Psalms 130:7

KJV

Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let Israel {H3478} hope {H3176} in the LORD {H3068}: for with the LORD {H3068} there is mercy {H2617}, and with him is plenteous {H7235} redemption {H6304}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Isra'el, put your hope in ADONAI! For grace is found with ADONAI, and with him is unlimited redemption.

Berean Standard Bible

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.

American Standard Version

O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 130:7 serves as a profound and climactic declaration within a penitential Psalm of Ascent, articulating a powerful call to the people of God, Israel, to anchor their expectation and confidence solely in the character of the Divine. It affirms that with the Lord resides infinite mercy and an abundant, comprehensive capacity for redemption, transforming the psalmist's personal experience of divine grace into a corporate exhortation. This verse invites all to partake in a confident anticipation of God's faithful intervention and deliverance, establishing His steadfast love and saving power as the secure foundation for all hope.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 130 is one of the seven traditional Penitential Psalms, expressing deep contrition and a plea for forgiveness, and concurrently, one of the fifteen "Songs of Ascent" (Psalms 120-134), sung by pilgrims en route to Jerusalem. The psalm commences with a desperate cry "Out of the depths" ([Psalms 130:1](/psalms/130-1 "Psalm 130:1 - A Cry from the Depths")), acknowledging profound sin and distress. It progresses from a personal plea for divine attention and forgiveness (verses 2-4) to a confident, patient waiting for the Lord's action (verses 5-6). Verse 7, the focus of this commentary, acts as the theological and emotional apex, broadening the psalmist's individual experience of grace into a universal truth for the entire community of faith. It culminates the psalm's movement from deep despair and personal confession to a corporate declaration of confident expectation, rooted firmly in God's revealed character of mercy and redemptive power, before concluding with a final corporate assurance of redemption for Israel in verse 8.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "depths" from which the psalmist cries could represent a myriad of personal or national calamities for ancient Israel—periods of exile, oppression, severe illness, or the overwhelming burden of communal sin. For the Israelite, sin was not merely an individual transgression but often carried corporate implications, affecting the entire covenant community. The term "Israel" in this verse specifically refers to the covenant people of God, collectively called to remember and rely on Yahweh's unwavering covenant faithfulness. The pilgrimage context of the Psalms of Ascent underscores a journey of both physical and spiritual ascent: pilgrims would physically ascend to Jerusalem, mirroring a spiritual ascent from despair to hope, from the burden of sin to the freedom of forgiveness, and from individual experience to communal solidarity in God's redemptive power. This journey was often marked by communal singing and reflection on God's historical acts of deliverance, reinforcing their identity as a people sustained by divine grace.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 130:7 powerfully encapsulates several pivotal themes central to the book of Psalms and broader Old Testament theology. The preeminent theme is **Hope in the LORD**, which is not a passive wish but an active, confident, and patient expectation firmly rooted in God's immutable character and His covenant promises. This hope is inextricably linked to God's **Abundant Mercy** (Hebrew: *chêçêd*), a profound theological concept denoting His steadfast, loyal, and covenantal love that endures despite human unfaithfulness and rebellion. Furthermore, the theme of **Plenteous Redemption** highlights God's comprehensive, overflowing, and entirely sufficient capacity to deliver His people from all forms of bondage—be it sin, judgment, or distress. This redemption is depicted as more than adequate for any need, a testament to God's generous and powerful salvation, echoing similar declarations found in passages such as [Isaiah 43:1-3](/isaiah/43-1-3 "Isaiah 43:1-3 - God's Redemption of Israel") and [Psalm 103:8-12](/psalms/103-8-12 "Psalm 103:8-12 - God's Compassion and Forgiveness"). The verse thus solidifies the understanding that God's very nature provides the secure and unshakeable foundation for His people's enduring hope.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hope (Hebrew, _yâchal'_):** (H3176) This term signifies far more than a mere wish or optimistic feeling; it conveys a patient, eager, and confident expectation. It implies a firm, active belief in God's future action and faithfulness, a steadfast waiting upon the Lord even in the midst of profound difficulty or delay. It is a dynamic posture of trust, not a passive resignation, rooted in the certainty of God's character and promises.
* **Mercy (Hebrew, _chêçêd'_):** (H2617) A cornerstone of Old Testament theology, *chêçêd* describes God's loyal love, covenant faithfulness, and enduring kindness. It is a profound concept that encompasses compassion, grace, and an active, unwavering commitment to His people, going beyond mere pity to denote a steadfast, unwavering devotion to His covenant promises. This divine attribute is the very ground upon which Israel's hope is built, assuring them of God's constant, benevolent disposition.
* **Redemption (Hebrew, _pᵉdûwth'_):** (H6304) This word refers to deliverance, often achieved through the payment of a price or ransom, signifying liberation from bondage, slavery, or judgment. The accompanying adjective, **"plenteous" (Hebrew, _râbâh'_):** (H7235) from a root meaning "to increase" or "to be abundant," emphasizes the overflowing, comprehensive, and entirely sufficient nature of this deliverance. It suggests that God's power to redeem is limitless and more than adequate for any depth of sin or distress, ensuring a complete and generous salvation that surpasses all need.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let Israel hope in the LORD:"**: This opening clause functions as an imperative, a direct command and exhortation addressed to the entire community of "Israel," representing all of God's covenant people. It calls for an active, intentional placement of trust and confident expectation in Yahweh, the covenant God. This hope is not to be placed in human strength, fleeting circumstances, or false deities, but exclusively and unreservedly in the divine character and omnipotence of the Lord.
* **"for with the LORD [there is] mercy,"**: This clause provides the foundational reason and immutable basis for the preceding command. The hope enjoined upon Israel is not baseless or naive but is firmly grounded in the very nature of God. His inherent "mercy" (*chêçêd*)—His steadfast, loyal, and covenantal love—is presented as an immutable truth, an ever-present attribute that defines His relationship with His people. This mercy is not merely a transient feeling but an active, enduring disposition towards compassion and faithfulness that undergirds all His dealings.
* **"and with him [is] plenteous redemption."**: This second reason further solidifies the basis for hope, complementing and expanding upon the concept of mercy. God's capacity for "plenteous redemption" highlights His abundant, comprehensive, and utterly sufficient power to deliver. This redemption is not limited or scarce; it is overflowing (*râbâh*), capable of liberating His people from every conceivable form of bondage, sin, or distress. It signifies a complete and generous act of salvation, assuring Israel that God's deliverance is always more than sufficient to meet their deepest needs and secure their ultimate freedom.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 130:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Imperative**, evident in the opening phrase "Let Israel hope," which serves as both a direct command and a pastoral encouragement, urging the community to adopt a particular posture of faith and trust. This is immediately followed by **Parallelism**, specifically synthetic parallelism, where the two clauses "for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption" reinforce and expand upon each other. They present two complementary and inseparable facets of God's character—His compassionate disposition and His powerful saving work—as the dual basis for Israel's hope. The psalm also demonstrates a powerful arc of spiritual transformation through **Inclusio** with its opening verse ("Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD" in [Psalms 130:1](/psalms/130-1 "Psalm 130:1 - A Cry from the Depths")); the psalm moves from a cry of deep distress to a confident declaration of hope and redemption, creating a powerful spiritual journey. Finally, the **Personification** of God as the one *with whom* mercy and redemption reside emphasizes these attributes as intrinsic to His very being, not merely external or occasional actions, but essential aspects of His divine nature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 130:7 encapsulates profound theological truths about the nature of God and the appropriate response of humanity. It affirms God's character as fundamentally merciful and redemptive, establishing these attributes as the secure and unwavering foundation for all human hope. This hope is not a naive optimism but a robust, covenantal expectation rooted in God's demonstrated faithfulness throughout salvation history. The verse underscores that true deliverance from the "depths" of sin and despair is found not in human effort or merit but solely in God's boundless capacity to forgive and restore. It highlights the corporate dimension of faith, extending the psalmist's personal experience of grace to the entire community of Israel, reminding them of their collective identity as recipients of God's unwavering love and comprehensive salvation. This theological bedrock provides enduring comfort, confidence, and a call to active trust for all who place their hope in the Lord.

* [Numbers 14:18](/numbers/14-18 "Numbers 14:18 - The Lord is Slow to Anger and Abounding in Steadfast Love")
* [Isaiah 40:31](/isaiah/40-31 "Isaiah 40:31 - Waiting on the Lord Renews Strength")
* [Psalm 111:9](/psalms/111-9 "Psalm 111:9 - God Has Sent Redemption to His People")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Psalms 130:7 remains a vital and enduring source of spiritual encouragement and practical guidance. Regardless of the "depths" we may find ourselves in—whether struggling with the crushing weight of personal sin, navigating periods of profound despair, facing overwhelming trials, or experiencing collective societal brokenness—this verse calls us to fix our hope firmly and exclusively on the Lord. Our hope is not to be placed in our own strength, fleeting circumstances, or the empty promises of the world, but in God's unchanging character: His boundless mercy and His powerful, abundant ability to deliver. It reminds us that true spiritual and emotional security comes from trusting in God's plenteous grace and unwavering love, knowing that He provides comprehensive redemption for every need. This active hope empowers us to confess our sins with confidence, wait patiently for His intervention, and live in the confident assurance of His unfailing faithfulness, transforming our despair into expectant worship and resilient trust.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "depths" in your life currently call for you to place your hope more fully and exclusively in the Lord?**
* **How does understanding God's "mercy" (chêçêd) as His steadfast, covenantal love deepen your trust in Him, especially when you are acutely aware of your own shortcomings and failures?**
* **In what specific areas of your life—spiritual, emotional, relational, or circumstantial—do you most urgently need to experience God's "plenteous redemption" today, and how does this verse encourage you to seek it?**
* **How can you, as part of the "Israel" of God today (the global church), actively embody, proclaim, and share this unwavering hope in the Lord with others in your community and beyond?**

### FAQ
**What does "Israel" refer to in this verse, and how does it apply to believers today?**

Answer: In its original context, "Israel" refers to the covenant people of God, the nation descended from Jacob, to whom God made His promises and revealed His law. It encompasses the entire community of faith in the Old Testament. For believers today, particularly in the Christian tradition, "Israel" is often understood in a broader, spiritual sense to include all those who are united to Christ by faith, regardless of ethnic background. The Apostle Paul speaks of a "spiritual Israel" or the "Israel of God" ([Galatians 6:16](/galatians/6-16 "Galatians 6:16 - The Israel of God")), and the New Testament teaches that believers are "heirs according to the promise" ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")) and part of God's chosen people ([1 Peter 2:9-10](/1_peter/2-9-10 "1 Peter 2:9-10 - A Chosen People")). Therefore, the call to "hope in the LORD" and the promise of "mercy" and "plenteous redemption" extend to all who are in Christ, who is the true fulfillment of Israel's hope.

**How is "plenteous redemption" different from "mercy" in this context?**

Answer: While closely related and often experienced together, "mercy" and "plenteous redemption" highlight distinct but complementary aspects of God's character and action. "Mercy" (Hebrew *chêçêd*) primarily refers to God's steadfast, loyal, and covenantal love—His compassionate disposition towards His people despite their unworthiness. It is the underlying attribute that moves God to act. "Plenteous redemption" (Hebrew *pᵉdûwth* with *râbâh*) refers to the *action* or *outcome* of that mercy. It is the abundant, comprehensive, and complete deliverance from bondage, sin, or judgment, often implying a cost or a ransom paid. So, God's mercy is the benevolent heart and unchanging disposition, and His plenteous redemption is the powerful hand that delivers fully and generously. One describes His intrinsic character, the other His effective saving work, both providing an unshakable foundation for hope.

**Is the "hope" mentioned in this verse a passive wish or an active expectation?**

Answer: The "hope" (Hebrew *yâchal*) in Psalms 130:7 is far from a passive wish; it is an active, confident, and patient expectation. It implies a firm belief in God's future action and faithfulness, even when circumstances seem dire or the wait is long. This is not a naive optimism but a robust, covenantal hope that is grounded in God's unchanging character and His proven track record of deliverance throughout salvation history. It involves actively waiting on the Lord, trusting His promises, and orienting one's life around the conviction that He will indeed act. It is a dynamic posture of faith that sustains believers through trials and prompts them to persevere in prayer and obedience, knowing that God's mercy and redemption are assured and will be fully realized.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 130:7 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "mercy" (Hebrew *chêçêd*) of God, which is the very foundation of Israel's hope, is perfectly embodied and supremely demonstrated in Christ. As [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love") declares, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This act of supreme self-giving love on the cross is the fullest and most tangible expression of God's steadfast mercy towards a fallen humanity. Furthermore, the "plenteous redemption" promised in the psalm is realized in Christ's atoning sacrifice. He became the ultimate ransom, paying the infinite price for sin and delivering humanity from its bondage to sin, death, and the law ([Ephesians 1:7](/ephesians/1-7 "Ephesians 1:7 - Redemption Through Christ's Blood")). Through His shed blood, believers receive the forgiveness of sins and are transferred from the dominion of darkness into the glorious kingdom of His beloved Son ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Redemption and Forgiveness in Christ")). Thus, the hope that Israel was called to place in the Lord is now fully and eternally realized in Jesus, who is the Lamb of God, the perfect embodiment of divine mercy, and the inexhaustible source of an overflowing, complete, and eternal redemption for all who believe and call upon His name.

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

Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1:8

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Psalms 40:3

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Revelation 5:9

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Psalms 86:15

But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

1 John 2:1

¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:2

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.