King James Version

What Does Psalms 71:20 Mean?

Psalms 71:20 in the King James Version says “Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths ...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 71 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Psalms 71:20 · KJV

Context

18

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. when: Heb. unto old age and gray hairs thy strength: Heb. thine arm

19

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

20

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.

21

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

22

I will also praise thee with the psaltery , even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. the psaltery: Heb. the instrument of psaltery

Read Psalms 71 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. This verse testifies to God's pattern of deliverance through difficulty. 'Great and sore troubles' (tsarot rabot vera'ot, צָרוֹת רַבּוֹת וְרָעוֹת, literally 'troubles many and evil') acknowledges severe, multiple afflictions. The psalmist doesn't deny suffering or sanitize experience—he honestly names that God 'showed me' these troubles, recognizing divine sovereignty even over difficult circumstances. God allowed (or ordained) these sufferings, yet remains the source of deliverance.

'Shalt quicken me again' (tashuv techayeni, תָּשׁוּב תְּחַיֵּנִי, literally 'you will return, you will revive me') uses the verb 'to live'—God brings life from death-like circumstances. 'From the depths of the earth' (mitehomot ha'arets, מִתְּהֹמוֹת הָאָרֶץ) employs metaphorical language for Sheol, the realm of the dead. The psalmist has descended so low that only resurrection-like power can restore him. Yet faith declares, 'shalt bring me up again'—confident that God who brought down will bring up.

For Christians, this verse anticipates resurrection theology. God 'showed Christ' great and sore troubles (Isaiah 53:10, 'it pleased the LORD to bruise him'), then raised Him from death's depths. Romans 6:4-5 describes believers' baptism as dying and rising with Christ, and our entire Christian experience follows this pattern: God brings us through death to life, through humiliation to exaltation, through suffering to glory (Romans 8:17). Paul wrote, 'We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead' (2 Corinthians 1:9). Every deliverance previews final resurrection when God will raise us bodily from death's depths.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The language of descending to earth's depths and being raised appears throughout Scripture. Jonah prayed from the fish's belly, 'out of the belly of hell cried I' (Jonah 2:2), and God brought him up. Job suffered such loss that he declared, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him' (Job 13:15), and God restored him. Hannah sang, 'The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up' (1 Samuel 2:6).

Ancient Israelite understanding of resurrection developed gradually. Early texts view Sheol as permanent (2 Samuel 12:23, 'I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me'). Later texts hint at resurrection possibility (Psalm 16:10, 'thou wilt not leave my soul in hell'). By Daniel's time, explicit resurrection theology appears (Daniel 12:2, 'many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake'). This psalm participates in that developing theology—speaking of God bringing up from earth's depths hints at restoration from death itself.

Intertestamental Judaism developed robust resurrection hope through martyrdom experiences. Maccabean martyrs died believing God would resurrect them (2 Maccabees 7). Jesus confirmed resurrection doctrine against the Sadducees (Matthew 22:31-32), and His own resurrection proved it definitively. The early church read Old Testament 'depth' language through the lens of Christ's resurrection, seeing in psalms like this prophetic anticipation of Easter. Every believer's story of deliverance from 'depths' points toward the ultimate deliverance—bodily resurrection when Christ returns.

Reflection Questions

  1. How have you seen God's pattern of bringing life from death-like circumstances in your own experience?
  2. What 'depths' have you descended to where only God's resurrection power could raise you?
  3. How does recognizing that God 'shows' troubles (allows them sovereignly) affect your response to suffering?
  4. In what ways do your present deliverances point toward and strengthen faith in final resurrection?
  5. How can you testify to God's 'quickening' power to others currently in 'the depths'?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
אֲשֶׁ֤ר1 of 11
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הִרְאִיתַ֨נִו׀2 of 11

“Thou which hast shewed”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

צָר֥וֹת3 of 11

“troubles”

H6869

transitively, a female rival

רַבּ֗וֹת4 of 11

“me great”

H7227

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

וְרָ֫ע֥וֹת5 of 11

“and sore”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

תָּשׁ֥וּב6 of 11

“again”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

תְּחַיֵּ֑ינִי7 of 11

“shalt quicken”

H2421

to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

וּֽמִתְּהֹמ֥וֹת8 of 11

“from the depths”

H8415

an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean watersupply)

הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ9 of 11

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

תָּשׁ֥וּב10 of 11

“again”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

תַּעֲלֵֽנִי׃11 of 11

“and shalt bring me up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

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 71:20 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 71:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 138:7Psalms 60:3Psalms 86:13Hosea 6:1-2Ezekiel 37:12-13Psalms 80:18

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