Psalms 71:20

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 1 of 11
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִרְאִיתַ֨נִו׀ Thou which hast shewed H7200
הִרְאִיתַ֨נִו׀ Thou which hast shewed
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 2 of 11
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
צָר֥וֹת troubles H6869
צָר֥וֹת troubles
Strong's: H6869
Word #: 3 of 11
transitively, a female rival
רַבּ֗וֹת me great H7227
רַבּ֗וֹת me great
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 4 of 11
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וְרָ֫ע֥וֹת and sore H7451
וְרָ֫ע֥וֹת and sore
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 5 of 11
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
תָּשׁ֥וּב again H7725
תָּשׁ֥וּב again
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 6 of 11
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
תְּחַיֵּ֑ינִי shalt quicken H2421
תְּחַיֵּ֑ינִי shalt quicken
Strong's: H2421
Word #: 7 of 11
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
וּֽמִתְּהֹמ֥וֹת from the depths H8415
וּֽמִתְּהֹמ֥וֹת from the depths
Strong's: H8415
Word #: 8 of 11
an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean watersupply)
הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ of the earth H776
הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ of the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 9 of 11
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
תָּשׁ֥וּב again H7725
תָּשׁ֥וּב again
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 10 of 11
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
תַּעֲלֵֽנִי׃ and shalt bring me up H5927
תַּעֲלֵֽנִי׃ and shalt bring me up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 11 of 11
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

Analysis & 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.

Historical 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.

Questions for Reflection