Psalms 69:1

KJV

¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto [my] soul.

KJV (with Strong's)

To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)} upon Shoshannim {H7799}, A Psalm of David {H1732}. Save {H3467}{H8685)} me, O God {H430}; for the waters {H4325} are come {H935}{H8804)} in unto my soul {H5315}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the leader. Set to "Lilies." By David: Save me, God! For the water threatens my life.

Berean Standard Bible

Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.

American Standard Version

Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 69:1, a poignant lament attributed to King David, opens with a desperate and urgent cry for divine rescue from overwhelming personal distress. This verse vividly sets the stage for a psalm that deeply explores themes of intense suffering, unjust persecution, and the profound, consuming sensation of being engulfed by life's most formidable troubles, establishing the psalmist's absolute reliance on God as his sole hope for deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 is a deeply personal lament, one of the most significant and frequently quoted Messianic psalms in the New Testament. The superscription, "To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David," indicates its intended musical setting ("Shoshannim" likely referring to "lilies," perhaps a specific melody or instrument, often associated with joyful or sorrowful themes) and its authorship. Verse 1 immediately plunges the reader into the psalmist's acute distress, employing vivid aquatic imagery that will recur throughout the psalm to describe the depth of his affliction. It establishes the central conflict: the psalmist's overwhelming suffering at the hands of his enemies and his desperate appeal to God for salvation, setting the tone for the subsequent pleas, descriptions of persecution, imprecations against adversaries, and eventual expressions of hope and praise. This opening cry is foundational to understanding the psalmist's journey from despair to trust.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While attributed to David, the specific historical occasion for Psalm 69 is not explicitly stated, allowing its themes of unjust suffering and divine deliverance to resonate across various historical periods, including David's own experiences of betrayal (e.g., by Absalom or Saul), false accusation, and profound personal anguish. The imagery of "waters" as a symbol of overwhelming trouble, chaos, and danger is deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern cosmology and biblical tradition, where floods and raging seas often represented forces of destruction or divine judgment. This metaphor would have been immediately understood by an ancient Israelite audience as conveying a life-threatening situation, suggesting not merely physical peril but also spiritual and emotional inundation. The psalmist's cry for "salvation" (Hebrew: *yasha'*) reflects a common plea for deliverance from imminent danger, whether from human enemies, natural disaster, or spiritual despair.

* **Key Themes:** Psalm 69:1 introduces several foundational themes that permeate the entire psalm and resonate throughout biblical theology. First, it powerfully expresses a **Desperate Plea for Divine Rescue**, highlighting the psalmist's absolute dependence on God as his only refuge when all human avenues of escape are closed. His direct address, "Save me, O God," is a raw, unvarnished cry from the depths of despair, mirroring the urgent prayers found in other laments like [Psalm 18:4-6](/psalms/18-4 "Psalm 18:4-6 - David's Cry for Help") or [Psalm 120:1](/psalms/120-1 "Psalm 120:1 - A Call from Distress"). Second, the verse vividly portrays **Overwhelming Affliction** through the metaphor of "waters are come in unto my soul." This imagery conveys a sense of being submerged, drowned, or consumed by troubles that threaten one's very existence, a feeling of existential peril that transcends mere physical discomfort, as also seen in [Psalm 42:7](/psalms/42-7 "Psalm 42:7 - Deep Calling to Deep"). Finally, it underscores **Human Vulnerability** in the face of insurmountable challenges, emphasizing the universal human experience of helplessness when confronted with circumstances beyond one's control, compelling the individual to turn to God as the ultimate and only source of salvation and hope, a theme echoed in the broader narrative of humanity's need for a divine deliverer from sin and death, as ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Save (Hebrew, _yasha'_):** This verb carries the fundamental meaning of "to be wide or spacious," implying deliverance from a narrow, constricted, or distressed situation. It denotes rescue, liberation, or bringing to safety. In a theological context, *yasha'* often refers to God's act of bringing salvation, not just from physical danger but also from spiritual peril, sin, and death. David's cry is not merely for temporary relief but for a comprehensive act of divine intervention that restores him to a state of well-being and security.
* **Waters (Hebrew, _mayim'_):** While literally referring to water, in biblical poetry, *mayim* frequently serves as a powerful metaphor for overwhelming trouble, affliction, danger, or chaos. It evokes images of destructive floods, deep and menacing seas, or a torrent that threatens to engulf and drown. The use of "waters" here signifies a multitude of troubles that are not just external but are actively invading and threatening the psalmist's very being.
* **Soul (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** This term refers to the entire person, the living being, encompassing one's life, mind, emotions, and will. It is not merely a spiritual component but the seat of one's vitality and consciousness. When the "waters" come "unto my soul," it means the distress has penetrated the deepest core of his existence, affecting his entire being—his spirit, emotions, and even his physical life—threatening to extinguish him. This is an existential crisis, not just a superficial problem.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Save me, O God;":** This opening imperative is a direct, urgent, and personal appeal to God. It is a raw expression of desperation, acknowledging God as the only one capable of providing the necessary rescue. The psalmist's situation is so dire that he bypasses any intermediaries and cries out directly to the divine source of power and salvation, demonstrating absolute reliance and a recognition of God's sovereignty.
* **"for the waters are come in unto my soul.":** This clause provides the reason for the desperate plea, employing a vivid and potent metaphor. The "waters" symbolize overwhelming troubles, dangers, and afflictions that have not merely surrounded the psalmist but have "come in unto" or "entered" his very being, his *nephesh*. This suggests an internal, existential crisis where he feels submerged, drowned, and consumed by his distress, indicating a profound sense of peril that threatens his life, sanity, and spiritual well-being.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 69:1 is rich in literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where "waters" are used to represent overwhelming troubles, afflictions, and dangers. This vivid imagery transforms abstract distress into a tangible, life-threatening flood, allowing the reader to viscerally understand the psalmist's predicament. This metaphor is further enhanced by **Hyperbole**, as the idea of "waters" coming "unto my soul" suggests an extreme, almost impossible level of inundation, emphasizing the psalmist's feeling of being utterly consumed and on the brink of destruction. The verse also functions as an **Invocation**, a direct address to God, which is characteristic of the **Lament Form** in Psalms, immediately establishing the psalmist's posture of desperate prayer and dependence on divine intervention. The entire verse is a powerful example of **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy for the psalmist's suffering and highlighting the universal human experience of profound distress.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 69:1 stands as a timeless testament to the human condition of vulnerability and the divine character of God as Deliverer. It underscores the theological truth that in moments of overwhelming crisis, when all earthly resources fail, humanity's ultimate and only recourse is a direct, honest, and desperate cry to God. This verse affirms God's attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted and His sovereign power to rescue from even the most profound depths of despair. It teaches that authentic faith does not shy away from expressing raw pain and fear but rather brings it boldly before the Lord, trusting in His capacity to save and sustain even when circumstances feel utterly consuming. The psalmist's experience prefigures the ultimate deliverance God provides through His Messiah, who also experienced the depths of human suffering.

* [Psalm 42:7](/psalms/42-7 "Psalm 42:7 - Deep Calling to Deep")
* [Jonah 2:3-5](/jonah/2-3 "Jonah 2:3-5 - Jonah's Prayer from the Fish's Belly")
* [Lamentations 3:54](/lamentations/3-54 "Lamentations 3:54 - Waters Over My Head")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 69:1 offers a profound model for contemporary believers navigating their own seasons of overwhelming distress. It grants permission for raw, unvarnished honesty in prayer, encouraging us to lay bare our deepest fears and most urgent needs before God without pretense or spiritualized language. When life's challenges feel like an insurmountable flood, threatening to engulf our very soul, this verse reminds us that our first and most effective response is a direct, desperate appeal to our sovereign God. It teaches us that vulnerability before God is not weakness but an act of profound faith, acknowledging His supremacy and our absolute dependence on His saving power. In a world that often pressures us to maintain composure, David's lament invites us to embrace the reality of our human fragility and find strength in crying out to the One who promises to be our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you currently feel "the waters are come in unto my soul," threatening to overwhelm you?**
* **How might adopting David's raw honesty in prayer transform your approach to difficult circumstances?**
* **What does this verse teach you about God's character and His willingness to hear and respond to desperate cries for help?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper reliance on God as your ultimate deliverer, even when circumstances seem insurmountable?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "waters" metaphor in this verse?**

Answer: The "waters" metaphor in Psalm 69:1 is highly significant, symbolizing overwhelming trouble, danger, and affliction. In ancient Near Eastern thought and biblical poetry, deep waters, floods, or raging seas often represented chaos, destruction, and forces that threaten to engulf life. When the psalmist says the "waters are come in unto my soul," it means his distress is not merely external but has penetrated the very core of his being—his life, emotions, and spirit. It conveys a sense of being drowned, suffocated, or consumed by his troubles, indicating an existential crisis rather than just a superficial problem. This imagery powerfully communicates the depth and intensity of his suffering and the life-threatening nature of his predicament, compelling his urgent cry for divine rescue.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 69:1, while a personal lament of David, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's experience of being overwhelmed by "waters" of affliction, betrayal, and unjust suffering powerfully prefigures the unparalleled suffering of the Messiah. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, faced constant opposition, rejection, and ultimately, the full weight of humanity's sin, which truly came "unto His soul" in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. His cry of dereliction, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry on the Cross")), echoes David's desperate plea for salvation. The New Testament explicitly applies other verses from Psalm 69 to Christ, such as the zeal for God's house ([John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Jesus' Zeal for the Temple")), the reproach of those who reproached God falling on Him ([Romans 15:3](/romans/15-3 "Romans 15:3 - Christ Did Not Please Himself")), and even the gall and vinegar offered to Him ([Matthew 27:34](/matthew/27-34 "Matthew 27:34 - Gall and Vinegar for Jesus")). Thus, David's personal cry for deliverance becomes a prophetic voice, anticipating the perfect Lamb of God who would be submerged in the "waters" of divine wrath and human sin, ultimately to emerge victorious, bringing salvation to all who believe. His suffering was not merely physical but a profound spiritual and emotional inundation that secured our eternal rescue.

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 69:14

Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Psalms 69:15

Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Isaiah 43:2

When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Lamentations 3:54

Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.

Psalms 18:4

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Psalms 45:1

¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer.

Psalms 32:6

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.