Psalms 91:15

Authorized King James Version

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
יִקְרָאֵ֨נִי׀
He shall call
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
#2
וְֽאֶעֱנֵ֗הוּ
upon me and I will answer
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
#3
עִמּֽוֹ
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
#4
אָנֹכִ֥י
i
#5
בְצָרָ֑ה
him I will be with him in trouble
transitively, a female rival
#6
אֲ֝חַלְּצֵ֗הוּ
I will deliver
to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflexive) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen
#7
וַֽאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ׃
him and honour
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The historical context of the monarchic period, particularly David's reign (c. 1000-970 BCE) provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The Israelite monarchy with its temple worship, court life, and constant military threats created the liturgical and emotional context for these prayers and praises. The ancient Israelite worship practices and court culture would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Temple archaeology and ancient musical instruments illuminate the liturgical context of Israelite worship.

Questions for Reflection