TRV
Translation
King James Version
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Complete Jewish Bible
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you will redeem me, ADONAI, God of truth.
Berean Standard Bible
Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
American Standard Version
Into thy hand I commend my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Jehovah, thou God of truth.
World English Bible Messianic
Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, LORD, God of truth.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Into thine hand I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of trueth.
Young's Literal Translation
Into Thy hand I commit my spirit, Thou hast redeemed me, Jehovah God of truth.
In the KJVVerse 14,337 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 31 verses 1–8
1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Faith and prayer must go together. He that believes, let his pray - I believe, therefore I have spoken: and he that prays, let him believe, for the prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer. We have both here.
I. David, in distress, is very earnest with God in prayer for succour and relief. This eases a burdened spirit, fetches in promised mercies, and wonderfully supports and comforts the soul in the expectation of them. He prays, 1. That God would deliver him (Psa 31:1), that his life might be preserved from the malice of his enemies, and that an end might be put to their persecutions of him, that God, not only in his mercy, but in righteousness, would deliver him, as a righteous Judge betwixt him and his unrighteous persecutors, that he would bow down his ear to his petitions, to his appeals, and deliver him, Psa 31:2. It is condescension in God to take cognizance of the case of the greatest and best of men; he humbles himself to do it. The psalmist prays also that he would deliver him speedily, lest, if the deliverance were long deferred, his faith should fail. 2. That if he did not immediately deliver him out of his troubles, yet he would protect and shelter him in his troubles; "Be thou my strong rock, immovable, impregnable, as a fastness framed by nature, and my house of defence, a fortress framed by art, and all to save me." Thus we may pray that God's providence would secure to us our lives and comforts, and that by his grace we may be enabled to think ourselves safe in him, Pro 18:10. 3. That his case having much in it of difficulty, both in respect of duty and in respect of prudence, he might be under the divine guidance: "Lord, lead me and guide me (Psa 31:3), so order my steps, so order my spirit, that I may never do any thing unlawful and unjustifiable - against my conscience, nor unwise and indiscreet - against my interest." Those that resolve to follow God's direction may in faith pray for it. 4. That his enemies being very crafty, as well as very spiteful, God would frustrate and baffle their designs against him (Psa 31:4): "Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me, and keep me from the sin, the trouble, the death, they aim to entrap me in."
II. In this prayer he gives glory to God by a repeated profession of his confidence in him and dependence on him. This encouraged his prayers and qualified him for the mercies he prayed for (Psa 31:1): "In thee, O Lord! do I put my trust, and not in myself, or any sufficiency of my own, or in any creature; let me never be ashamed, let me not be disappointed of any of that good which thou hast promised me and which therefore I have promised myself in thee." 1. He had chosen God for his protector, and God had, by his promise, undertaken to be so (Psa 31:3): "Thou art my rock and my fortress, by thy covenant with me and my believing consent to that covenant; therefore be my strong rock," Psa 31:2. Those that have in sincerity avouched the Lord for theirs may expect the benefit of his being so; for God's relations to us carry with them both name and thing. Thou art my strength, Psa 31:4. If God be our strength, we may hope that he will both put his strength in us and put forth his strength for us. 2. He gave up his soul in a special manner to him (Psa 31:5): Into thy hands I commit my spirit. (1.) If David here looks upon himself as a dying man, by these words he resigns his departing soul to God who gave it, and to whom, at death, the spirit returns. "Men can but kill the body, but I trust in God to redeem my soul from the power of the grave," Psa 49:15. He is willing to die if God will have it so; but let my soul fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great. With these words our Lord Jesus yielded up the ghost upon the cross, and made his soul an offering, a free-will offering for sin, voluntarily laying down his life a ransom. By Stephen's example we are taught in, our dying moment, to eye Christ at God's right hand, and to commit our spirits to him: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. But, 2. David is here to be looked upon as a man in distress and trouble. And, [1.] His great care is about his soul, his spirit, his better part. Note, Our outward afflictions should increase our concern for our souls. Many think that while they are perplexed about their worldly affairs, and Providence multiplies their cares about them, they may be excused if they neglect their souls; whereas the greater hazard our lives and secular interests lie at the more we are concerned to look to our souls, that, though the outward man perish, the inward man may suffer no damage (Co2 4:16), and that we may keep possession of our souls when we can keep possession of nothing else, Luk 21:19. [2.] He thinks the best he can do for the soul is to commit it into the hand of God, and lodge that great trust with him. He had prayed (Psa 31:4) to be plucked out of the net of outward trouble, but, as not insisting upon that (God's will be done), he immediately lets fall that petition, and commits the spirit, the inward man, into God's hand. "Lord, however it goes with me, as to my body, let it go well with my soul." Note, It is the wisdom and duty of every one of us solemnly to commit our spirits into the hands of God, to be sanctified by his grace, devoted to his honour, employed in his service, and fitted for his kingdom. That which encourages us to commit our spirits into the hand of God is that he has not only created, but redeemed, them; the particular redemptions of the Old Testament church and the Old Testament saints were typical of our redemption by Jesus Christ, Gen 48:16. The redemption of the soul is so precious that it must have ceased for ever if Christ had not undertaken it; but, by redeeming our souls, he has not only acquired an additional right and title to them, which obliges us to commit them to him as his own, but has shown the extraordinary kindness and concern he has for them, which encourages us to commit them to him, to be preserved to his heavenly kingdom (Ti2 1:12): "Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth! redeem me according to a promise which thou wilt be true to."
III. He disclaimed all confederacy with those that made an arm of flesh their confidence (Psa 31:6): I have hated those that regard lying vanities - idolaters (to some), who expect aid from false gods, which are vanity and a lie - astrologers, and those that give heed to them, so others. David abhorred the use of enchantments and divinations; he consulted not, nor even took notice of, the flight of birds or entrails of beasts, good omens or bad omens; they are lying vanities, and he not only did not regard them himself, but hated the wickedness of those that did. He trusted in God only, and not in any creature. His interest in the court or country, his retreats or strongholds, even Goliath's sword itself - these were lying vanities, which he could not depend upon, but trusted in the Lord only. See Psa 40:4; Jer 17:5.
IV. He comforted himself with his hope in God, and made himself, not only easy, but cheerful, with it, Psa 31:7. Having relied on God's mercy, he will be glad and rejoice in it; and those know not how to value their hope in God who cannot find joy enough in that hope to counterbalance their grievances and silence their griefs.
V. He encouraged himself in this hope with the experiences he had had of late, and formerly, of God's goodness to him, which he mentions to the glory of God; he that has delivered doth and will. 1. God had taken notice of his afflictions and all the circumstances of them: "Thou hast considered my trouble, with wisdom to suit relief to it, with condescension and compassion regarding the low estate of they servant." 2. He had observed the temper of his spirit and the workings of his heart under his afflictions: "Thou hast known my soul in adversities, with a tender concern and care for it." God's eye is upon our souls when we are in trouble, to see whether they be humbled for sin, submissive to the will of God, and bettered by the affliction. If the soul, when cast down under affliction, has been lifted up to him in true devotion, he knows it. 3. He had rescued him out of the hands of Saul when he had him safe enough in Keilah (Sa1 23:7): "Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy, but set me at liberty, in a large room, where I may shift for my own safety," Psa 31:8. Christ's using those words (Psa 31:5) upon the cross may warrant us to apply all this to Christ, who trusted in his Father and was supported and delivered by him, and (because he humbled himself) highly exalted, which it is proper to think of when we sing these verses, as also therein to acknowledge the experience we have had of God's gracious presence with us in our troubles and to encourage ourselves to trust in him for the future.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–8. Public domain.
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Luke 23:44-49AD 61
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. [Psalms 31:5] Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
Evagrius PonticusAD 399
NOTES ON THE PSALMS 30[31].6
Here spirit indicates mind. The mind that clings to God is one spirit.
Theodore of MopsuestiaAD 428
COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 31:6
Now, it is to be noted that the Lord cited this verse when on the cross, not that it was said of him in prophetic manner, as some commentators think, but because these words suited him when exposed to the risk of death and passion. So he cited this verse at the time when his soul was separated from his body, and [he] rightly entrusted it to the Father so that he might restore it to his body when it was in need of it at the time of the resurrection.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 31
"Into Your hands I commend My Spirit" [Psalm 31:5]. To Your power I commend My Spirit, soon to receive It back. "You have redeemed Me, O Lord God of truth." Let the people too, redeemed by the Passion of their Lord, and joyful in the glorifying of their Head, say, "You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth."
CassiodorusAD 585
EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 31:6
Let us consider why these words have been placed here which the Gospel text quotes.… Certainly so that you may recognize that here too he spoke who so many centuries later would speak the same words when fixed on the cross. “Into your hands” means “Into your truth” by which you always perform what is kind and just. In this way, he commends to the Father the inestimable treasure, namely, that soul that regularly carried out the Fathers desires in complete compliance with the Father’s intention. It was therefore fitting that such a spirit be commended to such a great guardian. Next he testifies that he was redeemed. But let us examine at what price; it was the price which the Apostle indicates: “He emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant.” You see how great the price was that he brought his majesty as low as human flesh, and he emptied himself in order that he might fill human things with heavenly things.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 31:5 stands as a profound declaration of unwavering trust and complete surrender from David amidst intense personal distress. Despite facing overwhelming opposition and deep anguish, David confidently commits his entire being—his spirit, life, and future—into the sovereign and protective care of the Almighty. This audacious act of faith is firmly grounded in the conviction of God's proven redemptive power and His unchangeable character as the "God of truth," affirming His absolute reliability and faithfulness to His covenant promises, providing an anchor for the soul in the midst of life's storms.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 31:5 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message of trust and surrender. The most prominent is Apostrophe, a direct and intimate address to an absent or abstract entity, in this case, God ("O LORD God of truth"). This direct address intensifies the personal and deeply relational nature of David's prayer and declaration. The verse also functions as a powerful Declaration or Affirmation, where David confidently states his act of surrender and God's redemptive work, rather than merely requesting it. This declarative tone imbues the verse with authority, conviction, and a sense of settled faith. Furthermore, the phrase "Into thine hand" utilizes vivid Imagery and Metaphor, picturing God's "hand" as a tangible symbol of His protective power, sovereign control, and nurturing care, a common and comforting biblical motif. The structure of the verse, moving from an act of surrender to a declaration of past redemption and then to an affirmation of God's character, creates a compelling sense of Logical Progression, where David's present trust is firmly rooted in God's proven faithfulness and truthfulness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse stands as a profound testament to the nature of biblical faith, which is not a blind leap into the unknown but a confident trust grounded in the revealed character and consistent actions of God. It highlights God's sovereign control over all life and circumstances, inviting believers to relinquish their anxieties, fears, and even their very existence into His capable and trustworthy hands. The declaration of God as the "God of truth" underscores His immutability and absolute reliability, providing an unshakeable foundation for hope in a world characterized by constant flux, uncertainty, and human deceit. This radical surrender, rooted in the remembrance of past redemption, prophetically foreshadows the ultimate act of trust and redemption found in Christ, making it a cornerstone for understanding divine providence and humanity's profound dependence on its Creator.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 31:5 offers a timeless and profoundly comforting blueprint for navigating life's most challenging moments, including the ultimate challenge of death. It calls us to cultivate a radical posture of trust, mirroring David's courageous willingness to surrender his very spirit into God's hands. This is not a passive resignation to fate but an active, faith-filled choice to release our anxieties, fears, and even our uncertain future into the meticulous care of the One who has proven His faithfulness time and again. In a world that often demands self-reliance, control, and constant striving, this verse invites us to embrace divine dependence, reminding us that true security, peace, and rest are found not in our grip on life, but in God's unwavering and omnipotent grip on us. It encourages us to intentionally remember and recount God's past redemptive acts in our own lives, thereby building our confidence in His ongoing care and absolute truthfulness, enabling us to face uncertainty, suffering, and even mortality with profound courage and serene peace.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean to "commit my spirit" to God?
Answer: To "commit my spirit" means to entrust one's entire being—life, soul, thoughts, will, and future—into God's sovereign care and protection. It's an act of profound faith and complete surrender, acknowledging that God has ultimate authority and is entirely trustworthy. It's not about giving up or abandoning hope, but about actively placing oneself under divine guardianship, believing that God will watch over and preserve what has been entrusted to Him, even in the face of death or extreme peril. This phrase was famously echoed by Jesus on the cross in Luke 23:46 and by Stephen in Acts 7:59, highlighting its significance as a final, confident act of trust in the face of death.
How does "thou hast redeemed me" apply if David isn't explicitly in physical bondage?
Answer: The Hebrew word for "redeemed" (padah) means to be ransomed, delivered, or set free from any form of peril, not exclusively physical slavery or bondage. For David, "redeemed" refers to God's consistent and proven history of delivering him from various life-threatening situations, such as the predatory lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:37), the murderous hand of King Saul (1 Samuel 19:10-12), or the numerous battles and conspiracies he faced throughout his life. It's a powerful declaration of God's proven track record of rescue and liberation from all forms of danger, distress, and the threat of death, affirming His ongoing faithfulness as a mighty deliverer.
Why is God called "O LORD God of truth"?
Answer: Calling God "O LORD God of truth" (אֵל אֱמֶת, El Emeth) profoundly emphasizes His absolute faithfulness, reliability, and perfect integrity. "Truth" here signifies more than mere factual accuracy; it speaks to God's unchangeable character, His unwavering adherence to His covenant promises, and His complete trustworthiness in all His dealings. In a world full of deceit, broken promises, and shifting foundations, this divine title provides the ultimate, unshakeable foundation for David's audacious trust. It assures him that the One to whom he commits his spirit is utterly dependable, eternally true to His covenant, and incapable of failing or lying (Titus 1:2). This attribute is the bedrock of all biblical faith.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 31:5 finds its most profound and ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. His final cry from the cross, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," is a direct and deliberate echo of David's words, revealing the Son's perfect surrender and absolute trust in the Father even in the face of an agonizing death. This was not a surrender of defeat, but a confident entrusting of His life, His mission, and His very being to the Father's sovereign will, knowing that His atoning sacrifice would be accepted and His resurrection assured. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the "thou hast redeemed me" because through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, He truly redeemed humanity from the bondage of sin and the power of death, paying the ultimate and infinite price. He perfectly embodies the "God of truth," being not merely a conveyor of truth, but the Way, the Truth, and the Life incarnate. His resurrection is the ultimate, irrefutable proof that the Father is indeed the "God of truth," who is eternally faithful to His promises to raise His Son and, through Him, to grant eternal life to all who believe. Thus, David's ancient prayer becomes a prophetic utterance, pointing directly to the perfect trust and redemptive work of the Messiah.