Psalms 102:20

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

To hear {H8085} the groaning {H603} of the prisoner {H615}; to loose {H6605} those that are appointed {H1121} to death {H8546};

to listen to the sighing of the prisoner, to set free those who are sentenced to death,

to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,

To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those that are appointed to death;

Psalm 102:20 offers a profound statement about God's character, even within a psalm of deep lament. The psalmist, enduring severe affliction and feeling forsaken, turns to God's eternal nature and His compassionate intervention for the suffering. This verse highlights God’s active role in the lives of the most vulnerable and desperate.

Context

Psalm 102 is a "prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD." It is one of the seven penitential psalms, expressing deep personal suffering and a sense of abandonment. Amidst the psalmist's personal anguish and awareness of mortality, this verse shifts focus to God's universal and eternal compassion. It serves as a stark contrast to the psalmist's immediate despair, providing a glimmer of hope by reminding the reader of God’s nature as a deliverer, consistent with His past actions (e.g., Exodus 2:24, where God heard the groaning of the Israelites in Egypt).

Key Themes

  • Divine Compassion and Attention: The verse emphasizes that God is not distant from human suffering but actively "hears the groaning" of those in distress. This signifies His profound empathy and attentiveness to the cries of the marginalized.
  • Liberation and Deliverance: God's power is demonstrated in His ability "to loose those that are appointed to death." This speaks to His capacity to intervene in even the most dire and hopeless situations, bringing freedom from bondage, whether physical, spiritual, or existential.
  • Hope for the Helpless: For those who are imprisoned or facing imminent death, this verse offers a powerful message of hope. It assures that no situation is beyond God's reach or too desperate for His intervention.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "groaning" is 'anqah (אָנְקָה), which describes a deep, involuntary cry of pain, often from oppression, confinement, or extreme suffering. It's a sound of raw anguish that reaches God's ears.
  • "Prisoner" (Hebrew: 'asir, אָסִיר) refers not only to someone in a literal jail but broadly to anyone bound, captive, or in a state of severe restriction and oppression.
  • "Appointed to death" is a vivid and poignant phrase in Hebrew: b'ney t'mutah (בְּנֵי תְמוּתָה), literally "sons of death." This idiom powerfully describes those condemned to die, facing execution, or on the very brink of demise from affliction or adverse circumstances. It underscores their utter helplessness and the finality of their human predicament, which only divine power can reverse.

Related Scriptures

This verse aligns with many other Scriptures that portray God as a liberator and protector of the oppressed. For instance, Psalm 146:7 declares that "the LORD looseth the prisoners", echoing this theme of divine release. The mission of the Messiah, as prophesied in Isaiah 61:1 and quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18, also includes "to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." This highlights God's consistent character throughout salvation history.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 102:20 offers immense comfort and encouragement. It reminds us that God is intimately aware of all suffering, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. When we or others feel trapped, hopeless, or "appointed to death" by circumstances, this verse assures us that our groans are heard by a compassionate God who possesses the power to deliver. It encourages persistent prayer, even in the deepest despair, and fosters a profound trust in God’s ultimate sovereignty and ability to bring freedom and life where only death seems possible. It also calls us to embody this divine compassion by hearing the cries of the oppressed and working towards justice and liberation for those in bondage around us.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 79:11

    Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

  • Psalms 146:7

    Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

  • Exodus 3:7

    ¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

  • Isaiah 61:1

    ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;

  • Isaiah 61:3

    To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:11

    ¶ Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:13

    And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he [was] God.

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