Psalm 71 16

Psalm 71:16 kjv

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

Psalm 71:16 nkjv

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.

Psalm 71:16 niv

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Psalm 71:16 esv

With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

Psalm 71:16 nlt

I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD.
I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

Psalm 71 verses

Psalm 71 16 Meaning

Psalm 71:16 is a powerful declaration of radical dependence on God and a fervent commitment to proclaim His character. The psalmist resolves to engage in life's challenges and endeavors, not by his own might, but empowered solely by the omnipotence of the Lord GOD. Furthermore, he pledges to make known, speak about, and celebrate God's righteousness exclusively, recognizing that all true vindication, salvation, and right standing come from God alone, never from human merit or effort.

Psalm 71 16 Context

Psalm 71 is a prayer of an elderly person (implied in verses 9, 17, 18) who is experiencing distress and seeking divine deliverance from adversaries and those who seek his ruin (verses 10-13). It is a psalm of profound trust and persistent petition, rooted in a lifelong relationship with God. The psalmist recounts God's faithfulness from birth (verses 5-6) and expresses hope for continued divine intervention, even in old age. Verse 16 appears amidst declarations of dependence and vows to proclaim God's praise (verses 14-15, 17-18). It outlines the psalmist's commitment to active trust, walking forth in God's enabling power, and continually declaring His vindicating justice, rather than relying on self or external factors. Historically, it reflects the experience of a righteous individual, perhaps like David in his later years, who faced persistent opposition but held fast to the conviction of God's steadfast character and saving acts.

Psalm 71 16 Word analysis

• "I will go" (אָבוֹא - 'āvō): Literally "I will come in." This is not merely passive receiving but an active movement forward or entering into activity. It denotes engagement in life or battle, not idleness. It signifies proceeding with purpose.
• "in the strength" (בִּגְבֻרוֹת - biḡḇūrōṯ): The Hebrew word 'gĕbūrāh' (plural 'gĕbūrōṯ') refers to might, power, mighty deeds, heroic strength. The plural suggests the manifold demonstrations of God's power, His various acts of salvation and deliverance throughout history and in the psalmist's own life, providing the confidence and capacity for future action.
• "of the Lord GOD" (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה - 'Adonai Yahweh): This powerful divine appellation combines 'Adonai', meaning "My Lord" or "Master," expressing sovereignty and ownership, with 'Yahweh' (often rendered LORD), the personal, covenant name of God, indicating His self-existent, faithful nature. This combination underscores the supreme and utterly dependable source of strength.
• "I will make mention" (אַזְכִּיר - 'azkīr): From the root 'zākar', which means to remember, call to mind, but in the Hiphil conjugation used here, it means "to cause to remember" or "to proclaim, to make known." It's an active, declarative verb, emphasizing a public proclamation or recounting, rather than mere personal recollection.
• "of Your righteousness" (צִדְקָתְךָ - ṣidqāṯəḵā): 'Tsedaqah' denotes God's moral perfection, His justice, integrity, faithfulness to His covenant, and His saving, vindicating acts. It's the divine characteristic that leads God to set things right, rescue the oppressed, and fulfill His promises. It is the basis of salvation and hope.
• "even of Yours alone" (לְבַדְּךָ - ləvaḏdəḵā): This crucial adverb signifies exclusivity, solitude, and singularity. It utterly rejects reliance on any other source, whether human strength, personal merit, or other gods. It highlights that God's righteousness is the sole ground and exclusive subject of the psalmist's proclamation and hope.

Words-group analysis

• "I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD": This phrase denotes complete reliance and empowerment. It means the psalmist will not embark on his life or face his struggles by his own limited human capacity, but by God's immeasurable power. It implies that every action, every step forward, will be consecrated and enabled by divine might, giving confidence for perseverance and success. This isn't passive waiting, but active movement rooted in God's enablement.
• "I will make mention of Your righteousness, even of Yours alone": This dual-layered declaration expresses both the subject and the source of the psalmist's praise. It's not just a passing thought; it's a deep-seated commitment to herald God's salvific justice and faithfulness. The emphatic "Yours alone" leaves no room for human achievement, self-righteousness, or any other god's claims. It is a polemic against any competing source of salvation or merit, grounding all hope and praise exclusively in God's righteous character and deeds.

Psalm 71 16 Bonus section

The plural form of "strength" (גְּבוּרוֹת - gĕbūrōṯ) in the Hebrew often refers to "mighty acts." This implies that the psalmist goes forward, not just by God's inherent power, but specifically bolstered by the recollection and trust in God's past and ongoing interventions and displays of might. This gives his "going" a historical backing and confident anticipation. The righteousness mentioned here is both forensic (God's declaration of rightness) and salvific (His act of putting things right). In a broader biblical-theological sense, this 'tsedeqah' of God finds its ultimate and fullest revelation in the cross of Christ, where God justly demonstrates His righteousness by providing a way for unrighteous humanity to be made righteous (Rom 3:21-26). The emphasis on "Yours alone" prefigures the exclusivity of salvation through Christ. No other god, no other philosophy, no other effort can provide what God alone offers through His righteousness.

Psalm 71 16 Commentary

Psalm 71:16 beautifully articulates the essence of a Spirit-led life: total dependence on God for action and unreserved proclamation of His glory. The psalmist commits to an active life, not a retreat from challenges, but one lived within the divine reservoir of strength. This strength isn't gained by self-exertion but is continually provided by the covenant-keeping God, 'Adonai Yahweh'. This reliance then naturally overflows into outward praise. The "mentioning" of God's righteousness isn't merely talking about it but presenting it as the sole foundation of hope, vindication, and deliverance. It contrasts sharply with seeking to establish one's own righteousness, highlighting that our only standing before God comes from His perfect character and His saving acts, culminating for us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This verse calls believers to surrender their independent striving and to live a life that glorifies God by confessing that every good thing—every capability, every victory, every righteous standing—comes solely from Him. For instance, facing a daunting task, a believer does not rely on personal talent alone but on God's strength. When speaking about hope or salvation, the believer attributes it entirely to God's grace and righteousness, not to human good deeds or spiritual accomplishments.