Psalms 71:7
Psalms 71:7 in Multiple Translations
I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.
I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
I am as a wonder unto many; But thou art my strong refuge.
I am a wonder to all; but you are my strong tower.
My life has been like a miracle to many people, for you have been my powerful protector.
I am become as it were a monster vnto many: but thou art my sure trust.
As a wonder I have been to many, And Thou [art] my strong refuge.
I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.
I am as a wonder to many; but thou art my strong refuge.
In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken sway.
The manner in which I have conducted my life has been an example to many people, because they realize that you have been my strong defender.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 71:7
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
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 71:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כְּ֭/מוֹפֵת
הָיִ֣יתִי
לְ/רַבִּ֑ים
וְ֝/אַתָּ֗ה
מַֽחֲסִ/י
עֹֽז
כְּ֭/מוֹפֵת
môwphêth
H4159
wonder
Prep | N-ms
הָיִ֣יתִי
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
לְ/רַבִּ֑ים
rab
H7227
many
Prep | Adj
וְ֝/אַתָּ֗ה
ʼattâh
H859
you(m.s.)
Conj | Pron
מַֽחֲסִ/י
machăçeh
H4268
refuge
N-ms | Suff
עֹֽז
ʻôz
H5797
strength
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 71:7
כְּ֭/מוֹפֵת
môwphêth
H4159
"wonder"
Prep | N-ms
This word means wonder or miracle, a special display of God's power. It describes a sign or token, like the miracles performed by prophets. The Bible uses it to convey a sense of awe.
Definition: 1) wonder, sign, miracle, portent 1a) wonder (as a special display of God's power) 1b) sign, token (of future event)
Usage: Occurs in 35 OT verses. KJV: miracle, sign, wonder(-ed at). See also: Exodus 4:21; 2 Chronicles 32:24; Psalms 71:7.
הָיִ֣יתִי
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לְ/רַבִּ֑ים
rab
H7227
"many"
Prep | Adj
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly
Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.
וְ֝/אַתָּ֗ה
ʼattâh
H859
"you(m.s.)"
Conj | Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
מַֽחֲסִ/י
machăçeh
H4268
"refuge"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means a safe place to go, like a shelter from a storm. It appears in the Bible as a place of hope and trust, where people can find refuge from danger. In Psalm 71:3, God is called a rock of refuge.
Definition: 1) refuge, shelter 1a) from rain or storm, from danger 1b) of falsehood
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: hope, (place of) refuge, shelter, trust. See also: Job 24:8; Psalms 94:22; Psalms 14:6.
עֹֽז
ʻôz
H5797
"strength"
N-ms
Describes strength or might, including physical power, social status, or boldness, like the strength of God or a strong leader.
Definition: 1) might, strength 1a) material or physical 1b) personal or social or political
Usage: Occurs in 91 OT verses. KJV: boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong. See also: Exodus 15:2; Psalms 84:6; Psalms 8:3.
Study Notes — Psalms 71:7
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 71:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 71:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 71:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 71:7
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 71:7
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
- Sermons on Psalms 71:7
Context — Be My Rock of Refuge
5For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.
6I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You.
7I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long. 9Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 8:18 | Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. |
| 2 | 1 Corinthians 4:9 | For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. |
| 3 | Acts 4:13 | When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 16:19 | O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. |
| 5 | Psalms 62:7 | My salvation and my honor rest on God, my strong rock; my refuge is in God. |
| 6 | 2 Corinthians 6:8–10 | through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. |
| 7 | Psalms 61:3 | For You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy. |
| 8 | Zechariah 3:6 | Then the angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: |
| 9 | Luke 2:34 | Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, |
| 10 | 2 Corinthians 4:8–12 | We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. |
Psalms 71:7 Summary
[This verse means that even when we face challenges or opposition, God is our strong refuge and protection. As it says in Psalms 91:2, God is our refuge and fortress, and we can trust in Him. The idea of being a portent to many means that our lives can be a sign or a wonder that points others to God, even if it's through our struggles or hardships. By trusting in God's power and protection, we can be a light to those around us, just like it says in Matthew 5:16, 'Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven']
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be a portent to many?
To be a portent means to be a sign or a wonder that serves as a warning or a reminder of God's presence and power, as seen in Isaiah 20:3, where the prophet Isaiah is told to walk naked and barefoot as a sign to Egypt and Cush.
How can I trust that God will be my strong refuge?
We can trust that God will be our strong refuge because of His faithfulness and love, as promised in Psalms 91:2, where it says 'I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'
Does being a portent to many mean I will face opposition or hardship?
Yes, being a portent to many can mean that we will face opposition or hardship, but as seen in Psalms 71:7, God is our strong refuge, and we can trust in His power and protection, just like the apostle Paul who suffered many things for the sake of the Gospel, as written in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27
How can I apply this verse to my life today?
We can apply this verse to our lives by trusting in God's power and protection, even when we face challenges or opposition, and by remembering that He is our strong refuge, as promised in Proverbs 18:10, which says 'The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe'
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have become a portent to those around me, and how can I use these experiences to point others to God?
- How has God been my strong refuge in times of trouble or hardship, and what can I learn from these experiences?
- What are some areas of my life where I need to trust in God's power and protection, and how can I apply the truth of this verse to these situations?
- In what ways can I be a sign or a wonder to those around me, pointing them to the love and power of God?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 71:7
I am as a wonder unto many,.... To the multitude, to the populace, or "to the great" (u) and mighty; and indeed to both: which respects not his wonderful preservation from the womb, he had before
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 71:7
For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. -The prayer in Psalms 71:4 is followed, first, by the basis on which it rests (Psalms 71:5-8); then by an expanded form of it (Psalms 71:9-13). Verse 5.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
A wonder, or prodigy; either, 1. Of mercy, for the wonderful protections and deliverances which God hath given me. Or rather, 2. Of judgment, for my many and sore calamities, as appears from the next words. They wondered both at the calamities themselves which befell me; which were great, and various, and strange; and that they should befall me, one who have made it the chief care and business of my life to please, and serve, and glorify God; and one whom God hath owned in so eminent a degree, and crowned with such a constant succession of blessings and deliverances from time to time. That such a man should be forsaken by so gracious a God; and persecuted even to death by his own son, whom he had so tenderly loved; and deserted by the body of his own people, who had generally expressed so great an opinion of him and affection to him, and had so many obligations to him, and such singular benefits by his wise, and just, and pious government; this was indeed cause of wonder. But thou art my strong refuge; but although men desert me, and look askew at me, God is a sure refuge to me.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
Psalms 71:7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou [art] my strong refuge.Ver. 7. I am a wonder unto many] Or, unto the great ones, a monster to the mighty, quia credo quod non video, as Austin glosseth, because I believe what I yet see not, viz. that this storm shall blow over, and I be resettled in my throne.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
(7) A wonder—i.e., not a miracle of preservation, but a monster. Though men point at him as something to be avoided or mocked, God is his refuge.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
Verse 7. I am as a wonder unto many] I am כמופת kemopheth, "as a portent," or "type:" I am a typical person; and many of the things that happen to me are to be considered in reference to him of whom I am a type. But he may mean I am a continual prodigy. My low estate, my slaying the lion and the bear, conquering the Philistine, escaping the fury of Saul, and being raised to the throne of Israel, are all so many wonders of thy providence, and effects of thy power and grace.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 71:7
7. I am &c.] Or, I have been as a wonder. Many of those who saw my sufferings regarded me as a typical example of divine chastisement, but my faith has remained unshaken throughout. Cp. Isaiah 52:14; and Deuteronomy 28:46, where the punishment of Israel for its sins is spoken of as “a sign and a wonder.” In a somewhat different sense Ezekiel was a ‘wonder’ to his contemporaries (Ezekiel 12:6; Ezekiel 12:11; Ezekiel 24:24; Ezekiel 24:27). The explanation ‘I have been a sign and example of God’s protecting care’ is less natural. ‘Monster’ in P.B.V. is an archaism for ‘portent,’ or, ‘prodigy,’ from Lat. monstrum. my strong refuge] Cp. Psalms 71:1, and Jeremiah 17:17, R.V.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 71:7
I am as a wonder unto many - The word here rendered “wonder” - מופת môphêth - means properly a miracle, a prodigy; then things that are suited to excite wonder or admiration; then, a sign, a token. See the notes at Isaiah 8:18.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 71:7
7. I am as a wonder unto many— “As a prodigy or wonder, an object of contemptuous astonishment was I, or have I been, to many, on account of my extraordinary sufferings.”—Alexander.
Sermons on Psalms 71:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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1 Corinthians 14:20 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom delivers a sermon urging the congregation to maintain order and reverence in the church, emphasizing the importance of edifying one another through spiritual gifts |
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Love Never Faileth by George Warnock | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of truth and wisdom in our inner being. He quotes from Psalm 51, where David asks God to purify him and make him clean. The sp |
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Isaiah Chapter 6 by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a vision of the Lord in order to find strength and hope in discouraging times. The vision of the Lord is described |
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Hebrews Sin Dealt With by Billy Strachan | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not weakening the gospel by leaving out the sacrificial work of Christ on the cross and the giving of his blood. The sermon |
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Resurrection, the Hallmark of Sonship by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the resurrection as the foundation of our sonship in Christ. He explains how Jesus, after experiencing abandonment on the Cross, was |
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Coming Up From the Wilderness by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches about the Church of God, represented as a virgin bride of Christ, coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved, Jesus. The wilderness symbolizes th |
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6) Blessings and 6 Barriers by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the fourth barrier to the preaching of the word of God, which he calls the gossip barrier. He emphasizes that bad news spreads faster than goo |