Psalms 66:9
in Psalms 66He preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Who holdeth our soul in life, And suffereth not our feet to be moved.
KJV
Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
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This verse in Psalms 66
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Which holdeth our soul in life - Margin, as in Hebrew, putteth. That is, He has put (or placed) us in a state of safety. The word rendered “in life” means literally “among the living.” The word soul here is equivalent to us - ourselves; and the idea is, that he keeps us among the living. What is here said of this special deliverance is true of all people at all times, that they owe the fact that they are among the living to the care of God; or, it is because he puts them among the living, or keeps them alive. And suffereth not our feet to be moved - That is, from their firm position of safety. The idea is taken from one who is walking, and who is kept from slipping or falling.
This site's exposition
Bless our God, O peoples
on Psalms 66:8-9
The psalm turns from the crossing at the sea to the present, God keeping life in the body and the foot from slipping. Henry reads that keeping as continuous, held moment by moment. Verse 8 calls for praise loud enough to be heard.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Praise not yourselves, but praise Him. What is the voice of His praise? That by His Grace we are whatever of good we are. "Who hath set my Soul unto life" [Psalm 66:9]. Behold the voice of his praise: "Who hath set my Soul unto life." Therefore in death she was: in death she was, in thyself. Thence it is that ye ought not to have been exalted in yourselves. Therefore in death she was, in thyself: where will it be in life, save in Him that said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"? [John 14:6] Just as to certain believers the Apostle saith, "Ye were sometime darkness, but now light in the Lord." [Ephesians 5:8] ..."And hath not given unto motion my feet." He hath set my Soul unto life, He guideth the feet that they stumble not, be not moved and given unto motion; He maketh us to live, He maketh us to persevere even unto the end, in order that for everlasting we may live....
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
): He holdeth our soul in life, that it may not drop away of itself; for, being continually in our hands, it is apt to slip through our fingers. We must own that it is the good providence of God that keeps life and soul together and his visitation that preserves our spirit. He puts our soul in life, so the word is.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Which holdeth our soul in life,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Which holdeth our soul in life. At any time the preservation of life, and especially the soul's life, is a great reason for gratitude but much more when we are called to undergo extreme trials, which of themselves would crush our being. Blessed be God, who, having put our souls into possession of life, has been pleased to preserve that heaven given life from the destroying power of the enemy. And suffereth not our feet to be moved. This is another and precious boon. If God has enabled us not only to keep our life, but our position, we are bound to give him double praise. Living and standing is the saint's condition through divine grace. Immortal and immoveable are those whom God preserves. Satan is put to shame, for instead of being able to slay the saints, as he hoped, he is not even able to trip them up. God is able to make the weakest to stand fast, and he will do so.
Which holdeth our soul in life. At any time the preservation of life, and especially the soul's life, is a great reason for gratitude but much more when we are called to undergo extreme trials, which of themselves would crush our being. Blessed be God, who, having put our souls into possession of life, has been pleased to preserve that heaven given life from the destroying power of the enemy. And suffereth not our feet to be moved. This is another and precious boon.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Which holdeth our soul in life - Literally, “he who placeth our soul בחיים bachaiyim, in lives.” We are preserved alive, have health of body, and feel the life of God in our hearts. And suffereth not her feet to be moved - Keeps us steadfast in his testimonies. We have our life, our liberty, and our religion. O, what hath the Lord wrought for us! “Make, therefore, the voice of his praise to be heard.” Let God and man know you are thankful.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַשָּׂ֣ם | hasam | <the> [who] placed | H7760 → | 584 times |
| נַ֭פְשֵׁנוּ | nafshenu | self our | H5315 → | 754 times |
| בַּֽחַיִּ֑ים | bachaiyim | in <the> life | H2416 → | 498 times |
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָתַ֖ן | natan | he has permitted | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| לַמּ֣וֹט | lamot | to <the> slip | H4132 → | |
| רַגְלֵֽנוּ׃ | raglenu | foot our | H7272 → | 247 times |
הַשָּׂ֣ם<the> [who] placed
hasamH7760 →584 times
נַ֭פְשֵׁנוּself our
nafshenuH5315 →754 times
בַּֽחַיִּ֑יםin <the> life
bachaiyimH2416 →498 times
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
נָתַ֖ןhe has permitted
natanH5414 →2011 times
לַמּ֣וֹטto <the> slip
lamotH4132 →
רַגְלֵֽנוּ׃foot our
raglenuH7272 →247 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 94:18If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
it leads to
- Psalms 121:3
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Psalms 119:116–117
Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
- Psalms 121:3
Through
Psalms 121:3He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:26
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
- 1 Peter 1:5
who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 3:23
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
- 1 Samuel 2:9
He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
- Psalms 91:12
They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
- Proverbs 3:26
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms, Psalm 66; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.