King James Version

What Does Psalms 70:1 Mean?

Psalms 70:1 in the King James Version says “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help m...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 70 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. to help: Heb. to my help”

Psalms 70:1 · KJV

Context

1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. to help: Heb. to my help

2

Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

3

Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. This urgent plea opens Psalm 70 with repeated imperative: 'make haste' (chushah, חוּשָׁה) appears twice, emphasizing desperate need for immediate divine intervention. The verse addresses God with two names—'God' (Elohim, אֱלֹהִים, emphasizing power) and 'LORD' (YHWH, יְהוָה, emphasizing covenant relationship). The psalmist appeals to both God's ability to help and His commitment to help based on covenant promise.

Psalm 70 is nearly identical to Psalm 40:13-17, functioning as an independent prayer extracted from the longer psalm. Its brevity and urgency make it suitable for immediate crisis situations—when extended prayer isn't possible, this short petition captures essential need. The repetition 'deliver me... help me' uses synonymous parallelism: natsal (נָצַל, deliver) means to snatch away from danger; ezor (עָזוֹר, help) means to surround with aid and protection.

For Christians, this urgent prayer anticipates Christ's cries in Gethsemane and on the cross. Jesus experienced the full terror of God's wrath and abandonment that sinners deserve, and His desperate prayers for deliverance went unanswered (in the moment) so ours could be answered. Now believers can pray this prayer with confidence that God will hasten to help—not always immediately or in the way we expect, but ultimately and certainly. Romans 8:32 assures, 'He that spared not his own Son... how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?' If God delivered His Son for us, He will deliver us in Him.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Short, urgent prayers appear throughout Scripture, especially in moments of immediate danger. Nehemiah prayed brief 'arrow prayers' while speaking with the Persian king (Nehemiah 2:4). Peter's sinking cry, 'Lord, save me!' (Matthew 14:30), exemplifies this form. These prayers assume that God knows the situation and doesn't require lengthy explanation—they're raw cries of dependence in crisis moments.

Psalm 70's extraction from Psalm 40 suggests liturgical use. Longer psalms could be abbreviated for specific worship contexts or personal devotions. Jewish tradition developed brief prayers for various situations (prayers upon waking, before eating, when facing danger), recognizing that not all circumstances allow extended prayer. The *Shema* (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) served as a compact confession of faith, and *Psalms of Ascent* (Psalms 120-134) were brief enough to sing while walking up to Jerusalem.

The early church practiced 'breath prayers'—short petitions repeated throughout the day, coordinated with breathing. The Jesus Prayer ('Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner') became central to Eastern Orthodox spirituality, modeled on the tax collector's prayer (Luke 18:13) and these urgent psalms. Psalm 70 exemplifies this tradition—prayer so urgent and concise that it becomes a spiritual breath, sustaining life in crisis. Desert fathers and mothers used such prayers to maintain unceasing prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), demonstrating that quantity of words matters less than heart posture.

Reflection Questions

  1. When was the last time you prayed with the urgency of 'make haste' rather than leisurely requests?
  2. How can you develop 'arrow prayers' that express dependence on God in immediate circumstances?
  3. What crisis in your life requires God to 'make haste' and deliver you quickly?
  4. How does knowing Christ's prayers for deliverance went temporarily unanswered so yours could be answered affect your view of unanswered prayer?
  5. What role do brief, urgent prayers play in your spiritual life versus longer, more structured prayers?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 5 words
אֱלֹהִ֥ים1 of 5

“Make haste O God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי2 of 5

“to deliver”

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

יְ֝הוָ֗ה3 of 5

“me O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי4 of 5

“to help”

H5833

aid

חֽוּשָׁה׃5 of 5

“me make haste”

H2363

to hurry; figuratively, to be eager with excitement or enjoyment

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 70:1 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 70:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 40:13-17Psalms 143:7Psalms 71:12Psalms 69:18Psalms 38:12 Samuel 17:1-21

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