 20). This idea served as a subtle polemic against any notion that one's status or lineage alone guarantees favor; rather, it is God's sovereign act of remembering and elevating the humble that ensures true salvation.
- Structure of Lament: The shift in Psalm 69:29 from cursing to personal plea is a common, though not universal, feature of psalms of lament. Many psalms conclude with a confident expression of trust or a vow of praise, demonstrating that lament is not merely an outpouring of sorrow but a wrestling with God that leads to renewed faith and expectation of His deliverance.
Psalm 69 29 Commentary
Psalm 69:29 is a poignant prayer that lays bare the psalmist's profound personal anguish while reaffirming his ultimate hope in God. Following intense imprecations against his enemies, the verse pivots to a deeply personal cry for rescue. The description "afflicted and in pain" (עָנִי וְכוֹאֵב) powerfully conveys both external oppression and internal emotional torment, portraying the psalmist at his lowest point. This confession of utter helplessness is then immediately contrasted with an unwavering declaration of trust in God: "Your salvation, O God, lift me up." The phrase "lift me up" (תְּשַׂגְּבֵנִי) is key; it signifies a desire for divine exaltation and security, not just escape. It implies that God will not only deliver the psalmist from his troubles but also vindicate him, raising him to a place of safety and honor beyond the reach of his adversaries. This reflects a fundamental tenet of faith: that God remembers His suffering servants and is mighty to save and restore. It transforms lament into an act of profound trust, looking beyond present affliction to future, certain divine intervention and glorification.