Psalms 6:4

KJV

Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

KJV (with Strong's)

Return {H7725}, O LORD {H3068}, deliver {H2502} my soul {H5315}: oh save {H3467} me for thy mercies {H2617}' sake.

Complete Jewish Bible

Come back, ADONAI, and rescue me! Save me for the sake of your grace;

Berean Standard Bible

Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion.

American Standard Version

Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul: Save me for thy lovingkindness’ sake.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 6:4 is a poignant plea from a soul in deep distress, crying out to the LORD for divine intervention and salvation. The psalmist, likely David, implores God to "return" from a perceived distance or withdrawal, seeking deliverance for his very life and being. This desperate appeal is grounded not in any human merit or righteousness, but solely in the boundless and faithful "mercies" (steadfast love, *chesed*) of God, highlighting a profound dependence on divine grace in the midst of suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 6 stands as the first of the seven traditional Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), characterized by a confession of sin, deep sorrow, and an earnest plea for divine mercy and forgiveness. The immediate context of Psalms 6:4 reveals a psalmist overwhelmed by physical and emotional anguish. Verses 1-3 depict a body "vexed" and "bones troubled," with a soul "sore vexed," expressing impatience for God's intervention. The psalmist is wasting away from groaning and weeping, with eyes consumed by sorrow (verses 6-7). This verse, therefore, marks a pivotal turn from describing the depth of suffering to an explicit, direct petition for God's active presence and rescue, setting the stage for the eventual shift to confidence in God's hearing (verse 8). The movement within the psalm is from lament to a glimmer of hope, a common trajectory in this genre.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Lament psalms were a vital and sanctioned form of prayer in ancient Israel, providing a divinely ordained outlet for individuals and communities to express profound sorrow, confess sin, and appeal to God in times of crisis. Such crises could include severe illness, oppression by enemies, or the crushing weight of personal sin, all of which were often viewed as consequences of divine displeasure or absence in a covenantal worldview. The concept of God "returning" or "hiding His face" (as implied by the plea to "return") was a common idiom reflecting a perceived withdrawal of divine favor or presence, leading to suffering. The appeal to "mercies" (Hebrew: *chesed*) was deeply rooted in Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh, where God's steadfast love and faithfulness were the ultimate guarantee of His commitment to His people, irrespective of their deservingness. This cultural understanding underscored that salvation was always an act of God's gracious character, not human achievement.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme of Psalms 6:4, and indeed the entire psalm, is a desperate plea for divine intervention and salvation rooted in God's character. It powerfully articulates the theme of **human vulnerability and dependence**, as the psalmist acknowledges his utter inability to deliver himself from his profound distress. The verse also underscores the **power and necessity of prayer**, particularly the honest and raw expression of lament before God. Crucially, it highlights the theme of **God's steadfast love and mercy (*chesed*)** as the sole basis for hope and deliverance. This is not a plea based on the psalmist's righteousness, but on God's inherent goodness and covenant faithfulness. This concept of God's enduring *chesed* is a foundational truth throughout the Old Testament, seen in passages like [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Character Revealed") and [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - The Steadfast Love of the Lord"). The psalm also touches on the **consequences of sin and the hope for forgiveness**, as the psalmist's suffering is implicitly linked to his sin (though not explicitly stated in this verse, it's a common element of penitential psalms, e.g., [Psalm 51](/psalms/51 "Psalm 51 - A Prayer of Repentance")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Return (שׁוּב, *shuv*):** This Hebrew verb means "to turn back, to return, to restore." In this context, it carries the nuance of God turning His attention back to the psalmist, or returning to a state of active favor and intervention. It implies a perceived absence or withdrawal of God's helping presence, a common expression of distress in lament psalms where the sufferer feels abandoned or forgotten by God. The plea is for God to cease His perceived inaction and re-engage with the psalmist's plight.
* **Soul (נֶפֶשׁ, *nephesh*):** While often translated as "soul," *nephesh* in Hebrew thought refers to the whole person, the living being, or one's life force. It encompasses the entirety of one's inner being, including emotions, desires, and the very breath of life. Thus, "deliver my soul" is not merely a request for spiritual salvation in a modern sense, but for the preservation and rescue of the psalmist's entire existence—physical, emotional, and spiritual—from the grip of death, illness, or enemies.
* **Mercies (חֲסָדֶיךָ, *chasadeyka* from חֶסֶד, *chesed*):** This is one of the richest theological terms in the Old Testament. *Chesed* signifies loyal love, steadfast love, covenant faithfulness, kindness, and enduring mercy. It describes God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, a love that is both gracious and active. When the psalmist appeals "for thy mercies' sake," he is not appealing to his own worthiness or deeds, but solely to God's inherent character, His reliable and unfailing covenant love, which is the ultimate guarantee of His willingness to save and deliver.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Return, O LORD":** This is a direct, impassioned address to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The imperative "Return" is a desperate cry for God to turn His face back to the psalmist, to acknowledge his suffering, and to re-engage with His powerful, saving presence. It reflects a feeling of abandonment or distance, a common experience in deep suffering.
* **"deliver my soul":** Following the plea for God's return, this is the specific request for rescue. "Deliver" (נָצַל, *natsal*) means to snatch away, rescue, or pull out from danger. Coupled with "soul" (*nephesh*), it signifies a plea for holistic rescue from whatever affliction is threatening the psalmist's life and well-being, whether it be illness, enemies, or the spiritual anguish of sin.
* **"oh save me":** This phrase intensifies the preceding plea for deliverance. "Save" (יָשַׁע, *yasha*) implies bringing to a state of safety, welfare, or victory. It is a comprehensive term for salvation, encompassing rescue from all forms of distress and leading to a state of wholeness and security. The repetition and urgency underscore the psalmist's dire need.
* **"for thy mercies' sake":** This crucial clause provides the ground or basis for the entire petition. The psalmist does not appeal to his own righteousness, merit, or even the severity of his suffering, but solely to God's character—His *chesed*, His steadfast, loyal, and covenantal love. This highlights a profound theological truth: salvation and deliverance are acts of pure grace, flowing from God's unchangeable nature and faithfulness, not from human deservingness.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 6:4 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its urgent message. **Apostrophe** is prominently featured, as the psalmist directly addresses God ("O LORD"), creating an intimate and personal tone that underscores the directness and desperation of the prayer. The use of multiple imperatives ("Return," "deliver," "save") creates a sense of **climax** and **intensification**, building the urgency of the plea. There is also an element of **pathos**, as the psalmist's raw and vulnerable expression of need is designed to evoke sympathy and a sense of shared human experience in the face of suffering. The phrase "for thy mercies' sake" serves as a powerful **motif**, grounding the human plea in the divine character and emphasizing the theological foundation of grace.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 6:4 encapsulates a fundamental theological truth: humanity's utter dependence on God's gracious character for salvation and deliverance. It affirms that even in the deepest pits of despair, when one feels abandoned or overwhelmed, the ultimate hope lies not in self-effort or human merit, but in the unwavering *chesed* of God. This verse connects profoundly with the biblical narrative of God's covenant faithfulness, where His promises and actions are consistently rooted in His steadfast love, not the fluctuating obedience of His people. It teaches that legitimate prayer, especially in suffering, is honest, direct, and ultimately trusts in the nature of the One being addressed. The psalmist's appeal to "mercies" sets a precedent for all who seek God's intervention, reminding us that His compassion is the wellspring of our rescue.

* [Psalm 51:1](/psalms/51-1 "Psalm 51:1 - A Plea for Mercy")
* [Psalm 109:26](/psalms/109-26 "Psalm 109:26 - Prayer for Help")
* [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - The Lord's Steadfast Love")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 6:4 offers a profound model for our own prayers in times of distress. It validates the raw honesty of lament, granting us permission to express our deepest anguish, even a sense of God's perceived distance, without pretense. The psalmist's plea reminds us that our hope for deliverance—whether from physical illness, emotional turmoil, spiritual struggle, or the consequences of sin—rests entirely on God's character, His abundant mercy, and His steadfast love, not on our own strength, goodness, or perceived deservingness. This verse encourages us to confidently approach God, appealing to His faithfulness and compassion, knowing that He is the ultimate source of salvation and restoration. It is a powerful reminder that even when our world feels like it is falling apart, we can anchor our souls in the unchanging, covenantal love of the LORD, trusting that He hears and will act according to His perfect will and boundless grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel the need for God to "return" or intervene most urgently?**
* **How does understanding God's "mercies" (*chesed*) as the basis for salvation impact your prayers when you are in distress?**
* **What does "deliver my soul" mean to you personally, encompassing your whole being (physical, emotional, spiritual)?**
* **How can you cultivate a more honest and vulnerable prayer life, similar to the psalmist's lament?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalmist ask God to "return" if God is omnipresent?**

Answer: The psalmist's plea for God to "return" (שׁוּב, *shuv*) is not a theological statement about God's omnipresence, but a deeply personal expression of feeling abandoned or that God has withdrawn His active favor and intervention. In the context of lament, "return" signifies a desire for God to turn His attention back to the sufferer, to cease His perceived inaction, and to manifest His saving presence. It reflects the psalmist's subjective experience of suffering, where God's help feels distant or absent, rather than a literal belief that God has physically departed. This is a common motif in the Psalms, where the righteous cry out for God to "awake" or "arise" (e.g., [Psalm 7:6](/psalms/7-6 "Psalm 7:6 - Arise, O Lord")), even though God is always present.

**What is the significance of appealing "for thy mercies' sake" rather than based on personal merit?**

Answer: Appealing "for thy mercies' sake" (לְמַעַן חֲסָדֶיךָ) is profoundly significant because it grounds the plea for salvation entirely in God's character and covenant faithfulness, rather than in the psalmist's own righteousness, good deeds, or suffering. The Hebrew word *chesed* (mercies) denotes God's steadfast, loyal, and covenantal love—a love that is both gracious and active. This highlights a core biblical truth that salvation and deliverance are acts of pure grace, flowing from God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His people, not from human deservingness. It acknowledges human unworthiness and places all hope in the boundless compassion and faithfulness of God, as seen throughout Scripture, from the giving of the Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Love for Israel")) to the New Covenant.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 6:4, with its desperate plea for deliverance based on God's mercies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The psalmist's cry for salvation from physical and spiritual anguish foreshadows the suffering of Christ, who, in His humanity, experienced the full weight of human pain and even the perceived abandonment by God on the cross (e.g., [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Yet, it is through Christ's perfect obedience and sacrificial death that God's *chesed*—His steadfast, loyal love—is most fully and gloriously revealed. Our deliverance and salvation are not merely for "mercies' sake" in a general sense, but specifically for the sake of God's mercy demonstrated in sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (e.g., [Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Propitiation")). Jesus is the ultimate "deliverer of our soul," rescuing us from the power of sin, death, and the grave, not by our merit, but by His perfect work on the cross. His resurrection is the ultimate proof of God's saving power and His enduring *chesed*, offering eternal life and true restoration to all who believe (e.g., [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World")). Thus, the psalmist's ancient plea becomes our confident prayer, knowing that in Christ, God has indeed "returned" to us, bringing ultimate salvation grounded in His unfathomable love.

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

Daniel 9:18

O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

Ephesians 2:7

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Psalms 17:13

Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, [which is] thy sword:

Psalms 80:14

Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;

Psalms 121:7

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

Psalms 22:20

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.