Psalm 77 10

Psalm 77:10 kjv

And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

Psalm 77:10 nkjv

And I said, "This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High."

Psalm 77:10 niv

Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

Psalm 77:10 esv

Then I said, "I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High."

Psalm 77:10 nlt

And I said, "This is my fate;
the Most High has turned his hand against me."

Psalm 77 verses

Psalm 77 10 Meaning

Psalm 77:10 (KJV: "And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.") marks a pivotal moment in the psalm. The Psalmist, previously immersed in profound distress and questioning God's faithfulness (vv. 1-9), here identifies his deeply felt anguish, or "infirmity," as his current struggle. Critically, he then declares a resolution: he will intentionally turn his mind to "the years of the right hand of the Most High." This signifies a decisive shift from internal lament and doubt to recalling God's powerful, sovereign, and redemptive acts from the past, finding hope and solace in the unchanging character and might of God demonstrated through history.

Psalm 77 10 Context

Psalm 77, attributed to Asaph, opens with an intense, protracted lament (verses 1-9). The Psalmist cries out to God in profound distress, describing his restless nights, constant pain, and a overwhelming sense that God has abandoned him. He questions whether God's steadfast love has ceased, whether His promises are forever gone, and whether His compassion has failed. This spiritual and emotional turmoil is deep, raising foundational doubts about God's very nature and active presence. Verse 10 serves as the pivotal turning point in this lament. After pouring out his anguish, the Psalmist makes a conscious decision to shift his focus. He transitions from questioning God’s present action (or perceived inaction) to deliberately remembering God's historical acts of power and faithfulness. This sets the stage for the rest of the psalm (verses 11-20), which is a meditation on the Lord's mighty deeds, particularly the Exodus, as a demonstration of God's unchanging and sovereign character. The psalm captures a universal human experience of profound spiritual struggle and the redemptive act of recalling divine truth amidst despair. Historically, it reflects either a period of national distress (e.g., exile, oppression) or intense personal suffering that mirrored such national anxieties.

Psalm 77 10 Word analysis

• And I said / Then I said: This opening phrase (וָאֹמַר - va'omar) denotes a distinct thought or declaration by the Psalmist, marking a significant internal shift. It indicates a resolve or a conscious mental process initiating a change in perspective.
• This is my infirmity: The Hebrew word ḥalothiy (חַלּוֹתִי) is from the root ḥālāh, which primarily means "to be sick," "to be weak," or "to suffer affliction." Here, it expresses the Psalmist's personal spiritual and emotional sickness or distress, his deep state of despair and doubt, the "cause" of his pain or "the thing that pains him." It is a candid admission of his weakness or grief, not necessarily a lack of faith, but a deep human struggle with profound suffering.
• but I will remember: While not explicitly in the most literal renderings of the first part, the context of sh'not ("years") followed by a meditation on God's deeds in subsequent verses, implies a resolve to remember. The structure here, after identifying his ailment, presents a turning of the mind to a new strategy for coping.
• the years: The Hebrew word sh'not (שְׁנוֹת) literally means "years." This signifies not just a single event, but a span of time, emphasizing the consistency and endurance of God's powerful acts throughout history. It points to a repeated demonstration of God's nature over a prolonged period.
• of the right hand: The Hebrew yāmîn (יָמִין) refers to the "right hand," a potent symbol across ancient cultures and especially in biblical theology. It consistently represents strength, power, authority, decisive action, and victory. In God's context, it denotes His active, sovereign might in salvation, judgment, and the execution of His will. It contrasts sharply with the Psalmist's feelings of weakness.
• of the Most High: The Hebrew ‘Elyôn (עֶלְיוֹן) is an ancient and majestic title for God, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty, transcendence, loftiness, and absolute dominion over all creation. It underscores God’s unparalleled power and unique position above all others. Attributing the "right hand" to the "Most High" magnifies the immense and incomparable nature of God's power and authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "This is my infirmity; but I will remember...": This phrase creates a powerful pivot. It acknowledges the depth of personal suffering ("my infirmity") but immediately counters it with an act of mental and spiritual will ("but I will remember"). It shows that genuine faith doesn't negate suffering, but offers a pathway through it—by directing focus. It's an intentional reorientation of the mind away from despair and towards truth.
• "the years of the right hand of the Most High": This powerful idiom encapsulates the historical sweep of God's powerful interventions. "Years" indicates endurance and a consistent track record. "Right hand" signifies His active, powerful, and saving work. "Most High" affirms His absolute sovereignty and might. Together, these terms summon a rich tapestry of divine activity in Israel's past—deliverances, provision, and mighty wonders—all serving as an unshakable foundation for faith even when circumstances suggest otherwise. This phrase essentially represents a compendium of God’s redemptive history.

Psalm 77 10 Bonus section

• Theological Tension and Resolution: The verse brilliantly encapsulates the tension between human weakness and God's unchanging power. The Psalmist does not deny his "infirmity" or simply pretend it doesn't exist. Instead, he addresses it head-on, then actively engages in the antidote of recalling God's eternal truth. This is a model for Christian life—acknowledging struggle but consciously turning to God's character and past faithfulness as revealed in Scripture.
• Cognitive Reorientation: This verse can be understood as an ancient practice of what we might now call "cognitive reorientation" or "mindfulness rooted in truth." The Psalmist intentionally redirects his mind from looping questions of abandonment to focusing on unassailable facts about God’s identity and past actions. It is a proactive step away from self-pity or despair.
• God's "Right Hand" as a Theological shorthand: The phrase "the years of the right hand of the Most High" is a succinct way to refer to the entirety of salvation history, particularly as recorded in the Old Testament. It signifies the collective memory of God's providential care, miraculous interventions, covenant faithfulness, and unwavering power demonstrated over generations. It’s a compressed theological statement invoking divine sovereignty over time.

Psalm 77 10 Commentary

Psalm 77:10 is a pivotal hinge in a profound lament, demonstrating a vital spiritual discipline for navigating deep despair. The Psalmist begins by articulating his distress as an "infirmity," a sickness of soul resulting from the agonizing suspicion that God has abandoned or changed. This raw honesty is characteristic of the Psalms, validating human pain. However, rather than succumbing, the Psalmist then chooses a course of action: he will "remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." This is not a casual recollection but a deliberate and active engagement with God's historical record of power and faithfulness.

This verse teaches that one antidote to present anxiety and spiritual doubt is a conscious dwelling on God's unchanging nature as revealed through His past mighty deeds. When the Psalmist felt God’s arm was too short, he decided to remember when that "right hand" stretched out in undeniable power (e.g., parting the Red Sea, leading Israel). His faith wasn't magically restored; it was deliberately rebuilt upon the solid ground of divine history. This act of remembrance serves to recalibrate perspective, reassuring the troubled soul that the God who acted mightily in the past remains the same all-powerful, sovereign "Most High." It moves from "what I feel" to "what God has done," which shifts the battleground from subjective emotion to objective truth.

Practically, this means:

• When faced with financial collapse, recall how God provided miraculously in your past or in others' lives.
• When overwhelmed by illness, remember specific instances of divine healing or sustenance.
• When doubt assails faith, recount God's consistent deliverance for His people throughout the biblical narrative and church history.This intentional recall transforms our inner landscape from despair to hope grounded in God’s proven character.