Psalms 13:5 — Word Study
WLCוַאֲנִ֤י׀ בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בָטַחְתִּי֮ יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ
BSAwill rejoicegîyl▸ [be glad, sing]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַאֲנִ֤י׀ | and I | Conjunction, pronoun |
| בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ | in covenant loyalty your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בָטַחְתִּי֮ | I have trusted | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| יָ֤גֵ֥ל | may it rejoice | Verb, Qal, jussive third person masculine singular |
| לִבִּ֗י | heart my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ | in deliverance your | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. |
| KJV | But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. |
| ASV | But I have trusted in thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. |
| YLT | And I, in Thy kindness I have trusted, Rejoice doth my heart in Thy salvation. |
| WEB | But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation. |
| BBE | But I have had faith in your mercy; my heart will be glad in your salvation. |
Where they part company is יָ֤גֵ֥ל — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around the main clause, emphasizing the psalmist's trust and its emotional outcome.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאָמַר
verbהוּא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 13:5
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Psalm of Trust in Godgenerated
Psalm 13:5 reflects a moment of personal trust in God amidst trials. The psalmist acknowledges his reliance on God’s loving devotion, contrasting his faith with the surrounding distress. This psalm is part of a larger narrative where the psalmist grapples with feelings of abandonment yet ultimately finds hope in God’s salvation, as seen in the preceding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 32:10 | Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD. |
| 2 | Psalm 33:18–21 | Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion |
| 3 | Psalm 36:7 | How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings! |
| 4 | Psalm 52:8 | But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever. |
| 5 | Psalm 147:11 | The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָטַחְתִּי, va.tach.Tigenerated
The verb בָּטַח (batach) means to trust or have confidence, indicating a strong reliance on God's faithfulness. It is a perfect form in the first person singular, showing that the psalmist has already placed his trust in God.
This word conveys a sense of security and assurance, reflecting the psalmist's deep faith in God's character. It suggests a relationship where the psalmist feels safe and supported by God's loving nature.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is בָטַחְתִּי, I have trusted, which governs the rest of the sentence. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's personal declaration of faith, followed by the anticipated reaction of his heart.
The sentence is built around the subject אֲנִי (aniy), indicating the psalmist’s focus on his own feelings and actions, leading to the expression of joy in the subsequent clauses.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָטַחְתִּי as ἐπίστευσα (episteusa), meaning 'I have believed'. This choice broadens the concept of trust to include faith, suggesting a deeper spiritual reliance on God.
The translation of יָ֤גֵ֥ל as ἀγαλλιάσονται (agalhiasontai) emphasizes the joy that comes from salvation, aligning with the emotional tone of the psalm.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 13:5 shows the psalmist expressing his trust in God's loving devotion. He believes that his heart will rejoice in God's salvation, highlighting a personal relationship with God and the joy that comes from His deliverance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Trusting in God's loving devotion means relying on His unfailing kindness and mercy, believing that He will act in love towards us.
The psalmist expresses his emotions through the declaration of trust and the anticipation of joy, indicating a deep connection to his inner feelings.
The heart rejoicing in salvation signifies a profound inner joy and relief that comes from being rescued or delivered by God.
We can apply the message of this psalm by trusting in God's faithfulness during difficult times and looking forward to the joy that His deliverance brings.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to trust God more deeply?
- How can I cultivate a heart that rejoices in God's salvation?
- What reminders can I keep to help me remember God's loving devotion?
- How can I share my experiences of trusting in God with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Ancient commentators reflect on the themes of trust and salvation in this verse. Their insights highlight the psalmist's reliance on God's mercy and the joy that follows.
Do you see a hope-filled soul? He asked, and before receiving he gives thanks as though having received, sings praise to God and achieves all that had been anticipated.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 13 →
"But I have hoped in Your mercy" [Psalms 13:5]. Because this very thing, that a man be not moved, and that he abide fixed in the Lord,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 13 →
It is clear also from this that he uttered this psalm after the sin: he relies not on his righteousness but on mercy and says it is in this that he trusts.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 13 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 13:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBut I have trusted in thy mercy,.... The faith, hope, and comfort of the psalmist grew and increased by prayer; from complaining he goes to praying, from praying to believing; he trusted not in
Read John Gill on Psalms 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBut I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. But I have trusted in thy mercy [ checed (H2617)]; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 13 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleNeither their threats and brags, nor my own dangers, shall shake my confidence in thy mercy promised to me.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 13 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 13:5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.Ver. 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy] Notwithstanding all the endeavours of earth and of hell to cast down this castle of my confidence, I will not quit it; but be still as a green olive tree in the house of God: I will trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever, Psalms 52:8.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 13 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) But I.—Emphatic, but as for me. The most complete peace has taken the place of the despair with which the psalm opens. The rhythm of the Hebrew seems to express the restfulness of the thought. “It hath a dying fall.” The LXX. and Vulg. (comp. the Prayer Book version) have an additional clause not found in any MS., “Yea, I will praise the name of the Lord most high.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 13 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy] Thou wilt not suffer me to fall; or if I have fallen, wilt thou not, for his sake who died for sinners, once more lift up the light of thy countenance upon me? Wilt thou not cover my sin? My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.] There is no true joy but of the heart; and the heart cannot rejoice till all guilt is taken away from the conscience.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 13 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBut I have trusted in thy mercy - In thy favor; thy friendship; thy promises. His original confidence had been in God only, and not in himself.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 13 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5. But I have trusted—The past tense indicates the habit of his life. Until now he has trusted, and he is suddenly strengthened in hope by the memory.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 13 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.
But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.
But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.
But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance!
Tyndale line
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
But I have trusted in thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation:
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
But I trust in thy mercie: mine heart shall reioyce in thy saluation: I will sing to the Lord, because he hath delt louingly with me.
Strictly literal
As for me, I have confided in thy loving-kindness; my heart shall be joyful in thy salvation.
And I, in Thy kindness I have trusted, Rejoice doth my heart in Thy salvation.
And I have trusted in Your kindness, || My heart rejoices in Your salvation.
(13:6) But I trust in thy kindness, let my heart be glad because of thy salvation:
But I have trusted in your covenant faithfulness; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
From the Latin
They have not called upon the Lord: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear.
Simplified
But I trust in your never-failing love, I will be happy because you save me.
But I have had faith in your mercy; my heart will be glad in your salvation.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text (MT) of Psalms 13:5 reads, "But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation." The Septuagint (LXX) has a partial correspondence with the MT, matching 4 of the 6 words, but it presents a different word order and includes its own articles, indicating some variation in translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls (11Q7) offer a fragmentary text that includes one word clearly and several others that are partly restored or supplied by an editor, which suggests that the text may differ significantly from the MT in its original form. Overall, the MT stands as the most complete and coherent witness to this verse, while the LXX and the Dead Sea Scrolls provide additional context and variations.
וַאֲנִ֤י׀ בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בָטַחְתִּי֮ יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[פן] יואמר אויב׳י [יכלתי׳ו] [צר׳י] [יגילו] [כי] [אמוט]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 13:5
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
HC/Pp1bs — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp1bs
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) primarily means kindness or goodness, often referring to the kindness of people towards one another, especially towards the needy. It can also denote God's lovingkindness and mercy. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning of shame or reproach. The entries reflect a range of uses, from human interactions to divine attributes.
חֶ֫סֶד 247 n.m. goodness, kindness
of man:
kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
(rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
lovely appearance
of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
base
חֶ֫סֶד n.m. shame, reproach
base
H2617a חֶ֫סֶד goodness, kindness . of man: . kindness of men toward men, in doing favours and benefits
. kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy
. (rarely) affection of Isr. to י׳, love to God, piety
. lovely appearance
. of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures.
H2617b חֶ֫סֶד shame, reproach
2617 checed kheh'-sed
from 2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety:
rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:--favour,
good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful
(kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
see HEBREW for 02616
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — kindness.
goodness, kindness, faithfulness
חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) — shame.
a reproach, shame
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.
בָּטַח vb. trust
Qal
trust
be confident
Hiph. cause to trust, make secure
base
H982 בָּטַח trust . trust
. be confident
982 batach baw-takh'
a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so
precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident
or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,
woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.
see HEBREW for 02620
בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.
1) to trust
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to trust, trust in
1a2) to have confidence, be confident
1a3) to be bold
1a4) to be secure
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to trust, make secure
2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
גִּיל (giyl) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad, often associated with a sense of excitement or levity. It can also imply trembling, particularly from fear. The word is built from a root that conveys the idea of spinning around due to strong emotions, covering both joy and fear.
[גִּיל] vb. rejoice (go around or about, be excited to levity)
Qal
rejoice
tremble
base
H1523 גִּיל rejoice (go around or about, be excited to levity)
1523 giyl gheel
or (by permutation) guwl {gool}; a primitive root; properly,
to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion),
i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear:--be glad, joy,
be joyful, rejoice.
גִּיל (gil) — to rejoice.
1) to rejoice, exult, be glad
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to rejoice
1a2) to tremble (from fear)
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine singularHVqj3ms
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah) refers to concepts of salvation, deliverance, and welfare, often with a spiritual dimension. It is derived from a root meaning to save and encompasses ideas of victory and prosperity. The term is used in contexts related to divine aid and protection, emphasizing both physical and spiritual deliverance.
יְשׁוּעָה n.f. salvation
welfare, prosperity
deliverance
salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
victory
base
H3444 יְשׁוּעָה salvation . welfare, prosperity
. deliverance
. salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
. victory
3444 yshuw`ah yesh-oo'-aw
feminine passive participle of 3467; something saved, i.e.
(abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory,
prosperity:--deliverance, health, help(-ing), salvation, save,
saving (health), welfare.
see HEBREW for 03467
יְשׁוּעָה (ye.shu.ah) — salvation.
1) salvation, deliverance
1a) welfare, prosperity
1b) deliverance
1c) salvation (by God)
1d) victory
HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms