Psalm 71 20

Psalm 71:20 kjv

Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Psalm 71:20 nkjv

You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Psalm 71:20 niv

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

Psalm 71:20 esv

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.

Psalm 71:20 nlt

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.

Psalm 71 verses

Psalm 71 20 Meaning

Psalm 71:20 is a profound declaration of faith from an individual who has endured extreme suffering. It acknowledges God's sovereign hand in allowing or bringing "great and severe troubles" into the psalmist's life, pushing them to the brink of despair or even death, metaphorically described as "the depths of the earth." Yet, with unwavering trust, the psalmist proclaims a certainty that this same God, who brought them low, will ultimately "revive" and "bring them up again," signifying a complete restoration, renewal of life, and deliverance from their dire circumstances, implying even victory over death or the grave itself.

Psalm 71 20 Context

Psalm 71 is a prayer of a man, traditionally believed to be David in his later years, who is facing multiple adversaries and significant distress, possibly due to old age, sickness, or enemies taking advantage of his perceived weakness. The psalm expresses his lifelong trust in God, recalling how God has been his refuge and strength since his youth (vv. 5-6). He appeals to God not to forsake him in his old age, when his strength is failing (v. 9). The enemies slander him, plotting against his life (vv. 10-11), assuming God has abandoned him.

In this specific verse, Psalm 71:20, the psalmist reaches the deepest point of his expressed affliction, feeling as if God Himself has shown him the direst, grave-like circumstances. Yet, in the same breath, he expresses an unshakeable faith in God's restorative power. This reflects a shift from a lament (crying out from suffering) to a declaration of confidence, trusting that just as God has delivered him in the past, He will again deliver him from this ultimate crisis, demonstrating His faithfulness even to the point of reversing death or mortal decay. It is a prayer for continued vindication and restoration despite immense and overwhelming trials, rooted in a lifetime of knowing God's help.

Psalm 71 20 Word analysis

• "You who have shown me": הראיתני (hir'itāni). This verb is from the root ra'ah (to see, to show). In the Hiphil stem, it means "to cause to see" or "to show." The direct address to God acknowledges His active role or permission in the suffering experienced by the psalmist. It implies a recognition of God's sovereignty, not as a passive observer, but as the one who orchestrates or permits all circumstances, even the most difficult ones.
• "great and severe troubles": צָרוֹת גְּדֹלוֹת וְרָעוֹת (tzarot gedolot v'ra'ot).
  • צָרוֹת (tzarot): Plural of צָרָה (tzarah), meaning "distress, anguish, straitness, narrowness." It conveys a sense of being squeezed or confined, highlighting deep emotional and circumstantial pressure.
  • גְּדֹלוֹת (gedolot): Plural of גָּדוֹל (gadol), meaning "great, large, mighty." It amplifies the scale and intensity of the distress, indicating something immense and overwhelming.
  • וְרָעוֹת (v'ra'ot): Plural of רַע (ra'), meaning "evil, bad, severe, grievous, destructive." This emphasizes the negative, harmful, and painful nature of the experiences. The combined phrase denotes an affliction that is not only immense but also profoundly painful and potentially ruinous, pressing the psalmist to the very limits of endurance.
• "will revive me again": תָּשׁוּב תְּחַיֵּנוּ (tashuv t'ḥayenu) or תָּשׁוּב וּתְחַיֵּנִי (tashuv u't'ḥayeni) as used in some textual traditions for the first person singular (as appears in some translations implying a singular "me" not a plural "us").
  • תָּשׁוּב (tashuv): Imperfect of שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to return, to turn back." Here, it indicates God's turning to restore or doing something again.
  • תְּחַיֵּנוּ (t'ḥayenu) / וּתְחַיֵּנִי (u't'ḥayeni): Hiphil imperfect of חָיָה (chayah), meaning "to live, cause to live, restore to life." This is a powerful verb conveying restoration, resuscitation, or giving new life. The word "again" (implied by "tashuv") signifies a repeated act of deliverance, possibly building on previous rescues, or indicating a full, complete reversal of the current state of distress. It hints at literal resurrection or a profound spiritual/physical renewal from a state of near-death.
• "and bring me up again": וּמִתְּהוֹמוֹת (u'mitt'homot) תַּעֲלֵנִי (ta'aleni).
  • תַּעֲלֵנִי (ta'aleni): Hiphil imperfect of עָלָה (alah), meaning "to go up, ascend, cause to ascend, bring up." This reinforces the upward movement from a state of being utterly cast down. The "again" echoes the previous phrase, emphasizing repeated divine intervention.
• "from the depths of the earth": מִתְּהוֹמוֹת אָרֶץ (mitt'homot 'aretz).
  • מִתְּהוֹמוֹת (mitt'homot): Plural of תְּהוֹם (tehom), meaning "deep, abyss, primordial deep, great depth." It signifies the lowest, darkest, and most unreachable places, often associated with the realm of the dead or the grave.
  • אָרֶץ (aretz): "Earth, land, ground."
  • Together, this phrase powerfully conveys an extreme state of debasement, despair, and vulnerability to death, as if swallowed by the earth or plunged into an abyss. It's a metaphor for feeling utterly overcome, buried, or in the ultimate grip of mortality. The contrast between this "depth" and God's "bringing up" emphasizes the magnitude of divine power and rescue.

Words-group analysis:The phrases "great and severe troubles" and "depths of the earth" paint a picture of immense, oppressive suffering that pushes the psalmist to the absolute limits of existence, symbolically to the edge of the grave.The parallelism between "will revive me again" and "and bring me up again" serves to reinforce the unwavering conviction of divine intervention. It speaks to a restoration that is complete, thorough, and divinely initiated, demonstrating God's ultimate power over all forms of death and decay—physical, spiritual, or circumstantial.

Psalm 71 20 Bonus section

The concept of God "showing" troubles is a deep theological point; it implies that suffering is not outside God's purview but can be permitted, or even orchestrated, by Him for His purposes. This resonates with passages like Job's experiences, or Christ's journey to the cross, where suffering leads to profound redemption. The "revive me again" can encompass not just physical life, but spiritual renewal and even a re-establishment of one's reputation and status, as Psalm 71 as a whole suggests the psalmist's longing for vindication before his adversaries. This holistic "revival" encompasses all dimensions of human flourishing.

Psalm 71 20 Commentary

Psalm 71:20 encapsulates a central theme of biblical faith: the journey through profound adversity under the sovereign hand of God, leading to His miraculous deliverance. The psalmist, enduring "great and severe troubles," acknowledges that these dire circumstances, pushing him to the very "depths of the earth" (a metaphor for near-death, extreme despair, or the grave itself), have been allowed by God ("You who have shown me"). This is not a bitter accusation but a profound recognition of God's overarching control.

Yet, despite this dire state, the psalmist expresses unshakeable confidence in God's restorative power: "will revive me again, and bring me up again." The repeated "again" points to God's consistent character as deliverer and restorer, suggesting either past experiences of rescue or the certainty of future action. This revival speaks to more than just surviving; it signifies a full renewal of life, vitality, and well-being, transcending even the finality of death. For ancient Israelites, while the full doctrine of bodily resurrection was developing, such language certainly alluded to God's power over Sheol (the grave) and life itself, finding its ultimate fulfillment in the resurrection of Christ.

This verse therefore testifies to God as the Author of life, capable of turning any situation, no matter how hopeless or "dead," into an opportunity for new life and resurrection power. It teaches that even when pushed to our limits, believing that God controls even the descent into suffering empowers the faith that He will also initiate the ascent to restoration.

Practical applications:

• For those battling chronic illness or severe depression, it affirms hope that God can bring spiritual and physical revitalization from the deepest states of suffering.
• For believers facing career collapse or overwhelming financial ruin, it encourages faith in God's ability to "bring up again" from metaphorical depths of despair and restore.
• Spiritually, for those feeling a profound dryness or distance from God, this verse assures that God can revive faith and renew one's spiritual journey.