Psalms 69:18
in Psalms 69Draw near to my soul and redeem me; ransom me because of my foes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Ransom me because of mine enemies.
KJV
Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
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This verse in Psalms 69
Commentary
9 notes on this verseDraw nigh unto my soul. The near approach of God is all the sufferer needs; one smile of heaven will still the rage of hell. And redeem it. It shall be redemption to me if thou wilt appear to comfort me. This is a deeply spiritual prayer, and one very suitable for a deserted soul. It is in renewed communion that we shall find redemption realized. Deliver me because of mine enemies, lest they should, in their vaunting, blaspheme thy name, and boast that thou art not able to rescue those who put their trust in thee.
This site's exposition
Your loving devotion is good
on Psalms 69:16-18
Verse 16 grounds the plea in God's loving devotion and great compassion. Verse 17 asks God not to hide His face, the one face that must stay turned toward him. Verse 18 pairs nearness with rescue: draw near, redeem, ransom.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Give heed to my soul, and redeem her," does need no exposition: let us see therefore what follows. "Because of mine enemies deliver me" [Psalm 69:18]. This petition is evidently wonderful, neither briefly to be touched upon, nor hastily to be skipped over; truly wonderful: "Because of mine enemies deliver me." What is, "Because of mine enemies deliver me"?...I see no reason for this petition, "Because of mine enemies deliver me:" unless we understand it of something else, which when I shall have spoken by the help of the Lord, He shall judge in you, that dwells in you. There is a kind of secret deliverance of holy men: this for their own sakes is made. There is one public and evident: this is made because of their enemies, either for their punishment, or for their deliverance. For truly God delivered not the brothers in the book of Maccabees from the fires of the persecutor. [2 Maccabbees vii] ...But again the Three Children openly were delivered from the furnace of fire; [Daniel 3:26] because their body also was rescued, their safety was public. The former were in secret crowned, the latter openly delivered: all however saved....There is then a secret deliverance, there is an open deliverance. Secret deliverance does belong to the soul, open deliverance to the body as well. For in secret the soul is delivered, openly the body. Again, if so it be, in this Psalm the voice of the Lord let us acknowledge: to the secret deliverance does belong that whereof he spoke above, "Give heed to my soul, and redeem her." There remains the body's deliverance: for on His arising and ascending into the Heavens, and sending the Holy Ghost from above, there were converted to His faith they that at His death did rage, and out of enemies they were made friends through His grace, not through their righteousness. Therefore he has continued, "Because of mine enemies deliver me. […]
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
"Draw nigh to my soul, to manifest thyself to it, and that shall redeem it." II. What his pleas are to enforce these petitions. He pleads God's mercy and truth (
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Draw nigh unto my soul,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
These earnest terms are often used, and the address to God, as indifferent or averse, is found in Ps 3:7; Calling God to witness his distress, he presents its aggravation produced by the want of sympathizing friends (compare Isa 63:5;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Draw nigh unto my soul. The near approach of God is all the sufferer needs; one smile of heaven will still the rage of hell. And redeem it. It shall be redemption to me if thou wilt appear to comfort me. This is a deeply spiritual prayer, and one very suitable for a deserted soul. It is in renewed communion that we shall find redemption realized. Deliver me because of mine enemies, lest they should, in their vaunting, blaspheme thy name, and boast that thou art not able to rescue those who put their trust in thee. Jesus, in condescending to use such supplications, fulfils the request of his disciples: "Lord, teach us to pray." Here we have a sad recapitulation of sorrows, with more especial reference to the persons concerned in their infliction.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Deliver me because of mine enemies - Probably they now began to think that the redemption of these captives was not an impossible thing; that it was not far off; and therefore they had great rage, because they found their time was but short.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Draw nigh unto my soul - To me - for my life is in danger. And redeem it - Ransom it; save it from ruin. See the notes at Isa 43:3; notes at Isa 44:22. Deliver me, because of mine enemies - Because they are so numerous, so powerful, and so determined on my destruction. Compare Psa 13:4.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| קָרְבָ֣ה | karevah | draw near ! | H7126 → | 280 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| נַפְשִׁ֣י | nafshi | self my | H5315 → | 754 times |
| גְאָלָ֑הּ | gealah | redeem it | H1350 → | 104 times |
| לְמַ֖עַן | lemaan | on account of | H4616 → | 272 times |
| אֹיְבַ֣י | ʾoyevai | enemies my | H341 → | 282 times |
| פְּדֵֽנִי׃ | pedeni | ransom me | H6299 → | 59 times |
קָרְבָ֣הdraw near !
karevahH7126 →280 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
נַפְשִׁ֣יself my
nafshiH5315 →754 times
גְאָלָ֑הּredeem it
gealahH1350 →104 times
לְמַ֖עַןon account of
lemaanH4616 →272 times
אֹיְבַ֣יenemies my
ʾoyevaiH341 →282 times
פְּדֵֽנִי׃ransom me
pedeniH6299 →59 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 22:1My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
it leads to
- Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
- Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
- Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His…
- Psalms 22:16
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
- Job 3:24
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
- Mark 15:34
Through
Psalms 31:5Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
it leads to
- Luke 23:46
Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
- Acts 7:59
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
- Luke 23:46
Through
Psalms 49:15But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
it leads to
- Psalms 73:24
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
- Psalms 73:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this chapter
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, Exposition on Psalm 69; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.