Psalms 94:17
Psalms 94:17 in Multiple Translations
Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Unless Jehovah had been my help, My soul had soon dwelt in silence.
If the Lord had not been my helper, my soul would quickly have gone down into death.
If the Lord hadn't helped me, I would have soon gone down into the silence of the grave.
If the Lord had not holpen me, my soule had almost dwelt in silence.
Unless Jehovah [were] a help to me, My soul had almost inhabited silence.
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul would have soon lived in silence.
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
If Yahweh had not helped me at that time, I would have been executed, and my soul/spirit would have gone to the place where dead people say nothing.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 94:17
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 94:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לוּלֵ֣י
יְ֭הוָה
עֶזְרָ֣תָ/ה
לִּ֑/י
כִּ/מְעַ֓ט
שָֽׁכְנָ֖ה
דוּמָ֣ה
נַפְשִֽׁ/י
לוּלֵ֣י
lûwlêʼ
H3884
unless
Conj
יְ֭הוָה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
עֶזְרָ֣תָ/ה
ʻezrâh
H5833
help
N-fs | Suff
לִּ֑/י
Prep | Suff
כִּ/מְעַ֓ט
mᵉʻaṭ
H4592
little
Prep | N-ms
שָֽׁכְנָ֖ה
shâkan
H7931
to dwell
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
דוּמָ֣ה
dûwmâh
H1745
silence
N-fs
נַפְשִֽׁ/י
nephesh
H5315
soul
N-cs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 94:17
לוּלֵ֣י
lûwlêʼ
H3884
"unless"
Conj
Unless or if not, this word is used to show an exception or a condition. It is often translated as except or unless in English Bibles.
Definition: unless, if not, except
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: except, had not, if (...not), unless, were it not that. See also: Genesis 31:42; Psalms 27:13; Psalms 94:17.
יְ֭הוָה
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.
עֶזְרָ֣תָ/ה
ʻezrâh
H5833
"help"
N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word means 'help' or 'aid', referring to assistance or support, as seen in various Bible translations.
Definition: 1) help, succour, assistance 1a) help, succour 1b) one who helps
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: help(-ed, -er). See also: Judges 5:23; Psalms 60:13; Psalms 22:20.
לִּ֑/י
""
Prep | Suff
כִּ/מְעַ֓ט
mᵉʻaṭ
H4592
"little"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word means something is small or little in amount, like a few people or a short time. It appears in various Bible translations as almost, few, or small. In the Bible, it often describes something that is limited or lacking.
Definition: 1) littleness, few, a little, fewness 1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little 1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very. See also: Genesis 18:4; Job 15:11; Psalms 2:12.
שָֽׁכְנָ֖ה
shâkan
H7931
"to dwell"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
This Hebrew word means to live or stay in a place, like when God dwells among his people. It appears in books like Exodus and Psalms, describing God's presence. It's about making a home or resting place.
Definition: 1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to settle down to abide 1a2) to abide, dwell, reside 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make settle down, establish 1b2) to make or cause to dwell 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix 1c2) to cause to dwell or abide Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up). See also: Genesis 3:24; Psalms 55:7; Psalms 7:6.
דוּמָ֣ה
dûwmâh
H1745
"silence"
N-fs
This word means silence or stillness, sometimes symbolizing death. The Bible uses it to describe quiet or the absence of sound. It can also imply a sense of death or inactivity.
Definition: silence
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: silence. See also: Psalms 94:17; Psalms 115:17.
נַפְשִֽׁ/י
nephesh
H5315
"soul"
N-cs | Suff
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Definition: 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 683 OT verses. KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. See also: Genesis 1:20; Leviticus 26:43; Judges 18:25.
Study Notes — Psalms 94:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 94:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 94:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 94:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 94:17
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 94:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
- Sermons on Psalms 94:17
Context — The LORD Will Not Forget His People
15Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?
17Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
18If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me. 19When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 124:1–2 | If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now declare— if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, |
| 2 | Psalms 31:17 | O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol. |
| 3 | Psalms 118:13 | I was pushed so hard I was falling, but the LORD helped me. |
| 4 | 2 Timothy 4:16–17 | At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. |
| 5 | Psalms 142:4–5 | Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul. I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” |
| 6 | Psalms 13:3 | Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death, |
| 7 | Psalms 115:17 | It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence. |
| 8 | Psalms 125:1 | Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever. |
| 9 | John 16:32 | “Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. |
| 10 | 2 Corinthians 1:8–10 | We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us, |
Psalms 94:17 Summary
This verse means that without God's help, we would be in big trouble and would ultimately end up in a place of death and separation from Him. But because God is our helper, we can trust in Him to support and comfort us, even in the toughest times, as seen in Psalms 94:18-19. Just like the psalmist, we can lean on God and trust in His loving devotion, as promised in Isaiah 41:10. By doing so, we can have peace and comfort, even in the midst of trouble, and we can trust that God will see us through, as seen in Romans 8:28.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to dwell in the abode of silence?
To dwell in the abode of silence means to be in a place of death and separation from God, as seen in Psalms 94:17, where the psalmist acknowledges that without God's help, he would have been in this state, similar to what is described in Psalms 115:17, where it is written that the dead do not praise the Lord.
How does God help us in times of trouble?
God helps us in times of trouble by being our helper and supporter, as stated in Psalms 94:17, and by giving us His loving devotion and consolation, as seen in Psalms 94:18-19, and as promised in Isaiah 41:10, where it is written that God will strengthen and help us.
What would have happened to the psalmist if God had not been his helper?
If God had not been the psalmist's helper, he would have soon dwelt in the abode of silence, which means he would have been overcome by the wicked and would have been in a state of death and separation from God, as described in Psalms 94:17, and as warned in Deuteronomy 31:17, where it is written that God's presence is what keeps us from being consumed by our enemies.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
We can apply this verse to our own lives by recognizing our dependence on God and seeking His help in times of trouble, as the psalmist did, and by trusting in God's loving devotion and consolation, as promised in Psalms 94:18-19, and as seen in the example of King David in Psalms 27:1, where he trusted in God as his light and salvation.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt like I was being overwhelmed by the wicked, and how did God help me?
- How can I cultivate a deeper sense of dependence on God in my daily life, and what are some ways that I can seek His help in times of trouble?
- What are some ways that I can trust in God's loving devotion and consolation, even when I am feeling anxious or overwhelmed, and what are some Bible verses that I can meditate on to help me do so?
- How can I use this verse to encourage and support others who are going through difficult times, and what are some ways that I can point them to God's help and comfort?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 94:17
Unless the Lord had been my help,.... Against her enemies, which were so many and mighty, and her friends so few and feeble, and having no heart to defend her cause; especially this will be the case
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 94:17
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
In the place of silence, to wit, the grave. Compare ,18 Psalms 88:12 115:17.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
Psalms 94:17 Unless the LORD [had been] my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.Ver. 17. Unless the Lord had been my help] He loveth to help at a pinch; he usually reserveth his hand for a dead lift. See 2 Timothy 4:16-17. My soul had almost dwelt in silence] i.e. In the dark cloisters of death. The Greek and Latin translators render it, In hell.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
(17) In silence—i.e., of the grave, as in Psalms 31:17.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
Verse 17. Unless the Lord had been my help] Had not God in a strange manner supported us while under his chastising hand, we had been utterly cut off. My soul had almost dwelt in silence.] The Vulgate has in inferno, in hell or the infernal world; the Septuagint, τωαδη, in the invisible world.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 94:17
17. Cp. Psalms 124:1 ff. almost] R.V. soon. dwelt in silence] The stillness of the grave (Psalms 115:17).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 94:17
Unless the Lord had been my help - At the time referred to. If I had not had a God to whom I could have gone - if my mind had not been directed to him - if I had not actually found him a refuge and
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 94:17
17. My soul had almost dwelt in silence—My soul had in a little time— soon—have inhabited silence; the land of silence, the region of the dead. We had quickly perished had not God been our help.
Sermons on Psalms 94:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Exposition on Psalm 94 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the importance of enduring through trials and tribulations, emphasizing the need for patience in the face of the prosperity of the wicked and the suffe |
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(The Lord - Merciful and Gracious) 5. the Triumph of the Poor and Needy by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of David from the Bible, particularly during the time when he was hunted by Saul and lived in the wilderness for 10 years. David d |
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These Times Demand Special Trust by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher warns of various calamities and signs of the end times, including famine, war, pestilence, earthquakes, and fear. He emphasizes the importance of trust |
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Judges 5:23 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the curse of Meroz, highlighting the consequences of inaction in the face of evil. He recounts the story of Israel's oppression under Jabin and Sisera, and h |
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Psalm 124 by Henry Law | Henry Law emphasizes that all deliverance comes freely from God's hand, deserving grateful blessings. The enemies of God's children, led by the devil, are numerous and malicious, s |
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Exposition on Psalm 125 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches on the importance of not fixing our gaze on worldly prosperity but on God, warning against pride and hardness of heart. He emphasizes the eternal stability o |
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Taking Time to Wait on God - Part 2 by Derek Prince | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the four main functions of a head in relation to the body. The first function is to receive input, where every part of the body has the right |