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.

Let not the waterflood {H4325}{H7641} overflow {H7857}{H8799)} me, neither let the deep {H4688} swallow me up {H1104}{H8799)}, and let not the pit {H875} shut {H332}{H8799)} her mouth {H6310} upon me.

Don't let the floodwaters overwhelm me, don't let the deep swallow me up, don't let the pit close its mouth over me.

Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

Let not the waterflood overwhelm me, Neither let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.

Psalms 69:15 (KJV) is a poignant cry for deliverance from overwhelming danger and destruction, a central theme in this lament psalm. The psalmist, often identified as David, expresses intense distress, feeling as though he is on the brink of being consumed by forces beyond his control.

Context

Psalm 69 is a deeply emotional lament, frequently cited as a messianic psalm due to its prophetic references to the suffering of Christ (e.g., John 2:17, Romans 15:3). The psalmist is a righteous sufferer, enduring reproach, shame, and persecution from enemies, feeling estranged even from his own family. The preceding verses paint a picture of sinking in deep mire and being overwhelmed by floods (Psalm 69:2), setting the stage for this desperate plea for divine intervention to prevent utter annihilation.

Key Themes

  • Desperate Plea for Deliverance: The verse articulates a fervent prayer for rescue from imminent peril, highlighting the psalmist's complete reliance on God.
  • Overwhelming Adversity: The imagery of "waterflood," "deep," and "pit" vividly portrays the magnitude of the troubles, suggesting a feeling of being submerged, consumed, or trapped.
  • Divine Protection: Underlying the plea is an implicit faith in God's power to intervene and save, even from the jaws of death or despair.
  • Figurative Language of Danger: These metaphors communicate a universal human experience of facing life-threatening or soul-crushing circumstances.

Linguistic Insights

  • "waterflood" (Hebrew: mayim shoteph): This phrase literally means "rushing waters" or "overflowing waters," emphasizing the destructive, uncontrollable force of the danger. It speaks to an overwhelming deluge.
  • "deep" (Hebrew: tehom): Often translated as "abyss" or "primordial deep," tehom can refer to the vast, chaotic waters of creation (Genesis 1:2) or the depths of the sea. Here, it signifies being swallowed by a vast, inescapable force, akin to being consumed by the grave or Sheol. The imagery of being swallowed by the deep or consumed by a pit is also echoed in the prophetic book of Jonah, where the prophet cries out from the belly of the fish.
  • "pit" (Hebrew: beer or shachat): This can refer to a well, cistern, or grave/dungeon. The phrase "shut her mouth upon me" personifies the pit, making it a living entity that threatens to trap and annihilate the psalmist. It evokes the dread of being buried alive or utterly extinguished.

Practical Application

Psalms 69:15 offers profound comfort and instruction for believers facing overwhelming struggles today. It reminds us that:

  • Prayer is Our Refuge: No matter how dire the circumstances, we can cry out to God with raw honesty, just as the psalmist did. He is our deliverer.
  • God is Sovereign Over All Dangers: Even when we feel like we are drowning in problems or trapped in a pit of despair, God has the power to rescue us. This desperate plea for rescue from overwhelming destruction resonates with the experience of Christ, who endured immense suffering and felt abandoned, as depicted in passages like Psalm 22:1, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
  • Hope Persists in Despair: The act of praying for deliverance signifies a continued hope in God's saving grace, even when all human hope seems lost. It encourages perseverance in faith.
  • Empathy for the Suffering: This verse helps us to understand and empathize with those experiencing deep distress, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, and to pray for their deliverance.

Ultimately, this verse is a powerful testament to the human need for divine intervention and God's faithfulness to hear and answer the cries of His people, even from the deepest pits of affliction.

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 16:10

    For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

  • Revelation 12:15

    And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

  • Revelation 12:16

    And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

  • Jonah 2:2

    And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, [and] thou heardest my voice.

  • Jonah 2:7

    When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

  • Acts 2:24

    Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

  • Psalms 88:4

    I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man [that hath] no strength:

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