King James Version

What Does Psalms 69:18 Mean?

Psalms 69:18 in the King James Version says “Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 69 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.”

Psalms 69:18 · KJV

Context

16

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

17

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. hear: Heb. make haste to hear me

18

Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

19

Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

20

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. to take: Heb. to lament with me

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. "Draw nigh unto my soul" (קָרְבָה אֶל־נַפְשִׁי/qarvah el-nafshi) requests God's intimate approach to the innermost being—not distant help but personal, near presence. Nefesh (soul/life) encompasses the whole person—not just spiritual aspect but entire living, feeling, suffering self.

"Redeem it" (גְּאָלָהּ/ge'alah) uses the kinsman-redeemer term (goel), invoking Israel's redemption laws (Leviticus 25:25-55, Ruth 3-4). The goel was a near relative who redeemed family members from slavery, poverty, or land loss. This legal-covenantal term grounds the plea in God's covenant relationship—He is Israel's goel, bound by His own commitment to redeem His people (Exodus 6:6, Isaiah 44:6, 24).

"Deliver me because of mine enemies" shifts focus from internal anguish to external threats. The dual request—draw near to my soul, deliver from enemies—recognizes the need for both intimate divine presence and active divine intervention. This anticipates Christ who both draws near to suffering humanity through incarnation (Hebrews 2:14-18) and delivers from sin, death, and Satan through His redemptive work (Colossians 2:13-15).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The kinsman-redeemer concept was foundational to Israel's social and theological structure. The goel had both privilege and responsibility to redeem impoverished relatives, marry childless widows (levirate marriage), and avenge murdered kinsmen. Theologically, Yahweh presented Himself as Israel's goel—the divine Kinsman who redeemed them from Egyptian slavery and would ultimately deliver from exile and oppression.

This redemption language saturates Israel's worship and prophetic literature (Exodus 15:13, Psalm 19:14, 78:35, Isaiah 41:14, 43:1, 14, 44:6, 24, 47:4, 48:17, 49:7, 26, 54:5, 8, 59:20, 60:16, 63:16, Jeremiah 50:34). Each use reinforced God's covenant commitment to His people.

Christian theology sees Christ as the ultimate goel, the divine Kinsman who assumed human nature to redeem humanity from sin's slavery. He paid redemption's price with His own blood (1 Peter 1:18-19), fulfilling every dimension of kinsman-redeemer theology.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the imagery of God as kinsman-redeemer change your understanding of redemption from abstract transaction to family restoration?
  2. In what ways do you need God to 'draw nigh to your soul' currently—seeking not just solutions but His presence?
  3. What does Christ's assumption of human nature reveal about God's willingness to draw near to suffering humanity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 7 words
קָרְבָ֣ה1 of 7

“Draw nigh”

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

אֶל2 of 7
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

נַפְשִׁ֣י3 of 7

“unto my soul”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

גְאָלָ֑הּ4 of 7

“and redeem”

H1350

to redeem (according to the middle eastern law of kinship), i.e., to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his wido

לְמַ֖עַן5 of 7
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

אֹיְבַ֣י6 of 7

“me because of mine enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

פְּדֵֽנִי׃7 of 7

“it deliver”

H6299

to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 69:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 69:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 111:9Psalms 22:1Psalms 22:19Deuteronomy 32:27Psalms 31:5Jeremiah 14:8

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