Psalms 40:13 — Word Study
WLCרְצֵ֣ה יְ֭הוָה לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָׁה׃
BSAforkîy to surroundʼâphaph uponʻal badraʻ tillʻad nothingʼayin numbermiçpâr to overtakenâsag iniquityʻâvôn notlôʼ be ableyâkôl Providerrâʼâh be vastʻâtsam hairsaʻărâh headrôʼsh heartlêb Forsakenʻâzab
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| רְצֵ֣ה | be pleased | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine singular |
| יְ֭הוָה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי | to deliver me | Preposition, verb hiphil infinitive construct common, suffix |
| יְ֝הוָ֗ה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי | to help my | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| חֽוּשָׁה׃ | make haste ! | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me. |
| KJV | Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. |
| ASV | Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O Jehovah. |
| YLT | Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me, O Jehovah, for my help make haste. |
| WEB | Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh. |
| BBE | Be pleased, O Lord, to take me out of danger; O Lord, come quickly and give me help. |
Where they part company is חֽוּשָׁה — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses, each with an imperative verb, expressing urgent requests for divine intervention.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbכִּי
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 40:13
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 Cry for Helpgenerated
Psalms 40:13 expresses the psalmist's urgent plea to the LORD for deliverance and assistance amid overwhelming troubles. This verse is part of a broader context where the psalmist laments the multitude of evils surrounding him, as seen in verse 12, and seeks God's favor to rescue him from his distress. The themes of reliance on God's mercy and the desire for divine intervention are prevalent in the psalm, echoing similar sentiments found in other psalms, such as Psalm 25:17-18 and Psalm 70:1-5.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 25:17–18 | The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress. |
| 2 | Matthew 26:36–44 | At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” |
| 3 | Psalm 38:22 | Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior. |
| 4 | Psalm 70:1–5 | Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Hurry, O LORD, to help me! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רְצֵ֣ה, re.Tzehgenerated
The Hebrew verb רָצָה (ratsah) means to be pleased with or to accept favorably. It conveys a sense of satisfaction or delight, often in the context of divine acceptance, such as in prayers and sacrifices. The imperative form here indicates a direct plea to the LORD to show favor and accept the psalmist's request.
This word encompasses a range of meanings, including making something acceptable and seeking favor. In this verse, it highlights the psalmist's hope for God's gracious response to his desperate situation.
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 verse consists of two main clauses, each beginning with an imperative verb: רְצֵ֣ה and חֽוּשָׁה. The first clause expresses the psalmist's request for God's favor in delivering him, while the second emphasizes the urgency of the plea for help.
The Hebrew word order places the imperative verbs at the forefront, highlighting the psalmist's desperate call for action from the LORD.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates רְצֵ֣ה as ὅτι, indicating a slightly different approach to the imperative, suggesting a reason or cause rather than a direct command. This choice may reflect a nuanced understanding of the psalmist's plea.
The translation of חֽוּשָׁה as ἀνομίαι shows a shift in focus, possibly interpreting the urgency of the request in light of the surrounding evils, which the psalmist is experiencing.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 40:13 shows the psalmist asking the LORD to be pleased and deliver him quickly. He feels surrounded by troubles and is seeking God's help urgently, reflecting a deep trust in God's ability to save.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist is asking God to accept his plea favorably, showing grace and willingness to help.
The urgency reflects the psalmist's distress and the overwhelming nature of his troubles, indicating a need for immediate divine intervention.
The psalmist seeks rescue from his enemies and support in his time of need, showing reliance on God's power.
Similar themes of seeking God's help and expressing urgency can be found in other psalms, highlighting a common human experience of distress and the need for divine assistance.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's help urgently?
- How can I express my reliance on God during difficult times?
- What does it mean for me to ask God to be pleased with my requests?
- How can I encourage others who are in distress to seek God's help?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers often referenced this verse to discuss the nature of divine assistance and the human condition in seeking God's favor.
"Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me" [Psalms 40:13]. As if he were saying, "'If You will,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 40 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 40:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBe pleased, O Lord, to deliver me,.... From the innumerable evils which compassed him about; from sinful men, and from devils, signified by the sword, dog, and lion, Psalms 22:20; and from the power
Read John Gill on Psalms 40 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBe pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me ... Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul ...
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 40 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDeliver me from my sins, and the punishments due to them.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 40 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.Ver. 13. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me] Do it of thy free grace, and mere mercy of thy good will and gracious liking (as the word ευδοκια signifieth), beside the consideration of my woeful misery laid forth, Psalms 40:12, as an object of thy mercy.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 40 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) Be pleased.—From this verse onwards, with some trifling variations which will be noticed under that psalm, this passage occurs as Psalms 70, where see Notes.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 40 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. Psalms 40:13-17 recur as Psalms 70, with some verbal variations. Be pleased] An echo of ‘thy good pleasure’ (‘thy will’) in Psalms 40:8. The word is omitted in Psalms 70, and in the first line, though not in the second, God is substituted for Lord, according to the usual rule in Book II See Introd., p. lv f. make haste to hell me] Cp. Psalms 38:22; Psalms 22:19.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 40 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBe pleased, O Lord, to deliver me - That is, in these troubles and sorrows. See Matthew 26:39. The prayer is that, if possible, the cup of sorrow might be taken away.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 40 →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
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me.
Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me.
Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me! O Lord, hurry and help me!
Tyndale line
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O Jehovah.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: make haste to help me, O LORD.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Let it please thee, O Lord, to deliuer mee: make haste, O Lord, to helpe me.
Strictly literal
Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me; Jehovah, make haste to my help.
Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me, O Jehovah, for my help make haste.
Be pleased, O YHWH, to deliver me, || O YHWH, make haste for my help.
(40:14) Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, hasten to my help.
Be pleased, Yahweh, to rescue me; hurry to help me, Yahweh.
From the Latin
But thou hast upheld me by reason of my innocence: and hast established me in thy sight for ever.
Simplified
Lord, please save me! Hurry, Lord, help me!
Be pleased, O Lord, to take me out of danger; O Lord, come quickly and give me help.
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 and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording for Psalms 40:13. All six words match, indicating a strong consistency in the text across these ancient witnesses.
רְצֵ֣ה יְ֭הוָה לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָׁה׃
6 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.
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 40:13
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.
רָצָה (ratsah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be pleased with or to accept favorably. It encompasses a range of meanings including satisfying a debt, making something acceptable, and seeking favor. The verb appears in various forms, such as being accepted or pleasing others. Notably, it can refer to both personal acceptance and the acceptance of sacrifices.
רָצָה vb. be pleased with, accept favourably
Qal
be pleased with, favourable to
accept
be pleased
make acceptable, satisfy (by paying off debt)
Niph.
pass. of Qal 2, be accepted, of sacrifices
pass. of Qal 4: her punishment is accepted (as satisfactory)
Pi. seek the favour of the poor
Hiph. the land shall pay off her sabbaths
Hithp. with what shall he make himself acceptable unto his lord ?
base
H7521 רָצָה be pleased with, accept favourably .. be pleased with, favourable to
. accept
. be pleased
. make acceptable, satisfy (by paying off debt)
. . pass. of Qal 2, be accepted, of sacrifices
. pass. of Qal 4: her punishment is accepted (as satisfactory)
. seek the favour of the poor
. the land shall pay off her sabbaths
. with what shall he make himself acceptable unto his lord ?
7521 ratsah raw-tsaw'
a primitive root; to be pleased with; specifically, to
satisfy a debt:--(be) accept(-able), accomplish, set
affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be,
have a) favour(-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take)
please(-ure), reconcile self.
רָצָה (ra.tsah) — to accept.
1) to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be pleased with, be favourable to
1a2) to accept
1a3) to be pleased, be determined
1a4) to make acceptable, satisfy
1a5) to please
1b) (Niphal) to be accepted, be pleased with
1c) (Piel) to seek favour of
1d) (Hiphil) to please, pay off
1e) (Hithpael) to make oneself acceptable or pleasing
HVqv2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singularHVqv2ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
HNpt — Noun properHNpt
The Hebrew word נָצַל (natsal) is built from a primitive root meaning to snatch away, with various usages across different stems. It covers a range of meanings including to rescue, deliver, plunder, and strip. The word appears in contexts of delivering oneself or being delivered, as well as rescuing from enemies or sin.
[נָצַל] 212 vb. not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
Niph.
reflex. tear oneself away, deliver oneself
passive, be torn out or away
Pi.
strip off, spoil
deliver
Hiph.
take away, snatch away
rescue, recover
deliver from
deliver from sin and guilt
Hoph. as a brand plucked out of the burning
Hithp. and they stripped themselves of their ornaments.
base
H5337 נָצַל not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
5337 natsal naw-tsal'
a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad
sense:- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without
fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save,
spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).
נָצַל (na.tsal) — to rescue.
1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder
1a)(Niphal)
1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself
1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to strip off, spoil
1b2) to deliver
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to take away, snatch away
1c2) to rescue, recover
1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt
1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out
1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)
HR/Vhcc/Sp1bs — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vhcc/Sp1bs
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
HNpt — Noun properHNpt
עֶזְרָה (ezrah) refers to help, succour, or assistance. It is a feminine noun derived from the root meaning aid. The word appears in contexts related to providing support, including in Psalm 60:11 and Psalm 108:12, where it emphasizes the act of helping or the one who helps.
עֶזְרָה, עֶזְרָת, עֶזְרָ֫תָה n.f. help, succour, assistance
base
H5833 עֶזְרָה, עֶזְרָת, עֶזְרָ֫תָה help, succour, assistance
5833 `ezrah ez-raw'
or mezrath (Psa. 60:11 (13); 108:12 (13)) {ez-rawth'};
feminine of 5828; aid:--help(-ed, -er).
see HEBREW for 013
see HEBREW for 013
see HEBREW for 05828
עֶזְרָה (ez.rah) — help.
1) help, succour, assistance
1a) help, succour
1b) one who helps
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
חוּשׁ (chush) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to hurry or make haste. It can also imply eagerness or enjoyment. The entries indicate two main uses: one related to hastening actions and the other to feelings of enjoyment. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
חוּשׁ vb. haste, make haste
Qal make haste
Hiph.
shew haste, act quickly
transit. I will hasten it
base
[חוּשׁ] vb. feel, enjoy
base
H2363a חוּשׁ haste, make haste .make haste
. . shew haste, act quickly
. transit. I will hasten it
H2363b חוּשׁ feel, enjoy
2363 chuwsh koosh
a primitive root; to hurry; figuratively, to be eager with
excitement or enjoyment:--(make) haste(-n), ready.
חוּשׁ (chush) — to hasten.
1) to haste, make haste, hurry
1a) (Qal) to make haste
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to show haste, act quickly, hasten, come quickly
חוּשׁ (chush) — to enjoy.
to feel, enjoy
HVqv2ms/Sh — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sh
hast (chaphaz, chush, mahar; speudo): "Haste" (from a root meaning "to pursue") implies "celerity of motion."
(1) The noun occurs as translation of mahar, "to hasten," etc. (Ex 10:16; 12:33, "in haste"); of chapaz, "to make haste" (2Ki 7:15; Ps 31:22; 116:11, "I said in my haste (the Revised Version margin "alarm"), All men are liars"); of chippazon, a "hasty flight" (Ex 12:11; De 16:3; Isa 52:12); of nachats, "to be urgent" (1Sa 21:8, "The king's business required haste").
→ In judgment, by Moses and the Israelites Nu 32:1-19; Jos 22:10-34
→ See RASHNESS