Psalms 60:11

KJV

Give us help from trouble: for vain [is] the help of man.

KJV (with Strong's)

Give {H3051}{H8798)} us help {H5833} from trouble {H6862}: for vain {H7723} is the help {H8668} of man {H120}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Help us against our enemy, for human help is worthless.

Berean Standard Bible

Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

American Standard Version

Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 60:11 is an urgent and profound prayer, a desperate plea for divine intervention that simultaneously declares the inherent futility of human strength and resources in the face of overwhelming adversity. It encapsulates a foundational theological truth: true and lasting deliverance from trouble originates solely from God, highlighting the critical need for absolute dependence on His sovereign power rather than on the limited and unreliable capabilities of humanity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 60:11 stands as a pivotal moment within a national lament, transitioning from a cry of despair to a renewed declaration of trust. The preceding verses (e.g., [Psalms 60:1-3](/psalms/60-1 "Psalm 60:1-3 - God's Rejection and Israel's Defeat")) vividly describe Israel's brokenness and God's apparent rejection, using metaphors of a shattered land and a staggering people. This plea for help is immediately followed by a confident assertion of God's future victory and a renewed commitment to triumph through Him (e.g., [Psalms 60:12](/psalms/60-12 "Psalm 60:12 - Through God We Shall Do Valiantly")). Thus, verse 11 serves as the crucial turning point where the psalmist, representing the nation, shifts from lamenting present defeat to actively seeking divine aid, recognizing it as the only viable path to restoration and triumph.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription of Psalm 60 provides critical historical context, attributing it to King David during a period of intense military conflict. Specifically, it mentions his campaigns against Aramnaharaim and Aramzobah, and the return of Joab to strike down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. This indicates a time of significant national distress, where Israel had experienced initial setbacks or felt abandoned by God in battle. In the ancient Near East, military success was often interpreted as a sign of divine favor, and defeat as divine displeasure. Therefore, David's prayer reflects not just a tactical military need but a deeper spiritual crisis where the nation felt its covenant relationship with God was strained. The reliance on human armies and strategies, while necessary, was understood to be ultimately insufficient without the active intervention and blessing of their national deity.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes found throughout [the book of Psalms](/psalms "The Book of Psalms - Songs of Worship and Lament") and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is the **Sovereignty and Sufficiency of God**, emphasizing that ultimate power and deliverance reside with Him alone. It underscores the theme of **Human Limitation and Dependence**, highlighting that even the most capable human efforts are "vain" without divine backing, a truth echoed in [Psalm 146:3](/psalms/146-3 "Psalm 146:3 - Do Not Put Your Trust in Princes"). Furthermore, it exemplifies the theme of **Prayer as a Primary Response to Crisis**, modeling how a people in distress should turn to God in earnest petition. Finally, it touches on the theme of **Divine Help and Salvation (Yeshua)**, positioning God as the exclusive source of true victory and rescue, a concept central to the entire biblical story of redemption.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Help (Hebrew, _yeshu'ah'_):** This word is rich in meaning, encompassing "salvation," "deliverance," "victory," and "welfare." It is not merely assistance but decisive, comprehensive rescue. In the context of a national lament and military struggle, it signifies the ultimate triumph that only God can grant. Its usage here elevates the plea beyond a simple request for aid to a yearning for God's full, saving intervention, which brings complete and lasting resolution to the trouble.
* **Trouble (Hebrew, _tsarah'_):** This term denotes "distress," "anguish," "tribulation," or "tightness." It describes a situation of extreme difficulty, pressure, or confinement. In Psalm 60, it refers to the national calamity and military defeat, a feeling of being hemmed in and overwhelmed. The request is not for minor relief but for deliverance from a profound state of suffering and oppression.
* **Vain (Hebrew, _shav'_):** This powerful word means "empty," "worthless," "futile," "deceitful," or "nothingness." When applied to "the help of man," it conveys a profound sense of inadequacy and ultimate unreliability. It doesn't necessarily negate all human effort but declares that without God's empowering presence, human endeavors, no matter how well-intentioned or strategically sound, are fundamentally insufficient to achieve true, lasting deliverance from ultimate trouble. It highlights the stark contrast between God's substantial help and humanity's hollow efforts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Give us help from trouble":** This is a direct, urgent imperative, a desperate cry from a community (indicated by "us") facing overwhelming distress ("trouble"). It is a recognition that the current predicament is beyond human capacity to resolve and therefore requires divine intervention. The psalmist is not merely asking for a slight improvement but for a decisive act of deliverance and salvation from their dire circumstances.
* **"for vain [is] the help of man":** This clause provides the theological justification for the preceding plea. It is a declarative statement asserting the absolute insufficiency and ultimate worthlessness of human assistance in the face of the kind of "trouble" described. "Vain" (שָׁוְא, *shav'*) here implies that human efforts, strategies, or alliances, while perhaps offering temporary relief, cannot provide the ultimate, comprehensive salvation needed. This is not a dismissal of all human cooperation but a profound theological declaration that true, ultimate deliverance comes exclusively from God.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 60:11 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting the substantial, effective "help" from God against the "vain" and ineffective "help of man." This sharp juxtaposition highlights the psalmist's conviction about God's unique power and humanity's inherent limitations. The verse also functions as a **Plea** or **Supplication**, an direct address to God, characteristic of the lament psalms, conveying urgency and dependence. Furthermore, it contains a **Declaration** of theological truth ("for vain is the help of man"), which serves as the underlying rationale for the plea. This declaration is a form of **Aphorism**, a concise statement of principle that carries universal truth beyond the immediate context.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 60:11 serves as a timeless reminder of humanity's inherent limitations and God's absolute sovereignty. It underscores the biblical principle that while human effort has its place, ultimate reliance must always be placed on the divine. This truth resonates throughout Scripture, challenging misplaced trust and calling believers to a posture of humility and dependence. It is a foundational statement about where true power and salvation reside, urging us to look beyond finite resources to the infinite power of the Creator.

* [Psalm 121:1-2](/psalms/121-1 "Psalm 121:1-2 - Where Does My Help Come From?")
* [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt for Help")
* [Jeremiah 17:5](/jeremiah/17-5 "Jeremiah 17:5 - Cursed Is the One Who Trusts in Man")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world that often champions self-reliance, human ingenuity, and technological solutions, Psalms 60:11 offers a vital counter-cultural truth. It calls us to a radical reorientation of our trust, reminding us that while human collaboration and effort are valuable, they are ultimately insufficient for the deepest troubles of life, especially those of a spiritual or existential nature. When we face overwhelming challenges—personal crises, national calamities, or spiritual battles—this verse redirects our gaze from the limited "help of man" to the boundless, unfailing "help" of God. It encourages a posture of humility, recognizing our own limitations, and fosters a spirit of persistent, heartfelt prayer, knowing that our ultimate deliverance and victory come from Him alone. This truth liberates us from the burden of self-sufficiency and invites us into a deeper, more profound dependence on our Heavenly Father.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on your own strength or the help of others, rather than seeking God's intervention first?**
* **How does acknowledging the "vainness" of human help change your approach to prayer and problem-solving?**
* **What specific "troubles" are you currently facing that this verse encourages you to bring before God with renewed faith?**

### FAQ

**Does "vain is the help of man" mean we should never seek help from other people?**

Answer: No, this verse does not forbid seeking or offering human help. The term "vain" (שָׁוְא, *shav'*) here signifies ultimate futility or inadequacy, particularly in the face of overwhelming, divinely appointed, or existential troubles. It highlights that human help, while often beneficial and necessary in temporal matters, is ultimately insufficient as a *primary* or *ultimate* source of deliverance, especially when compared to God's power. The Bible often encourages mutual support and community (e.g., [Galatians 6:2](/galatians/6-2 "Galatians 6:2 - Bear One Another's Burdens")). However, Psalms 60:11 serves as a crucial reminder that our ultimate trust and reliance for true salvation and victory must be placed in God alone, as He is the only one who can provide comprehensive and lasting "help" that transcends human limitations.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 60:11 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The declaration that "vain is the help of man" powerfully foreshadows the utter inability of humanity to save itself from the ultimate "trouble" of sin and death. No human effort, no law-keeping, no philosophical system, and no amount of self-improvement could bridge the chasm between a holy God and fallen humanity. It is precisely because human help is vain that God Himself, in His infinite wisdom and love, provided the perfect and sufficient "help" through His Son. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God's "help" (יְשׁוּעָה, *yeshu'ah*), His very name meaning "Yahweh saves." Through His sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross, and victorious resurrection, Christ accomplished what no human could ever achieve: He conquered sin, death, and the grave, offering true and eternal deliverance. He is the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), the one in whom all things hold together ([Colossians 1:17](/colossians/1-17 "Colossians 1:17 - Christ, the Sustainer of All Things")), and the only way to the Father ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). Thus, the psalmist's desperate plea for divine help is fully answered in the person and work of Jesus, who is God's perfect and unfailing salvation for all who believe.

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

Psalms 146:3

Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.

Psalms 108:12

Give us help from trouble: for vain [is] the help of man.

Psalms 130:8

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalms 124:1

¶ A Song of degrees of David. If [it had not been] the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

Psalms 124:3

Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

Isaiah 31:3

Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

Isaiah 30:7

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still.