Psalms 107:13

KJV

Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then they cried {H2199} unto the LORD {H3068} in their trouble {H6862}, and he saved {H3467} them out of their distresses {H4691}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In their trouble they cried to ADONAI, and he rescued them from their distress.

Berean Standard Bible

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.

American Standard Version

Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 107:13 serves as a profound declaration of divine responsiveness, encapsulating a pivotal moment within the psalm's broader narrative of God's steadfast love and redemptive power. It illustrates a consistent pattern of human desperation met by God's unfailing intervention, where individuals, having exhausted all other options, turn to the Lord in their affliction and are miraculously delivered from their overwhelming predicaments. This verse encapsulates the psalm's central message: God hears the cries of His people and acts decisively to save them from their deepest troubles.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 107 is a magnificent psalm of thanksgiving, structured around a recurring refrain that highlights God's enduring mercy and His wonderful works. The psalm recounts four distinct groups who experience dire circumstances and subsequent divine rescue: wanderers lost in the wilderness (verses 4-9), prisoners bound in affliction and iron (verses 10-16), those afflicted by their own sin (verses 17-22), and mariners caught in a storm (verses 23-32). Each narrative arc follows a consistent pattern: trouble arises, people cry out to the Lord, He delivers them, and they are called to give thanks. Verse 13 specifically falls within the second narrative, detailing the plight of those imprisoned due to their rebellion against God's words and despising His counsel, as described in [Psalms 107:10-12](/psalms/107-10-12 "Psalms 107:10-12 - The Plight of Prisoners"). This verse, along with [Psalms 107:6](/psalms/107-6 "Psalms 107:6 - The Cry of the Wanderers"), [Psalms 107:19](/psalms/107-19 "Psalms 107:19 - The Cry of the Afflicted"), and [Psalms 107:28](/psalms/107-28 "Psalms 107:28 - The Cry of the Mariners"), forms the central refrain, emphasizing the consistent efficacy of crying out to the Lord.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While Psalms 107 does not specify a single historical event, its themes resonate deeply with the collective experiences of the Israelite people, particularly their history of exile and return. The "wanderers" could represent the journey through the wilderness or the dispersion during exile. The "prisoners" might allude to the Babylonian captivity, where the people were bound in affliction and iron, suffering the consequences of their disobedience (compare [Jeremiah 52:11](/jeremiah/52-11 "Jeremiah 52:11 - Zedekiah's Imprisonment")). The "afflicted by sin" reflects the covenant curses for disobedience, while the "mariners" symbolize the dangers and uncertainties of life and the profound need for divine guidance. The psalm likely served as a liturgical piece, perhaps sung during festivals of thanksgiving, designed to remind the community of God's faithfulness throughout their tumultuous history and to encourage continued reliance on Him. It underscores the cultural understanding that national and individual distress often stemmed from rebellion against God, and deliverance came through humble repentance and supplication.

* **Key Themes:** Psalms 107:13 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Responsiveness to Prayer**, powerfully demonstrating that God is not a distant deity but one who hears and acts upon the desperate cries of His people, regardless of their past transgressions. This ties into the theme of **God's Steadfast Love (Hesed)**, highlighted in [Psalms 107:1](/psalms/107-1 "Psalms 107:1 - God's Enduring Mercy"), which is the foundational attribute for His willingness to rescue. The verse also emphasizes **Deliverance from Trouble**, showcasing God's sovereign power to extricate individuals from seemingly inescapable predicaments, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional. Finally, it reinforces the **Consequences of Disobedience** (as seen in the preceding verses for each group) and the **Redemptive Power of Repentance and Supplication**, illustrating that even in the midst of self-inflicted suffering, a turning to the Lord elicits His saving grace.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cried (Hebrew, _zâʻaq'_):** This verb (H2199) denotes an urgent, often loud, and desperate cry for help. It is not a casual prayer but an impassioned plea born out of deep distress, signifying a recognition of utter helplessness and a turning point from self-reliance or despair to active supplication. It implies a sense of emergency and a direct, unreserved appeal to a higher authority.
* **Saved (Hebrew, _yâshaʻ'_):** A foundational word in the Old Testament (H3467) for salvation, deliverance, and rescue. It signifies bringing someone to a place of safety, liberation from oppression, or victory over an enemy. Here, it emphasizes God's complete and effective intervention, pulling the afflicted out of their seemingly inescapable predicaments with decisive power.
* **Distresses (Hebrew, _mᵉtsûwqâh'_):** This term (H4691), derived from a root meaning "narrowness," vividly describes a state of being hemmed in, confined, or oppressed by difficulties. It conveys a profound sense of anguish, trouble, or overwhelming circumstances that leave one feeling trapped and without recourse. This emphasizes the severity of their plight before God's intervention, portraying a situation from which escape seems impossible without divine aid.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble":** This clause describes the human action, a desperate appeal to the divine. "Then" indicates a critical turning point, a moment when human strength and resources are exhausted, leading to a recognition of utter dependence on God. The act of "crying out" signifies an urgent, often vocal, and heartfelt plea, reflecting deep distress and a shift from despair or self-reliance to active supplication towards Yahweh (the LORD), the covenant God of Israel. "In their trouble" highlights the immediate context of their plea – a state of severe difficulty, affliction, or distress that compels them to seek divine intervention.
* **"and he saved them out of their distresses":** This clause immediately follows, demonstrating God's swift, compassionate, and unfailing response. The divine action of "saving" signifies a complete and effective deliverance, a rescue from the overwhelming difficulties and anguish that had them "hemmed in." This part underscores God's character as a compassionate rescuer who hears and acts on behalf of His suffering people, pulling them out of their seemingly inescapable predicaments with His mighty power and bringing them to a place of safety and freedom.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 107:13 employs several potent literary devices that enhance its impact and message. The most prominent is **Refrain**, as this verse is a near-identical repetition of a phrase that appears four times in the psalm (compare [Psalms 107:6](/psalms/107-6 "Psalms 107:6 - The Cry of the Wanderers"), [Psalms 107:13](/psalms/107-13 "Psalms 107:13 - The Cry of the Prisoners"), [Psalms 107:19](/psalms/107-19 "Psalms 107:19 - The Cry of the Afflicted"), and [Psalms 107:28](/psalms/107-28 "Psalms 107:28 - The Cry of the Mariners")). This repetition emphasizes the consistent pattern of human need met by divine deliverance, reinforcing the psalm's central theological point about God's unwavering responsiveness and faithfulness. **Parallelism** is also evident in the structure of the verse, where "cried unto the LORD in their trouble" is directly followed by "he saved them out of their distresses." This creates a powerful cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting the immediate and direct consequence of sincere supplication. Furthermore, the use of vivid, concrete terms like "trouble" (Hebrew: _tsar_, meaning "narrow") and "distresses" (Hebrew: _mᵉtsûwqâh_, meaning "narrowness" or "tight places") employs powerful **Imagery**, allowing the reader to visualize the dire circumstances from which God delivers. This imagery evokes a sense of being trapped and oppressed, making God's act of salvation all the more profound and miraculous.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 107:13 powerfully encapsulates the biblical truth that God is intimately involved in the lives of His people, not as a distant observer but as an active rescuer. It underscores the profound theological principle that humanity's cry of desperation is met by divine compassion and power. This verse reinforces the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where His steadfast love (hesed) compels Him to respond to their need, even when their suffering is a consequence of their own rebellion. It serves as a testament to the efficacy of prayer, presenting it not merely as a spiritual exercise but as a direct channel for divine intervention. The consistent pattern across the psalm's narratives highlights God's character as a faithful deliverer, ever ready to save those who turn to Him in humility and dependence.

* [Psalms 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalms 34:17 - The Righteous Cry Out")
* [Isaiah 30:19](/isaiah/30-19 "Isaiah 30:19 - God's Compassion")
* [Lamentations 3:55-57](/lamentations/3-55-57 "Lamentations 3:55-57 - Crying from the Depths")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 107:13 offers profound encouragement and a vital spiritual lesson for believers across all generations. It reminds us that no matter the depth of our trouble, the severity of our distress, or even the self-inflicted nature of our predicament, God remains accessible, compassionate, and powerful to deliver. When we find ourselves in "tight places"—whether financial hardship, relational brokenness, spiritual bondage, overwhelming anxiety, or profound grief—this verse calls us to move beyond despair or self-reliance and to actively, urgently cry out to the Lord. It assures us that such a plea does not fall on deaf ears but activates the very nature of God as a rescuer and redeemer. This isn't a call to superficial prayer, but to a heartfelt, desperate turning that acknowledges our complete dependence on Him. Cultivating this habit of immediate and earnest supplication in every challenge not only brings divine intervention but also deepens our trust and strengthens our faith in God's enduring faithfulness. It also serves as a powerful reminder to pause and give thanks for the countless times God has already delivered us, reinforcing our confidence in His future interventions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "troubles" or "distresses" in your life right now are prompting you to cry out to the Lord?**
* **How does the understanding of God's immediate response in this verse encourage your prayer life?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God's deliverance from "tight places" in the past, and how can remembering those instances strengthen your faith today?**
* **What might prevent us from crying out to the Lord in our trouble, and how can we overcome those barriers?**

### FAQ

**Does "cried unto the LORD" imply a specific type of prayer, like a loud or public one?**

Answer: While the Hebrew word _zâʻaq_ (H2199) often implies an urgent, sometimes loud, shout for help, it doesn't necessarily dictate a specific volume or public setting. Rather, it emphasizes the *intensity* and *desperation* of the plea. It's a cry born out of deep distress, signifying a recognition of utter dependence on God when all other resources have failed. Whether whispered in a closet or shouted in anguish, the essence is a heartfelt, urgent appeal to the Lord, as seen in various biblical accounts of individuals crying out to God in their affliction (e.g., [Jonah 2:2](/jonah/2-2 "Jonah 2:2 - Jonah's Prayer from the Fish's Belly") or [Exodus 2:23](/exodus/2-23 "Exodus 2:23 - The Israelites' Cry to God")). The focus is on the sincerity and desperation of the heart, not merely the outward expression.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 107:13, with its recurring theme of crying out in distress and God's subsequent deliverance, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "troubles" and "distresses" from which God saves are not merely physical or temporal; they point to the deepest human predicament: sin and its consequence, spiritual death. Humanity, imprisoned by sin and bound in spiritual darkness (compare [Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from Darkness")), is utterly helpless and without recourse. It is in this ultimate distress that the cry for salvation is met by the Lamb of God. Jesus, the ultimate deliverer, came to "proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" ([Isaiah 61:1](/isaiah/61-1 "Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Lord GOD") as quoted in [Luke 4:18](/luke/4-18 "Luke 4:18 - Jesus' Mission Statement")). His sacrifice on the cross is the definitive act of God "saving them out of their distresses," providing not just temporary relief but eternal salvation from the power and penalty of sin. When we "cry out" to Jesus in faith, acknowledging our lostness and His Lordship, He delivers us from the ultimate distress of eternal separation from God, granting us new life and freedom (compare [Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief")). Thus, the pattern of distress, cry, and deliverance in Psalms 107:13 foreshadows the glorious and complete redemption offered through Christ, the Savior of the world.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 107:28

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

Psalms 107:6

Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he delivered them out of their distresses.

Judges 6:6

And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

Judges 6:10

And I said unto you, I [am] the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

Judges 4:3

And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

2 Chronicles 33:12

And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

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.