Psalms 116:1
Psalms 116:1 in Multiple Translations
I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice— my appeal for mercy.
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
I love Jehovah, because he heareth My voice and my supplications.
I have given my love to the Lord, because he has given ear to the voice of my cry and my prayer.
I love the Lord because he listens to me, he hears my calls for help.
I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voyce and my prayers.
I have loved, because Jehovah heareth My voice, my supplication,
I love the LORD, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy.
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
I love Yahweh, because he hears me when I cry for him to help me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 116:1
BAB
Word Study
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Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 116:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אָ֭הַבְתִּי
כִּֽי
יִשְׁמַ֥ע
יְהוָ֑ה
אֶת
ק֝וֹלִ֗/י
תַּחֲנוּנָֽ/י
אָ֭הַבְתִּי
ʼâhab
H157
to love
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
יִשְׁמַ֥ע
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
ק֝וֹלִ֗/י
qôwl
H6963
voice
N-ms | Suff
תַּחֲנוּנָֽ/י
tachănûwn
H8469
supplication
N-mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 116:1
אָ֭הַבְתִּי
ʼâhab
H157
"to love"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Definition: : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
Usage: Occurs in 195 OT verses. KJV: (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. See also: Genesis 22:2; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 4:3.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
יִשְׁמַ֥ע
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
ק֝וֹלִ֗/י
qôwl
H6963
"voice"
N-ms | Suff
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Definition: : sound/noise 1) voice, sound, noise 1a) voice 1b) sound (of instrument)
Usage: Occurs in 436 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell. See also: Genesis 3:8; Judges 5:11; Job 4:10.
תַּחֲנוּנָֽ/י
tachănûwn
H8469
"supplication"
N-mp | Suff
This Hebrew word describes an earnest or heartfelt prayer, often used to express a deep desire for God's help or favor. It can be a plea to man or God, seeking kindness or mercy. The KJV translates it as intreaty or supplication.
Definition: 1) supplication, supplication for favour 1a) to man 1b) to God
Usage: Occurs in 18 OT verses. KJV: intreaty, supplication. See also: 2 Chronicles 6:21; Psalms 143:1; Psalms 28:2.
Study Notes — Psalms 116:1
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 116:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 116:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 116:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 116:1
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 116:1
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
- Sermons on Psalms 116:1
Context — The LORD Has Heard My Voice
1I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice— my appeal for mercy.
2Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. 3The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 John 4:19 | We love because He first loved us. |
| 2 | Psalms 66:19–20 | But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld from me His loving devotion! |
| 3 | 1 John 5:2–3 | By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, |
| 4 | John 16:24 | Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. |
| 5 | Psalms 34:3–4 | Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. |
| 6 | Mark 12:33 | and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” |
| 7 | Psalms 69:33 | For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people. |
| 8 | Psalms 40:1 | I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. |
| 9 | Psalms 119:132 | Turn to me and show me mercy, as You do to those who love Your name. |
| 10 | Genesis 35:2 | So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments. |
Psalms 116:1 Summary
This verse means that the speaker has a deep love for God because God has listened to their prayers and shown them kindness. The speaker is saying that God has heard their cries for help and has been merciful to them, similar to what we see in Psalms 103:8, where it says 'The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love'. This gives us confidence to trust in God's love and care for us, just like the speaker in this verse. We can apply this to our own lives by remembering times when God has been good to us and shown us mercy, and by trusting that He will continue to listen to our prayers and be kind to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'love the LORD' in this context?
To love the LORD in Psalms 116:1 means to have a deep affection and devotion to God, similar to the love described in Deuteronomy 6:5, where we are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, and might.
How does the speaker know that God has heard their voice?
The speaker knows God has heard their voice because they have experienced God's mercy and deliverance in the past, as seen in Psalms 116:1, where it says 'He has heard my voice— my appeal for mercy'.
What is the 'appeal for mercy' that the speaker is referring to?
The 'appeal for mercy' is likely a reference to a previous time when the speaker cried out to God for help in a time of need, similar to the psalmist's cry for help in Psalms 107:19, where it says 'They cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress'.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
We can apply this verse by recognizing that God is always listening to our prayers and cries for help, as seen in Jeremiah 33:3, where it says 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know'.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God has heard my voice and shown me mercy in my own life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper love for the LORD, like the speaker in this verse?
- What are some times when I have felt like God was not hearing my prayers, and how can I trust in His goodness and love during those times?
- In what ways can I express my love and gratitude to God for hearing my voice and showing me mercy?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 116:1
I love the Lord,.... As the Messiah, David's antitype, did; of which he gave the fullest proof by his obedience to his will; and as David, the man after God's own heart, did, and as every good man
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 116:1
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
Psalms 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications.Ver. 1. I love the Lord] Heb. I love, because the Lord hath heard, &c., Vex abrupta et ecliptica, an abrupt concise ecliptical expression, betokening an inexpressible, inconceivable passion, or rather pang of love, such as intercepteth his voice for a time, till recollecting himself, and recovering his speech, he becometh able to tell us, not only that he loveth, or is well satisfied ( Sat habeo. Tremel.), but also why he loveth, and is all on a light flame, as it were, viz. Because he hath heard my voice] Though but an articulate incondite voice: Lamentations 3:56, "Thou hast heard my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry." And my supplications] My prayers for grace, when better formed and methodized.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
(1) I love the Lord.—Besides this rendering, where Jehovah is supplied as an object, this poet being given to use verbs without an object (see Psalms 116:2; Psalms 116:10), there are two other possible translations. 1. I have longed that Jehovah should hear, &c—For this meaning of the verb to love see Jeremiah 5:31, Amos 4:5; and for the construction see Psalms 27:4-6. So the Syriac and Arabic versions.2. I am well pleased that Jehovah hears (or will hear).—So LXX. and Vulg.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
PSALM CXVI The psalmist praises God for his deliverance from thraldom, which he compares to death and the grave, 1-9. The exercises through which he had passed, 10, 11. His gratitude for these mercies, and resolution to live to God's glory, 12-19. NOTES ON PSALM CXVI This Psalm is also without a title, and its author is unknown. It appears to have been written after the captivity, and to be a thanksgiving to God for that glorious event. The psalmist compares this captivity to death and the grave; and shows the happy return to the promised land, called here, The land of the living. The people recollect the vows of God which were upon them, and purpose to fulfil them. They exhult at being enabled to worship God in the temple at Jerusalem. The Syriac, which abounds in conjectural prefaces, supposes this Psalm to have been written on the occasion of Saul coming to the mouth of the cave in which David lay hidden; but spiritually taken, it relates to the bringing of a new people, the Gentiles, to the Christian faith. In a few MSS. this Psalm is joined to the preceding.
Many think it relates wholly to the passion, death, and triumph of Christ. Most of the fathers were of this opinion. Verse 1. I love the Lord because he hath heard] How vain and foolish is the talk, "To love God for his benefits to us is mercenary, and cannot be pure love!" Whether pure or impure, there is no other love that can flow from the heart of the creature to its Creator. We love him, said the holiest of Christ's disciples, because he first loved us; and the increase of our love and filial obedience is in proportion to the increased sense we have of our obligation to him. We love him for the benefits bestowed on us. Love begets love.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 116:1
1, 2. Answered prayer demands lifelong love and gratitude.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 116:1
I love the Lord - The Hebrew rather means, “I love, because the Lord hath heard,” etc.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 116:1
1. I love the Lord—Hebrew, I love, because Jehovah will hear, etc. The object of “love” is not expressed, but logically determined to be He who answers prayer, as if the author’s eye was on Deuteronomy 6:5.
Sermons on Psalms 116:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
With God All Things Are Possible by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the message of hope and restoration for those who feel they have fallen too far from God's grace. It highlights the power of God's love and compassion to rea |
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My Testimony by Alan Bartley | This sermon shares a personal testimony of encountering God's love and faithfulness, highlighting the journey from religious upbringing to a deep personal relationship with Jesus. |
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Why I Love Jesus by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher highlights the problem of people not listening to one another. He shares an anecdote about observing a group of people at a restaurant who were talking |
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Do I Love the Lord? by Alan Cairns | This sermon delves into Psalms 116, emphasizing the psalmist's deep love for the Lord due to God's attentive ear, deliverance from death and hell, and preservation from falling. Th |
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Praise for the Redeemed Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this video, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses Psalm 116, focusing on the theme of praise for the redeemed. He highlights the importance of calling upon the name of the Lord in times |
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How to Live the Impossible Life by Major Ian Thomas | Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the concept of living the impossible life through the indwelling of Christ, explaining that true life comes from being spiritually alive in Him. He disc |
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The Power of Prayer by Samuel Chadwick | Samuel Chadwick preaches about Elijah being chosen in the New Testament as the example of prayer, highlighting his powerful ministry sustained by prayer. Elijah's praying was a dem |