Psalms 116:12

What shall I render unto the LORD [for] all his benefits toward me?

What shall I render {H7725} unto the LORD {H3068} for all his benefits {H8408} toward me?

How can I repay ADONAI for all his generous dealings with me?

How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?

What shall I render unto Jehovah For all his benefits toward me?

Commentary

Psalms 116:12 is a profound rhetorical question posed by the psalmist, brimming with deep gratitude and a sense of awe at God's overwhelming goodness. It captures the essence of a heart seeking to respond adequately to divine deliverance and abundant blessings.

Context

Psalm 116 is a psalm of thanksgiving, likely written after the psalmist experienced a miraculous rescue from a life-threatening situation. The preceding verses recount his desperate cries to the Lord (Psalm 116:4) and God's compassionate response, saving his soul from death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from falling (Psalm 116:8). Having been brought from the brink of death to a place of peace, the psalmist is moved to ask how he can possibly repay such immense favor. This verse, therefore, flows directly from a personal testimony of God's powerful and merciful intervention.

Key Themes

  • Profound Gratitude: The central theme is an overflowing sense of thankfulness to God for His countless acts of kindness and preservation. It's a deep appreciation that moves beyond mere words.
  • God's Unfailing Goodness: The "benefits" (Hebrew: tagmรปlรฎm, meaning 'dealings' or 'recompenses', here referring to good deeds or blessings) highlight God's consistent and abundant provision, protection, and deliverance. The psalmist acknowledges that all good things come from the Lord.
  • The Question of Response: The rhetorical question "What shall I render?" underscores the human inability to truly repay God for His grace. It shifts the focus from a transactional repayment to a heartfelt, life-transforming response of worship and commitment.

Linguistic Insights

The word "render" comes from the Hebrew verb shลซbh (ืฉื•ื‘), which often means 'to return', 'to restore', or 'to repay'. In this context, it signifies a desire to give back to God in a meaningful way. It's not about monetary payment, but about a reciprocal act of devotion. The "LORD" is the covenant name YHWH (ื™ื”ื•ื”), emphasizing God's personal, faithful relationship with His people and His unwavering commitment to them, which further deepens the psalmist's sense of obligation and love.

Practical Application

Psalm 116:12 serves as a timeless prompt for believers to reflect on God's goodness in their own lives. Just as the psalmist was overwhelmed by divine deliverance, we too are beneficiaries of countless blessings, not least of which is salvation through Christ. This verse invites us to:

  1. Acknowledge God's Benefits: Take time to identify and appreciate the specific ways God has blessed, protected, and delivered you.
  2. Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude: Move beyond casual thanks to a deep, abiding sense of gratitude that shapes your perspective and actions.
  3. Respond in Worship and Obedience: While we cannot repay God, we can express our thanksgiving through sincere worship, living a life that honors Him, and offering our lives as a spiritual sacrifice of praise and obedience. The psalmist later answers his own question by taking "the cup of salvation" and paying his vows (Psalm 116:13-14), symbolizing a life dedicated to the Lord.

This verse reminds us that true gratitude is not just a feeling, but a catalyst for a life lived in devoted appreciation for the One who gives us all things.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 103:2

    Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

  • 1 Corinthians 6:20

    For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:14

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:15

    And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

  • Romans 12:1

    ยถ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:25

    But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit [done] unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 51:12

    Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.
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