Psalms 113:7

KJV

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

KJV (with Strong's)

He raiseth up {H6965} the poor {H1800} out of the dust {H6083}, and lifteth {H7311} the needy {H34} out of the dunghill {H830};

Complete Jewish Bible

He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the rubbish heap,

Berean Standard Bible

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump

American Standard Version

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the needy from the dunghill;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 113:7 stands as a profound declaration of God's sovereign power and boundless compassion, vividly illustrating His active intervention on behalf of the most marginalized and downtrodden in society. It highlights His unique ability to reverse human fortunes, elevating those in the lowest states of poverty and degradation to positions of honor and dignity, thereby demonstrating His justice and mercy in a world often characterized by inequality and neglect.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 113 initiates the Egyptian Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118), a collection traditionally recited during significant Jewish festivals, most notably Passover. The psalm commences with an urgent, universal call to praise Yahweh (verses 1-3), extolling His glorious name and eternal reign. The preceding verses (4-6) meticulously establish God's transcendent majesty, portraying Him as one "high above all nations" and whose "glory is above the heavens," yet paradoxically, He "stoops down to look" upon both celestial and terrestrial matters. This striking juxtaposition between God's exalted status and His condescending care sets the stage for the specific examples of His intervention presented in verses 7-9. Verse 7, alongside verse 8 (raising the needy to sit with princes) and verse 9 (giving children to the barren woman), provides concrete, powerful illustrations of this divine condescension and transformative power over the most desperate human circumstances.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The potent imagery of "dust" and "dunghill" paints a stark picture of the absolute lowest social and economic strata within ancient Near Eastern society. "Dust" frequently symbolized extreme lowliness, humiliation, or even the inevitability of death, as humanity returns to the earth. The "dunghill" (or ash heap) was a place of refuse, waste, and decay, typically situated outside city gates, where the poorest of the poor might scavenge for sustenance, or where lepers and outcasts might reside. It represented utter destitution, social rejection, and public shame. In a rigidly hierarchical society where social mobility was exceptionally rare and poverty was often misconstrued as a sign of divine disfavor, God's active intervention to lift individuals from such a state would have been a radical, counter-cultural, and profoundly hopeful declaration. This psalm would have resonated deeply with the collective memory of the Israelites, who had themselves been miraculously raised from the "dust" of slavery and oppression in Egypt.

* **Key Themes:** Psalm 113:7 contributes significantly to several overarching themes woven throughout the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it profoundly underscores **Divine Compassion and Justice**, portraying God not as a distant, aloof deity but as one intimately concerned with the plight of the vulnerable and marginalized. His action is not merely observational but actively interventionist, demonstrating His inherent righteousness and boundless mercy. Secondly, the verse powerfully illustrates the theme of **Reversal of Fortunes**, a motif prevalent throughout Scripture. The vivid imagery of being raised "out of the dust" and "out of the dunghill" speaks to a radical, divinely orchestrated transformation from utter degradation to honor and dignity. This theme is famously echoed in [Hannah's prayer](/1_samuel/2-8 "1 Samuel 2:8 - Hannah's Prayer of Thanksgiving"), where she proclaims that the Lord "raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap," and finds its ultimate New Testament echo in [Mary's Magnificat](/luke/1-52 "Luke 1:52 - Mary's Magnificat, Exalting the Humble"), which declares that God "has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate." Thirdly, it highlights **God's Humility and Accessibility**. Despite His supreme glory and transcendence described in [Psalms 113:4-6](/psalms/113-4-6 "Psalms 113:4-6 - God's Transcendent Glory and Condescension"), God "stoops down" to engage with and elevate the lowly, demonstrating that true greatness is found not in aloofness but in humble service and redemptive action.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Poor (Hebrew, _dal'_):** Derived from H1800, this term describes someone who is dangling, weak, thin, or, by implication, needy. It signifies not merely economic deprivation but a state of vulnerability and powerlessness, emphasizing their utter dependence on external aid. It speaks to a condition of being without inherent strength or resources.
* **Dust (Hebrew, _ʻâphâr'_):** From H6083, this word literally means dust (as powdered or gray), but biblically, it is a potent metaphor for extreme lowliness, humiliation, and insignificance. To be "out of the dust" signifies an elevation from a state of abjection, despair, or even the brink of death, representing the lowest possible social or existential condition.
* **Dunghill (Hebrew, _ʼashpôth'_):** From H830, this term refers to a heap of rubbish or filth, a refuse heap typically located outside the city gates. Symbolically, it represents the absolute nadir of social standing, degradation, and rejection. To be lifted from the "dunghill" signifies not just economic improvement but a complete restoration of dignity, honor, and social standing, from utter disgrace to a place of respect and worth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,"**: This initial clause powerfully presents God as the sole, active agent (the implied "He") who initiates a radical and transformative change in the condition of the "poor" (those who are weak, vulnerable, and helpless). The imagery of "raising up" from the "dust" vividly portrays an elevation from the lowest possible state of humiliation, despair, or insignificance. It speaks to a divine intervention that reverses a seemingly irreversible downward trajectory, bringing life, hope, and dignity where there was only abjection and despair.
* **"and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;"**: This parallel clause serves to reinforce and intensify the profound message of the first. The "needy" (those who are utterly destitute, oppressed, and lacking basic necessities) are not merely raised from a general state of lowliness but are "lifted" from the "dunghill"—a place of utter filth, social ostracization, and public shame. The verb "lifteth" (from H7311, _rûwm'_) suggests a powerful, deliberate act of exaltation and promotion. This phrase underscores God's extraordinary capacity to bring about complete restoration and honor, transforming those who were once discarded by society into individuals of profound worth and dignity.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 113:7 is rich in literary devices that amplify its message of divine transformation. The most prominent is **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first ("He raiseth up the poor out of the dust"). Both clauses convey the same core idea of divine elevation of the lowly, but the imagery progresses from a general state of lowliness ("dust") to an even more extreme and vivid depiction of degradation ("dunghill"), thereby underscoring the profound depth of God's transformative power. **Imagery** is central to the verse's impact, with "dust" and "dunghill" serving as powerful **Metaphors** for the lowest possible human condition, evoking vivid mental pictures of poverty, shame, and despair. The contrasting actions of "raising up" and "lifting" provide equally strong images of divine power, grace, and active intervention. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** in the choice of "dunghill" to emphasize the extreme lowliness from which God elevates, making the divine intervention seem even more miraculous and profound.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates God's character as a compassionate and just sovereign who actively intervenes in the affairs of humanity, particularly on behalf of the marginalized and forgotten. It challenges worldly perceptions of power and status, asserting that true honor and elevation come solely from God's hand, not from human achievement, social standing, or material wealth. The theological implications extend to God's unwavering covenant faithfulness, His unwavering commitment to justice for the oppressed, and His unparalleled ability to bring about radical transformations in individual lives and even societal structures. This divine pattern of exalting the humble and bringing down the proud is a foundational principle of God's kingdom, demonstrated throughout biblical history.

* [1 Samuel 2:8](/1_samuel/2-8 "Hannah's Prayer of God's Reversal")
* [Luke 1:52](/luke/1-52 "Mary's Magnificat on Exalting the Humble")
* [James 2:5](/james/2-5 "God Chooses the Poor of This World")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 113:7 offers both immense comfort and a profound challenge to believers today. For those experiencing poverty, marginalization, social exclusion, or feelings of utter worthlessness, it serves as a powerful, hope-filled reminder that God sees their plight, hears their cries, and is uniquely capable of bringing about miraculous reversal and exaltation. It instills deep hope, affirming that no human condition is beyond God's reach or too low for His compassionate, transforming intervention. For those who are not in such dire circumstances, this verse serves as a compelling call to embody God's heart for the poor and needy. It compels believers to actively seek justice, demonstrate radical compassion, and work tirelessly towards alleviating suffering in their communities and globally, recognizing that true honor and alignment with God's kingdom come not from worldly status but from participating in His gracious work. It challenges us to examine our own attitudes towards the vulnerable and to actively engage in God's redemptive mission of lifting the downtrodden.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the vivid imagery of "dust" and "dunghill" challenge my preconceived notions of human dignity and worth?**
* **In what practical and tangible ways can I, or my faith community, actively participate in "raising up the poor" and "lifting the needy" in our local or global contexts?**
* **How does this verse encourage me to place my trust in God's sovereign power to transform seemingly hopeless situations, whether in my own life or in the world around me?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse promise that all poor people will become materially rich?**

Answer: Not necessarily in a purely material or financial sense. While God certainly possesses the power to bring about material prosperity, the "raising up" and "lifting" described in this verse speak more broadly to a radical reversal of status, dignity, and honor. It's about being elevated from a state of humiliation, insignificance, and social ostracization to a place of respect, worth, and recognition, often within the community of faith or, more importantly, in God's eyes. The ultimate "riches" often refer to spiritual blessings, divine favor, and a restored relationship with God, though material improvement can indeed be part of God's comprehensive blessing. The primary focus of [Psalms 113:7](/psalms/113-7 "God Lifts the Lowly") is on God's active concern for the marginalized and His transformative power to change their overall condition, rather than a blanket promise of earthly wealth for all who are poor.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 113:7 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is the divine Son who, though "in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6-7 "Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). Jesus perfectly embodies the condescension of God, stooping down from unimaginable heavenly glory to dwell among humanity, identifying deeply with the poor, the sick, the outcast, and the marginalized. His earthly ministry was characterized by actively raising the lowly—healing the sick, feeding the hungry, giving sight to the blind, and offering profound hope to those considered "dust" and "dunghill" by society ([Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Jesus' Mission Statement")). He boldly declared, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" ([Luke 6:20](/luke/6-20 "The Beatitudes, Blessing the Poor")), thereby radically reversing worldly values and proclaiming that the humble and needy are precisely those for whom God's kingdom has come in power. Through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, Jesus not only lifted humanity from the "dust" of sin and the "dunghill" of spiritual death but also inaugurated a new creation where those who were spiritually destitute are now made rich in Him, seated with Him in heavenly places ([Ephesians 2:6](/ephesians/2-6 "Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places")). Thus, Christ is both the ultimate demonstration of God's power to lift the lowly and the divine means by which all who are spiritually poor can be raised to eternal glory and dignity.

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

1 Samuel 2:7

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1 Samuel 2:8

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

Psalms 107:41

Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh [him] families like a flock.

Luke 1:52

He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luke 1:53

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

2 Samuel 7:8

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

2 Samuel 7:9

And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great [men] that [are] in the earth.