Psalms 71:9
Psalms 71:9 in Multiple Translations
Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Do not give me up when I am old; be my help even when my strength is gone.
Don't reject me now I'm getting old. When my strength is gone, please don't abandon me.
Cast mee not off in the time of age: forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Cast me not off at the time of old age, According to the consumption of my power forsake me not.
Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Before him the Ethiopians shall fall down: and his enemies shall lick the ground.
Now, when I have become an old man, do not reject/abandon me; do not abandon me now, when I am not strong any more.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 71:9
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 71:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַֽל
תַּ֭שְׁלִיכֵ/נִי
לְ/עֵ֣ת
זִקְנָ֑ה
כִּ/כְל֥וֹת
כֹּ֝חִ֗/י
אַֽל
תַּעַזְבֵֽ/נִי
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תַּ֭שְׁלִיכֵ/נִי
shâlak
H7993
to throw
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms | Suff
לְ/עֵ֣ת
ʻêth
H6256
time
Prep | N-cs
זִקְנָ֑ה
ziqnâh
H2209
old age
N-fs
כִּ/כְל֥וֹת
kâlâh
H3615
to end
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
כֹּ֝חִ֗/י
kôach
H3581
reptile
N-ms | Suff
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תַּעַזְבֵֽ/נִי
ʻâzab
H5800
Forsaken
V-Qal-Juss-2ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 71:9
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תַּ֭שְׁלִיכֵ/נִי
shâlak
H7993
"to throw"
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms | Suff
To throw or cast away is the meaning of this Hebrew verb. It is used in various contexts, including throwing lots or casting out something unwanted. The word appears in stories like Jonah being thrown into the sea.
Definition: 1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down 1a2) to cast (lots) (fig) 1b) (Hophal) 1b1) to be thrown, be cast 1b2) to be cast forth or out 1b3) to be cast down 1b4) to be cast (metaph)
Usage: Occurs in 121 OT verses. KJV: adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw. See also: Genesis 21:15; Nehemiah 9:11; Psalms 2:3.
לְ/עֵ֣ת
ʻêth
H6256
"time"
Prep | N-cs
Eth means time, especially now or when, and can refer to an event, experience, or occasion. It is often used to describe a specific moment or period.
Definition: 1) time 1a) time (of an event) 1b) time (usual) 1c) experiences, fortunes 1d) occurrence, occasion
Usage: Occurs in 258 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when. See also: Genesis 8:11; 2 Chronicles 35:17; Psalms 1:3.
זִקְנָ֑ה
ziqnâh
H2209
"old age"
N-fs
This Hebrew word represents old age, conveying a sense of reverence and admiration for those who have lived a long life, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 12:2. It acknowledges the importance of elderly wisdom.
Definition: old age
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: old (age). See also: Genesis 24:36; Psalms 71:9; Psalms 71:18.
כִּ/כְל֥וֹת
kâlâh
H3615
"to end"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This Hebrew word means to finish or end something, like completing a task or using up a resource, as seen in Genesis 2:2 where God finished creating the heavens and earth.
Definition: : finish 1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be complete, be at an end 1a2) to be completed, be finished 1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled 1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense) 1a5) to be spent, be used up 1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail 1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish 1b2) to complete (a period of time) 1b3) to finish (doing a thing) 1b4) to make an end, end 1b5) to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass 1b6) to accomplish, determine (in thought) 1b7) to put an end to, cause to cease 1b8) to cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend 1b9) to destroy, exterminate 1c) (Pual) to be finished, be ended, be completed
Usage: Occurs in 199 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when... were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, [idiom] fully, [idiom] have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste. See also: Genesis 2:1; 2 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 18:38.
כֹּ֝חִ֗/י
kôach
H3581
"reptile"
N-ms | Suff
Koach means strength or power, referring to human, angelic, or God's might. It can also describe the strength of animals or the produce of soil.
Definition: 1) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean 1a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown
Usage: Occurs in 121 OT verses. KJV: ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth. See also: Genesis 4:12; Job 36:5; Psalms 22:16.
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תַּעַזְבֵֽ/נִי
ʻâzab
H5800
"Forsaken"
V-Qal-Juss-2ms | Suff
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Definition: This name means to restore, repair Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 206 OT verses. KJV: commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:24; Nehemiah 5:10; Psalms 9:11.
Study Notes — Psalms 71:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 71:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 71:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 71:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 71:9
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 71:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
- Sermons on Psalms 71:9
Context — Be My Rock of Refuge
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.
10For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire, 11saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 46:4 | Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you. |
| 2 | 2 Timothy 1:12 | For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. |
| 3 | Psalms 71:18 | Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. |
| 4 | Psalms 90:10 | The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. |
| 5 | Psalms 92:13–15 | Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain, to proclaim, “The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and in Him there is no unrighteousness.” |
| 6 | Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 | Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,” before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain, on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly, when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint, when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets. Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well, before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 7 | 2 Timothy 4:18 | And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. |
| 8 | 2 Samuel 19:35 | I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? |
| 9 | Psalms 73:26 | My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. |
| 10 | 2 Samuel 21:15–17 | Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted. Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.” |
Psalms 71:9 Summary
This verse is a prayer from the psalmist, asking God not to leave him or forget about him when he is old and weak. He wants to know that God is still with him, even when his body is not as strong as it used to be. We can all relate to this feeling, and we can pray the same prayer, trusting in God's promise to be with us always, as seen in Matthew 28:20 and Isaiah 41:10. By trusting in God's presence and strength, we can face the challenges of life, including old age, with confidence and peace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the psalmist asking God to do for him in this verse?
The psalmist is asking God not to discard or forsake him in his old age, even when his physical strength fails, trusting in God's promise to be with him always, as seen in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5.
Why is the psalmist concerned about being discarded or forsaken by God?
The psalmist is concerned because he knows that his enemies are waiting for him to be weak and vulnerable, so they can attack him, as mentioned in Psalms 71:10-11, and he wants to make sure God is still with him.
Is it normal to feel like God has forsaken us, especially in old age?
Yes, it is normal to feel this way, as many biblical figures, including David and the apostle Paul, experienced feelings of abandonment, but they always turned back to God, as seen in Psalms 22:1 and 2 Corinthians 1:8-9.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives, especially as we age?
We can apply this verse by trusting in God's promise to be with us always, and by praying for His presence and strength in our lives, just like the psalmist, and remembering that God's power is made perfect in our weakness, as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have felt like God has forsaken me in the past, and how did I respond to those feelings?
- How can I, like the psalmist, trust in God's presence and strength in my life, even when I am feeling weak or vulnerable?
- What are some things that I can do to prepare myself for the challenges of old age, and to trust in God's care for me during that time?
- How can I use my experiences, like the psalmist, to praise and glorify God, and to be a witness to others of His faithfulness?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 71:9
Cast me not off in the time of old age,.... The Lord never casts off nor casts away his people, whom he foreknew; they are near unto him; they are on his heart, and are engraven on the palms of his
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 71:9
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
When I am most feeble, and most need thy help, and one who is grown old in thy service.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
Psalms 71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.Ver. 9. Cast me not off in the time of old age] For now I have most need of thee. The white rose is soonest cankered, so is the white head soonest corrupted. Saepe nigrum cor est, caput album - Satan maketh a prey of old Solomon, Asa, Lot, others; whom when young he could never so deceive. The heathens, therefore, well warn us to look well to our old age, as that which cometh not alone, but is infested with many diseases both of body and mind. This David knew, and therefore prayed, as here, "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth." He is a rare old man that can say with Caleb, Joshua 14:10-11. Omnia fert aetas, animum quoque.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
(9-11) This piece may be compared with Psalms 41:6-8. The formal “saying” (Psalms 71:11), introducing a quotation, is an indication of a late date, the early literature employing no signs of quotation. (See, e.g., Psalms 68:12; Psalms 68:26.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
Verse 9. Cast me not off in the time of old age] The original might be translated and paraphrased thus: "Thou wilt not cast me off till the time of old age; and according to the failure of my flesh, thou wilt not forsake me." My expectation of rest and happiness will not be deferred till the time that I shall be an aged man, Thou wilt not withdraw thy presence from me as my flesh decays, and as my natural strength abates; but, on the contrary, as my outward man decays, my inward man shall be renewed day by day. It was in David's old age that the rebellion of Absalom took place.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 71:9
9–13. Repeated deprecations and prayers.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 71:9
Cast me not off in the time of old age - When old age comes with its infirmities; its weaknesses; its trials.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 71:9
9. In the time of old age—According to Usher, David was now sixty-two years old; according to Hale, sixty-four years; and such a life as his had been must have already made its mark upon his physical frame.
Sermons on Psalms 71:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Homes for the Elderly by George Mueller | George Mueller shares the vision and establishment of the Müller Homes for the Elderly, emphasizing the importance of providing dignified and secure living for elderly individuals. |
|
God Bless and Keep You in Peace by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the power of God's strength in delivering His people, drawing parallels from the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, where the blood of the lamb protected the |
|
Precious Promises for Aged Saints by James Smith | James Smith preaches about the comforting promise of God's everlasting care for the aged believer, assuring them of His unchanging love, support, and protection until their hair is |
|
Studies in Isaiah - Part 8 by Harry Ironside | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the foolishness of idolatry and contrasts it with the faithfulness and care of God towards Israel. The message emphasizes how God has sustain |
|
Old Men Shall Dream Dreams by Carter Conlon | This sermon from Acts chapter 2 emphasizes the power of older individuals to dream divine dreams and speak into the lives of the next generation. It highlights the importance of gr |
|
The Everlasting Arms by J.R. Miller | J.R. Miller emphasizes the comforting promise that 'the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,' illustrating how God's promises are timeless and appli |
|
The Spirit Commited to God by Robert Murray M'Cheyne | Robert Murray M'Cheyne emphasizes the profound significance of committing our spirits to God, drawing parallels between Christ's final words on the cross and the believer's journey |