Psalms 30:8

KJV

I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

KJV (with Strong's)

I cried {H7121} to thee, O LORD {H3068}; and unto the LORD {H3068} I made supplication {H2603}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I called to you, ADONAI; to ADONAI I pleaded for mercy:

Berean Standard Bible

To You, O LORD, I called, and I begged my Lord for mercy:

American Standard Version

I cried to thee, O Jehovah; And unto Jehovah I made supplication:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 30:8 captures a profound moment of raw vulnerability and unwavering faith from the psalmist, recalling a desperate, urgent cry for divine intervention during a time of severe, life-threatening distress. This verse serves as a pivotal flashback within the psalm, highlighting the immediate and exclusive turning to YHWH, the covenant God, for deliverance, thereby setting the stage for the subsequent outpouring of thanksgiving and praise for His miraculous healing and restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 30 is uniquely titled "A Psalm or Song at the dedication of the house of David." While the exact "house" is debated—whether David's own palace, a newly constructed tabernacle, or even a metaphorical "house of life" restored from near death—the psalm functions primarily as a deeply personal song of thanksgiving. The opening verses, such as [Psalm 30:2](/psalms/30-2 "Psalm 30:2 - The LORD Heals the Psalmist"), immediately declare God's healing and deliverance. Verse 8, however, operates as a narrative flashback, recalling the desperate prayer uttered *before* the deliverance occurred. It serves to underscore the depth of the psalmist's former anguish and the authenticity of his appeal, contrasting the past moment of crisis with the present reality of God's saving power, thereby amplifying the subsequent praise.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, severe illness or near-death experiences were often perceived as divine judgment or, at minimum, a profound testing of faith. The concept of "Sheol" (the grave or underworld) loomed large, representing the ultimate cessation of life and connection with God. Thus, a cry for deliverance from such a state was not merely a medical plea but a theological one, an appeal to God for the preservation of life and continued relationship. The act of "crying out" to YHWH was a common and expected response to distress, reflecting a deep-seated cultural understanding of God as the ultimate sovereign and source of all help, a practice rooted in the covenant relationship established with Israel.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several foundational themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Immediate Reliance on God**, emphasizing that in moments of extreme crisis, the psalmist's first and only recourse was to the LORD, demonstrating profound trust in His accessibility and power. Secondly, it illuminates **The Nature of Earnest Prayer**, portraying it not as a casual request but as an urgent, heartfelt, and humble "supplication" born out of genuine desperation. This aligns with the biblical emphasis on prayer as a vital expression of dependence. Finally, Psalm 30:8 implicitly affirms **God as the Ultimate Source of Help and Deliverance**. The very act of crying out to YHWH acknowledges His unique capacity to intervene in human affairs, to heal, and to rescue from the brink of death, setting the stage for the psalm's overarching message of divine faithfulness and the transformative power of thanksgiving, as seen in passages like [Psalm 30:11-12](/psalms/30-11 "Psalm 30:11-12 - God Turns Mourning into Dancing").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _YHWH_):** This is the Tetragrammaton, God's personal, covenantal name, revealed to Moses at the burning bush ([Exodus 3:14](/exodus/3-14 "Exodus 3:14 - I AM WHO I AM")). Its repeated use here signifies that the psalmist was not appealing to a generic deity but to the specific God of Israel, who had entered into a relationship with His people, made promises, and demonstrated His faithfulness throughout their history. It emphasizes a personal, relational cry to the One who is sovereign and intimately involved in human affairs.
* **cried (Hebrew, _qara'_):** This verb denotes a strong, urgent, often audible call or shout for help. It implies a desperate situation where immediate intervention is required, moving beyond a simple request to an impassioned plea. In biblical contexts, _qara'_ often signifies a call to God in distress, indicating a profound sense of need and an expectation of divine response, as seen in other instances of desperate prayer (e.g., [Jonah 2:2](/jonah/2-2 "Jonah 2:2 - Jonah's Prayer from the Fish")).
* **supplication (Hebrew, _teḥinnāh_):** While related to general prayer (_tephillah_), _teḥinnāh_ specifically refers to a humble, earnest plea for grace, favor, or mercy. It conveys a posture of dependence, acknowledging one's weakness or unworthiness and appealing solely to the compassion and benevolence of the one addressed. The combination of "cried" (_qara'_) and "made supplication" (_teḥinnāh_) highlights both the urgency and the submissive humility of the psalmist's desperate prayer.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I cried to thee, O LORD;":** This opening clause immediately establishes the direct, personal, and urgent nature of the psalmist's appeal. The "I" emphasizes the individual's experience and faith, while "cried" ( _qara'_) conveys the intensity and desperation of the moment. The direct address "to thee, O LORD" underscores the psalmist's singular focus and belief in YHWH's power and willingness to respond. It is a raw, unmediated outpouring of distress.
* **"and unto the LORD I made supplication.":** This second clause functions in synonymous parallelism with the first, reinforcing and intensifying the message. "Made supplication" (_teḥinnāh_) adds a layer of humble entreaty and earnest pleading for grace or mercy, moving beyond a mere cry for help to a more profound act of dependence. The repetition of "unto the LORD" further emphasizes that YHWH was the exclusive object of the psalmist's desperate appeal, leaving no room for reliance on any other source of aid.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 30:8 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Parallelism** is evident through the repetition of similar ideas in successive clauses, specifically **synonymous parallelism** where "I cried to thee, O LORD" is echoed and intensified by "and unto the LORD I made supplication." This doubling of expression emphasizes the singular focus and earnestness of the psalmist's prayer. **Repetition** of the divine name "LORD" (YHWH) underscores the exclusive and personal nature of the appeal to God. There is also an element of **Intensification**, as "cried" (a desperate shout) is followed by "made supplication" (a humble, earnest plea for grace), suggesting a deepening of the prayer from an initial outcry to a more profound posture of dependence. Finally, within the broader psalm, this verse functions as a **Flashback**, narratively recalling a past moment of crisis and prayer from the vantage point of present deliverance and thanksgiving, thereby highlighting God's transformative intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 30:8 serves as a timeless testament to the biblical truth that God is profoundly accessible and responsive to the cries of His people. It underscores the vital role of prayer as a primary and immediate response to distress, not a last resort. The psalmist's unreserved turning to YHWH in his moment of deepest need reflects a fundamental theological conviction: that the living God is sovereign over life and death, sickness and health, and that His character is one of compassion and faithfulness. This verse invites believers to cultivate a radical dependence on God, reminding us that our earnest pleas for grace and mercy are heard by the One who holds all power and who delights in delivering His children. It is a powerful affirmation of God's immanence and His willingness to engage personally with human suffering.

* [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - David's Cry and God's Deliverance")
* [Psalm 116:1-2](/psalms/116-1 "Psalm 116:1-2 - Love for the LORD Who Hears")
* [Lamentations 3:55-57](/lamentations/3-55 "Lamentations 3:55-57 - Jeremiah's Cry from the Pit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 30:8 offers a profound and enduring model for believers navigating the inevitable trials of life. In a world that often encourages self-reliance or seeking immediate human solutions, this verse powerfully redirects our gaze to the divine. When faced with overwhelming challenges, physical ailments, emotional turmoil, or spiritual despair, our first and most instinctual response should be to turn directly to the LORD in earnest prayer and humble supplication. This isn't merely a religious duty but a deeply personal act of faith, acknowledging God's sovereignty and our dependence. The psalmist's experience reminds us that even in our most desperate moments, our cries are not unheard; they are received by a compassionate and powerful God who is attentive to the needs of His children. Cultivating this habit of immediate, heartfelt recourse to God not only brings comfort and strength in the present but also builds a reservoir of faith, allowing us to look back, like the psalmist, and recount God's faithfulness in delivering us from past distress, transforming our mourning into dancing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When facing distress, is your first instinct to cry out to the LORD, or do you tend to exhaust other options first?**
* **How does remembering God's past faithfulness in your life encourage you to pray with more earnestness in present difficulties?**
* **In what ways can your personal prayers become more like "supplication"—a humble, earnest plea for God's grace and mercy, acknowledging your complete dependence on Him?**

### FAQ
**Why is the psalmist's cry described as both "cried" and "made supplication"?**

Answer: The use of two distinct verbs, "cried" (Hebrew: _qara'_) and "made supplication" (Hebrew: _teḥinnāh_), is a powerful example of Hebrew parallelism, specifically synonymous parallelism with intensification. "Cried" (_qara'_) denotes an urgent, often audible, desperate call for help, implying an immediate and intense need for intervention. It's a raw outcry. "Made supplication" (_teḥinnāh_), on the other hand, carries the nuance of a humble, earnest plea for grace, favor, or mercy, acknowledging one's dependence and appealing to the compassion of the one addressed. By combining these, the psalmist conveys the comprehensive nature of his prayer: it was both an urgent, desperate shout and a submissive, humble entreaty for God's unmerited favor. This dual description emphasizes the depth of his distress and the sincerity and multifaceted nature of his appeal to YHWH.

**What does the title "A Psalm or Song at the dedication of the house of David" tell us about this verse?**

Answer: The title of Psalm 30, "A Psalm or Song at the dedication of the house of David," provides crucial context for understanding verse 8. While the psalm is ultimately a song of thanksgiving for deliverance, verse 8 serves as a flashback to the moment of crisis that preceded the deliverance. The "house of David" could refer to the dedication of his own palace, a new tabernacle, or even metaphorically to the "house of his life" being restored from near death. The title indicates that the psalmist, in a moment of celebration or dedication, is reflecting on a past period of severe distress (perhaps a life-threatening illness, as suggested by [Psalm 30:2](/psalms/30-2 "Psalm 30:2 - The LORD Heals")) and recalling his desperate cry to God. This highlights that even in times of joy and dedication, remembering God's past faithfulness in responding to our desperate cries is a vital part of worship and thanksgiving. It underscores that the psalmist's praise is rooted in a real, experienced deliverance from a profound personal crisis.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 30:8, with its raw depiction of a desperate cry to the LORD for deliverance, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest resonance in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist cried out from a place of personal affliction, Jesus, in His humanity, perfectly embodied the ultimate "cry" and "supplication" on behalf of all humanity. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus "offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death" ([Hebrews 5:7](/hebrews/5-7 "Hebrews 5:7 - Christ's Prayers and Supplications")), demonstrating the profound anguish and dependence of the Son upon the Father, even as He faced the cross. His cry was not for personal deliverance from suffering, but for the completion of the Father's will, which included bearing the sin of the world. Furthermore, Christ Himself is the ultimate answer to our cries; He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the one to whom we now cry out for salvation and mercy. Through His atoning sacrifice and glorious resurrection, He has secured our deliverance from the ultimate "Sheol"—the power of sin and death. Now, because of His finished work, we are invited to approach God's throne of grace "with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")). Our cries are heard not merely because of our desperation, but because they are made in the name of the One who perfectly cried out and made supplication for us, and who now ever lives to intercede on our behalf ([Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ's Intercession")).

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

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalms 34:6

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalms 77:1

¶ To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, [even] unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

1 Corinthians 12:8

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

1 Corinthians 12:9

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;