Psalms 116:3

KJV

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

KJV (with Strong's)

The sorrows {H2256} of death {H4194} compassed {H661} me, and the pains {H4712} of hell {H7585} gat hold {H4672} upon me: I found {H4672} trouble {H6869} and sorrow {H3015}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The cords of death were all around me, Sh'ol's constrictions held me fast; I was finding only distress and anguish.

Berean Standard Bible

The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.

American Standard Version

The cords of death compassed me, And the pains of Sheol gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 116:3 powerfully articulates the psalmist's overwhelming experience of profound distress, vividly depicting a state where the very forces of death and the grave seemed to ensnare and seize him. This verse serves as a stark and honest portrayal of human vulnerability and the intense reality of suffering, meticulously setting the stage for the subsequent testimony of God's miraculous deliverance and the psalmist's heartfelt expression of gratitude for divine intervention and preservation from the brink of oblivion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 116 is a deeply personal and emotionally resonant psalm of thanksgiving, often categorized as a "Todah" (thanksgiving) psalm, in which the psalmist recounts a period of severe affliction and God's merciful rescue. Verse 3 is strategically placed early in the psalm to immediately establish the extreme depth of the psalmist's crisis, thereby magnifying the subsequent deliverance and the Lord's compassionate response. The psalm opens with the psalmist's fervent declaration of love for the Lord, "because he hath heard my voice and my supplications" ([Psalms 116:1](/psalms/116-1 "Psalm 116:1 - The Lord Hears Prayer")). This immediate juxtaposition of past suffering with present praise underscores the transformative power of God's intervention. The vivid imagery in this verse portrays the dire circumstances from which the psalmist cried out, making the divine response described in [Psalms 116:4-6](/psalms/116-4-6 "Psalm 116:4-6 - The Psalmist's Prayer and God's Deliverance") all the more impactful and a profound testament to God's unwavering faithfulness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, life was often precarious, marked by ever-present threats of disease, famine, warfare, and personal persecution. The language of being "compassed" by death and having the "pains of hell gat hold upon" one reflects a common experience of life-threatening illness or intense, overwhelming adversity. The concept of "Sheol" in the Old Testament primarily refers to the grave or the realm of the dead—a shadowy, subterranean existence to which all descend, rather than a place of eternal punishment as understood in later theological developments. The profound fear expressed was not necessarily of spiritual damnation, but of physical death, the cessation of life, and the dreaded separation from the land of the living and from God's active presence. This psalm likely reflects the deeply personal crisis of an individual, possibly a king, a priest, or an ordinary worshiper, who faced a life-threatening situation and made a vow to God for deliverance, which he now publicly fulfills through heartfelt thanksgiving.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 116 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it highlights the **Profound Distress and Despair** that can afflict humanity, validating the raw, painful reality of suffering and the feeling of being utterly overwhelmed by circumstances, even to the point of feeling the "pains of hell." Secondly, by setting the stage for divine intervention, it underscores the theme of **God's Deliverance and Faithfulness**. The depth of the crisis in [Psalms 116:3](/psalms/116-3 "Psalm 116:3 - The Sorrows of Death") serves to magnify the Lord's power to save and His compassionate response to the cries of His people, as seen in [Psalms 116:6-8](/psalms/116-6-8 "Psalm 116:6-8 - God's Preservation of the Simple"). Finally, it implicitly emphasizes the **Efficacy of Prayer**, as the psalmist's desperate state directly precedes his fervent cry for help to the Lord, demonstrating that even from the brink of death, earnest prayer can elicit a divine and saving response.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sorrows (Hebrew, _chebel'_):** The Hebrew word חֶבֶל (_chebel_, H2256) carries a rich semantic range, primarily denoting "a rope (as twisted)," "a noose (as of cords)," or "a throe (especially of parturition)." In the context of "sorrows of death," it powerfully evokes the imagery of being bound or entangled by the ropes or snares of death, suggesting an inescapable trap. It can also refer to the intense, agonizing "pangs" or "birth pains" of death, implying a struggle against an overwhelming, consuming force. This dual sense of being bound and experiencing intense pain vividly portrays the psalmist's feeling of being caught and suffocated by impending doom, leading to ruin.
* **pains (Hebrew, _mêtsar'_):** The term מֵצַר (_mêtsar_, H4712) derives from a root meaning "to be narrow" or "to be straitened." It signifies "something tight," and figuratively, "trouble," "distress," or "strait." When combined with "hell" (Sheol), it paints a vivid picture of being in a constricted, suffocating, and deeply distressing situation, as if pressed in on all sides by the forces of the grave. It conveys an acute sense of extreme pressure and anguish, a feeling of being trapped with no room to breathe or escape.
* **hell (Hebrew, _shᵉʼôwl'_):** The Hebrew word שְׁאוֹל (_shᵉʼôwl_, H7585) in the Old Testament refers to Hades, the grave, or the world of the dead, conceived as a subterranean retreat. It is not equivalent to the New Testament concept of Gehenna (a place of eternal punishment) but rather the common destination of all the dead, a shadowy existence beneath the earth. The "pains of Sheol" therefore describe the terrifying grip of death and the grave, the feeling of being dragged down into oblivion, separated from the land of the living and the active presence of God. It signifies the ultimate human vulnerability to mortality and the cessation of life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The sorrows of death compassed me":** This initial clause introduces the overwhelming and inescapable nature of the psalmist's distress. The "sorrows" (understood as cords, snares, or pangs) of death are personified as actively surrounding and encircling him, leaving no perceived avenue of escape. The imagery is one of being trapped, bound, and suffocated by the imminent threat of death, highlighting a feeling of utter helplessness and vulnerability.
* **"and the pains of hell gat hold upon me":** Building on the previous clause, this phrase intensifies the sense of entrapment and suffering. "Hell" (Sheol) represents the grave or the realm of the dead, and its "pains" (distress, straits) are depicted as actively seizing or grasping the psalmist. This conveys the terrifying experience of being dragged down into the abyss of death, feeling its agonizing grip and the profound constriction associated with the grave.
* **"I found trouble and sorrow":** This concluding clause serves as a deeply personal affirmation and summation of the psalmist's experience. After describing the external, formidable forces that assailed him, he internalizes and confirms the grim reality of his situation: he personally "found" or encountered profound "trouble" (distress, affliction) and "sorrow" (grief, pain). This emphasizes the deeply personal, undeniable, and inescapable nature of his suffering, serving as a powerful culmination of the preceding vivid and terrifying imagery.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 116:3 is rich in **Imagery** and **Metaphor**, painting an exceptionally vivid and visceral picture of the psalmist's near-death experience. Death and Sheol (the grave) are powerfully **Personified** as active, predatory agents that "compassed" (surrounded) and "gat hold upon" (seized) the psalmist, as if they were sentient beings intent on his demise. The "sorrows of death" function as a **Metaphor** for the binding, inescapable power of mortality, while the "pains of hell" (Sheol) serve as a **Metaphor** for the intense anguish and suffocating constriction associated with the descent into the grave. The verse also employs effective **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where "the sorrows of death compassed me" is echoed and intensified by "and the pains of hell gat hold upon me." This structural repetition and intensification reinforce the severity and inescapable nature of the psalmist's plight. The language employed, describing such extreme anguish, borders on **Hyperbole**, effectively conveying the overwhelming emotional and physical extremity of the psalmist's suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 116:3 offers a profound theological statement on the raw reality of human suffering and mortality. It honestly acknowledges that life can bring experiences so overwhelming that they feel like the very cords of death and the pangs of the grave are seizing hold. This raw honesty validates the universal human experience of distress, reminding us that even the most devout can face moments of profound despair and existential threat. Theologically, this verse meticulously sets the stage for the magnificent display of God's steadfast love (חֶסֶד, _hesed_) and unwavering faithfulness. The psalmist's desperate cry from the brink of death, implied by this verse and explicitly stated in [Psalms 116:4](/psalms/116-4 "Psalm 116:4 - The Psalmist's Prayer for Deliverance"), underscores the profound truth that God hears and delivers His people, even from the deepest pits of trouble and seemingly insurmountable odds. It powerfully reaffirms God's sovereignty over life and death, demonstrating that even when the forces of Sheol seem victorious, they are ultimately subject to the Lord's supreme power and authority.

* [Psalms 18:4-6](/psalms/18-4-6 "Psalm 18:4-6 - David's Distress and God's Deliverance")
* [Psalms 88:3-5](/psalms/88-3-5 "Psalm 88:3-5 - A Psalm of Deep Distress and Near Death")
* [Jonah 2:2-6](/jonah/2-2-6 "Jonah 2:2-6 - Jonah's Prayer from the Belly of Sheol")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 116:3 serves as a powerful validation for anyone who has experienced overwhelming suffering, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It profoundly acknowledges that moments exist where life feels like an inescapable trap, where the "sorrows of death" and "pains of hell" seem to close in, leaving us with nothing but "trouble and sorrow." This verse reminds us that such feelings are not alien to the human experience, even for those deeply devoted to God; indeed, they are a shared part of the fallen human condition. Rather than denying the painful reality of anguish, it gives eloquent voice to it, providing a biblical precedent for expressing the depths of our despair and vulnerability. The profound despair described here, however, is not the ultimate conclusion of the story in Psalm 116. Instead, it is the necessary, dark backdrop against which God's miraculous deliverance shines brightest and most gloriously. Thus, this verse encourages us to be utterly honest about our struggles, to recognize when we are "compassed" and "gat hold upon" by life's difficulties, and to remember with unwavering faith that even from such a desperate state, the Lord is able to hear our cry and bring us out of distress, just as He sovereignly did for the psalmist. It is ultimately a resounding call to hope, reminding us that our lowest points can paradoxically become the most potent and compelling testimonies to God's saving power and unfailing love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life have you felt "compassed" or "gat hold upon" by overwhelming "trouble and sorrow"?**
* **How does acknowledging the psalmist's raw honesty about his suffering help you process and articulate your own difficult experiences before God?**
* **What does this verse, understood within the broader context of the entire Psalm 116, teach you about the indispensable relationship between profound distress and fervent, persistent prayer?**

### FAQ
**Does "hell" in Psalms 116:3 refer to a place of eternal punishment?**

Answer: No, in Psalms 116:3, the King James Version's translation of "hell" refers to the Hebrew word שְׁאוֹל (_shᵉʼôwl_), which in the Old Testament primarily denotes the grave or the realm of the dead. It is the common destination for all people after death, a shadowy underworld where the dead reside. It does not carry the connotation of a place of eternal torment or punishment for the wicked, as the New Testament terms "Gehenna" or "Hades" (in some contexts) might. The "pains of hell" in this verse, therefore, describe the terrifying and agonizing experience of facing physical death and the descent into the grave, representing the ultimate human vulnerability to mortality. Examples of _shᵉʼôwl_ referring to the grave or realm of the dead can be seen in passages like [Genesis 37:35](/genesis/37-35 "Genesis 37:35 - Jacob's Mourning and Sheol") where Jacob expects to go to Sheol in mourning, or [Job 17:13](/job/17-13 "Job 17:13 - Job's Hope in Sheol") where Job speaks of Sheol as his house. The New Testament's understanding of eternal punishment developed from other concepts and later theological reflection, distinct from the primary meaning of _shᵉʼôwl_ in the Old Testament. Even when _shᵉʼôwl_ is quoted in the New Testament, such as in [Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Acts 2:27 - Peter's Sermon on Pentecost, quoting Psalm 16:10 about Sheol"), it often retains its meaning of the realm of the dead from which Christ was raised.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 116:3, with its vivid portrayal of being ensnared by the "sorrows of death" and seized by the "pains of hell," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist experienced a personal deliverance from near-death, Jesus uniquely entered into the very depths of human suffering and confronted the full, terrifying power of death and Sheol on behalf of all humanity. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He was "sorrowful, even unto death" ([Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane")), experiencing spiritual and emotional "pains" that far surpassed any physical agony. On the cross, He truly was "compassed" by the forces of death and the crushing weight of sin, bearing the full wrath of God, and He "gat hold upon" the ultimate "trouble and sorrow" for our redemption. His descent into the grave, into Sheol itself, was not a defeat but a strategic and decisive victory. As prophesied in [Psalms 16:10](/psalms/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - David's Prophecy of Resurrection") and powerfully proclaimed by Peter on the Day of Pentecost in [Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Acts 2:27 - Peter's Sermon on Pentecost"), Jesus' soul was not abandoned to Sheol, nor did His flesh see corruption. His glorious resurrection from the dead decisively conquered death and the grave, stripping them of their power and sting. He now sovereignly holds "the keys of hell and of death" ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")), ensuring that those who believe in Him are no longer bound by the fear of death, for He has delivered them from the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus' Victory Over Death and the Devil")). Thus, the psalmist's desperate cry from the depths powerfully foreshadows the ultimate triumph of the Lamb of God over the very powers that once held humanity captive in fear and despair.

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 18:4

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Psalms 18:6

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.

Psalms 38:6

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

Psalms 88:6

Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

Psalms 88:7

Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me] with all thy waves. Selah.

Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

Psalms 32:4

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.