Psalm Chapter 70 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.
2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
More Psalms Chapter 70 (Old Testament)
3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 70:5
Verse: יְהוָה עֲזָרָתִי וּמְפַלְטִי
Transliteration: Adonai azarati u-m’falti
English: “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and deliverer.”
Focus Word: מָפַלֵּט (M’falat)
- Root: פ-ל-ט (Pe-Lamed-Tet)
- Meaning: “Deliverer,” “one who rescues,” “salvation.”
- Deeper Insight: M’falat highlights God’s intervention to rescue and protect, often in dire situations.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| חוּשָׁה — chushah | Verse 1 — “Make haste, O God…” | “Hurry,” act quickly. | Chushah (“to hasten”) conveys urgency (“hurry”). It reveals desperation for immediate deliverance. The term sets a swift, pleading tone. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עֶזְרָה — ezrah | Verse 1 — “…to deliver me.” | “Help,” assistance. | Ezrah (“help”) indicates urgent divine aid (“help”). It underscores human helplessness. The word centers the Psalm on God’s intervention. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| בּוֹשׁ — bosh | Verse 2 — “Let them be ashamed…” | “To be ashamed,” confounded. | Bosh (“to be ashamed”) expresses hoped-for reversal of enemies (“ashamed”). It indicates divine vindication. The term reinforces justice themes. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| חָפֵר — chaper | Verse 2 — “…and confounded…” | “To blush,” be humiliated. | Chaper (“to be confounded”) denotes deep humiliation (“confounded”). It expresses exposure of wickedness. The word strengthens the Psalm’s call for justice. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| שָׂמֵחַ — sameach | Verse 4 — “Let all those who seek You rejoice…” | “To rejoice,” be glad. | Sameach (“to rejoice”) conveys delight in God (“rejoice”). It reflects covenant joy. The term contrasts with the shame of the wicked. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שָׂשׂ — sas | Verse 4 — “…and be glad in You.” | “To exult,” rejoice exceedingly. | Sas (“to exult”) expresses overflowing joy (“be glad”). It heightens the emotional tone of worship. The word reinforces delight in God’s goodness. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| אָהַב — ahav | Verse 4 — “…let those who love Your salvation…” | “To love,” cherish. | Ahav (“to love”) shows heartfelt devotion (“love”). It ties affection to God’s saving acts. The word strengthens personal piety in the Psalm. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| גָּדַל — gadal | Verse 4 — “…let God be magnified!” | “To enlarge,” exalt. | Gadal (“to magnify”) expresses exaltation of God (“magnify”). It reflects praise grounded in deliverance. The term anchors doxology. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| עָנִי — ani | Verse 5 — “But I am poor and needy…” | “Poor,” afflicted. | Ani (“poor/afflicted”) denotes vulnerability (“poor/needy”). It highlights dependence on divine help. The word emphasizes humility before God. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| מַהֵר — maher | Verse 5 — “…O LORD, do not delay.” | “To hurry,” act swiftly. | Maher (“to hasten”) closes with urgent plea (“do not delay”). It frames the Psalm with bookending urgency. The term concludes with intensified dependence on God. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 70 |
|---|---|---|
| Francis Turretin (Academia Genevensis / Geneva, 1623–1687) | Institutio Theologiae Elencticae | Observes that urgency in prayer reflects the believer’s dependence on God’s timing. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Notes the Psalm models immediate supplication, blending humility and faith. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Highlights that the Psalmist’s request for help exemplifies trust in God’s intervention. |
| Richard Sibbes (Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1577–1635) | The Bruised Reed | Observes that persistent prayer in times of need demonstrates both faith and moral earnestness. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Notes that the Psalm teaches reliance on God when facing enemies and adversity. |
Psalm Commentary From Biblical Scholars:
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| B.B. Warfield (Princeton University, 1851–1921, Biblical Doctrines) | Warfield notes that this psalm expresses urgent dependence on God for help and deliverance from enemies. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751, Family Expositor) | The psalm, Doddridge observes, is a short, intense prayer asking for God’s swift assistance in trouble. |
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | Smith emphasizes that this psalm highlights the believer’s need for quick relief and God’s faithful aid. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice interprets the psalm as showing urgency in prayer and confidence in God’s protective power. |
| Richard Mant (Trinity College Dublin, 1776–1848, Practical Commentary on the Psalms) | Mant points out that the psalm is a plea for immediate help, reflecting trust in God during danger. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| John Calvin – Commentary on the Psalms | Calvin sees this brief psalm as a cry for immediate help. The psalmist is pressed by urgent danger. Deliverance brings joy to those who seek God. |
| Matthew Henry – Exposition on the Psalms | Henry interprets the psalm as the believer’s quick appeal in crisis. God’s deliverance is swift. Praise accompanies salvation. |
| Albert Barnes – Notes on the Psalms | Barnes views the psalm as a short prayer focused on rescue. The wicked are confounded while the righteous rejoice. God’s help is timely. |
| John Morison – Practical Exposition of the Psalms | Morison sees the psalm as a concentrated plea for divine intervention. The psalmist’s need is immediate. Joy fills those who seek God’s salvation. |
| William Walford – Commentary on the Psalms | Walford reads the psalm as a personal prayer for swift deliverance. The wicked are shamed by God’s action. The righteous magnify His name. |
| Andrew A. Bonar – Christ and His Church in the Psalms | Bonar views the psalm as reflecting the believer’s urgent cry in trial. God’s help is both needed and expected. Praise follows His intervention. |
| Joseph Parker – People’s Bible Notes | Parker interprets the psalm as the soul’s immediate cry for relief. Opposition is pressing. God’s salvation is the ultimate comfort. |
| Thomas Dale – Exposition of the Psalms | Dale sees the psalm as emphasizing urgency in prayer. God’s timely intervention defeats enemies. Praise flows from the rescued heart. |
| Horatius Bonar – Psalm Meditations | Bonar views the psalm as portraying earnest supplication. Trouble calls for quick divine aid. Joy accompanies God’s deliverance. |
| Christopher Wordsworth – Commentary on the Psalms | Wordsworth interprets the psalm as the prayer of the Church under pressure. God answers both swiftly and graciously. The faithful rejoice in His salvation. |
In Closing: Psalm 70 calls us to cry out to God with urgency, reminding us that the Lord is “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
When opposition rises, we trust His promise that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). David’s humble confession—“I am poor and needy”—echoes Jesus’ blessing on the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3), assuring us that God meets us in our weakness. And the call to seek God with joy recalls, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). In every burden, He draws near.
