Psalms 34:6

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

This poor man {H6041} cried {H7121}, and the LORD {H3068} heard {H8085} him, and saved {H3467} him out of all his troubles {H6869}.

This poor man cried; ADONAI heard and saved him from all his troubles.

This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.

This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34:6 is a powerful testimony of God's immediate and effective response to the cry of the afflicted. It highlights the divine promise of deliverance for those who humble themselves and seek Him in their time of need.

Context

This verse is part of a psalm attributed to King David, written when he feigned madness before Abimelech (King Achish of Gath) to escape capture, as recounted in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. Having experienced God's miraculous deliverance from a perilous situation, David offers this psalm as a song of thanksgiving and an invitation for others to taste and see that the LORD is good. Verse 6 serves as David's personal affirmation that God heard his desperate plea and rescued him from all his troubles, setting the stage for the broader principles of divine care that follow in the psalm.

Key Themes

  • Divine Responsiveness: The verse emphasizes God's active listening and swift action. It assures believers that their cries do not go unheard, but rather, God is attentive to the prayers of the distressed.
  • Deliverance from All Troubles: God's salvation is comprehensive, encompassing "all his troubles." This speaks to God's ability to rescue from spiritual, emotional, physical, and circumstantial difficulties, offering complete liberation.
  • The Humble and Afflicted: The phrase "this poor man" (Hebrew: ani) refers not necessarily to one who is financially destitute, but to someone who is humble, afflicted, helpless, and fully dependent on God. It is a posture of humility and reliance that God honors.
  • God's Faithfulness: This verse underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises. He is a God who hears, responds, and saves those who call upon Him in truth, demonstrating His steadfast love and power.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "poor man," ani (עָנִי), conveys the idea of one who is lowly, humble, or afflicted, often recognizing their utter dependence on God rather than self-reliance. The term "cried" (Hebrew: za'aq, זָעַק) signifies an urgent, desperate cry for help, indicating deep distress. When it says the LORD "heard" (Hebrew: shama, שָׁמַע), it implies more than just perceiving sound; it means God listened with attention and acted in response. "Saved" (Hebrew: yasha, יָשַׁע) means to deliver, rescue, or bring salvation, highlighting God's powerful intervention.

Practical Application

Psalm 34:6 offers immense encouragement for anyone facing adversity. It reminds us that our circumstances do not define our access to God. Regardless of how "poor" or helpless we feel, God is ready to hear our desperate cries. This verse invites us to:

  • Pray with Urgency: Do not hesitate to cry out to God in moments of fear, distress, or overwhelming trouble, knowing He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
  • Trust in God's Deliverance: Be assured that God's power is sufficient to deliver you from "all your troubles," even when the path is unclear. This mirrors the assurance found in Psalm 50:15: "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
  • Cultivate Humility: Recognize that true strength often lies in acknowledging our weakness and dependence on God. As James 4:6 states, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

This verse is a timeless reminder that God is actively involved in the lives of His people, ready to hear their prayers and bring them through every difficulty.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 34:17

    [The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

  • Psalms 34:19

    Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

  • Psalms 3:4

    ¶ I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

  • Psalms 10:17

    LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

  • Psalms 66:16

    Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

  • Psalms 66:20

    Blessed [be] God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

  • 2 Samuel 22:1

    ¶ And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day [that] the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
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