Psalm 71:17 kjv
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Psalm 71:17 nkjv
O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
Psalm 71:17 niv
Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Psalm 71:17 esv
O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
Psalm 71:17 nlt
O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 71 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 6:7 | "You shall teach them diligently to your children..." | Teach diligently |
| Ps 9:1 | "I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Thy wonderful deeds." | Recount wonderful deeds |
| Ps 26:7 | "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works." | Publish wondrous works |
| Ps 40:5 | "Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works... I would declare and speak of them..." | Declare many works |
| Ps 71:15 | "My mouth shall tell of Thy righteousness and of Thy salvation all the day long..." | Tell righteousness daily |
| Ps 71:18 | "Even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not, until I have proclaimed Thy strength..." | Proclaim God's strength in old age |
| Ps 78:4 | "We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD..." | Tell future generations |
| Ps 105:2 | "Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works!" | Tell of all His works |
| Ps 145:4 | "One generation shall commend Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts." | Declare mighty acts to generations |
| Isa 43:21 | "The people whom I formed for Myself that they might declare My praise." | People formed for praise |
| Jn 17:6 | "I have manifested Thy name to the people whom Thou gavest Me out of the world." | God manifests truth |
| Ro 10:14 | "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" | Hearing essential for belief |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." | Created for good works |
| Php 1:20-21 | "Christ will be magnified in my body... For to me to live is Christ..." | Life lived for Christ |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." | Proclaim God's excellencies |
| 2 Tim 3:15 | "And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation..." | Early knowledge of sacred writings |
| Jn 6:45 | "It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught of God.'" | All taught by God |
| Mt 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, teaching them..." | Great Commission to teach |
| Mk 5:19 | "...Go home to your people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you..." | Tell what Lord has done |
| Lk 24:27 | "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." | Scripture reveals Christ |
| Ps 25:8 | "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in the way." | God instructs sinners |
| Job 22:22 | "Receive instruction from His mouth, and place His words in your heart." | Receive instruction and hold words |
| Prov 22:6 | "Train up a child in the way he should go..." | Child training in the way |
Psalm 71 verses
Psalm 71 17 Meaning
Psalm 71:17 expresses the psalmist's lifelong experience of being taught by God and his subsequent commitment to declare God's marvelous deeds. It speaks to a deep, personal relationship with the Divine from youth, which culminates in a faithful testimony of God's character and mighty acts. This verse underscores the reciprocal nature of divine instruction leading to human proclamation, highlighting a life devoted to God's praise.
Psalm 71 17 Context
Psalm 71 is a prayer of an elderly man facing adversity and seeking God's continued deliverance and faithfulness in his old age. He recalls a lifetime of dependence on God from his earliest days. The psalm is a poignant testament to sustained trust, contrasting the psalmist's personal frailty with God's enduring strength and righteousness. Verse 17 directly precedes a plea for God not to abandon him in his old age, specifically so he can continue to proclaim God's strength to the next generation. The cultural context emphasizes the vital role of oral tradition in ancient Israel, where recounting divine acts served as both worship and a means of instructing future generations about their covenant relationship with Yahweh. This served as a counterpoint to any pagan practices where deities were seen as capricious or distant, underscoring the personal, teaching relationship God has with His people.
Psalm 71 17 Word analysis
O God: (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim). This addresses God directly, emphasizing His sovereignty, creative power, and judicial authority. The psalmist approaches the transcendent God with intimate knowledge born of personal experience.
Thou hast taught me: (Hebrew: לִמַּדְתָּנִי - limmadtani). "Taught" comes from the root lamad, meaning "to learn" or "to teach." Here, in the causative (Piel) stem, it signifies "You have caused me to learn" or "You have instructed me." God is presented as the active, divine educator, imparting wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of His ways, righteousness, and truth to the psalmist. This is not self-taught knowledge but divinely imparted wisdom.
from my youth: (Hebrew: מִנְּעוּרָי - minn'ūrāy). This phrase establishes the deep, enduring, and historical nature of the relationship. It signifies a lifelong tutelage, implying that the psalmist's foundational understanding of God was established early in life and has continued without interruption. It highlights the importance of early spiritual formation and a continuous, sustained walk with God.
and hitherto: (Hebrew: וְעַד הֵנָּה - v'ad hēnāh). Meaning "and until now." This powerfully conveys continuity and endurance. God's teaching and the psalmist's response have been consistent throughout his entire life, up to his old age, showing God's sustained faithfulness and the psalmist's steadfast discipleship.
have I declared: (Hebrew: אֲסַפֵּר - asappēr). From the root saphar, meaning "to recount," "to narrate," "to tell," or "to declare." This implies an active, purposeful proclamation. The psalmist's learning is not for private consumption but for public testimony, an overflow of his inner conviction.
thy wondrous works: (Hebrew: נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ - niphl'ōtekhā). Refers to "marvelous deeds," "extraordinary works," or "miracles." These are actions of God that inspire awe and transcend normal human capabilities. They include acts of creation, salvation, deliverance, and divine providence. These are the powerful testimonies of God's power and character, which the psalmist feels compelled to proclaim.
O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth: This group of words emphasizes God's proactive role as the ultimate instructor, initiating a personal, lifelong relationship of divine education from the psalmist's earliest days. It points to a profound spiritual upbringing guided by divine hand, establishing deep roots of faith and knowledge.
and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works: This phrase highlights the natural outflow of God's instruction – a consistent, lifelong testimony. It demonstrates the direct link between personal experience of God's truth and mighty deeds and the compulsion to publicly announce them. The knowledge received transforms into a proclamation that benefits others and brings glory to God.
Psalm 71 17 Bonus section
The psalmist's declaration functions as a powerful polemic against the instability and powerlessness of the false gods and humanistic philosophies prevalent in the ancient world. While other cultures might have attributed "wondrous works" to mythical deities or great human rulers, the psalmist firmly asserts that only the one true God, Yahweh, is capable of such profound teaching and truly marvelous, sustained interventions. His teaching is constant from youth, contrasting with the limited and often morally ambiguous instruction of pagan divinities. This continuous, personal education from God fosters a lifelong witness, emphasizing that divine relationship yields consistent testimony and true knowledge, rather than mere ritual or fleeting experience. This verse implies the divine pattern: God instructs, the individual lives out that truth, and then faithfully proclaims God's nature and actions, preserving true theology through generations.
Psalm 71 17 Commentary
Psalm 71:17 is a profound testament to a life molded by divine instruction and devoted to public declaration of God's mighty acts. The psalmist acknowledges God as his lifelong teacher, imparting wisdom and truth "from his youth" until his current old age. This enduring divine tutelage is not passive; it equips the believer to actively "declare" God's "wondrous works." These works encompass God's consistent interventions in human history and individual lives, demonstrating His power, righteousness, and faithfulness. The verse signifies that a deeply personal experience of God's truth naturally overflows into an external, generational witness, as the believer becomes a living proclamation of God's enduring faithfulness. This truth emphasizes that knowing God profoundly entails making Him known, particularly His saving acts and His character. A practical implication is that our personal encounters with God's teaching and mighty deeds should culminate in our consistent sharing of His truth with others, continuing this legacy of faith to successive generations.