Psalms 107:13
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ
Then they cried
H2199
וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ
Then they cried
Strong's:
H2199
Word #:
1 of 7
to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
יְ֭הוָה
unto the LORD
H3068
יְ֭הוָה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Psalms 107:28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.Psalms 107:6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.Judges 4:3And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.Psalms 18:6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.Psalms 107:19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Historical Context
When exile humbled Israel and they cried out in repentance, God moved Cyrus to decree return (Ezra 1). Daniel's prayers and confession (Daniel 9) exemplify the crying out that preceded deliverance. Throughout Scripture, when God's people genuinely cry out from humbled hearts, He responds with salvation. This pattern assures every generation that God hears and answers.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does genuine crying out to God often require exhausting human solutions first?
- How does the name 'Jesus' (Yeshua = Yahweh saves) fulfill this pattern?
- What does God's consistent response to cries in trouble teach about His character?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse repeats the distress-cry-deliverance pattern (cf. v. 6). 'Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble' shows humbling produces desperate prayer. When humans exhaust their resources ('none to help,' v. 12), they turn to God. 'And he saved them out of their distresses' uses yasha (יָשַׁע), meaning to save, deliver, or give victory—the root of 'Jesus' (Yeshua), meaning 'Yahweh saves.' God's salvation removes from distresses. The repetition of this pattern through all four scenarios emphasizes God's reliability: He consistently responds to those who cry to Him in trouble. This is His covenant character—faithful to deliver those who call.