Psalms 107:6
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ
Then they cried
H6817
וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ
Then they cried
Strong's:
H6817
Word #:
1 of 7
to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
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 50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Psalms 91:15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.Psalms 107:28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.Psalms 107:13Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.Psalms 107:19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.Hosea 5:15I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.2 Timothy 3:11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Historical Context
This pattern appears throughout Israel's history: Egypt (Exodus 2:23-25), wilderness wandering, Judges cycle, exile. Each time, God heard their cry and delivered. The psalm establishes this as a pattern of God's character—He responds to the cry of the desperate. For the church, this assures us that in distress, crying to God brings deliverance (though the form and timing may differ from expectations).
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God often allow distress before bringing deliverance?
- How does desperate crying to God differ from casual or comfortable prayer?
- In what ways has God delivered you out of distresses when you cried to Him?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse describes the cry for help and God's response. 'Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble' shows extremity drives prayer. 'Cried' (tsaaq, צָעַק) means to cry out, call for help, shout in distress—desperate, loud prayer. 'In their trouble' (tsar, צַר) means in distress, anguish, or tight place. Trouble compresses us into crying out. 'And he delivered them out of their distresses' uses natsal (נָצַל), meaning to snatch away, rescue, deliver. God's response is immediate and effective—He rescues from the very distresses that caused the cry. This pattern (distress → cry → deliverance) appears throughout Scripture, teaching that God responds to desperate prayer.